1908.] 



BIRDS. 



459 



In tlie spring of 1903 it was first observed near Sandy Creek, 

 where a flock of about 15 was seen in a grove of Banksian pines, 

 May 11:. It was next noted near tlie mouth of Willow Lake River, 

 Avhere on July 19 my brother and Gary observed a flock of 10 fly- 

 catching in a burnt tract. On their return trip they found the 

 species rather common on the Athabaska above Fort McMurray. 

 The birds usually frequented the brules on the slopes of the valley, 

 often flying over the river in pursuit of insects. The species was 

 noted as follows: Fort McMurray, August 8 to 12, common; Moun- 

 tain to Cascade rapids, August 11:, common; Crooked Rapid to Boiler 

 Rapid, August 16 and 17, rather common; Swift Current Rapid, 

 August 28, 25 individuals; Athabaska Landing, September 2 to 11, 

 common. 



In 1904 I saw the cedar waxw^ing only while ascending the Atha- 

 baska on my return trip, noting several above Little Buffalo River, 

 August 20, and finding it common at Grand Rapid, August 23. 



Previous to our investigations in the region, the cedar waxwing 

 apparently had not been recorded north of central iVlberta. Both 

 skins and eggs were received by the Smithsonian from Lesser Slave 

 Lake, Avhere they were taken in 1808 by Strachan Jones. Macoun 

 states that J. M. Macoun [in 1888] found the bird common on upper 

 Clearwater River, on Methye Portage, and in places between Methye 

 Lake and Isle a la Crosse ; and that Spreadborough found it common 

 from Edmonton to Athabaska Pass in June, 1898, and along Peace 

 River in latitude 5G° in July, 1903.« 



In the early autumn of 1895 J. Alden Loring found the species 

 common all along the route from Edmonton to the mountains, and 

 reported that he saw two i.idividuals at Flenry House. He states 

 that in 189G he found it common along the same route during the 

 early summer, and that it was common and breeding 15 miles south 

 of Henry House, July 3 to 21. 



Lanius borealis Vieill. Northern Shrike. 



Though breeding throughout the wooded region, this species was 

 seldom observed during our journeys. In 1901 it was noted but 

 once, a single bird being seen at the border of a small marsh near 

 Slave River, 25 miles below the Peace, June 12. 



In the summer of 1903 I saw one on the island at Grand Rapid on 

 May 23. The species was next observed by us at the mouth of 

 Mc Vicar Bay, Great Bear Lake, September 10, when I took two 

 specimens, an adult male and a female of the year. I saAv another in 

 close pursuit of a badly frightened robin at Fort Franklin, Septem- 

 ber 25. While ascending the Mackenzie I observed single birds 10 

 miies above Fort Norman, October 2; 10 miles below Blackwater 



«Cat. Canadian Birds, Part III, p. 561, 1904. 



