410 



NOETH AMEKICAN FAUNA. 



[no. 27. 



Sturnella neglecta And. Western Meadowlark. 



This bird is common on the plains of Alberta, and apparently has 

 not been previously recorded to the northward of the Saskatchewan 

 Avatershed. It was common in the fields between Edmonton and 

 Sturgeon River, May 1, 1901, and a few were seen in a ' prairie ' 50 

 miles north of Edmonton, May 3. 



In the spring of 1903 we observed this bird at Edmonton, May 10 

 to 12, noting several daily, and while on our way to Athabaska Land- 

 ing saw one near Sandy Creek, May 14, and another near Athabaska 

 Landing, May 15. 



On the morning of May 20, 1904, I secured a fine male in a field 

 back of the post buildings at Fort Simpson, Mackenzie. When shown 

 the specimen, one of the ladies reported seeing two others on the same 

 morning. The species had never been seen before at that place by 

 any of the inhabitants. 



Euphagus carolinus (Miill.). Rusty Blackbird. 



This abundant and widely distributed blackbird breeds commonly 

 throughout the region north to the limit of trees. It is the earliest 

 blackbird to arrive in spring, and in autumn many of the birds, now 

 in rusty garb, delay their departure for the south until forced to 

 leave by the severity of the climate and the scarcity of food. 



In 1901 this bird was first noted on Loon Island, 50 miles north of 

 Fort Resolution, July 11, when a few were seen and a female was 

 collected. A few were seen at Fort Rae, July 26 to 29, and while we 

 were ascending the Athabaska a number were observed a few miles 

 above Fort McMurray on August 12. 



In 1903 w^e first detected this bird on the lower Athabaska, June 1, 

 noting several, and next observed it on the lower Slave, June 18. 

 My brother and Gary saw a few individuals at Fort Providence, 

 July 6 and 7, and took three specimens on the former date. On their 

 return trip they found the species migrating commonly at Athabaska 

 Landing, August 31 to September 4. After the division of the party 

 I noted the species at Fort Rae, July 28, and while on my trip north- 

 ward from Fort Rae observed it on Grandin River, August 1 to 4, and 

 saw a small flock on Lake Hardisty, August 17, taking two specimens. 

 I noted it also on the route between there and MacTavish Bay on 

 August 20 and 23. AATiile traveling along the southern shore of 

 Great Bear Lake I saw a few daily at our camp east of Leith Point, 

 August 29 to September 3, taking one on the latter date; noted a 

 few 40 miles west of McVicar Bay September 13, and near Manito 

 Islands, September 15 ; and observed it several times at Fort Franklin, 

 September 17 to 23, taking two specimens, which proved to be very 

 fat. I next observed the species on the Mackenzie, where I noted a 

 few nearly every day between Fort Norman and a point about 50 



