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TXIE
Historical & Scientific Society
OF MANITOBA.
liAfiD ajidSea BiHDS
NKSTIXC. WITHIN THK.
Af^CTIC CIl^CUE
IN TIIK
Lomer ffiackenzie River District,
AS OHSERVKD HY
RODERICK ROSS MACFARLANE, ESQ.,
Chief Factor Hudson's Bay Co.,
,/ Coryt'spaiidiHii Afeinhci of t/if So,ii'ty.
TRANSACTION 39. SEASON 1888-9.
WINNIl'KCi :
MANITOHA FRKK I'RlvSS I'KINT.
IHJKt.
KT F^iGp-Mcm i^c.iJf
-«1
The EDITH and I.ORNE PIERCE
COLLECTION o/CANADIANA
^eetis University at Kingston
..
wl
Cfll
tl
ot
nil
Wl
\
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r
t
Birds Hesting in the Iiomer jVlaekenzie Hegion.
When recently requested by President Cluirles N. Bell, of
Winnipej^, to write a paper on Arctic Breedinj^ Binls, for publi-
cation l>y the Historical and Scientitic Society of Manitoba, 1
thoiijn;ht of ineliidinj( therein n similar refereiiee Ut the collec-
tions made in Ornithology and Oology by the northern officers
of the Company subsequent to the year 1859, when Mr. Robert
Kennicott, an able, amiable and prematurely cut-ott" American
naturalist, and representative of the Smithsonian Institution at
Washington, first appeared on the Miickenicie river. During his
three years sojourn in that quarter he managed to infuse into one
an<l all with whom he had any intercour.se, more or less of his own
anient, zealous and indefatigable spirit as a collector ; but for
want of space, time and the requisite material, I have had to
abandon that idea, and must therefore confine my.selfto giving a
resume of what I was per.sonally enabled to accomplisli. 1 trust,
however, that some day an abler hand will take the matti'r up
in its entirety, and publish a full account of the magniHeent
contributions to the natural history t'f the J)ominion of (,'anada,
obtained V)y the exertions of Hudson's Bay Co. officers throughout
the vast territories covered by the fur trade and commercial
operations of their old Conipany. Among those of their nund»er
who happened to be then, or aboiit that time, stationed in Mac-
kenzie river district, and who thus rendered very essential ser-
vice, may be mentioned Messrs. B. R. Ross, James Loekhart
Laurence C'larke, James McDougall, Wui. L Hardisty, John R'id
C. P. (iaudet, Strachan Jones, J. S. Camselt, Munlo McLeod,
James Sibbiston, A. McKenzie, Andrew Flett, W. .}. McLean,
William Brass and W. C. King. Li this ccmneetion 1 would
further add, that while th*; frien<lly and rather e.\tensiv«> cor-
respondence carried on for years with many of the foregoing by
the late eminent and much lamented Professor Spencer F. Baird,
of the Smithsonian, evinced his own deep lov»' for science, it did
much to intensify their inten'st in. and desire to meet more fully
perhaps than was otherwise possible, the views an<l objects of
that obliging and well conducted Institution.
The scope of country intended to be end)raeed within the
above somewhat pretentious heading of ' Arctic Atnerica," is
bounded on the north by the Polai Sea to the eastern outlet of
the Mackenzie river, on the east by the coast of Fraklin Bay,
from Cape Bathurst to its depth in Langton Hai'bor, on the
\. st by the Lower Mackenzie river, and on the south by the
sixty-seventh parallel of north latitude, to it* intersection with
\
■v
1-J
ioi6>Bo:t^
hundred and tweuivn^' ''"*' ^« ^^« westwr^ /?"'"r^'^ ^'^ ^h,
^^0 Afackon.ie '^^■"'"«' ^*^<'^Pt fion, the u'l '""^^^''^'^ one
yj ^^'" Anderson to
"' me /ato Cliu.f 'f 1 J: ^ «"ninit
'•^•"- ^hislaro,. .,!.: ^"•* ^'"'t'lson rive,- f}.l. /^ "'^^ '-'tunted
.Th»' tract of coiinf
'•'veivs. wlic-e tK '"^. ^''^' '-^vinos Jid 1 ? ''^'^^^"'e sparse
'"'^^' «"'' are know "„ ^'.T"'^' ^^'''>«''* ex t^j'/ ^T' ^^O'*^ vast
f '« ^rest .side of tl e A f ^'^h, wbiJo n.uci ofH ^ ^-^^^'^^ ^ake.s
J« said to be devo >&?• "^''^'- '^^ ""S to t^^ ^'T^ ^»
<;J»an elesewbore • a, j ^T ' '"'*' ••^"^' ^'»'n|.arativ.i ^^^a^kwuie.
t'^isratlul'Latrsr/'f M^^' '■-»<- j^^^^^^^
;\l so interesting and t'*^"'' "'''^P^^"' tor tj;,,t"r '"''""" ^^'^^
-^^I'st ierritories
^ »^'», an<f the oppor-
li it,
uay however be
gatJiered to tlw
^ 'on^ntude one
2'" Anderson to
ons and obser-
>t April. 1862.
-'•. taken of a
Wl,und pre-
"'(• jH-incipaJ
J<l«' as ,'{()' N
•' in ]Hr>] for
wiiN sitmited
*«.•' '>3- no in
'nto Liver-
•"n-D6r.ale"
t'lnee "tothe
<lescribed as
'■ ^it'ights of
'^^re or Joss
eminences,
and niiniei--
Beyond
'nie sparse
the larger
« and dis-
coast and
^^lose vast
i<lrefls of
t^r lakes
iintry on
icken/ie,
niarsJiy
'»■ islands
to finish
5ve tJiat
'"'■poses
Yeiiow
'' Sand-
wort])
'Jtories
be ad-
'Ppor-
— 3 —
tunities thereby attbrdod for making a splendid collection, \v»>re
exceptionally good, yet owing to ignorance and a want of in-
terest displayed, both by Indians and HIs(|uimau\ in the begin-
ning, one or two i-atlier unfavorable seasons, heavy annual losses
of specimens by accidents and neglect, the almost total destruc-
tion by animals >jf our last spring's very small list, the death by
epidemii;. measles and scarletina of the majority of our Itest and
most experienced native collectors, in the autumn and early
winter months of iHiUi, and the abandonment of Fort Anderson
in the suuuner of J.SG(), both of which last mentioned adverse
factors prevented me from spending the nesting season of that
and the succeeding year, as 1 ha<l intended, on the shores and in the
neighborhood of E juinmux Lake and Liverpool Bay, vt-ry much
still remains to be done by future explorers, even in this com-
paratively small section of the " Great Mackenzie Basin, " before
its Fauna is satisfactorily, far less exhaustively ascertainetl. and
the result duly communicated to the scientific world.
It will be observed from the list which follows, that com-
paratively few of the many <»ther species of birds which indubit-
ably occur within the aforesxid <lefined boundaries, and whose
ejrgs were not discovered or received by us, are noted therein.
OCT %,
The notes themselves are chieHy an abridgement of the relative
text, which had been condense<l or cjuoted from the copious
memoranda furnished along with the specimens, as contained in
that valuable and most interesting " History of North American
Birds, by Messrs. S. F. Baird, T. M. Brewer and R. Kidgway."
The three volumes of the Land Birds were published in 1574,
and the two of Water Birds in 1884, both by Little, Brown A:
Company, of Boston, Mass. For the sake of conformity, how-
ever, to the canons of nunieiiclature, since lulopted by the
American Ornithologist Union, their recently revised and
abridged Check List will be closely adhered to in the following
classification. The names given in Coues' Check List are also
added.
WATER BIRDS.
