496 



NOKTH AMEKICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



the earliest of the strictly migratory birds to arrive in the spring, 

 and in autumn delays its departure until severe ^yeather and scarcity 

 of food force it southward. 



In 1901 the robin was common at Edmonton and between there and 

 Athabaska Landing April 29 to May 5. It was noted below Atha- 

 baska Landing May 6, and was found to be common on the lower 

 Athabaska May 15 to IT. It was occasionally seen in the vicinity of 

 Fort Chipewyan May 19 to June 4, and was noted 10 miles below 

 Peace River June 10, and 25 miles below, June 13, when one was 

 taken. It was rather common at Smith Landing, where Ave noted it 

 daily June 14 to IT and took a specimen on June 15. At Fort Smith 

 we found it more common than at any other point visited, and noted 

 numbers daih^ June 19 to 28. On June 21 I found three nests con- 

 taining eggs, undoubtedh^ representing second broods, since many 

 young birds were then on the wing. We noted the species daily July 

 2 to 4 on lower Slave River, and July 5 to 9 at Fort Resolution, where 

 Alfred E. Preble also observed it several times during the latter part 

 of July. I saw a few on the north shore of Great Slave Lake near 

 the mouth of the Northern Arm July 15, and one between Trout Rock 

 and Fort Rae on July 18. At Fort Rae I noted the bird almost daily 

 July 19 to 29, and took an immature bird on July 2T. On our return 

 trip we saw a few at Smith Landing August 6, and above La Biche 

 River August 28. 



In the spring of 1903 we found robins abundant at Edmonton, 

 Alberta, on our arrival there May 8, and found a nest containing 4 

 eggs on May 10. We found it common also during our trip to Atha- 

 baska Landing May 11 to 15. We observed it at Grand Rapid May 22 

 and 24, occasionally saw it along the Athabaska between the latter 

 point and its mouth, and found it rather common along Rocher and 

 Slave rivers to Fort Resolution. At this post we noted it as an 

 abundant and familiar species during the latter part of June. Dur- 

 ing their trip to the Mackenzie my brother and Gary observed a num- 

 ber at Hay River June 28 and July 1, found it abundant at Fort 

 Providence July 2 to 8, and noted it near the mouth of Nahanni 

 River July 12. On their return trip in the fall they noted it migrat- 

 ing abundantly near Athabaska Landing September 1 to 14, and saw 

 a few 50 miles south of Athabaska Landing September 23. After 

 the division of the party I frequently noted it at Fort Resolution 

 during the first half of July, and while crossing Great Slave Lake 

 saw one near Trout Rock July 26. ^^VTiile following the canoe route 

 northAvard from Fort Rae to Great Bear Lake I found this bird 

 rather common. I noted it along Grandin River August 1 to 6, on 

 Lake Faber August T, on Lake Rae August 8, to the north of Lake St. 

 Croix August 15, and at various points between there and MacTavish 

 Bay, where it was common August 2T. Several flocks were seen at 



