446 NOETH AMERICAN FAUNA. [no. 27. } 



Eae, I noted the species on Grandin RiA^er, August 2. My brother ! 

 and Gary observed two at Hay River on June 30. and took a male, 

 the only one seen, in a swamp at Fort Providence, Jul}^ 7. On their 

 return trip they saw several near Brule Rapid, August 18; took an 

 immature male near Grand Rapid, August 21 ; and observed a num- 

 ber near House River, August 22. They also found it common near 

 Athabaska Landing, September 3 to 5. 



In 1904 I saw the bird only at Fort Xorman, where I took a male 

 on June 11. It was in a muskeg back of the post and was the only 

 one seen. This constitutes the most northern record for the species 

 in this region. 



A skin taken by Kennicott at Fort Simpson, September IT, 1860, 

 is in the National Museum. J. Alden Loring reported the species 

 common at Edmonton, September T to 26, 1894, and took four speci- 

 mens. Macoun, on the authority of Spreadborough, states that it was 

 observed everywhere in the marshes from Lesser Slave Lake to Peace 

 River Landing in June, 1903.^ 



Passerella iliaca (Merr.). Fox Sparrow. 



This beautiful species, perha]3S the handsomest of the sparrows, 

 breeds throughout the wooded region. It is one of the earliest of 

 the sparrows to arrive in spring, and its sweet song may be heard 

 from the alder and willow thickets from the time of the bird's com- 

 ing, though often a late snowstorm whitens its haunts. 



In the spring of 1901 it was first noted on Smith Portage, where 

 Alfred E. Preble heard its song on June 18. A male was taken at 

 Fort Smith, June 23. On the morning of July 9, shortly after leav- 

 ing Fort Resolution to cross Great Slave Lake, I heard its song near 

 the mouth of Slave River. I found it common at Fort Rae, July 19 

 to 29, and collected specimens, including immature birds, on July 

 20 and 23. 



In the spring of 1903 Ave first obserA^ed the fox sparroAV at Grand 

 Rapid, Avhere it Avas common and in full song May 21 to 23. It was 

 also common on the loAver Athabaska, May 30 to June 2. It was 

 next observed on SlaA-e River, 45 miles beloAv Fort Smith, Avhere 

 several Avere seen and heard on June 15 and 16. At Fort ProAddence 

 my brother and Gary noted an adult bird carrying food on July 4, 

 and collected a young one on July 6. On their return trip they noted 

 several, both old and young, at Fort McMurra}^, August 8 to 10; 

 and tAvo at Brule Rapid, August 18. During my trip nortliAvard 

 from Fort Rae I observed it on Sarahk Lake, noting several there on 

 August 7. 



In 1904 I first saw this sparrow at Fort Simpson on May 6, noting 

 three. It Avas common May 7 and for a few days afterwards, and its 



'^Cat. Canadian Birds, Part III, p. 516, 1904. 