2. — ColjlllbllH HoIImcIIII. ^Rcinbanlt. ) Coues .\iiierican Red Necked
Grebe. nolb(cirs Grebe.
My notes record l)ut two nests of this ( Irebe, one contained
four and the other five eggs, and both were found at a distance
of some foity or fifty miles south of Fort Andeison.
3.— Colyiiilms auritllM. tUima;us. ) Horned Grebe. Coues podicipes.
A skin or two, but no egg.s, were secured near Lockhurt river
in June, 18()1, and forwarded to the late Mr. B. R. Ross, while a
female parent with five eggs was taken on a nest on the edge of
'""■^ than t«l;,'g"'i:'k "'■,'■' 't. vioi„i ;°" J I f^ 8"- «d
' "• ^"'>"'bus torquatus
'•"Xfi- lak,.., of ,K.'7; ?« "< also »o.,„.t „ "'^»' «''«-i- several
specie. -'■' k.iie,i „'„ trx;"t,vr'r.*"'""'^"
, ,-«ui»i. -, racmc 1,0011 r„i, .
„ /l»x IS the „„j,, „, , Coh.,„,„„ ^
""del- investi„at on "x"""'""* <>f all tl,,. 7>i
Ihem there. J „£''*, ««^ ^n course of "ninH •''* ^"^ ^''"ken on
.tr "^ *he fi7/;,:^; r»ark that It Xrii^' ""^ ^^^^^^^"1
father 'liscoivlant soum r^rr''^' «eca,sio„a° ? J''^ '"^^^'^^ »«em'-
"^ noted for i J\; ^ '^ ^^^"^*^ in the w^i KP""^ "ttetance tn
!
^''^ P"st in June
; manner uJready
»• "•<'in nnincrous
•ountiy.
torquatus (Coucs).
t'i« WHtoi- on fcl,,.
"»• «n the centre
u Jiecayefl ve^rp.
" \>y gras.s und
>o instance were
wded nests.
«'yiMb»s torquatus
^''"unds in con-
. W'iiore several
' ^'tli on the
o»« to j)o.sse.s.s
^*Ven one weJI
' ^ater B^
CHt Northern
•^'"•d of thi«
Vmbus Artjcus
"the region
ne wof)ded
'^nd islands
-y resenibJe
sixty-five
in course
"lo eggs of
oi'oken on
^andlin^r
eraJ niem-
^;»anee to
'Jc " Loon
^'tl. shriiJ
Colymbus
at of I/,
^t some
of time,
«
and in the stated localities. Most of these also had two eggo.
the maximum number laid by nil Loons according to native re-
port and personal observation.
ilO.— St(>rcoriiriiiH poiiiatorhiiiiitt. ^Temniiuck.) Pomatorhiue
Jac'Ker.
In June, iHd'.i, an Esi|uinuiux brought in one Jaeger, and in
June, 1H04>, another man traded ii mule and female specimen,
which he killetl near the outlet of Andrrson Kiver. On 11th
July, IJS65, we shot a male bird in Franklin Bay. The tirst
mentioned is inadvertently stated in the aforesaid History of
North American Birds to be the only example of the species pro-
cured, although the receipt of all of them was duly acknow-
ledged by the Smithsonian Institution. We diil not have the
good fortune to bect)me ac«|uainted with its eggs.
37.— St«'reorurlus imrasitieiis. (Linn.) Parasitic Jaeger.
A more numenjus bird than the foi-mer, especially in the
Barren Grounds, where several nests were annually di.scoveretl
on our collecting expeditions from Fort Anderson to Franklin
Bay (1862 and 1805). A few specimens were also obtained from
viie Esijuimaux of the Lower Ander.s(»n River. There is, of
course, no darkness for several months in summer within the l)e-
fore defined Anderson section of the Arctic regions, while in
June the sun at nudnight is .several dej^rees abovf the horizon.
During the period, however, answering to the night in southern
latitudes, we often olwerved in the "Barrens" and on the sea
coast as many as twenty or thirty birds of the ^enus Stcrca)'-
arius sitting or standing on the ground, each bird at the distance
of a few yards from its fellow. They probably repo.sed at such
times, as they never moved except when do.sely approached,
while no eggs were ever discovered in the vicinity of tliese rest-
ing places. During the day. also, two or niore birds were fre-
quently noticed (piietly reposing or moving very slowly along
the ground, and this, too, where no nest actually existed.
38.— Stercorarliis loii||^ieuit«liis. ^Vieillot. ^ Loiif,' Tailed Jaeger.
S. Buffoni (Coues)
This handsome Jaeger is (|uite abundant along the Anderson,
in the " Barrens," nnd also on the Arctic coast. It lays two eggs
in a depression in the soil, .scantily lined with withered leaves
and grasses, etc., and as their eggs greatly resemble theii sur-
roundings the nest is fi'equently very difficult to discover. The
parent birds, by angry screams and hostile demonstrations, in-
variably resent the piesence of intruders, and in more than one
instance they became so savage in their attacks, especially the
female, that she had to be shot at once if order to prevent actual
injury. Over thirty nests were taken, or double as many as
i
that of fcl,e fon-rfoin.. n "^^ i
. ^'K'^'tl...'r son.,, t J 7 «'»"cou8 Gull. I
l'"'flv.l,«,l„„,,l°' "''•."^■^•' contaS two?'' '" ^"riou»
doiTcHsmn in t|„l "; ^- "j""' The nost „:"" '''T "'"*■ «"■'
"pt«| staijc' tJiftti *i. "^ „ '""'- H>"»>tt' U'lm in „ - "J' «* ujm ol
young,
«»— tttni, |,.,„ ,
, ''"'>'». »l«i.., was", ; "■" '«"■'■' <>■.«■
'^°"^«) American
"•' ■*»'"■""««»■ Gull, or
I-ranklini. (Coues * fSS"''^" ^'^ Richardson / n,, •
"' J^ec 1 strougjy
I
f
>f Jaeger .louhtle.,,
inuaJJy.
85
— 7 —
inplin*' t«» tliink tlmt somt* OuUs of thJH species l»ived within the
U'fon- th'HiHMl section of the Arctic Kej(ions.
<tO.— l^irilH IMiiladelpliitt. (Ord.) Bouapurti-'H Ro8> Cull. Chroico-
ci'phalus rhiladclpbia. (Coucs.)
Thirty-seven nests are recorded iw having b«>en taken with
oji ■ I ''" *"*^ *'^'^'^ '" tlieni, between l<»th June and 1 0th July, in the woo<led
'''andjt oij the eountrv. in the neiuhliorhood of Fort Anderson, and on h)wcr
3d hy
^ ^f Frank!
""'• coJJecfc.
I
orved
"1 Various
'"^^s eaeh. and
"^"«/y a shallow
^;' /''-^covered an
'^*^'' ^y a biid of
'•^' ^'"•^'O'o-devel-
^fy<^ con.si,Jere.i
of Its egg« and
no .specimens
»*P'K)J Bay; but
on the shores
^^s) American
'^ «« along tJie
"iher of „<3^t^
'•' to localities
•^'t-viN-ed fro,„
•sts also were
r the Fort.
Al'-'w Gull, or
-e precediuir
«nd by the
'"tly builds
*|>d mosses
•*" e^'g-s and
** do their
the "Bar-
'I'H^ pura-
^ ^vith no
icocephalus
strongly
I
le nei^'noornooa oi rori ivnuersoii, ano o
Anderson river; they were all built on tre«'s at various hoi^htn
(TnHii four to Hfteen and even twenty feet from the ground), and.
with one exception, which was composed of down and velvety
leaves lnld toirethei- by some stringy turf, they were made of
small sticks and tw'ys lined with hay and mosses, ifcc. The
parents always Hy about in close proxiiuity to the nest and
scream vthemently when explorers, in the interests of science,
are objij^'ed to deprive them of their c<^ljs or youniT. and not in-
frequently shoot one of them. Tlu'y seldom lay un»i . than three
eggs.
