336 



NORTH AMEEICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



t^Yo or three small companies, aggregating about 20 individuals, feed- 

 ing on the floating fields of ice. Two males and a female in fresh 

 spring plumage were taken. Their stomachs were filled with insects, 

 mainly beetles, which they had evidently picked up on the ice. 



In the spring of 1904 I first observed the turnstone at Fort Simp- 

 son, May 29, when a solitary female was secured. Snow was falling, 

 and several inches had already accumulated on the river shore, but 

 the bird did not seem to be much troubled by these conditions. I 

 next noted the species June 7, observing a flock of about 50 near 

 Fort AYrigiey. They were feeding on a broad stretch of muddy 

 shore. 



Under the name Strepsilas collar is ^ Edward Sabine recorded speci- 

 mens from the Xorth Georgia Islands [probably Melville Island], 

 Avhere the species was stated to breed.^ Doctor Rae, while traveling 

 along the southern coast of Victoria Land, in August, 1851, observed 

 old and young birds, indicating that the species breeds on that coast.* 

 J. C. Eoss states that one was seen at Felix Harbor in early July, 

 and others between Victoria Harbor and Fury Point, Boothia, in 

 June.^ MacFarlane refers to the species in the Anderson Elver 

 region as follows: 



In June, 1S64, a dozen birds were observed at Fort Anderson, and one was 

 shot. The species breeds on the shores of Liverpool and Franklin bays, and 

 on the lower Anderson River. Several nests were secured in the latter region : 

 but none were met with in the Barren Grounds.^ 



Under the name Strepsilas interpres. Baird, Brewer, and Eidgway 

 record specimens received from Fort Eesolution, Fort Eae, Big 

 Island, Fort Simpson, Fort Anderson, and the lower Anderson 

 Eiver.^ A specimen from Fort Anderson collected June 10, 1864, 

 one from Fort Eesolution taken June 1, 1860, by Kennicott, and one 

 from Big Island, are still in the National Museum. 



Dendragapus obscurus richardsoni (Dough). Eichardson Grouse. 



This large and handsome grouse inhabits the Eoclvj^ Mountains 

 and reaches the vicinity of the Mackenzie only among the spurs of 

 that range. Our records are the most northerly for this region, 

 though the species may exist still farther to the northward among 

 the unexjDlored ranges. Alfred E. Preble and Merritt Gary, while 

 collecting on Mount Tha-on'-tha. near the mouth of Xahanni Eiver, 

 July 16, 1903, took an adult male and female and two young birds. 

 They were found near the summit of the mountain, where the timber 



<^ Suppl. to Appendix Parry's First Voyage, p. cc, 1824. 

 » Canadian Record of Science, III, p. 135, 1888. 

 c Appendix to Ross's Second Voyage, p. xxxi, 1835. 

 '^Proc. r. S. Nat. Mus., XIV, p. 430, 1891. 

 « Water Birds X. A., I, p. 123, 1884. 



