378 



NOETH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



Simpson, Fort Liard, Fort Good Hope, Peel Eiver, La Pierre House, 

 and Anderson River; one from Fort Anderson, taken May 5, 1863. 

 and labeled as having been collected with five eggs, is still in the col- 

 lection. Russell records one taken at Fort Rae October 2, 1893.^ 

 Macoun records one taken at Jasper House, Alberta, June 14, 1908, 

 by Spreadborough.^ 



Ill a manuscript list MacFarlane records eggs taken at Fort 

 Providence, on April 14, 1885, and near Fond du Lac, Athabaska 

 Lake, in Ma}^, 1885. 



At Edmonton J. Alden Loring obtained one which had been shot 

 on September 19, 1891. In 1905 he took specimens on the Jasper 

 House trail about 35 miles west of Lake Ste. Anne August 13. and 

 at the crossing of McLeod River August 16 and 18. In 1896 he re- 

 ported the species common all along the route between Jasper House 

 and Smok}^ River in the early autumn, and took a male at Henry 

 House on October 20. 



Ceryle alcyon (Linn.). Belted Kingfisher. 



The kingfisher occurs in summer over most of the region now under 

 consideration. It folloAvs the Mackenzie and Anderson rivers to their 

 mouths, but apparently is absent from the more elevated countr}^ be- 

 tween Great Slave and Great Bear lakes, and from the main area of 

 the Barren Grounds. ^Yithin its range it is usually fairly abundant 

 wherever there are suitable banks for nesting. 



In 1901 one was noted at Athabaska Landing May 5, and another 

 about 40 miles below the Landing on May 7. Between Fort McMur- 

 ray and Athabaska Lake the species was seen daily May 15 to IT. 

 Xone were noted during our stay in the vicinity of Fort Chipewyan. 

 probably because of the absence of banks suitable for nesting, and 

 the species was next noted 10 miles below the mouth of the Peace, 

 where a pair or two were seen on June 11. A^liile descending Slave 

 River between Fort Smith and Great Slave Lake June 29 to July 4, 

 we observed it daily and took a male 50 miles below Fort Smith 

 June 30. This bird was attempting to swallow an eel-pout {Lota 

 maculosa) 7 inches in length, which it had just captured. AYhile 

 ascending the Athabaska we noted the sjDecies at Fort McMurray 

 August 10, below Grand Rapid August 20, and near La Biche River 

 August 27. 



In 1903 we first noted the kingfisher at Sandy Creek, 20 miles 

 south of Athabaska Landing, where we saw one May 14. Yliile 

 descending the Athabaska we saw several between Athabaska Land- 

 ing and Pelican Rapid May 17 and 18, one at Grand Rapid May 23. 

 one at Little Buffalo River May 26, and several on the lower part of 



« ExpL in Far North, p. 262, 1898. 



^ Cat. Cauadiau Birds. Part II, p. 288, 1903. 



