450 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



On May 14, 1903, we first observed this bird near Sandy Creek, 

 20 miles south of Athabaska Landing, Alberta, noting a male in full 

 song in a grove of Banksian pines. Another male was taken at 

 Grand Rapid, May 21, and others were seen between Grand Rapid 

 and Cascade Rapid, where the species was common. It was noted 

 daily in numbers along the Athabaska between Red River and the 

 Athabaska delta May 29 to 31. A few were seen on Rocher River, 

 June G, and on Slave River above Smith Landing, June 10, and the 

 species was rather common along Slave River between Fort Smith 

 and a i^oint about 90 miles below there, June 15 and 16. It was next 

 observed near the mouth of Nahanni River, the most northerly point 

 wdiere the species has been detected. Here my brother and Cary 

 saw a pair on July 11, the male singing, and heard two males July 

 19. On their return trip they saw several on the Athabaska 40 miles 

 below Red River, August G, and a few at Fort McMurray, August 

 11 and 12, taking one on the latter date. 



In 1904, wdiile on my return trip, I saw several at Fort McMurray, 

 August 11 and 12, and collected one on the former date. 



Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway note the occurrence of this bird at 

 Fort Liard." The bird catalogue of the National Museum records 

 two specimens taken there in the spring of 18G8, by W. J. McLean; 

 one (No. 35G02), from Fort Halkett, British Columbia, taken by 

 William Brass; and another (No. 19541, male), from Fort Simpson, 

 taken May 31, 18G0, by B. R. Ross. Russell records a specimen taken 

 at Fort Chipewyan, June 28, 1893.^ Macoun's notes from Alberta 

 on this species are as follows : 



Abundant at Athabasca Landing, 90 miles north of Edmonton, and up the 

 Athabasca to Lesser Slave River. A tew were seen down the Athabasca to 

 Fort McMurray, lat. 56° 40'. (J. M. Macoun [1888].) Common from the mouth 

 of Lesser Slave River to Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15', in June, 1903; first 

 seen ^Nlay Sth, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta. ; after this date they became common 

 and soon began to breed ; common from Edmonton to Yellowhead Pass in June, 

 1898 [SpreadboroTghl. 



He also records specimens from Edmonton and Athabaska Land- 

 ing, Alberta.^ 



J. Alden Loring reported seeing a pair near Henry House, and 

 took a specimen, presmnably one of the sauie birds, at that place 

 September 10, 1895. In the early summer of 1896, while on his way 

 from Edmonton to the Rocky Mountains, he saw several on the 

 J asper House trail, and also noted a number 15 miles south of Henry 

 House in July, and collected a specimen there July 15. 



^Hist. N. A. Birds, Land Birds, I, p. 438, 1874. 



* Expl. in Far North, p. 268, 1898. 



^Cat. Canadian Birds, Part III, pp. 534, 535, 1904. 



