384 THEOUGH THE MACKENZIE BASIN 



with as far north as the fifty-seventh parallel of latitude. 

 None of the numerous gentlemen connected with the Hud- 

 son's Bay Company interested in ornithological investiga- 

 tion in the far north appear to have met with it in the lower 

 Mackenzie Basin and along the shores of Great Slave Lake. 

 The nest of this species is one of the most exquisite pieces 

 of bird architecture to be found anywhere." There are 

 twenty-five skins and only one set of eggs of this species in 

 the Ottawa Museum ! 



456. Phoebe — Sayornis phcehe (Latham). 



Early in June, 1880, a nest holding four eggs was taken 

 by Chief Trader William C. King at Eort Eae, Great Slave 

 Lake, which, with the secured parent, were forwarded to 

 Mr. Dalgleish the following summer. An example skin 

 obtained near Fort Providence, spring 1885, was sent to 

 Dr. Bell. In continuation I quote from Bendire's great 

 work : " The phoebe reaches as far north as Fort Simpson 

 on the Mackenzie Kiver, latitude 62° north and longitude 

 122° west, where Mr. B. E. Eoss obtained a female in May, 

 1861. Its nest and eggs have been taken on Lesser Slave 

 Lake by Mr. Strachan Jones. It has also been obtained by 

 Chief Trader J. Lockhart at Fort Eesolution; and Mr. H. 

 McKay found the phoebe common about Pelican Narrows, 

 Cumberland, in June, 1891, sending several sets of eggs from 

 there to Washington. He says in his notes accompanying 

 them that ' they build in natural cavities in trees and 

 in crevices of rocks. The Indians call them " Moose Birds," 

 as they often use moose hair in lining their nests. They lay 

 in June, and are very bold for their size, often chasing hawks. 

 The number of eggs to a set varies from three to six ; usually 

 four or five are found, and one is deposited daily. Incuba- 

 tion lasts about twelve days; the young are fed entirely on 

 insects, mainly on small butterflies, which are abundant 

 about that time, and they are ready to leave the nest in 



