Octobee, 1902.] BIRDS OF KEEWATIN. 121 



dwarfed spruce that grow in the sma]! valle}'s and ravinos intersecting 

 the extensive exjianse of precipitous ledges along Churchill River 

 in the vicinity of the post. They undoubtedlv nest among these spruces, 

 but no nests attributable to the species were found. We heard no 

 song, but they had a loud metallic chip which was audible and easih^ 

 recognized at a distance of se\'eral rods. Young just from the nest, 

 taken July 24 and 2.5, may be thus described: Uppcrparts dusky black, 

 the feathers edged with deep buffy and brown, the black predominat- 

 ing on crown, the brown on hind neck, and the l)lack and brown 

 about equally divided on back: outer wing quills edged with diM^p 

 buffy, inner with brown; tail feathers edged and tipped with whitish; 

 sides of head and lower parts buffj-; chest and side streaked with 

 black, which is most conspicuous on sides of chest and forms a promi- 

 nent malar stripe; upper throat grayish white, with fine dusky 

 markings. 



Several were seen in a thicket bordering upper Hayes Riv(n' August 

 30, and the species was rather common in a fire-swept tract between 

 Robinson Portage and the Echimamish Seijtem))er li. 



Zonotrichia leucophrys (Forst.). White-crowned Sparrow. 



First seen at York Factorj^, where it was abundant and where a 

 small series, including adults of both sexes and young birds not long 

 from the nest, was taken July 12 to 14. About the post at Fort 

 Churchill it was extremely abundant July 23 to 30, but after passing 

 that point we saw no more of it until we had repassed the post on our 

 return and were ascending Hayes River August 30, when we observed 

 a number in a thicket bordei'ing the river. 



This species was first described by Forster from Severn River, 

 Hudson Baj'. He also received it from Albanj' Fort, where it was 

 said to breed;" and Murray receivcrl it from Severn House.* It jjrob- 

 ably breeds throughout the northern wooded portions of Keewatin, 

 being confined mainly to the Hudsonian zone. 



Zonotrichia albicoUis (Gmel.). White-throated Sparrow. 



Abundant throughout the region between Norway House and Y'ork 

 Factory. It was especially numerous in the extensive tracts which 

 had been devastated by fire, where its simple but beautiful song lent 

 a charm to the gloomy surroundings. A few were noted, one of 

 which was collected, at Y'ork Factory in July: and on our return trip 

 a few were seen at Oxford Lake September 11. 



Murray reported the species from Hudson Bay,'' and Clarke recorded 

 an adult pair from Fort Churchill.'' It was taken at Moose Factory 



«Phil. Trans., LXII, p. 403, 420, 1772. 



SEdin. New Phil. Journ. (new ser.), IX, p. 223, 1859 



fAuk, VII, p. 322, 1890. 



