190S.] 



BIRDS. 



295 



migrate, but some were strong on the wing and evidently were re- 

 maining Yoluntarilv. 



In the spring of 1904 I first noted this bird at Fort Simpson May 

 18. when I saw a small flock on the river. The species was common 

 the next day and was several times observed during the remainder 

 of the month. It was most abundant in some small lakes near the 

 post, where the natives reported that it breeds. T\Tiile descending 

 the Mackenzie in June I noted it nearly every day. Several were 

 seen near Fort McPherson July 15. and a few on my return trip up 

 the Mackenzie late in July. 



MacFarlane found the white-winged scoter breeding throughout 

 the Anderson Eiver region, both in the wooded country and on the 

 ' Barrens*.^ Baird. Brewer, and Eidgway state that it was taken at 

 Fort Resolution by Kennicott;^^ and the bird catalogue of the Na- 

 tional Museum shows that specimens were received also from Fort 

 Eae. Fort Simpson, and Fort Xorman. Salvaclori records speci- 

 mens from Big Island and Fort Simpson.^ Macoun states that 

 Spreadborough found it common on Lake Ste. Anne, near Edmon- 

 ton. June 9, 1898.^^ Seton records the species from Artillery Lake.^ 



Oidemia perspicillata (Linn.). Surf Scoter. 



This widely distributed species, usually called * black duck ' by the 

 inhabitants, breeds commonly throughout the wooded portion of the 

 region north of Athabaska Lake, and to some extent north of the 

 limit of trees. 



In the spring of 1901 we first noted the surf scoter on the Atha- 

 baska below Fort ^Ic^Iurray. where a few were seen on May 14. 

 While we were coasting along the shore of the lake from Fort 

 Chipewyan to Point La Brie, May 25, we saw numbers, and while 

 returning. Ma}^ 31, we again noted the species. The birds were 

 rather common on the Xorthern Arm of Great Slave Lake July 15 

 and 16, and a number were seen near Fort Eae Juh^ 22. 



In 1903 we first saw this scoter on the Athabaska, above Grand 

 Eapid, May 20. We next noticed it near Smith Landing June 10, 

 and saw numbers on Slave Eiver between Fort Smith and Fort 

 Eesolution, Mackenzie, June 16, 18, and 19. My brother and Gary 

 noted the species at Hay Eiver, June 28, and saw upward of 500 on 

 the lake between Hay Eiver and Desmarais Islands. July 1. On July 

 2 they saw immense flocks, aggregating thousands of individuals, on 

 the upper part of Mackenzie Eiver, between the lake and Fort Provi- 

 dence. They noted the species also at Fort Providence, July 2 and 7, 



« Proc. r. S. Nat. Mus., XIY, p. 422, 1891. 

 ^ Water Birds N. A., II, p. 96, 1884. 

 c Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XXVII, p. 410, 1895. 

 ^ Cat. Canadian Birds, Part I, p. 110, 1900. 

 ^Auk, XXV, p. 69, 1908. 