<(2.— \eniu Silliinii. (Sabine.) .Sabine's Gull. Fo'i- Tailed Gull.
Quite a large number of nests were found ;/ii tlv sh( res of
Franklin '* , and a few eggs wen* also received froxi the Es(|ui-
nuiux of Liverpool Boy. hi^veral specimens of ibis beuntiful
(lui. were shot at the former point. On the 1st July, 1«S()4, we
knocked over three out of a Hock of sixty wluch caim' circling
about itur encampment: they then gracefully retired to anil
alighted in a pool of sea-water at a .s<ife distaiie, — one of the
three having been mer«'ly stinined soon recovered, and after two
ineti'ectual attemi)ts made by an Indian to choke her. she again
revived, and I .set her at liberty. She flew away slowly to her
friends who received her no doubt with demonstrations of great
joy, judging Iwmx tlie noise they made. After a few minutes
they all to«)k their departure, probably to their breeding grounds.
70. — Storua liirun<l<». L,iun. Coninion Tern, or Sea Swallow.
It breeds extensively on tlu' shores (tf the Arctic Sea, as well
as well as on islets in many of the inland lakes of the Forest
and " i^arrens ;" but althoutrb its eggs were not dexidcmtd, and
we did all we could to discourage their gathering, yet a large
number wei"e received for shipment to Washington.
71. — Stoma |>nrn<lisa>a. Hruuu. Arctic Tern. S. Macrura (Coues. )
This Tern is e(|unlly common with the foregoing, and we
might easily have made a considerable collection of eggs from
various localities. Neither species approves of a close })roximity
of man to their nests.
120.— 3Ier^auser Aiuerioanus. (Cassiu.) Amercan Merganser.
I am .strongly of the belief that this species breed,s in .small
numbers in the country to the south of Fort Anderson ; and that
wnich were
Breasted vrerganser *'^- (^"'«)
MergusSerrator(Coues.) Red
^-scu^er. ' ^"'«"« ^errator (Coues ) r«h
fseveral nests of fl •
"n<Ier a f. lion it "" ""' bonl,,- rf ti "° R„ '' "?""' o*' '"«
l'ol<- line, wi"h ?:!;,"'"•"-• '" » «■»»" l«ke-it 17'""' '" ""■' "««'
;«-^ -a.-o,i ;« ;c ^''^''''''y-f-^eci So^-'' ;k "■"/'
«imo,t':,;irgt";t the '"','^-'^ '"»'"i>uwD„ek ,-, t„ ,
«.n.sH<.rationFv» ,""'"■* «'o«l''il section ,, "'"'"etwitl,
'«y.s fVoniTl"' j„ i"','?'"" were receh-ed fr„Z •""""'''y >""'«•
,..;. . "* "^^"authenticated
*'*^'— Alias. stroMori r
Although w. ob/«;n'"!"' """'"'"• ^'^"'^'««'"«sStreperus rr
- "ad -on -™trti::trKraii''r-"^^^^^
. Numbers of „e,t, ,. l. r '"■ '="''?''"■
«r„und,. I' "^'P"' "ffloents of ,I,e VVihnotHoS::" ■■'«'■.
l«ft . "orton tJarren
,.uel'trl»"»,0to^o„ooft„e... "•■=•—■■.
This we found to ' 2"-1"e.U.l.
Anderson r ;. ., '™^<»i but one nest „ "^ ODr breeding
feathe7s™nd itn ;r °f-'""" "' " oX i-^-^'-l "ear Fo"?
142.— SDa*;iiI« ^1 . '
Very rare anJ , ^^'"""-^ ^^°^«"«r-
«
I
''eof, which
^ere I4:i.—Dafila acuta. (Liuu.)
-9 —
Pintail.
Sprigtail.
■ This and (this especially) the Long Tailed Duck, I think are
rator (Coues.) Red the most numerous gciteni which annually resort to the Anderson
land the Arctic Coast; and they are also among the first to arrive
lerous Merganser fin the spring. They were always abundant in the " Barrens."
' ftnd also in the 'The nest was usually a small cavity or depression in the ground,
lined with down, withered leaves and a few feathers, and it lays
from six to eight eggfs. Both species desert their nests alm^^st
iuunediately after the young are hatched, and take to the water
with them From frecjuent ol».servation, I feel convinced that
they ahnost invariably select land locked sheets of water for the
purpose of rearing their young, while most of the other species
of Ducks give the preference to running streams.
147.— Aytliya ValllsiU'ria. (Wilson.) Canvas Back. Kuligula v.
(t ones. )
A few sets of ejjws of this famous Duck were foun«l in the
vicinity of Fort Anderson, where it is tolerably abundant during
the season of nidification.
"d soutJj of tlie
'•ons"totheea.st
; 'I .scooped out
SIX eirg.s, with
t'^n- thefuiiaje
number of p^rgs
<;c» be met with
country under
3US points. Jt
of down ami
nd contiguous
Jck.
lough several
authenticated
Perus. (Coues. j
^ or its eggs,
plat quarter.
'Jaces in the
Swan river,
i*ton Barren
Q"erqi,edi,ia
ing
breed i
near Fort
uiposed of
of ground
»Jiected at
i there.
s
149. — Aytliya affliiis. (Eyt.) Lesser Scaup Duck. Fulijjula A. vCoues. )
Fairly numerous even to the very edge of the wooded coun-
try (m the c'ast side of the Anderson river. Over a dozen nests
were secured — and they were usually found in the midst of a
swamp — a mere hole or depression in the centre of a tuft of turf
or tussock of grass, lined with more or less down, feathers and
hay. Nine was the general number of eggs in a nest, though a
few contained no more than six or seven.
152.— Glaucioiietta IslaiKliea. lOniel.) Harrow's Golden Eye.
Clangula I. (Coues.)
Although an individual bird of this species was shot by Mr.
Murdo MacLeod in the vicinity of Fort Anderson, on 29th June,
18G3, and a male (example obtained there on l-tth June, 18()4, yet
our best efforts failed to discover a sinirle nest in that or any
other quarter, and I think it may be classed among the rarest of
ducks visitinof that reijfion.
154,— Clan{>:ula liiciualis.
(Coues. )
iKiitn.) Olil Squaw. Harelda j^lacialis.
The long tailed Dnck l)reeds in great numbers in the neigh-
borhood of Fort Ar.iler.<!on, along the Anderson River, on the
Barren Grounds, and on the shoi-es of the Arctic Sea. (A)nsider-
ably over one hundred nest« wt>re taken, and the eggs varied
from five to seven, the latter being the maxinmm number re-
corded in an}' one instances. In its make the nest is generally
very similar to that of Ddjibt Acuta. From personal observa-
tion also, I have come to theconelu.sion that the usual quantity of
down neces. ary for a duck's nest is .seldom met with before a
— 10 —
full set of eggs has been deposited, and that the process of lining
with down, which is plucked off from the body of the female,
goes on simultaneously with their laying. Thousands of "Old
Squaws " were seen apparently feeding and otherwise disporting
themselves in the waters of Franklin Bay.
HJl.— Sonmteiia V-iiigra. (Gray.) Pacific Eider.
* This interesting Eider breeds in immen&e numbers on the
shores of Franklin Bay, it is also very abundant on the coast
and islands of Liverpool Bay. The nest is usually a shallow
cavity in the ground, more or less plentifully lined with down.
