434 



NORTH AMEEICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



daily by Alfred E. Preble, July 12 to 27. On the return trip it was 

 seen near Pelican Rapid, August 24, and near Vermilion Creek, 42 

 rniles north of Edmonton, September 3. A female taken at Fort 

 Chipewyan on May 23 has the throat-patch grayish, concolor Avith 

 the upper part of the chest, the feathers of the throat tipped with 

 dusky, and a conspicuous dusky spot on the center of chest. Two 

 other specimens, both females, taken respectively on lower Slave 

 River, July 2, and at Fort Resolution, July 5, are similar, but the 

 throats are not so dark and the chest spots are less conspicuous. 



In the spring of 1903 we first observed the white-throat near Stur- 

 geon River, May 13, noting upward of 25 individuals, and found it 

 common between there and Athabaska Landing, May 14 and 15. 

 While descending the Athabaska we noted the species below Pelican 

 Rapid, May 19 ; at Grand Rapid, May 21 and 22 ; and nearh^ every 

 day along the Athabaska between Little Buffalo River and Athabaska 

 Lake, May 26 to June 1. We observed it also at Fort Chipewyan, 

 June 3 ; on Rocher River, June 6 ; and at Fort Smith, June 14. Along 

 Slave River, between Fort Smith and Fort Resolution, we found 

 the sj)ecies common, noting numbers nearly every day. It was com- 

 mon also at Fort Resolution during the latter part of June, and 

 several specimens were taken. During their trip to the Mackenzie 

 my brother and Cary noted the species at Hay River, June 28 to 

 July 1, and daily at Fort Providence, July 5 to 8. Several were 

 observed also at Fort Simpson, July 10, and at the mouth of the 

 jN'ahanni River, July 11. On July 13 and 17 they heard a few sing- 

 ing on the Nahanni Mountains at about 500 feet altitude. On their 

 return to the mouth of Nahanni River, July 19, they found the species 

 common there, as it was also between there and Fort Wrigley, July 

 19 and 20. On their return trip in the fall they found the bird 

 abundant on the Athabaska between Fort McMurray and La Biche 

 River, August 8 to 29; near Athabaska Landing, August 31 to Sep- 

 tember 21 ; and along the road to Edmonton, September 21 to 26. 



In the spring of 1904 I first observed this bird at Fort Simpson on 

 May 16, taking one. I next saw it May 17, and found it common on 

 May 18 and during the remainder of the month. During my trip 

 down the Mackenzie I noted it daily in small numbers at Fort Nor- 

 man, June 11 to 15, taking a nest with four eggs on the latter date. 

 The nest was placed on the ground in a thicket of willows and alders, 

 and was comjDosed outwardly of coarse grass, strips of bark, and 

 moss (some of which had earth adhering to the roots), and was lined 

 with fine grass and hair. Below this point the bird became much 

 rarer, but was noted near Sans Sault Rapid June 19, and at Fort 

 Good Hope June 21. It was last recorded a short distance above the 

 lower Ramparts on June 29, when I heard its song. On my return 

 trip I saw the bird at Little Red River, August 9 ; at Fort McMur- 



