436 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[xo. 27. 



almost daily on the way to Great Bear Lake between that date and 

 August 27. It was abundant and a number were taken at our camp 

 on the shore of Great Bear Lake east of Leith Point during the last 

 days of August, but after the frosty nights of the opening days of 

 September it became much less common. As we approached the east- 

 ern end of the lake, howeyei'. and entered a milder region, the birds 

 again became conspicuou> and were seen daily. One taken from a 

 large flock near the outlet of Great Bear Lake. September 16, still re- 

 tained traces of the ju venal plumage on the chest and throat. A few 

 were seen nearly every day during mv stay at Fort Franklin, Sep- 

 tember 18 to 27, and several specimens were taken. 



In the series collected at Fort Simpson in ]May. 1901. and mainly 

 referable to S. m. ochrdcca. are two specimens, taken respectively May 

 7 and 10. which must be referred to *S'. montlcola. Four specimens 

 taken at Willow River, near Fort Providence. May 7 and 8. and com- 

 jDrising a majority of the series collected there, are referable to IS. moii- 

 ticola. These two points, therefore, seem to lie on opposite sides of 

 the line dividing the two forms during migration. 



Seton records this species as nesting abundantly from the eastern 

 end of Great Slave Lake to the limit of the forest toAvard the north- 

 east in the summer of 1907.^^ 



Spizella monticola ochracea Brewst. Western Tree Sparrow. 



In the spring of 1903 we first noted this form near Sturgeon River 

 May 12, when we saw several birds and collected two. AVe next ob- 

 served it at Grand Rapid. ^lay 22, noting several and collecting one. 

 The next birds referred to this form were observed at Fort Xorman 

 on the Mackenzie, when I reached that stream from Great Bear Lake 

 on October 1. Here the birds were abundant and evidently were 

 migrating sotithward along the valley of the ^Mackenzie from their 

 breeding grounds about its mouth. Xmnbers were observed a few 

 miles above Fort Xorman. October 2 and 3. At this date the species 

 was becoming less conspicuous, but a few birds were noted above 

 Gravel River. October 6 ; near Roche Trem^De-Feau. October 8 and 9 , 

 near Fort Wrigie3^ October 10 and 11 ; and between there and Xa- 

 hanni River, October 13 to 15. The species was last seen 50 miles 

 below Fort Simpson on October 16. On their return trip in the fall 

 Alfred E. Preble and Merritt Gary first observed it at Athabaska 

 Landing, September 20, and found it rather common between there 

 and Lily Lake September 22 to 24. 



At Fort Simpson in the spring of 1904 I saw a single tree sparrow 

 on April 30, and the birds arrived in numbers May 7. Of six speci- 

 mens taken on this date, five prove to be referable to the present 

 form; another was taken May 10. The birds were noted nearly 



« Auk, XXy, p. 72, 1908., 



