THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
m 
uttering tlie same shrill cry. For a good two hours I dodged my friend and 
eventually shot him; 1 subsequently found this plover on the Spokan prairies, and 
then it was a month later in the year and nesting time, his habit now was to live 
in the grass, and flushed much like a snipe, flying a short distance then suddenly 
alighting in the grass. The nest I found was on the ground in a hole, linedjvith 
dry grass and leaves, 3 eggs were in it. 
\ 
Numenius longirostris.— (Wilson.) 
Long-billed Curlew. This curlew appears to me to be only a straggler 
on the west side of the Cascades, but very common between the Cascades and Eocky 
Mountains. They arrive at Colville, and on the Spokan prairies in small flocks of 
three and four, in April; nest on the ground, the nest being a hole scraped out in the 
earth with a few bits of grass and dead leaves scattered loosely about (three eggs 
the usual number laid), they leave again in October. I noticed a curious habit 
this bird had in the fall of the year, that of pitching on the very top of the tallest 
pine trees, and uttering a strange prolonged and discordant cry. I never saw them 
attempt to perch at any other period of the year. 
Anas loschas .— (Linn). 
Mallard. This duck is common everywhere on the Island, along the coast east 
and west of the Cascade mountains, on every stream and lake; they breed here and 
remain in the bays and harbours during the winter. 
Bafila acuta. —(Jenyns). 
Pintail Duck. This duck is found in the spring and fall on most of the streams 
and lakes inland, both east and west of the Cascades. It is also common on Van¬ 
couver island, arrives in April and breeds north; dives a great deal for its food, and 
is not nearly as shy or difficult to approach as the mallard. 
Nettion carolinensis .— (Baird). 
Green-Winged Teal. This teal is most abundant, arriving in April in large 
flocks, and going north to breed, although a few breed inland along the course of the 
Boundary line; returns in the Colville valley, young and old together, in September 
and October, alighting on small streams and pools to feed, but remaining only a few 
days. 
Sjoatula clypeata .— Wilson. 
Shoveller Duck. Very common, and a constant visitor along the coast on the 
Island and on the lakes and streams inland, east and west of the Cascades; arrives 
on its northern route in April, returning again in September and October. A fishy 
duck, and not at all good for the table. 
Mareca americana .— Stephens. 
American Widgeon. An abundant duck everywhere, on the coast and on the 
Island, and on every lake and inland stream east and west of the Cascade mountains, 
arrives and departs about the same periods as the preceding. 
Mergus americanus .— (Cassin). 
Sheldrake Goosander. These birds are found in summer in every lake and 
mountain stream, east and west of the Cascades and on the western slope of the 
Eocky Mountains ; they breed on the rushy banks of the inland lakes and streams. 
