494 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



from the notes of Spreadborough, states that this species was first 

 seen at Edmonton, May 8, 1897, Avas common from Edmonton to Atha- 

 baska Pass in June, 1898, and was abundant from the mouth of Lesser 

 Slave River to Peace RiA^er Landing in June, 1903." 



J. Alden Loring reported several seen at Banff, Alberta, during 

 the last week in August, 1894, and took a male on August 29. 



Hylocichla guttata (Pallas). Alaska Hermit Thrush. 



J. Alden Loring took a hermit thrush referable to this species 

 near the head of Grand Cache Eiver, about 60 miles north of Jasper 

 House, August 31, 1896. The species is probably a regular migrant 

 through western Alberta. 



Hylocichla guttata pallasi (Cab.). Eastern Hermit Thrush. 



The common hermit thrush occurs in summer throughout the re- 

 gion north at least to the vicinity of J^ort Simpson. It is mainly an 

 inhabitant of sparsely wooded ridges and pine barrens, and because 

 of this preference is more local and less abundant than its congeners, 

 though in favored places it is fairly common. It is the earliest of all 

 the thrushes to arrive and the latest to depart. 



In 1901 the beautiful song of this bird first greeted us from a grove 

 of mixed woods near Sturgeon River, 25 miles north of Edmonton, 

 on May 1, and during the remainder of our journey to Athabaska 

 Landing, May 2 to 5, the bird was frequently seen and heard, usualty 

 toward evening. Its song was heard at our camp near Brule Rapid, 

 May 11 and 12, and as we floated down the river below that point on 

 May 13. During our sta}^ in the vicinit}^ of Fort Chipewyan the 

 bird was noted almost daily after May 20, and one was taken on May 

 29. Its song was heard 10 miles below Peace River, June 8 and 9. 

 At Smith Landing we did not detect the bird itself, but a nest in 

 which young had apparently been raised was seen on June 14. At 

 Fort Smith we saw or heard the bird daily, June 19 to 29, and took a 

 young one just from the nest on June 27. We last noted the species 

 on Slave River 100 miles below Fort Smith, July 2. 



In the spring of 1903 we first observed the hermit thrush a few 

 miles north of Sturgeon River on May 13, noting several, and again 

 near Athabaska Landing on May 15. While descending the Atha- 

 baska we noted it 30 miles beloAv Athabaska Landing, May 17, and 

 heard several on the lower river during the last few days of May. 

 A specimen was taken at Smith Landing, June 11, and the bird was 

 found to be quite common on Smith Portage, June 12, and along the 

 Slave below Fort Smith, June 15 and 16. My brother and Cary 

 noted several daily at Fort Providence. July 6 to 8, taking 2 speci- 



^ Cat. Cauaaian Birds, Part III, p. 711, 1904, 



