1908.] 



BIRDS. 



495 



mens on the former date, and found it common at Fort Simpson, 

 July 10, and at the mouth of Nahanni River, July 11. On their re- 

 turn trip they saw two at Grand Rapid, August 21, taking one, and 

 another near House River, August 22. Near Athabaska Landing 

 they noted it September 5 and 14. While I was ascending the Mac- 

 kenzie during the same autumn I saw a hermit thrush a short dis- 

 tance above Xahanni River on October 15. 



In the spring of 1904 I first observed the hermit at Fort Simpson 

 on May 10, noting three. I saw itTOxt on May 11, and found it 

 rather common on May 12, when the birds were in full song. Dur- 

 ing the remainder of the month the bird was often seen and the songs 

 of several could be heard from the post almost any evening. While 

 descending the Mackenzie I noted the species below Fort Simpson 

 June 2, and near the base of Xahanni Mountains June 5. On my 

 return trip I saw it a few miles above Pelican Portage August 27, 

 and near Lily Lake, on the Edmonton road, September 3. 



Baird recorded specimens from Fort Resolution, Fort Rae, Fort 

 Simpson, and Peel River." A female, taken with four eggs at Fort 

 Resolution June 30, 1863, by J. Lockhart, is still in the National 

 Museum. A set of eggs also, taken by H. MacKay at Pelican Lake, 

 eastern Saskatchewan, in June, 1891, was received. Macoun, from the 

 notes of J. M. Macoun made in 1888, notes the occurrence of this bird 

 along the Athabaska between Lesser Slave River and Fort McMurray, 

 on the Clearwater River, at Methye Portage, and thence to Isle 

 a la Crosse. He records it also, on the authority of Spreadborough, 

 from Edmonton, where it was first seen May 3, 1897, and from \'\^iite 

 Mud River, Peace River Valley, where it was observed in June, 1903. 



J. Alden Loring took a female in Grand Cache Valley, about 120 

 miles north of Jasper House, September 22, 1896. This specimen 

 agrees with TI. g. pallasi both in color and measurements, and was 

 probably migrating from some point to the northward. 



Planesticus mi^atorius (Linn.). Robin. 



The robin is a common and quite generally distributed species 

 throughout the timbered portion of the region. Around the trading 

 posts and missions, the only settlements, it often builds its nest on the 

 beams of outbuildings or on the timbers of the surrounding fences. 

 Though thus showing its preference for the haunts of man it seems 

 well satisfied in the wilderness and breeds abundantly to the very 

 edge of the timbered country, and even seeks isolated wooded areas 

 within the confines of the Barren Grounds. Up to the region of 

 Great Slave Lake two broods are usually reared, but to the north- 

 ward of that point a single brood probably is the rule. It is one of 



"Rev. Am. Birds, p. 15, June, 1864. 



^ Cat. Canadian Birds, Part III, p, 716, 1904. 