The eggs are generally five, and but rarely six and seven in
number, of a pale sea green color, "with a tinge of olive." We
foun<l some nests on a sloping bank at a distance of three hun-
dred or more feet from the sea. Others weie also on the main-
land, but the bulk of those secured by us were obtained from
sandy islets in the bays. Over one thousand eggs of the S. V-
nigra, I think first made known by us, were forwarded to
Washington. The male bird is very wild and difficult of ap-
proach, especially after being once fired at. On one occasion we
discovered a nest containing four eggs from observing a white
owl engaged in eating them. Female birds appeared to be al-
ways largely in excess of males in the Bay.
102.— Soiiiateriu spectabilis. (Linn.) King Eider.
Tolerably numerous in Franklin Bay, where an aggregate of
.some two hundred eggs were secured on the several summer
(1862 to 18(55) visits paid to that quarter. The nest is similar
to that of the above Eider, and when not disturbed the female
usually lays from four to six eggs. In color they are generally
of a " light shade of olive grey, and some are of a greyish green."
In addition to the eggs above mentioned, the contents of about
twenty nests were also received from the Esquimaux of Liver-
j)Ool Bay. A few birds occasionally breed in close proximity to
S. V-nigro,, and the male is nearly as warj' in keeping beyond
gunshot.
103.— Oirtoniia Ainerieaiia. (Sw. &Ricb. ) American black Scoter.
This Duck undoubtedly breeds in the Anderson River coun-
try, although we never succeedetl in obtaining any authenticated
specimens. There are also sonie other breeding water birds
whose etiiT-s have no doubt elu<led discovery.
165.— Oideniia D«^Klnii(li. (Bonaparte.) White Winged Scoter.
The velvet Duck breeds in large numbers throughout the
region under review, as several nests were found in the " Bar-
rens," some near the Fort, a few on the Lower And<.'rson and in
other parts of the wooded sections, these were always depres-
of lining
} female,
of "Old
isporting
re on the
ho coast
shallow
;h flown,
seven in
/e." We
iroe hun-
he main-
iied from
;he S. V.
arded to
It of ap-
asion we
a white
lO be al-
regate of
summer
s similar
e female
generally
green."
of about
Liver-
imity to
: beyond
k Scoter.
er coun-
nticated
Br birds
)ter.
out the
e " Bar-
and in
depres-
— 11 —
sions in the ground, lined with down, feathers and dry grasses,
and placed contiguous to j)onds or .sheets of fresh water, frequent-
ly amid clumps of small spruce or dwarf willow, and fairly well
concealed froin view. The number of eggs found in a nest
varied between five and eight.
lOO.— Oideiiiia perNpicillatii. (,L,iuii.) Surf Scoter.
The rouiai-ks made under 0. De(/U(iull happen to be, in al-
most every respect, equally applicable to the present species, the
only ditference noted being that generally less hay and feathers
was observed in the composition of its nest, while only one con-
tained as many as eight eggs — the usual number being fron: five
to seven. Both Scoters were very abundant on the sea coast, es-
pecially the last mentioned.
lOlK— Chen liyperboreiis. (Pallas.) LesserSnowGoo.se.
The Esquimaux assured us that large numbers of White
Wavies annually breed on the shores and Islands of Esquimaux
Lake and Liverpool Bay, but strange to say, we never observed
any in the Barren Grounds proper, or on the shores of Franklin
Bay. The Esquimaux brought in to Fort Anaorson about one
hundred eggs, which they claimed to have discovered among the
marshy flats and sandy islets on the coa.st of the former, as well
as from similar localities on, and in the vicinity of, the lake of
that (Esquimaux) name.
lOJhi.— Clieii liyperboreus iiivalill. iForster.) Greater Snow Goose.
The foregoing remarks are also applicable to this Goose, and
no doubt owing to both species having until lately been con-
sidered as mere varieties, there has been some mixing up of their
eggs, a question which future explorations will doubtless solve.
It hi however believed that here, as well as on Lake Athabasca,
the former precetle the latter by some days in their arrival in
spring. I have always regretted that I was unable to carry out
my intention of devoting at least two seasons to a personal ex-
ploration of the breeding grounds of this and many other Ijirtls,
which resort to the so called '• Escjuimaux Lake " and the shores
of Liverpool Ba}'.
170.— Chen Rossi. (Baird. ) Ross's Snow Goose.
A male bird of this species was shot at Foi't Anderson on
25th May, 18G5, where it is by far the least abiuidant of the
{lenits during the spring migration. The E.s(|uimaux assured us
that it did not breed in Liverpool Bay, and it may thenfoie do
so along with the great bulk of the two larger species, on the
extensive islands to the northwest of the American continent.
At Fort Chipewyan, Athabasca, howeve;-, it is the last of the
Geese to arrive in spring, but among the first to return in the
autunm.
■ !;!
Ji'
— 12 —
171a.— Anser albitVotiM Ganibeli.
fronted Goose.
^Hartlamb.) American White-
A considerable number of ncists of this Grey Wavy was dis-
covered in the vicinity of fresh water lakes in timbered tracts,
as well as alon^ the lower Anderson river to tne sea. Some
were taken on the Arctic Coast, and several alsD on islands and
islets in Franklin Bay — in all about one hundred nests were
secured ; the nest, which was always a mere shallow cavity in
the fjround in every observed and reported instance, had more or
less of a lining of hay, feathers and down, while the maximum
immber of eggs in no case exceeded seven. On 5th July, 1864,
on our return tri)) from Franklin Bay, we observed thirty moult-
ing Ganders of this species on a small lake in the " Barrens."
Our jtarty divided, and by loud shouting and throwing stones at
them, they were driven to land, where twenty-seven of them
were run down and captured. Their flesh proved excellent eat-
ing — it is seldom indeed that I have come across a Grey Wavy
that was not in good condition in the far-North.
172.
(Linn.) Canada Goose. Bernicla C.
Braiita CanadenslN.
(Coues.) et seq.
This well known Go().se breeds throughout the entire wooded
region of the Mackenzie Basin. Nests were discovered in the
vicinity of Fort Anderson, and to the borders of the forest on
the east and west sides of the river of that name, but none were
met with in the " Barrens" ^n'oper, nor on the Arctic Coast.
Several deserted hawks' nests on trees were found occupied by
incubating female birds of this species. We forwarded one
hundred and seventy eggs of B. Ganadem^ix to the Smithsonian.
17tSa.— Braiita Canadensis Hutchiiisii.
Goose.
(Sw. g. Rich.) Hutchin's
A large number (fifty) of nests of the smaller Canada Goose
was found on the lower Anderson, as well a^ on the shores and
islands of the Arctic Sea. All but one were placed on the earth,
and, like that of the preceding species, it was composed of hay,
feathers and down, while six was the usual number of eggs. The
exceptional case was a female parent shot while sitting on four
eggs in a deserted crow or hawk's nest built on the fork of a
pine tree at a height of al)out nine feet. At the time, the ground
in the vicinity thereof was covered with snow and water, and
this may have had something to do with her nesting in so un-
usual a nlace.
172b.— Bi-anta Canadensis oeeidentaiis.
Goose.
(Baird.) White Checked
If no eggs were taken, it is almost certain that this large
Canada Goose is to be met with occasionally at least, if not an-
nually, on the Anderson, as we had methiuks more than one
i
I
[can White-
y was dis-
red tracts,
ea Some
ilands und
ests were
cavity in
id more or
luaximum
uly, 1864,
rty moult-
Barrens."
I stones at
I of them
silent eat-
•ey Wavy
Jernicla C.
e wooded
id in the
forest on
>one were
tic Coast,
upied by
rded one
thsonian.
