364 THROUGH THE MACKENZIE BASIN 



as in colouration. The most common forms are short and 

 rounded ovate, and occasionally a specimen is distinctly- 

 elliptical ovate. The ground colour when visible, which is 

 not often the case, is pale creamy or yellowish-white ; in some 

 specimens this is evenly overlaid with colouring matter, 

 giving it a light chocolate-coloured appearance, in others it 

 approaches a pale yellowish-brown, and in one it is a 

 decided fawn colour. The eggs are irregularly blotched, 

 streaked, smeared, and spotted with various shades of claret- 

 brown, vinaceous rufous and brick-red. In some the mark- 

 ings are well defined, in others coniluent, giving them a 

 clouded appearance — the majority are pretty evenly marked 

 throughout; in a few they are more heavily spotted on one 

 of the ends. Compared with the eggs of other falcons they 

 are decidedly darker coloured,". resembling the heavier marked 

 and darker specimens of the eggs of Aiidubon's caracara 

 (Polyiorus cheriway) ." 



The Museum at Ottawa contains two skins, procured at 

 York Factory, Hudson Bay, by Dr. E. Bell, and another 

 taken at Edmonton by Mr. Spreadborough in May, 1897 ; 

 also three sets of three eggs each, one from Bed Deer, Alberta, 

 and two from Eort Chimo, Ungava, taken by Mr. C Bour- 

 chier in June, 1898. 



357. Pigeon Hawk — Falco columbarius (Linn.). 



The late Chief Trader"" John "VVdlson, then of Eort Eae, 

 snared the female parent on a nest containing four eggs, 

 which was built on a spruce tree. It was composed of dry 

 twigs and grasses mingled with a few feathers. Both bird 

 and eggs were forwarded to Mr. Dalgleish, summer 18'86. 

 In 1881 a nest holding three eggs (two of them broke) was 

 found on a tree near Fort Providence. The parent was seen 

 and well identified. The egg was sent to Dr. Bell. I would 

 again quote from Major Bendire : " With but few excep- 

 tions, nearly all the eggs of this species in the U. S. National 

 Museum collection were obtained north of the United States. 



