190S.] 



BIRDS. 



439 



Peace Eiver Landing in June. 1903. On the authority of J. M. 

 Macoun. he states that [in 188S] it was abundant along the trail be- 

 tween Edmonton and Athabaska Landing, but was rather rare on 

 the Athabaska. and was common up the Clearwater and between 

 Methye Portage and Isle a la Crosse.^ 



J. Alden Loring rejDorted seeing large flocks at Banff, Alberta, 

 August 25 to Sej^tember 1, 1894, and took two specimens there on 

 August 28. 



Spizella pallida (Swains.). Clay-colored S]3arrow. 



This species, originally described from the Saskatchewan, ranges 

 northward to Great Slave Lake, as was first ascertained by Kenni- 

 cott, occupying mainly prairie-like tracts and brushy clearings. 



In 1903 we first observed the clay-colored sparrow 20 miles north 

 of Edmonton. May 12, noting some half a dozen individuals and 

 collecting a male in song. As we traveled northward toward Atha- 

 baska Landing we found the species common to the northward of 

 Sturgeon River on May 13, and observed one near Sand}^ Creek, 

 May 11. We next observed the species on June 22 and 23 at Fort 

 Resolution, where we saw several individuals in the shrubby field 

 to the rear of the post buildings, and collected adults of both sexes. 



This bird was first recorded from the ^Mackenzie Valley by Ross, 

 Avho gave it as occurring north to Fort Resolution.^ A specimen 

 taken at that post by Kennicott. June 18. I860, and another taken at 

 the same place by Lockhart, June 9, 18G3. '* with nest and four eggs.-' 

 are in the Xational Museum. A specimen, together with eggs, is cata- 

 logued as having been received from Strachan Jones, from Lesser 

 Slave Lake, in 1868, but the skin at least has disappeared. Macoun 

 <ays. on the authority of Spreadborough : ^' 



First seen at Edmonton, Alta., May .31st [1897] : found a number of nests, 

 all on the ground at the roots of a little clump of willows; none of the nests 

 were more than four inches above the cromKl. and were made of dry grass 

 lined with horse hair; eggs from two to five in a set: * * common in 

 all the open country from Lesser Slave Lake to Peace River Landing, Lat. 

 .")6° ]."»' in June, l!X).*i: common from Edmonton to Pembina River in .June. 1S98. 



He records also specimens taken at Edmonton in May, 1897, and 

 Peace River Landing in June. 1903. and eggs taken at Edmonton, 

 May 31 and Jime 1. 1897. Russell has recorded two alleged specimens 

 from Fort Rae,'^ but they prove on examination to have been incor- 

 rectly identified. 



- Cat. Canadian Birds, Part III, p. 492, 1904. 

 »Nat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 282, 1862. 

 ^Cat. Canadian Birds, Part III. pp. 495, 497, 1904. 

 ^Expl. in Far North, p. 267, 1898. 