Hutchiu's
da Goose
lores and
he earth,
of hay,
|ggs. The
on four
ork of a
e ground
ater, and
n so un-
; Checked
It IS large
not an-
han one
— 13 —
undoubted skin or part thereof brought in during our residence
there.
174. — Branta nigricans. (Lawrence.) Black Brant.
This Goose is exceedingly abundant on the Arctic Coast of
Liverpool Bay ; but it is comparatively rare in Franklin Bay.
Large numbers of eggs were obtained by the Esquimaux in the
first mentioned, but hardly any in the latter locality. We never,
however, observed any of those birds parsing the post on their
usual spring and autumn migrations. Six hundred and fifty
eggs were packed up for shipment from Fort Anderson.
180.— OU« ColiinibiaiiUK. (Ord.) Whistling Swan. Cygnus C.
(Coues.)
The maximum number of eggs taken in the twenty nests of
this Swan, which I find recorded, was five, while the nest itself
was always placed on the ground, and several were also found
on the coast and islands of Livoipool and Franklin Bays in the
Arctic Ocean.
181.— Olce buccinator. (Richardson.) Trumpeter vSwan. Cygnus B.
Several nests of this species were met with in the Barren
Grounds, on islands in Franklin Bay, and one containing six eggs
was situated near the beach on a sloping knoll. It w»is com-
posed of a quantity of hay, down and feathers intermixed, and
this was the general mode of structure of the nests of both
swans. It usually lays from four to six eggs, judging from the
noted contents of a received total of twenty-four nests.
204. — Oriis AinerU'tiiia. (Linnceus. ) Whooping Crane. White Crane.
We never succeeded in finding a nest of this Crane, which
undoubtedly breeds in Arctic America, as well as in the countiy
to the southward, as a few flocks were observed fiying past Fort
Anderson both in spring and autumn.
20o.— Griis Canadensis. (Linn.) Little Brown Crane. Northern
vSandhill Crane.
A skin was obtain >d from an Esquimaux of the Lower An-
d - n in the autumn of lH6'-i, and an og<^ was found in a nest
in Franklin Bav in June, liSG4. A second was discovered ♦ e
following season on an island in Liverpool Bay, while the eggs
(two each) and parents of two othe>- nests received from the
Lower Anderson in the spring of IStiG, were afterwards among
those referred to tis having been destroyed by animals. The
nest is usually but a mere cavity in the sandy soil, thickly lined
with dry grasses, etc.
'/J?J8.— Cryinophiliis fulleariiis. (Linn.) Red Phalarope. PhaleropusF.
(Coues.)
This bird is fairly abundant on the shores of Fvanklin Bay,
— u —
where nests were obtained amid marshy flats in the fir^t week
in July, 1864, and again in July, 1865.
?8^3.— Pharlaropus lobatus. (Linu.) Northern Pharlaropc.
Occurs in great abundance during the breeding season in the
wooded country, and in the Barren Grounds righ' to the coast,
where it is, however, not numerous. The nest, like that of the
Red Phalarope, is a slight depression in the ground, lined with a
few dry leaves and grasses, and is almost invariably situated on
the margin of small j)ools or sheets of water. Upwards of
seventy nests were secured, the number of eggs being always
four. Although the parent usually left the nest, both birds
would sometimes exhibit fjreat uneasiness and utter loud cries of
distress on the approach of man.
•^30.— Galliuagro deliiata.
(Couee. )
(Orel.) Wilson's Snipe. G. Wilsoni.
Not particularly numerous in the Anderson country, as we
found comparatively few nests. I may here remark that the
nests ot all the Snipes and Sandpipers are much alike in com-
position, number of eggs and situation.
{88?8.~Macrorliaininis scolopaceUH. (Saj-.) Long Billed Dowitcher.
Western Red Breasted Snipe.
The few nests of this species as recorded were taken between
the '21»t of June and 1st of July, the eggs were always four in
number, but it is not a very abundant bird in the Anderson sec-
tion of the Polar regions. M. Griseus probably breeds in the
same quarter.
S83.— Micropalania hiinaiitopus. (Bonap.) Stilt Sandpiper.
The Stilt Sandpijjer was fairly abundant on the shores of
Franklin Bay, wher a number of nests with eggs and young
were discovered. It is, however, very rare in the interior, only
one nest having been taken at Hendezvoas Lake, on the borders
of the wooded country east of Fort Anderson. On one occasion
we could not help admiring the courage and ingenuity displayed
by both parents in defence of their young, which resulted in
saving two of the latter from capture.
%.'{9.— Triiig:a iimciilalta. (Vieill.) Pectoral vSandpiper. Actodromas M.
(Coues. )
We failed to discovei- any nests of this rather rare species. A
few birds were seen Hying past the Fort, and one or two were
shot.
5840.— Tringa tiisicollis. (Vieill.) White Rumped Sandpiper. Acto-
dromas bonapartu. (Coues.)
Several nests of th^ Sandpiper were found on or near the
Arctic coast of Franklin Bay. One of these taken July 3, con-
first week
jpc.
ason in the
the coast,
;hat of the
iued with a
situated on
pwards of
ing always
both birds
)ud cries of
G. Wilsoni.
ritry, as we
k that the
ke in coni-
i Dowitcher.
m between
l^'s four in
ierson sec-
kIs in the
Diper.
shores of
ind young
erior, only
le borders
|e occasion
lisplayed
esulted in
odromas M.
species. A
two were
jer. Acto-
near the
ly 3, con-
— 16 —
tained four eggs with very large embryos. Another discovered
on the following day held but three eggs. A third found in the
B.'irrt.-n Grounds on 29th June was like the rest a .shallow cavity
in the ground, lined with a few decayed leaves, containing four
eggs, also having very large embryos. A fourth, obtaine<l on the
banks of a small river, held four eggs whose contents were how-
ever in a far less developed condition than the others,
*^4-l. — Trliiga Bairdi. Raird'.i Sandpiper. Actodromas bairdi. (Coues.)
On 24tli Jnnt'. 1804, a nest containiiiif fuui eggs was found
in the Barron (Jroumls, in a swampy tract b'^'tween two small
laki;s and was composed of a few decayed leaves placed in a
small cavity or depression in the groun<l, shaded by a tuft of
gras.**. The female bird glided away from the nest on being
approached, passing closely by me, and then fluttered along
drooping her wings as if wounded, en<leavoring thus to lead me
away therefrom. It is veiy uncommon in any northern quarter
through which we passed, although nests were subsequently dis-
covered in the same as well as in other localities.
tM^.— Trinjn:a iiiiniitilla. tVieill.) Least .Sandpiper. Actodromas M.
(Coues.)
This species was found breeding abundantly at Fort Ander-
son, on the borders of, as well as in the Barren (Jronnds, and on
and near the Arctic coast. Upwards of twenty nests were
secured, and in all respects the latter were similar to those
already described under this fjenius.
!34<i. — Etetmetes piisillus. (Linn.) Seniipalniated Sandpiper.
