1908.] 



BIRDS. 



287 



Simpson, and had been taken at that post.*^ Eussell records a speci- 

 men taken by him at Fort Chipewyan, May 22, 1893, no others being- 

 seen.^ 



Clangula clangula americana Bonap. American Golden-eye. 



This is an abundant breeder along the Athabaska and Slave 

 rivers, especially on their lower courses, and occurs also, though 

 much less abundantly, on the Mackenzie nearly to its mouth. 



In 1901 we saw a number on Lily Lake, Alberta, May 2, and found 

 the species common on the lower Athabaska, May 16 and 17. We 

 found it fairly common also on upper Slave River, and collected a 

 female 10 miles below the mouth of the Peace, June 11. A nest 

 found the same day was just completed, but no eggs had been de- 

 posited. The site consisted of the nesting cavity of a flicker in 

 the top of a dead poplar, which, weakened by the excavation, had 

 been broken off. We saw several and took a female on Slave River, 

 100 miles below Fort Smith, Mackenzie, July 1, and found the 

 species rather common on the lower Slave, July 3 and 4. While on 

 our outward trip Ave observed a few near Fort Chipewyan, August 8. 



On ^lay 11-. 1903, we noted a few individuals at Two Lakes, Al- 

 berta, and while descending the Athabaska saw the species nearly 

 every day. It was especially common on the lower river, where 

 numerous large balsam poplars afford convenient nesting sites. On 

 May 31, at a point about 30 miles above the mouth of the river, 7 

 pairs were seen inspecting a hollow in a high stub. They repeatedly 

 circled about it, one or two frequently alighting at the entrance for 

 a few seconds. We saw several at Fort Chipewyan, June 4; and 

 found the species common on Rocher River, June 6 to 8. A set of 

 10 fresh eggs was collected, June 6, from a hollow in a poplar stub, 

 15 feet from the ground. The nest was composed of down from the 

 breast of the parent, and a small quantity of grass. The species was 

 connnon on Slave River between Peace River and Smith Landing, 

 June 9 and 10, and between Fort Smith, Mackenzie, and the lower 

 river, June 15 to IS. Alfred E. Preble and Merritt Cary noted 

 several near the mouth of Xahanni River, July 11 and 12, and on 

 their return trip found it common on the lower Athabaska, August 

 5 and 6. 



In the spring of 1904, the golden-eye was first noted at Fort Simp- 

 son on April 28, when one was shot by an Indian. Two were seen 

 May 2, two on May 4. and several on May 12. While descending 

 the Mackenzie, I found it rather common between Forts Norman and 

 Good Hope, June 16 to iO, 



«Nat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 287, 1862. 

 ^ Expl. in Far North, p. 257, 1898. 



