292 



NOETtI AMEKICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



stream August 24. Those seen allowed themselves to be carried 

 downstream by the swift current on our approach, and on rising in- 

 variably attempted to fly past us up the river. 



In the spring of 1904 a pair Avas secured from a flock of 4 near 

 Fort Simpson, May 25. They were the first detected, though the 

 species must have arrived some time previously. This duck is said 

 to be often seen on Bluefish Creek, a small rapid stream emptying 

 into the Mackenzie opposite Fort Simpson. 



Richardson states that the harlequin frequents Bear Lake River, 

 and notes its habit of allowing itself to be carried down a rapid, 

 while it seeks its food in the eddies ; ^ Ross lists it as rare in the 

 Mackenzie River region north to the Arctic coast, and as having been 

 collected at Fort Simpson;^ Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway state that 

 specimens were obtained near Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Fort 

 Rae, La Pierre House, Fort Halkett, and on the Barren Lands ; ^ and 

 the bird catalogue of the National Museum shows that skins were 

 received also from Peel River and Fort Liard. Russell took a female 

 at Fort Rae, July 27, 1893.^ In 1895 J. Alden Loring procured a 

 skin near Jasper House from an Indian, who said he had shot the 

 bird on one of the streams in the high mountains. Reed records eggs 

 from Peel River, taken June 13, 1898, by C. E. Whittaker.^ 



Somateria mollissima borealis (C. L. Brehm). Northern Eider. 



The common northern eider occurs in the eastern part of the Arctic 

 Archipelago, being replaced by S. v-nigra to the westward, probably 

 in the region of Banks Land. 



J. C. Ross recorded ' Anas mollissima ' from Port Bowen, where it 

 arrived abundantly early in June, 1825.^ Sutherland noted the first 

 eiders at Assistance Bay, June 3, 1851.^^ Osborn reported the species 

 abundant in Wellington Channel the last week in August, 1850, wdien 

 the birds were going south, Eider ducks have been reported also 

 from various points about Melville Island. 



Somateria v-nigra Gray. Pacific Eider. 



During my descent of the Mackenzie in June, 1904, an adult male 

 in the flesh was obtained at Fort Good Hope from an Indian. He 

 had killed it on the Mackenzie, 20 miles below the post, on June 14, 



Arctic Searching Expedition, I, p. 202, 1851. 

 * Nat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 288, 1862. 



Water Birds N. A., II, p. 54, 1884. - 

 ^Expl. in Far North, p. 257, 1898. (Specimen probably from Yellowl^nife 

 Kiver. ) 



N. A. Birds' Eggs, p. 79, 1904. 

 / Parry's Third Voyage, Appendix, p. 106, 1826. 

 s Journ. Voyage to Baffin Bay, II, p. 139, 1852. 

 ^ Stray Leaves from Arctic Journal, p. 121, 1852. 