Fairly abundant in the Barren Grounds, but more so on the
shores of Franklin Bay, where a number of specimens with
eggs were secured. The female when disturbed frequently ^jlides
from the nest, pretending to be di.sabled and there b}^ endeavors
to draw away intruders. Occasionally the nests are hidden by
tufts of grass. In reference to one ot these, procured on 30th
June, l<S(j5, between two small bracki.sh lakes near the seashore,
it may be mentioned that one of our party, a French Canadian
servant, once heard the female parent utter a shrill note of alarm
as .she tiew away when he approached her nest. After .searching
about for a few minutes, ho failed to tind the eggs, and he then
hid himself, in order to watch where she would alight on her re-
turn. In a short time she came back, accompanied by three
companions, all of whom Hew and moveil about, but not dis-
covering anything, they seemed to hold a brief consultation,
after which they separated, the female to her egg.s. Another
.search failed to discover the nest, and the female returned again
with the .same '^irds, who appeared to be in a state of great ex-
citement, judging from the chattering they kept up. After a
— 16 —
little while they aj^jain separated, wluii tlie nest was found and
the parent shot. The report of the <r\in brought tlie others once
more to the spot, but tliey soon beat a hasty retreat. The nest
was a mere depressian in the midst of a tussock of hay, and
lined with a few withered leaves and gras.ses.
^48.— Callrtrls nronaria. (I.inn.) Sanilerlitifj.
On 2!)th June, 1S<38, Wf discovenMl a nest of this species,
"tlie only one at that time known to Natinal'.sts," (m the Barren
Grounds about ten niiles wost of Franklin Bay. The ne.st was
composed of withered hay and leaves placed in a small cavity
or depression in the <(rouiid, and it contained four eggs, which
were quite fresh. The female was snared. It is a very rare
bird in that quarter, and we never afteiwards succeeded in Knd-
ing another nest. "The eggs measure 1.4'4in. by 1)5 to 99 in
breadth, and their grounil color is a brownish olive, marked with
faint sj)ots and small blotches of biotre. These markings are
very generally diffused, but are a little more lunuerous about the
larger ends. Thf y are of an oblong pyriform .shape."
fiol.— Liinosa iKvniastica. (Ivinn,) Hudsonian Godwit.
Not very common, although several nests were taken near
the post and on the Lower Anderson river. The nest were all
mere depressions, or small holes scooped in the earth, thinly
lined with decayed leaves, and in almost every instance they
contained four ejfgs. " Three of the e<cgs received from the An-
derson are in the Smitlisonian Collection. In two of these the
ground is of a deep raw-umber color, or an olivaceous drab.
Theie are no well defined spots, but the apex of the larger end
is deeply stained with a dark burnt-umber color. A few very
indistinct .spots of a paler shade of this tint are visible over the
genei'al .surface of the eggs The other egg has a ground color
of a palei' umber-drab, and the markings are quite distinct.
These are small iiregular blotches, longitudinal in their direction,
and of a deep burnt umber tint. The apex of the larger end is
covered by a broad ])atch, in which all the markings, of a very
dark umber, almost black, run into each other. These eggs are
pyriform in shape, and mea.sure '2.15 by 1.41 — 2.12 by 1.31), and
2.22 by 1.40 inches."
856.— Totaims tiavipes. (Gmel.) Yellow Legs.
Probably the most abundant, and certainly the noisiest of all
the Waders met with. Nests were found at Fort Anderson ; on
the lower Anderson ; in the wooded country to, and along the
rivers which How through the Barren Grounds. In many in-
stances the male bird was seen pei'ching on trees in the vicinity;
but wlien young were present both y)arents were particularly
noisy, and did all that was possible to attract away intruders ;
1 founfl and
others once
. The nest
of hay, and
his species,
the Barren
he nest was
iinall cuvity
ejjfgs, which
* very rare
<led in Hnd-
>5 to -99 in
larked with
nrkintifs are
IS about the
taken near
est were all
Tth, thinly
tance they
>m the An-
these the
ous drab.
arger end
few very
e over the
"oiind coloi-
■ distinct.
direction,
•()fer end is
of a very
eggs are
1.39, and
iiest of all
erson; on
along the
many in-
3 vicinity;
irticularly
ntruders ;
— 17 —
while the former soon learned to run and screen theniselve.s from
view in the grass. Over thirty nest entries are recordi-d, while
it is among the earliest of the Waders which arrive and breed
in the region under review.
86!?.— Tryiigltes siibnifieottlM. (Vieillot.) BufT-breasted J^an(lpiper.
This species is couimon in the Barren (Jronnds east of Horton
river and on the Arctic C'oast. Between tlie 2()th of June and
the 9th of July, upwards of twenty sets of eggs were secured,
and there we're four in every nest, which was a mere dt-pression
in tlie soil, scantily lined with n few withered leaves and dried
glasses. When tlu> nest was apju-oached, the female parent
usually made a low flight to a short distance.
86:t— AotitiM iiiaeularia.
inacularius. (Coues. )
(Linn. I Spotted Sandpijier. TrinRoides
Not being (h'slderafa, comparatively few eggs wt-re eoUected,
altliough the bird itself is numerous along the An<leison and
Lockhart rivers, and in many other parts within the detined
boundaries; it was not, however, observed by us cm the
shores of the Arctic Sea.
•*(»/».— NuiniMiius Hu<lsoiii<'ils. (Latham.) Hudsonian Curlew.
We did not encounter this Curlew on our several eastern
journeys to and from, nor on the coast of Franklin Bay: but it
is by no means very rare in the "Barrens' to the west of the
lower Anderson, v here the Es(|uimaii.\ discovered some thirteen
well identitied nests with eggs.
2(M».— Nuniciiius bort>a!>.>. (^Forster.) Rsqitimaux Curlew.
Thi.s sjtecies breeds abundantly in the Barren (Irounds to the
eastward of Fort Anderson — nntl, except when otherwi.se de-
scribed, these are the " Barrens" which ore invarinlily referred to,
right up to the Polar Sea. The nests in every observed instance
were mere holes or depressions in the ground. Great difficulty
was fre(]uently experienced in finding them, as the eggs closely
resembled the surrounding xcgetation, and tlie mother, as a rule,
glided off while we were .still at some distajice. Thirty sets of
egcrs were gatheix'tl. includiiii; several from the aforesaid Lower
Anderson " Barrens." Among the manv iovous bird notes which
gieet one while cros.sing thes^e grounds, esjtecially on a tine sun-
shiny morning, none seamed more familiar oi- pleasantcn- than
the prolonged mellow whistle of the Es(|uimaux curlew.
r?70.— Cliara<lrin.«isqiiatarola. (Black-Bellied Plover. .Squatarola
helvetica. (Coues.) Bullhead.
Our first introduction to this handsome and somewhat rare
Arctic Plover was on Island Point in Franklin Bay, on 4th July,
1864. The ne.st contained four eggn and was composed of a small
— 18 —
quantity uf withered grasses placed in a depression on the side
or face of a very gentle eminence. Both parents were seen and
the male shot. We at firht mistook them for tlie Golden Plover
which they so much re8eml)le; but their note ami a close com-
parison of skins soon undeceived us. On the following day,
another nest, with four eggs, was discovered, and a third also
was met with, over which a snare was set ; but, unfortunately,
while we slept, a Snowy Owl devouied the captured female, to-
j^ether with her four cujis. In 18(5.'), seven nests were ijathered
l>y our party in the same (jiiarter. It is probable that both pa-
rents relieve each other during the proct.'ss of incubation, as a
male l>ird was snared on one of the nests. We never received
a singli' skin or egg of this, but plenty of the Golden Plover, from
the Esquimaux of the Lower Anderson, or from the shores of
Liverpool Bay.
27%.— CiiaradriiiM floniiiiieiis. (Mull.) American Golden Plover.
This beautiful species is very numerous in the Ban en Grounds,
from the outskirts of the forest to the shores of the Polar Sea.
The ne.sts were precisely similar to those oi C.tiqiMfriroln; they
were also as difficult to detect, and for the .same rea.son, a har-
monizing resemblance of the egg markings to the surrounding
soil, and a timeous deimrture of the female bird from her nest.
