326 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



rxo. 27. 



In the spring of 1904 I observed this species but once, taking a 

 male from among a flock of lesser yellow-legs at Fort Simpson, May 

 16. 



Ross recorded this yellow-legs as occurring in the Mackenzie River 

 region as far north as Fort Simpson, where it had been taken, but as 

 being rare." A skin (No. 1993-1) taken by Ross at Fort Simpson 

 May 23, I860, is now in the National Museum, and the catalogue shows 

 that specimens were received also from Big Island and Fort Reso- 

 lution. 



Totanus flavipes (Gmel.). Yellow-legs. 



This sniall tattler breeds in suitable places throughout the region 

 north to the Barren Gromids. We saw two individuals at a prairie 

 slough about 15 miles north of Edmonton May 1, 1901. A pair seen 

 almost daily at a marsh near Fort Smith, June 19 to 28, were un- 

 doubtedly breeding. I saw one at Fort Rae July 20 and on July 22, 

 while exploring about some marshy ponds several miles to the east- 

 ward of the post, observed a number. AVhile we were ascending the 

 Athabaska a number Avere seen at Grand Rapid August 21. 



In the spring of 1903 we first saw this yellow-legs about some small 

 ponds near Sturgeon River, Alberta^ May 12, noting about 50 in- 

 dividuals, and between there and Athabaska Landing we observed a 

 few daily May 13 to 15. Several were seen on the lower Athabaska 

 May 30. Next noted at Hay Ri^^er, where my brother and Gary saw 

 one J une 30. While at Smith Landing during the night of August 2 

 they heard this species migrating, and they found it common on the 

 bars at the mouth of the Athabaska August 4. During my trip north- 

 ward from Fort Rae I found it common along Grandin River, August 

 1 to 3. 



In the spring of 1904 I took a specimen, the only one seen at the 

 time, at Fort Simpson May 9. The species was seen also May 10, was 

 common by May 13, and was seen nearly every day during the remain- 

 der of May. At Willow River, near Fort Providence, several speci- 

 mens were taken May 9 to 11 by Messrs. Mills and Jones. The latter 

 observer also noted the species at the same place on May 3, 1905. 



Richardson first recorded this species from the region, describing a 

 male killed at Fort Franklin, Great Bear Lake, May 16, 1826 ; ^ Ross 

 listed it as abundant in the Mackenzie River region north to La Pierre 

 House, and as having been collected at Fort Simpson ;^ Baird, Brewer, 

 and RidgAvay state that it was met with at Fort Resolution May 5, 

 1860, by Kennicott; at Fort Simpson May 15, by Ross; at Big Island 

 by Reid ; and in great abundance at Fort Anderson, on Anderson and 

 Horton [MacFarlane] rivers, and at Rendezvous Lake by Mac- 



« Xat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 285, 1862. 

 * Fauna Boreali-Americana, II, p. 390, 1831. 

 ^'Nat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 285, 1862. 



