BIRDS OF NORTH-WESTERN CANADA. 55 



however, I often observed them hawking near the ground in 

 swallow-fashion, especially near the corral where the cattle were 

 kept. Their so-called "booming" is made when they turn to 

 ascend ; the pressure of air on the primaries causes them to 

 vibrate, thus producing the noise in question. 



Chimney- Swift, Chcetura ptlagica. — The only example that 

 I observed the whole summer came under our notice near the 

 Little Pipestone, May 26th, 1891. 



Euby-throated Humming-bird, Trochilus colubris. — On the 

 20th August I watched a male bird darting about the bushes in a 

 ravine at the Souris coal-mines. At the first glance I mistook 

 it for a butterfly, but was soon undeceived. I had my gun with 

 me, but had not the heart to shoot it. 



Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus. — This vivacious species was 

 almost ubiquitous, nesting all along Moose and Long Creeks, 

 and darting at the head of any intruder. It was pretty to see 

 the male bird perching on a bush and warbling a song to his 

 silting mate, rising into the air, hovering to pass dexterously on 

 a passing insect, and returning fondly to its mate. All the nests 

 possessed a certain protrusion of sticks on one side. The stomachs 

 of all the birds examined contained the remains of insects. 



Arkansas Tyrant-Flycatcher, Tyrannus verticalis. — This 

 bird is not included in Mr. Thompson's * Birds of Manitoba'; 

 but he has kindly identified one of those which I shot on the 

 banks of the Souris River, where it breeds in small numbers. 

 It feeds chiefly on grasshoppers. 



Prairie Shore -Lark, Otocorys alpestris praticola. — A com- 

 mon breeding bird, generally to be met with on the prairie along 

 the trail of the settlers. 



Canada Jay, Perisoreus canadensis. — The "Whisky Jack" 

 of the settlers is frequently seen on the wooded banks of 

 the Souris, and breeds there ; I met with it also at Moose 

 Mountain. 



Northern Raven, Corvus corax principalis. — While travelling 

 on the trail between Dalesbro' and Cannington early in July, 

 I saw two Ravens sitting on a rail, and got within thirty yards of 

 them. They were waiting to feed on the carcase of a dead cow 

 on the prairie. 



American Crow 7 , C. americanus. — Generally observed near 

 the prairie towns, where they feed directly after daylight. 