In a very few instances, where she happened to be surprised by
a clo.se approach, she; would pretend lamene.ss and flutter away
from our very feet. C>n one occasion, our party spent half an
hour in a clo.se but fruitless search, during which the female re-
soited to various nianceuvres to hide tlie nest ; but on our with-
drawal to a short distance, she at last revealed it by settling
down upon her eggs. I find one hundred and .seventy nests re-
corded among my notes. Except when there was reason to
believe that the full number had not been deposited, four eggs
weie always met with ; in one instance, however, there was as
many as five, and in another but one, the contents of which were
found in a well-developed condition. Foxes also destroy many
eggs and young of this and other s})ecies during the season of
nidification. The frequently varying, but sweetly clear and
melodious notes of this Plover, are almost constantly heard
whilst traversing their usual breeding grounds.
•,J74. — Aegialites seniiimlniatiis. (Bonaparte.) Semi-Palniated Plover.
This bird is quite connnon on the before; defined coast of the
Arctic Ocean, and along the Anderson and Lockhart rivers, as
well as in the country Ijetween Fort Anderson and Fort Good
Hope, Mackenzie River. Most of the twenty nests taken ccm-
tained four eggs, and .several but two or three. When closely
approached, the female usuall}' glided from her nest and ran a
short distance before flying, occasionally di'ooping her wings and
■\-\ :
>D the side
•0 seen and
den Plover
close coin-
(wing day,
third also
artunately,
female, to-
i gathered
t both pa-
lation, us a
r received
lover, from
shores of
II Plover.
II Grounds,
Polar Sea.
wla; they
son, a har-
irrounding
I her nest.
rprised by
itter away
it half an
female re-
our with-
y settling
nests re-
eason to
'our eggs
( was as
lich were
oy many
season of
lear and
ly heard
ted Plover.
st of the
rivers, as
3rt Good
ken con-
a closely
Hi ran a
ings and
— 19 —
f)re tending lameness. The nest is a mere cavity in the sand,
ined with a few withered leaves and grasses.
283>— Areiiuria iiitrrpiM's. (Unn.) Turnstone. Strepsilas interpren.
( Coues. )
In June, 180+, a dozen birds were observed at Fort Anderson,
and one was shot. This species bree<ls on the shores of Liver-
pool and Franklin Buys, and on the Lower Anderson river.
Several nests were securetl in the latter region; but none were
met with in the Barren (irounds. Four was the maximum num-
ber of eggs in a nest, which was similai to that of other Waders.
LA.ND BIRDS.
298.— DendragapUS Canadensis. (Linn.) Canada Grouse. Canace
Canadensis. (Coues. )
Although no nest was discovered, this Grouse has been fre-
quently observed in the forest country south of Fort Anderson.
301.— Lagopus Lagopus.
(Coues. )
(Linn.) Willow Ptarmigan. L,. Albus.
This species is exceedingly abundant in the neighborhood of
Fort Anderson ; on the Lower Anderson river, and in the wooded
countrv to the eastward. It is not, however, common in the
Barren Goonnds, especially from Horton River to Frunklin Bay,
where it is replacecl by L. Hitpcstris. The nest is invariably on
the ground, and consists of a few withered leaves placed in a
shallow cavity or depression. The female sometimes only leaves
it when almost trodden underfoot — in fact, several were swooped
upon and caught thereon by hand '. They usually begin to lay
about the end of May or beginning of June. The })rocess of
moulting or the gradual a.ssuuiption of their summer plumage
commences a week or two earlier. The female lays from seven
to ten, twelve and occasionally as many as thirteen eggs, which
I timl was the greatest number recorded, and we had reason to
know that some at least (jf the nests were used bv Ptarmimiu
several seasons in succession. When very clo.sely approucheii,as
stated, the female would frequently flutter off, sometimes spread-
ing her wings and ruflling her feathers as if to attack oi- IVinhten
away intruders; and at others, calling out in di.stre.sse<l tones and
actinij as if she had been severelv wounded. Li one iustiin<.;e
where an Indian collector had found a nest which then contained
seven eggs, he placed a snare thereon ; but on returning to the
spot a few hours afterwards, he was surprised to And that six of
the eggs had disap[)eared in the interim, and, as no egg shells
(the male escaped) were left behind, they were, in all proba-
— 20 —
bility, leiuovt'fi by tin- pjxnTitM to u safoi- puNitiuii. Tlip inalo
h'm\ is generally nut far away from th«- iirst ; aim his pi-ciiliarly
hoarso ami prolonged note is v«'iy friMjiu-utly heard, tin* nioiT'
especially Ix-twreii tlu; hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Uoth, how-
over, displayt'd ;:r«*at courai^o and drNotion in protuetinj; tindi
young, which wo oftt-n encountered on our retui-n coa.st ti'ips,
from ca])tiire. hi course of the Hve exploring .seasons, nearly
five hun<lred nests and considerably over three thousand eggs of
this species were secured in the Anderson region I In the end
of September, during ()ctoV)er, and early in November, annually.
L. Ijiniintas assemble in large flocks; but during the wintei it
was seldom that more than two or three dozt^n were ever noticed
in single comi)anie.s. Tliey are, howevei*, mo.st winters v»'ry nu-
merous in the neigidM>rhood of Fort (iood Hope and other Hud-
son's Bay < 'o.'s po.sts in the Mackenzie River district; but as the
spring sets in, they begin to nugi'ate northwards. It is very
doubtful if many breed to the south of Latitude (18 north — at
least, in the valley of the Anderson.
302.— Lagopus rupestris. (Omel.) Rock Ptarmigan.
This Ptarmigan is not near .so plentiful as L. Lufjopus, and
we only n>et w^th it in any consideiable numbi rs from Horton
River, Barren (Jrounds. to the shores of Fr; din Bay. Very
few nests were foun<l to the ea.stward of th river, or on the
coast or " Barrens " of the Lower Anderson. Jt.s ne.st is similar,
but it lays fewer eggs than L. Lorjoinis, as nine proved to be the
rarely attained maximum amt»ng an aggregate record of sixty-
Hve nests — the usual nund>er was six and seven, and there were
.some which held only four and five ejij'.s. Several of these
would doul)tless have contained more had they been discovered
at a later date. It was no easy matter, however, to find the
nests of this species, as the plumage of the birds and the ct>lor of
the eggs both sti'ongly resembled the neij>hbouring vegetation.
At the sai'ie time the female sjit .so very clo.sely that more than
one was cauijht on the nest, and I recollect an instance where
the feniale l>ird on the very near approach of our party mu.st
have crouched as much as possible, in the hope that she might
not be noticed, which would have happened had not one of the
smartest of our Indian collectors caught a glance of her eye.
Although lots of male " Rockers" were observed on our .summer
trip.s, feeding and otherwise disporting themselves in the
" Barrens," yet comparatively few nests were olitained, and ex-
cept in 1862, not one well identified example was discovered west
of Hoi-ton River, but during winter scores of L. RupeHtrit^ w^ere
met with in the forest country east of ¥ovt Anderson.
308.— Pedicaetes phasianellus. iLiun.) Northern sharp Tailed
Grouse.
This Grouse breeds in the pine forests on both sides of the
Tlio inalo
i peculiarly
• 1, tlic rnon.'
IJotli, liow-
ctinj,' tht.'ii
coast trips.
Otis, nearly
and eygs ol'
fn the oiul
r, annually.
! wintui it
ver notit'e«l
•s very nu-
»ther Hud-
but as the
It is very
north — at
fjopus, anrl
ni Horton
Say. Very
, or on the
is similar,
I to be the
1 of sixty-
here were
of those
li.scovereil
tind the
le Color of"
e;»;etation.
lore than
ce where
rty must
c might
ne of the
her eye.
