290 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



adopted to some extent b}^ the whites. The Crees along the Atha- 

 baska call it ca-ca-wee' ; the Chipewyans and related tribes of the 

 Slave and Mackenzie rivers refer to it as a-lia-li'k' ; while the Eskimo 

 are said to give it the name a-hau-lin' . A few were still lingering on 

 the lower Athabaska when we descended it in the spring of 1901, and 

 we saw a flock 50 miles below Fort McMurray on the evening of 

 May 15. 



In 1903 this species was first observed on Great Bear Lake east of 

 Leith Point, where I saw a large flock August 28. It was next ob- 

 served near the same place on September 4, a few being seen. AYliile 

 coasting along the south shore of the lake several flocks were observed 

 near Leith Point September 8, and between there and McVicar Bay 

 September 9. Between this point and the outlet of the lake, which 

 we reached September IT, flocks were seen nearly every day. 



In the spring of- 1904 I first saw this species at Fort Simpson May 

 10, from which date it was common. The birds, usually in small flocks, 

 floated down Avith the current among the ice floes, occasionally rising 

 and winging their way swiftly upstream to regain lost ground. The 

 males pla^^ed about on the water, chasing each other and uttering 

 their loud, clear notes, which soon became associated in the mind with 

 the long, cool evenings of the Arctic spring, with the sun hanging low 

 in the northwestern horizon. When they are lightly swimming about, 

 the long tails are elevated at an angle of about 45°, and with their 

 striking color pattern the birds present a very jaunty appearance. 

 They are usually rather tame, sometimes rising and coming to meet 

 the canoe, and actually becoming less wild if shot at. "When slightly 

 Avounded they are among the most expert of divers and are difficult 

 to secure. The males played together considerably before the females 

 arrived, but after that important event their gymnastic and vocal 

 performances kneAv no bounds. Several males were taken May 11, 

 and the first female was secured May 23, though apparently they had 

 arrived several days earlier. During the remainder of May the birds 

 Avere noted almost daily. 



A¥hile I Avas descending the Mackenzie in June the species was 

 still slowly moving northward, and small flocks were seen between 

 Fort Simpson and Nahanni River, June 2 and 3 ; near Fort Wrigley, 

 June T ;'near Blackwater RiA^er, June 9; near Gravel River, June 10; 

 50 miles beloAv Fort Norman, June IT; near Wolverine Rock, June 

 18 ; below Fort Good Hope, June 25 ; and above the lower Ramparts, 

 June 29. 



Sabine states that this species " breeds in the North Georgia 

 Islands, but is not common there. "'^ Franklin, during his first jour- 

 ney to the Arctic coast, observed it on Mehdlle Sound, August 14 and 

 15, 1821. The birds were molting and were assembled in immense 



°' Suppl. to Appendix Parry's First Voyage, p. ccviii, 1824. 



