392 



■NOETH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



season of 1897 Spreaclborough first observed it at Edmonton on May 

 17, and found a nest on June 10; and that J. M. Macoun [in the. 

 summer of 1888] saw one at Grand Rapid, and a few at Methye 

 Portage." 



Say ornis phoebe (Lath.). Phoebe. 



In the spring of 1901 we saw a pair at the bridge spanning Ver- 

 milion Creek, 42 miles north of Edmonton, May 2 and 3. AVe next 

 met with the species near Fort Chipewyan May 29, when we saw a 

 pair and took a specimen, and we collected another 10 miles below 

 Peace Eiver on June 10. ^Ve next noticed it on Slave River. 25 

 miles below Fort Smith. June 30, when we discovered a nest contain- 

 ing nearty fledged 3^oung on the face of a steep bank. AYe observed 

 the species on lower Slave River July 3, and I saw one along the 

 limestone ridge at Fort Rae on July 20, and collected an immature 

 female near the post July 27. 



In 1903 we first saw this species at Edmonton ^May 9, and we found 

 it common between Sturgeon River and Athabaska Landing May 

 13 to 15. While descending the Athabaska we saw the species 60 

 miles below Athabaska Landing Ma}^ 18 and near Little Buffalo 

 River May 26. AVe next noted it at Smith Landing June 12. and 

 found it common June 18 and 19 on the lower part of Slave River, 

 where many were nesting beneath the overhanging clay banks. Dur- 

 ing my trip northward from Fort Rae I found it rather common 

 along Grandin River August 1 to 4, discovering a nest with nearly 

 fledged young on the latter date, and took a bird of the year near 

 Lake St. Croix August 14. 



In the spring of 1904 this bird was first noted at Fort Simpson 

 May 14, three being observed. Others were seen May 16, and the 

 species was common May 19, when a pair was taken. It was next 

 seen a few miles below Fort Simpson on June 2. On my return 

 trip several were observed at Fort McMurray August 11. 



Ross first recorded this flycatcher from the Mackenzie River region, 

 considering it rare north to Fort Simpson, where he had taken it.^ 

 Bendire, in 1896, summarized its northern and western limits of 

 distribution as follows : 



Longitude 100° (west of Greeuwicli) marks about tlie western limits of its 

 breeding range in tlie United States, but in ttie Northwest Territory it readies 

 west to nearly 122° at Fort Simpson, on the Mackenzie River, in latitude 62° 

 12' N., where Mr. B. R. Ross, of the Hudson's Bay Company, obtained a female. 

 No. 22613, in May, 1861, which is now in the United States National Museum 

 collection. This point, as far as yet known, marks both the western and 

 northernmost limits of its range. Its nests and eggs have also been taken on 

 Lesser Slave Lake, southern Athabaska, by Mr. S. Jones; and near Fort Rae, 

 Great Slave Lake, by Mr. R. MacFarlane; It has also been obtained by Mr. 



a Catalogue Canadian Birds, Part II, p. 338, 1903. 

 &Nat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 278, 1862. 



