1908.] 



BIRDS. 



487 



a specimen at Fort Cliipewyan May 30, ISDS.*^ Macoim, on the au- 

 thority of J. ^I. ^lacoim, notes the occurrence of this bird at Atha- 

 baska Landing, at Fort McMurray, on Clearwater River, and between 

 Methye Lake and Isle a la Crosse ; and, on the authority of Spread- 

 borough, between Edmonton and Athabaska Pass, and between Lesser 

 Slave Lake and Peace River Landing.* 



J. Alden Loring reported it common at Edmonton September 7 

 to 26, 189-1:, and took a series of specimens. In 1895 he found it com- 

 mon in the foothills of the mountains west of Edmonton. In 1896 

 he observed it frequently along the trail west of Edmonton, taking 

 one 25 miles northwest of that place May 26 ; and found it breeding 

 commonly in the mountains and valleys 15 miles south of Henry 

 House July 3 to 21 ; he observed it frequently on the route between 

 Jasper House and Smoky River in the late summer and early autumn, 

 and took two specimens at the head of Muskeg Creek, a tributary of 

 Smoky River, August 29; two on Grand Cache River September 2; 

 and several in Grand Cache Valley September 24. He reported it 

 common also in the mountains west of Henry House October 12 to 20. 



Penthestes gambeli (Riclgw.). Mountain Chickadee. 



On July 28, 1896, J. Alden Loring took an immature bird in Smoky 

 Valley, 50 miles north of Jasper House, and on October 18 collected 

 a female, one of a pair, 15 miles west of Henry House. 



Macoun states that Spreaclborough observed two on a mountain 

 north of Little Miette River, Athabaska Pass, in 1898.*' 



Penthestes cinctus alascensis (Prazak). Siberian Chickadee. 



The first example of this bird known to have been procured in 

 America was a female with seven eggs taken by MacFarlane at Fort 

 Anderson June 1, 1864. The fact was first recorded by Turner,^ and 

 later h\ Xelson.^ MacFarlane also refers to it as follows : 



On June 1, 1864, a nest of this species, containing seven eggs, was found 

 near Fort Anderson, in a hole in a dry si)rnce stunip, at a height of about 6 feet 

 from the ground. It was composed of a moderate (luantity of hare or rabbit 

 fur, intermixed with a sprinkling of dried moss. The female j^are^it was snared 

 on the nest, but the male was not seen. The contents of the nest were tolerably 

 fresh. ^ 



The eggs are still in the National Museum, but I am unable to find 

 the skin of the parent bird. 



" Expl. in Far North, p. 270, 1898. 



Cat. Canadian Birds, Part III, p. 688, 1904. 

 ^ Cat. Canadian Birds, Part III, p. 690, 1904. 

 ^ Contributions Nat. Hist. Alaska, p. 182, 1886. 

 ^Rept. Nat. Hist. Collections in Alaska, p. 212, 1888. 

 f Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIV, p. 445, 1891. 



