1008.] 



BIRDS. 



273 



In 1903 we first observed this species on Slave Eiver, 50 miles below 

 Fort Smith, June 16, We found it common between there and Lime- 

 stone Point, June IT: and near the mouth of the river, June 19: and 

 noted several at Fort Resolution, June 20. AYhile on the Mackenzie, 

 Alfred E. Preble and Merritt Cary found the species common at 

 Fort Providence, June 7 and 8 : observed upward of 500 on the Little 

 Lake, near Fort Providence, Jul}^ 9; and several at Fort Simpson, 

 July 10. On their retiu^n journey they noted it commonly between 

 Fort vSimpson and Fort Providence, July 25 and 26: and observed 

 about 50 near the mouth of the Athabaska, August 5. I found it 

 common on Great Slave Lake, especially among the islands of the 

 Northern Arm, when I crossed late in July, and it was abundant on 

 Lake Marian on July 31. 



In 1904 J. ^y. Mills first noted this species near Fort Providence 

 May 25. I did not observe the bird during the spring migration, but 

 found it common at the head of the Mackenzie delta, June 30. On 

 July 1, while ascending the Peel to Fort McPherson, I observed sev- 

 eral nesting colonies on its grass}^ banks, finding about a dozen nests 

 containing incomplete sets of eggs. Several families of Eskimo also 

 traveling along the river were interesting themselves in these nests, 

 doubtless coi sidering the eggs an agreeable change from a diet of 

 fish and putrid geese. While at Fort McPherson on July 11 and 16 

 I noted a few individuals, probably stragglers from these breeding 

 colonies. 



Sabine recorded two innnature birds which were killed July 8, 

 probably at Winter Harbor, Melville Island.^ Richardson gives a 

 description of one killed at Great Bear Lake [probably at Fort 

 Franklin] June 7, 1826.'^ J. C. Ross states that this species is rare 

 on the east and west coasts of Boothia.^ McCormick records it from 

 Wellington Channel as late as August 28, 1852.'^ Baird, Brewer, and 

 Ridgway state that the species has been found occurring in abun- 

 dance at Fort Resolution ; Fort Rae ; Big Island ; Fort Simpson ; Peel 

 River : Fort Anderson ; Franklin Bay ; Rendezvous Lake ; and other 

 localities.^ Seale states that the species was abundant at Herschel 

 Island on August 27. 1896.^ 



" Snpp]. to Appendix Parry's First Voyage, p. cciii, 1824. 



^ Fauna Boreali- Americana, II, p. 414, 1831. 



^ Appendix Ross's Second Voyage, p. xxxiii, 1835. 



Mccormick's Voyages, II, p. 137, 1884. 

 ^ Water Birds X. A., II, p. 300, 1884. 

 f Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1898, p. 188. 



44131— No. 27—08 18 



