190S.] 



BIRDS. 



395 



Empidonax flaviventris Baird. YelloTr-belliecl Flycatcher. 



In 1901 we took one in low mixed woods near the outlet of Atha- 

 baska Lake on June 3. and another at Smith Landing on June 16, both 

 of which ]3roYed to be males. The species was not elsewhere noted, 

 and these seem to be the only records from the region. 



Empidonax trailli alnorum Brewst. Alder Flycatcher. 



This flycatcher occurs abundantly oyer nearly the entire wooded 

 part of the region, following the Mackenzie to its mouth and being 

 the only rej)resentatiye of the genus on the lower part of that stream. 

 In 1901 we noted the alder flycatcher at our camp 10 miles below 

 Peace Riyer on June 11, and on the following day we again heard its 

 notes 25 miles below the Peace. AVe found it rather common at 

 Smith Landing, June 13 to 16, and took two males on June 15. The 

 birds usualh^ perched on small dead trees standing among lower 

 shrubbery, and, though easily seen and heard, were extremely wary, 

 diying into the thickets at the slightest cause for alarm. AVe saw the 

 bird at Fort Smith June 22, my brother noted it at Fort Eesolution 

 July 25, and I took one at Fort Rae July 29. 



In the spring of 1903 we first obseryed the bird on the lower Atha- 

 baska, about 20 miles aboye the delta, on the morning of June 1, 

 when seyeral were seen and heard. We noted it also near the outlet 

 of Athabaska Lake June 5, on Eocher Eiyer June 9, and at Smith 

 Landing June 11. On Slaye Eiyer, between Fort Smith and Fort 

 Eesolution, June 15 to 19, we found the bird abundant, and were con- 

 stantly greeted by its characteristic energetic note. My brother and 

 Gary obseryed it at Hay Eiyer June 30 and July 1, at Fort Proyi- 

 dence July 1 and 6, and near the mouth of Xahanni Eiyer July 11 

 and 12. They noted seyeral on Mount Tha-on'-tha at yarious alti- 

 tudes up to 2,000 feet Jul}' 13 to 18, and took one on the former 

 date. They reported it common near Fort Wrigley July 20 to 22. 

 On their return trip they noted it aboye Fort Simpson July 25, at 

 Fort Eae July 28, and at Fort McMurray August 10. After the diyi- 

 sion of the party I obseryed it frequently at Fort Eesolution during 

 the latter part of June and the first half of July. On July 10 I 

 took a nest containing four fresh eggs, securing also the female. 

 The nest was in an alder bush 3 feet from the ground on the lake 

 shore near the edge of the post clearing. 



In the spring of 1904 this species eyidently had not arriyed when 

 I left Fort Simpson June 1, and was fir:-t obseryed at Fort Xorman, 

 where I saw seyeral daily in the willow thickets June 12 to 14, taking 

 one on June 13. It was next noted a few miles below Fort Norman 

 June 16, and it was common in a broad stretch of low country border- 

 ing the Mackenzie at the Long View, between Bear Eock and Sans 



