BIRDS OF NORTHERN CANADA 349 



there about the same time was sent to Dr. Bell. This grouse 

 also breeds in the valley of the Lockhart and Anderson rivers, 

 where a couple of nests were found, but the eggs were after- 

 wards lost. They are highly esteemed for their flesh, which 

 is certainly superior in quality to that of the ptarmigan or 

 ruffed grouse. A quotation or so from Bendire's splendid 

 " Bird Life Histories " will be read with interest : 



" Mr. (now Chief Trader) C. P. Gaudet, of the Hudson's 

 Bay Comipany, found it breeding at Port Good Hope, in the 

 Mackenzie River Basin, and it probably goes as far north as 

 69°. ... It seems to be specially abundant in the vicinity 

 of Great Slave Lake, as most of the eggs in the U. S. Museum 

 collection came from either Forts Rae, Providence or Reso- 

 lution, all three being practically situated on and near the 

 lake. But a single brood is raised in a season. Nidification 

 begins, sometimes at least, extremely early, eggs having been 

 found May 1st, 1863, by Mr. (later Chief Factor) L. Clarke, 

 at Fort Rae, in latitude 63° north. Messrs. Reid and Lock- 

 hart were the other contributors. The number of eggs in a 

 set varies from seven to fourteen, and their ground colour 

 from a fawn colour with a vinaceous rufous bloom to choco- 

 late, tawny, and olive-brown in different specimens. The 

 majority of the eggs are finely marked with small, well-de- 

 fined spots of reddish-brown and lavender, resembling the 

 markings found on the eggs of Tympanuchus americanus, only 

 they are much more distinct. These markings are entirely 

 superficial, and when removed leave the shell a creamy white 

 in some cases and a very pale green in others. In shape 

 they are usually ovate. A single egg taken May 16th, 1885, 

 near Fort Providence, Mackenzie River, was obtained from 

 Mr. R. MacFarlane, also of the ^ame Company." 



The Ottawa Museum, surprising to relate, does not pos- 

 sess a single specimen (skin or eggs) of this fine bird ! 



It may be mentioned en passant that on the 29th May, 

 1862, near Fort Yukon, Alaska, Mr. James Lockhart found 

 an incomplete nest of four eggs belonging to the sub-species 



