312 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



Resolution, Big Island, Fort Rae, and Salt River, and describe a set 

 of eggs taken at the latter place in 1864.° Concerning the status of 

 the species in the Anderson River region, MacFarlane says: 



We never succeeded in finding a nest of this crane, wliich undoubtedly breeds 

 in Arctic America as well as in the country to the southward, as a few flocks 

 were observed flying past Fort Anderson both in spring and autumn.^ 



In notes sent to the Smithsonian he records three white cranes seen 

 at Fort Anderson on May 25, 1865. A specimen taken at Willow 

 River, near Fort Providence, is in the museum at Fort Simpson. 

 H. W. Jones reports the occurrence of the species at the same place 

 on May 13, 1905. 



G-rus canadensis (Linn.). Little Brown Crane. 



This species is common throughout the region, breeding to the 

 northward. I was unable to identify satisfactorily many of the 

 cranes seen; but as our records from the more southern portions of 

 the district were made in spring or fall, when the birds were migrat- 

 ing to or from their breeding grounds in the north, I have referred 

 all the birds observed to (r. canadensis. 



In the spring of 1901 migTating flocks were seen near Edmonton 

 May 1 ; on the Athabaska 40 miles below Athabaska Landing, May 7 ; 

 and below Fort McMurray Ma}^ 15. A small flock was seen at Fort 

 Resolution July 8, and another about 15 miles above Pelican Rapid 

 August 25. 



In 1903 five migrating cranes were seen at Edmonton, Alberta, May 

 10, several more near Sturgeon River May 13, and a flock of 6 near 

 Sandy Creek May 14. A few were noted on Rocher River, Alberta, 

 June 8. AA^iile we were descending Slave River a few miles above 

 its mouth June 19, four cranes were observed on the shore of a 

 low island, and a pair was secured. The plumage of both is heavily 

 suffused with brownish, especially on the back and breast. They 

 measure as foUoAvs : Male, wing 483, exposed culmen 109 ; female, 

 wing 458, exposed culmen 93. Alfred E. Preble and Merritt Cary 

 saw a single bird below the mouth of Nahanni River July 19. On 

 their return trip they noted 3 near Swift Current Rapid August 27, 

 5 at Athabaska Landing August 31, and observed large flocks migrat- 

 ing southward near the same place September 14 and 19. They last 

 saw the species 20 miles south of Athabaska Landing on September 

 22, noting 2. During my trip northward from Fort Rae I saw it 

 onl}^ once, noting one on Grandin River August 3. 



In 1904 I first heard the notes of this bird at Fort Simpson on 

 May 9 and again noted the species on May 11 and 18. Wliile 

 descending the Mackenzie I saw^ 2 near Fort Wrigley June 7. 



« Water Birds X. A., I, pp. 405, 407. 18S4. 

 ^'Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIV. p. 425, 1891. 



