1908.] 



BIRDS. 



443 



Edmonton, September IT and 22, 189-i; Grand Cache River, August 

 31 and September 4, 1896 ; and the foothills of the Eocky Mountains, 

 25 miles northeast of Jasper House, October 5, 1896. 



Melospiza melodia (Wils.). Song Sparrow. 



This widely distributed species occurs throughout the region north 

 to Great Slave Lake, but is rather rare in the northern part of its 

 range. 



In 1901 it was common about Edmonton and on the road to Atha- 

 baska Landing, April 29 to May 5; and was observed at Grand 

 Rapid, May 10 and 11; at Brule Rapid, May 12; and near the mouth 

 of the Athabaska, ^la}' IT. Several were seen near Fort Chipewyan, 

 May 23 to June 1, and a male was taken on May 24. The species 

 was noted also near the outlet of Athabaska Lake, June 5, and 10 

 miles below the mouth of Peace River, June 12. At Fort Smith 

 several were heard singing on the morning of June 19, and at Fort 

 Rae I collected a male, the only one observed there, on July 29. 



In the spring of 1903 we found it common at Edmonton, May 8 to 

 10, and between there and Athabaska Landing, May 11 to 15. It 

 was common and was noted nearly every day as we descended the 

 Athabaska, ]\fay 16 to June 2. Two specimens were taken at Grand 

 Rapid, Ma}^ 22. The species was next noted at Fort Chipewyan, 

 June 3 and 4, and at Fort Smith, June 11. It was last seen at Fort 

 Resolution, where a pair were observed by Cary in the shrubby field 

 back of the post building, June 22. On their return trip Alfred E. 

 Preble and INlerritt Cary noted 3 near Brule Rapid, August 18, and 

 found it common on the Athabaska between Hotise River and Atha- 

 baska Landing, Augtist 22 to September 2. 



In 1904 I did not see this sparrow until I reached Fort McMurray 

 on my return trip; here I saw several on August 11 and 14. I noted 

 the species also near Cascade Rapid, Atigust 16, and found it rather 

 common between La Biche River and Sandy Creek on September 

 1 and 2. 



Ross recorded a specimen of Melospiza gouldi% probably referring 

 to this species, from Big Island.® Eggs collected at the post on 

 Pelican Lake, eastern Saskatchewan, in June, 1891, by H. MacKay, 

 were received by the N^ational Museum. Macoun, on the authority of 

 J. M. Macoun, states that [in 1888] it was common on the Clear- 

 water, on ^lethye Lake, and in places sotith to Isle a la Crosse. He 

 states also that Spreadborough first observed it at Edmonton, Al- 

 berta [probably in 189T], on April 20, and found nests May 26 and 

 2T ; and found it common from Edmonton to the crossing of McLeod 

 River in June, 1898, and from the mouth of Lesser Slave River to 



"Can. Nat. and Geo]., Yl, p. 443, 1861. 



