418 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. L'7. 



In 1903 I first observed the species at Fort Franklin, where it ap- 

 peared in large flocks on September 19. With these birds were asso-. 

 ciated smaller numbers of the common redpoll. They fed princi- 

 pally on the seeds of the dwarf birches {Betula nana) which grow 

 abundantly on the low ground near the lake. A number of speci- 

 mens were taken on this and succeeding dates. From this time the 

 species was common, and flocks were seen nearly every day along 

 Bear and Mackenzie rivers until October 20, when I reached Fort 

 Simpson. Here also I found it common during the remainder of the 

 autumn and collected a large series of specimens. 



In 1904 at Fort Simpson I observed the species only a few times 

 during January and February. It became more common in March, 

 and was abundant during the early part of April, and during this 

 time a number of specimens were added to my series. It was occa- 

 sionally seen up to May 10, when an adult female was taken from a 

 small flock. This was the last date recorded. During the winter it 

 fed largely on the seeds of the canoe birch {Betula papyrifera) , and 

 alders {Alnus incana and alnohetula) . 



Coues described this bird from specimens taken by Ross at Fort 

 Simpson.^ Ross, under the name Aegiothus canescens, recorded it 

 as common in the Mackenzie River region north to La Pierre House, 

 and as wintering in the region.^ MacFarlane reported it common on 

 Anderson River, w^here it nested in low bushes.^ The following speci- 

 mens are still in the National Museum: One from Fort Anderson, 

 taken with nest and eggs. May 30, 1862; two from Fort Simpson, 

 April 28 and February 14 ; one from Fort Good Hope, February 14 ; 

 one from Arctic coast east of Fort Anderson; two from Fort Rae; 

 and one from Fort Liard. The catalogue of the birds in that collec- 

 tion records also skins from La Pierre House and Peel River. 



Acanthis linaria (Linn.). Redpoll. 



This hardy species breeds throughout most of the wooded part of 

 the region. In 1901 we saw a number at Fort Chipewyan May 23, 

 and collected one. We did not again note the species until we 

 reached Fort Resolution, where I saw a few individuals July 6, and 

 where Alfred E. Preble noted it almost daily July 12 to 22. I found 

 it common on Loon Island, 50 miles north of Fort Resolution, July 

 11 to 14, taking a specimen on the former date. At Fort Rae I saw 

 it almost daily, July 19 to 29. 



In 1903 we first noted this redpoll at Edmonton, May 8, when we 

 observed one in a high poplar singing a beautiful warbling song. I 

 next observed it at Fort Rae, where several flocks were noted, July 



«Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., XIV, p. 385, 1861. 

 ^Nat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 281, 1862. 

 ^ Proc. TJ. S. Nat. Mus., XIV, p. 440, 1891. 



