190S.] 



BIKDS. 



311 



Botaurus lentiginosus (Montag.). American Bittern. 



This is a rather common smnmer inhabitant of the marshes of this 

 region north to Great Slave Lake. We saw one at the mouth of the 

 Athabaska May IT, 1901, and found the species common on the 

 Quatre Fourches marsh, near Fort Chipewyan, May 23 and 21. Its 

 notes were heard a few miles west of Fort Chipewyan. May 31, and 

 25 miles below Peace River, June 12 and 13. A single bird was seen 

 near Smith Landing June IT, and another in the marsh near Fort 

 Smith June 20. 



In 1903 we heard the notes of this bird on many occasions while 

 passing the marshes of the lower Athabaska, May 31 and June 1, and 

 we again noted the bird on Rocher River. June 6 to 8. The species 

 was reported common in the marshes near Hay River, where my 

 brother and Cary saw one on June 28. On tlieir return trip they 

 saw one at Pelican Portage. August 25, and one at Lily Lake, Sep- 

 tember 21. On May 6, 1901. the notes of this species were heard at 

 Willow River, near Fort Providence, hj H. W. Jones. He reported 

 the bird common there, and on May 18 shot 2 males. An examina- 

 tion of their stomachs showed that they had been feeding on frogs 

 and large beetles. "WTiile descending the ^lackenzie I saw a single 

 bird 15 miles below Fort Xorman on June 16. 



H. W. Jones reports its occurrence near Fort Providence on May 

 12, 1905. Ross listed this species as occurring in the Mackenzie River 

 region north to the Arctic coast, but as being rare northward.^ The 

 Xational Museum bird catalogue records specimens from Big Island 

 and Fort Rae. 



Ardea herodias Linn. Great Blue Heron. 



J. Alden Loring reported seeing one at Spotted Lake, 60 miles 

 west of Edmonton. May 2T, 1896. 



Grus americana (Linn.). Whooping Crane. 



This fine species formerly l^red in considerable numbers in suitable 

 places throughout the region north to the Barren Grounds. It has 

 now become ahnost extinct in the north, and was not observed during 

 our journeys. 



King mentions seeing a large flock of these birds at Fort Chip- 

 ewyan. Ross lists the species as rare in the Mackenzie River region 

 north to Fort Simpson, where it had been collected.^ Coues de- 

 scribes eggs collected by J. Lockhart at Great Slave Lake.^ Baircl. 

 Brewer, and Ridgr^ ay record specimens of the birds taken at Fort 



«Nat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 284, 1862. 

 ^Narrative Journey to Arctic Ocean, II, p. 212, 1836. 

 <^Nat. Hist. Rev., II (second series), p. 284, 1862. 

 ^ Birds of the Northwest, p. 531, 1874. 



