1908.] 



BIRDS. 



258 



Colymbns auritus Linn. Horned Grebe. 



This species breeds throughout the region north nearly to the 

 border of the forest, being especially common within the Canadian 

 zone. In the spring of 1901 we first met with it on Athabaska River 

 near Fort McMurray, May 11. when a single bird was seen. While 

 encamped on a large island near the outlet of Lake Athabaska, June 

 1 to 1:, we saw a pair daily in a small slough, where they doubtless 

 intended nesting. The bird was noted in the marshes bordering 

 Eocher River. June 5, and a number were seen in a slough near Slave 

 River 25 miles l^elow the mouth of the Peace, June 11 and 12; an 

 adult male was collected on the latter date. At Fort Smith, Mac- 

 kenzie, the species was seen in a marsh, June 22. On our return trip 

 one was seen on the river at Smith Landing, August 6. 



In 1903 two horned grebes were seen on Lily Lake, Alberta, May 

 13, and several at Two Lakes, May 11. The species was next ob- 

 served in the marshes adjoining Rocher River, Avhere it was common 

 June G to 8, and where a nest containing six eggs was found by 

 Merritt Gary on the latter date. It was noted near the mouth of 

 Peace River, June 9; 50 miles below Fort Smith, Mackenzie, June 

 16, and at Fort Resolution, June 20. I saw one on Great Slave Lake, 

 near the mouth of the Xorthern Arm, July 21, and next observed the 

 species on the Mackenzie. 10 miles above the mouth of the Blackwater, 

 October 8, noting two individuals. 



In the spring of 1901: this sj^ecies was noted May 13 at Willow 

 River, near Fort Providence, by J. W. Mills. It was not observed 

 again during the season. 



This bird is quite generally distributed throughout the region. It 

 was first recorded from there by Richardson, who described a speci- 

 men killed at Great Slave Lake." Ross, in 1862, recorded it as 

 common north to La Pierre House, and as having been taken at Fort 

 Simpson.^ Baircl, Brewer, and Ridgway record specimens obtained 

 in the breeding season at Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Fort Rae, 

 and Big Island, and on the Anderson and Lower Mackenzie rivers, 

 mainly b}^ various officers of the Hudson's Ba}^ Company.^ Mac- 

 Farlane secured the species near Lockhart River in June, 1861, and 

 took a female with her nest and five eggs 60 miles southeast of Fort 

 Anderson in June, 1866.^^ Frank Russell took a specimen at Fort 

 Rae, August 22, 1893, which I have had the opportunity of examin- 

 ing. In some notes recently received from MacFarlane, he states 

 that W. S. Simpson found a nest of this species at Green Lake, Sas- 

 katchewan, in June. 1880. 



« Fauna Boreali-Americana, II, p. 411, 1831. 

 ^ Nat. Hist. Rev., II (secoud ser.), p. 290, 1862. 

 ^ Water Birds X. A., II, p. 434, 1884. 

 ^ Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIV, p. 415, 1891, 



