400 



NORTH AMEEICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



Pica pica hudsonia (Sab.). American Magpie. 



Wliile we were descending the Atliabaska in 1901 some of the 

 voyagers remarked on the absence of magpies, stating that a few 

 were usually noticed along the river about Fort McMurray. Two 

 specimens (Nos. 61215 and 61216), received from Strachan Jones, 

 and recorded with a collection from Lesser SlaA^e Lake, were proba- 

 bly taken at this place. Richardson says : " The American magpie 

 has not been seen to the north of the River of the Mountains, and 

 is rare even there." " 



Cyanocitta cristata (Linn.). Blue Jay. 



This jay is of regular occurrence along the Athabaska, which 

 seems to be its northern limit. It was first noted near the mouth 

 of Little Red River on May 15, 1901^ a single bird being seen. The 

 species was not again noted until we were ascending the Athabaska 

 on our return, when we saw small companies near Big Cascade 

 Rapid, August 13, and between Grand Rapid and Pelican Rapid, 

 August 22 and 23. 



While on their outward trip in 1903, Alfred E. Preble and Merritt 

 Cary heard the notes of several at Fort McMurray on August 11. 



In 1904, while ascending the Athabaska on my return trip, I saw 

 and heard several near Pelican Rapid, August 25, 



Macoun says: 



Not rare around Athabasca Landing, May 22, 1888, and np the Athabasca to 

 Lesser Slave River; one specimen v^as tal^en three miles up the Clearwater 

 River from Fort McMurray in latitude 56° 30' ; said to be quite common 

 about Isle a la Crosse Lake and to winter there (J. M. Maooun). One ob- 

 served June 8, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta., eating a young bird ; the only one 

 seen ( Spreadborough) 



Perisoreus canadensis (Linn.). Canada Jay. 



The ' whisky jack ' is common and generally distributed through- 

 out the wooded region. It is one of the few winterers, but its scarcity 

 during the more severe months indicates that it is to some extent 

 migratory. 



In 1901 we first noted the Canada jay in the groves of Banksian 

 pine between Vermilion Creek and Towatinnow River, where it was 

 common May 3 and 4. While descending the Athabaska we saw the 

 species several times between Grand Rapid and Little Red River, 

 May 11 to 15. We saw several in the willow thickets on the Quatre 

 Fourches marsh. May 24, several on a wooded island near the outlet 

 of Athabaska Lake, June 2, and noted the species on Rocher River, 

 June 5. We collected a pair in worn breeding plumage, with molting 

 tail feathers, together with a young bird, at the mouth of Peace River, 



« Arctic Searching Expedition, I, p. 179, 1851. 

 ^Cat. Canadian Birds, Part II, p. 374, 1903. 



