1908.] 



BIRDS. 



289 



ewyan Mav 24, and after leaving Athabaska Lake noted it on Koclier 

 Eiver June 5; 10 miles below Peace Eiver June T, and 25 miles 

 below the Peace June 12 and 13. I saw a pair at Fort Smith, 

 Mackenzie. June 21. and while on the way to Great Slave Lake noted 

 it a short distance below Fort Smith June 29, and 100 miles below 

 July 2. I saw a few on Great Slave Lake near Stone Island July 9. 



In 1903 we first noted this species near Sturgeon River, Alberta, 

 May 13, and saw several at Two Lakes, May 14. We found the bird 

 common on the Athabaska, and noted it nearly every day while we 

 were descending the river. We found it common also on Rocher 

 River June 6 to 8 ; and on Slave River between Fort Smith, Mac- 

 kenzie, and Fort Resolution June 15 to 19. "^A^iile crossing Great 

 Slave Lake to Fort Rae I saw several on the lake near Gros Cape 

 July 23. 



In the spring of 1904 I saw a pair at Fort Simpson May 11 and a 

 few near the same place May 12 and 14. During the remainder of 

 May I occasionally noted a pair or two on the small ponds in the 

 vicinity, near which the birds are said to nest. While descending 

 the Mackenzie I noted the species between Fort Simpson and Nahanni 

 River June 2 and 3, and 75 miles below Fort Good Hope June 26. 

 I saw a female with her brood of young near Fort McPherson July 8, 

 and two young, probably from the same brood, were obtained from 

 an Indian the same day. 



Ross lists the buffle-head as abundant in the Mackenzie River region 

 north to the Arctic coast, and as having been taken at Fort Simpson." 

 Baird, BreAver, and Ridgway state that it Avas found breeding at Fort 

 Resolution, Fort Simpson, and Fort Rae.'^ In the summer of 1895 

 J. Alden Loring reported it as common on the lakes along the route 

 between Edmonton and Jasj)er House, Alberta. In 1896 he found it 

 common and breeding in the vicinity of Henry House in July, and 

 noted it on most of the lakes on the route between Jasper House and 

 Smoky River August 20 to October 8. 



Harelda hyemalis (Linn.). Olcl-squaw. 



In S2:)ring and fall these interesting birds pass through the region 

 now under review in large numbers, while migrating to and from 

 their breeding grounds along its northern border. In sj^ring they 

 appear soon after the breaking up of the ice and move leisurely north- 

 ward with the advancing season, easily reaching their summer homes 

 near and on the Barren Grounds as early as they are ready for occu- 

 pancy. The various tribes of the north designate the species by 

 names derived from its characteristic note, and these names have been 



«Xat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 288, 1862. 

 Water Birds N. A., II, p. 51, 1884. 

 44131— No. 27—08 19 



