BIEDS OF NOETHERN CANADA 343 



June. The number of eggs to a set varies from seven to 

 thirteen, rarely more." A small set of six, partly incubated, 

 was collected by him near ISTorth Saanich, Vancouver Island, 

 B.C., June 28th, 1876 (probably a second laying, the first 

 brood having been destroyed). The nest, a slight hollow in 

 the ground scratched out by the bird, was placed under the 

 fallen branches of a spruce tree. The cavity was lined with 

 dead leaves and spruce needles, as well as a few feathers. 

 This nest was found close to a small creek and was well 

 concealed. 



The Ottawa ISTational Museum does not possess a single 

 skin or egg of this, one of the most abundant birds of the 

 coast region of British Columbia, including all the islands 

 in the Gulf of Georgia, Vancouver Island, and Queen Char- 

 lotte Islands ! 



301. Willow Ptarmigan — Lagopus lagopus (Linn.). 



On the 3rd of April, 1885, an Indian shot two birds at 

 Fond du Lac, Great Slave Lake, and early in the following 

 June another " yellow knife " hunter found two nests, each 

 containing four fresh eggs, at a considerable distance north 

 north-east of the Company's post there. They were mere 

 cavities in the ground lined with some withered leaves. The 

 parents were seen and clearly identified as willow ptarmigan. 

 Mr. Dalgleish became the happy possessor of the eggs, to- 

 gether with the above skins and a female example shot near 

 Fort Providence, Mackenzie River. Dr. Bell also received 

 the same season three ptarmigans procured at Fort Resolu- 

 tion. During the winter season this species is more or less 

 abundant throughout the Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatche- 

 wan, and Alberta, the district of Keewatin, and the North- 

 West Territories of Canada. In the spring of 1890 several 

 skins were obtained at Babine post, New Caledonia. 



There are very few special or other reference omissions 

 in Professor John Macoun's carefully prepared and recently 

 completed " Catalogue of Canadian Birds," but under this 