.summer
in the
and ex-
red west
'if< were
p Tailed
of the
— 21 —
Lockhart and Upper Anderson rivers, where one or two nests
were met with, but the eg^s were afterward.s lost.
331.— Circus HudSOniUS. (Linn.) Marsh Hawk. Harrier.
Iji June. ISJl'), an E.s(|uimaux snared a feu»ale l»ird on her nest
on a willow busli along the Lower Anderson River — it contained
five eggs. In June, l>S()tI, a ne»t composed of twigs and gra.^.s(!s,
etc., was found in a similar po.sition — there were six I'ggs, but
they were unfortuiuitel}' among those lost that seasim.
334.— Accipiter atricapillUS. (Wilson.) 'American (ioshawk. Astir
Atricapillus. (Coues. )
This .species is e(jntidently b<'lieved to breed, in small numbers
however, in the wooded country between Fort Ciood Hope and
the Anderson.
342.— Buteo Swainsoni. iBonap. ) Swuinson's Ilawk.
In July, I8()l, we discovered a nest of this species, which
was built on a spruce tree along Union River, the principal tribu-
tary of the Lockhart. It contained two well grown birds. Both
parents were about and made a great ado in tintleavoring to
protect their oftspring. The male was shot. In June, 18G5,
another nest was found on tin; top crotch of a tall pine, in a
ravine son. '■ twenty miles .south-east of Fort Anderson. In com-
position it was similar to the nest of an Archihutio. The female
V as .shot as she got ott'her nest, which contained Imt one egg in
a well developed stage. The male was not seen.
347a .— Archibuteo Lagapus Sancti- Johannis. lOmel.) Ameri-
can Rough-Legged HawK.
This form of A. LarjopiM \a abundant in the Ander.-^on dis-
trict, as specimens have Viocn obtained from all parts of the sur-
rounding forest, to the borders of the " Barrens," as well as from
the Arctic coast. I tind that no less than seventy nests were
collected during the p»Miod of exploration treated of hy my
notes. About tifty-Hve of them were built in the crotches of trees
not far from the top, and at a lieight of twenty or thirty feet
from the ground. They were compo.sed externally of sticks,
twijfs and small branches, rather comfortably line<l with hav,
mosses, down and feathers. The remaining fifteen were situated
near the edge of stee)) cliffs of .shady rcjck. on the face of deep
ravines, and on declivitous river banks, and they wer»' usually
made of willow sticks and twigs, but with a thicker lining of
hay, moss and other .soft materials. The eggs varied from three
to five, never more than the latter numbei', and theii contents
were, like those of .some other bird's eggs gathered by us, in
different stages of incubation in the same nest. The parents in-
variably manifested great uneasiness and frequently gave utter-
ance to vociferous screams of anger and distress when their nesU
— 22 —
were approached. Early in June, 1S64, one of our Indian em-
ployes found a nest containing three eggs on a high ledge of
bituminous shale, and — as the rule was to secure the parent bird
in all possible cases for identification — having missed killing
both he placed a snare about the nest, but on going to it later
in the day he was disgusted at finding the snare set aside, the
eggs gone and the birds not to be seen, but as there weie no shell
remains he presumed that they had removed the eggs to a safer
position, which he, however, failed to discover. " J)ozens," and
not as stated "hundreds" of skins of this species wore forwarded
by us to the Smithsonian institution.
349.— Aquila chrysaetos. (Unn.) Goldeu Eagle.
From various points along the valley of the Anderson river
to its outlet in Livei'pool Bay, and from the mouth of the Wilmot
Horton in Fianklin Bay, an aggregate of twelve nests of this
Eagle were obtained by us in course of the seasons from 1862 to
1865 inclusive. Ten of this number were Ijuilt against the face
of .steep and almost inaccessible banks of shale or earth, at a
height sometimes of seventy or eighty feet, and from twenty to
thirty feet below the summit. One thus examined, in 1864, was
found to be of considerable size, and it was composed of a large
platform of built-up twigs and sticks, having a bed of hay, moss
and feathers in the centre ; and, as this and other similarly con-
structed nests appeared to be annually renovated prior to re-
occupation, they must ultimately assume vast proportions. Pil-
laged nests are however frequently deserted for a period ; but in
one instance, where the female had been snared upon her nest,
and tlie eggs taken, it was found occupied the following season,
probably by the widowed male with another mate. She was
shot and proved to be a mature bird. In two instances only
were the nests constructed near the top of tall spruce pines : the
sandy nature of the soil in their vicinity was not favorable for
building on cliffs. But in no case, however, did anj of our party
find, or our collectors report having seen, a large accumulation of
bones or other food debris on or in the neighborhood of the ne.sts.
All of the.se but one contained two egg.s, while the oviduct of
that particular female contained the other. In conrineinent, even
when taken young, they are fierce and perhaps untameablc,
though they readily eat the food given to them, whether it be
fish or iueat. One of four thus reared, at Fort Anderson, a year
or two later, ferociously killed two of her partners ! They kept
their plumage in a very cleanly condition, and they always
grasped their food in the talons of either leg and tore it with
their beaks. After feeding they invariably removed any blood
or othea impurities which might have adhered to the beak, by
scratching it with their talons or rubbing it against the bars of
theii cage. The Eagles in question were kept in a cage in the
ir Indian em-
high ledge of
be parent biid
nissed killing
ing to it later
set aside, the
! we)-e no shell
iggs to a safer
Dozens," and
c're forwarded
nderson river
)i the Wilmot
nests of this
from 1862 to
iinst the face
i" earth, at a
»m twenty to
in 1864, was
ed of a large
of hay, moss
imilarly con-
prior to re-
)rtions. Pil-
riod ; but in
)on her nest,
wing season.
She was
;ances only
pines : the
avorable for
^f our party
mulation of
3f the nests,
oviduct of
sment, even
mtameable,
lether it be
son, a year
They kept
ey always
e it with
any blood
! beak, by
he bars of
ge in the
— 23 —
dwelling house during the colder months of the winter ; but in
April we had them removed to a larger one outside where they
exercised themselves by jumping off and on their roosting poles,
and they also seemed much interested in all that they ob-
served taking place within the Fort Square. It it, however, re-
markable in this connection, that the parent birds may be said
to have never given any trouble while their nests were being
robbed. Mice, lemmings and marmots form no unimpoitant
item in the diet of this eagfle, one of which was onf^e seen hunt-
ing Parry's Speruiophile or Marmot, near Langtori Harbor,
Franklin Bay.
352.— Haliaetes leucocephalus.
Headed Eagle.
(Ivinii.) Bald Eagle. White
Several nests were found with eggs and young in them on
Lockliart and Ander.son rivers. They v-.re built on high trees
close to the river banks, and composed of dried sticks and
branches lined with deer hair, mosses, imy and other soft mater-
ials. There were from two to three ejms in each nest. In one
instance the parents made hostile demonstrations when their nest
was being I'obbed ; but tiiey generally liew away and kept at a
safe distance. They are not very numerous, and it is doubtful
if anv breed to the northward of Fort Anderson.
354a.— Falco rusticolus Gyr-Falco. (Uim.) Gyr-falcou.
This Gyr-falcou is common in the wooded countiy on both
sides of Anderson river. Over twenty nests wei"e secured, and,
with only two exceptions, which were built, one on a ledge of
rocks, and the other against the side of a deep ravine, they weie
found close to, oi- near the top of the tallest trees in the
neighborhood. Tiiey were similar in composition, but smaller
in size, than thoi*^ of the Bald Eagle; and while the number
of eggs was either thi'ee oi- four, their contents were frequent-
ly found in differing stages <-)f development. Both parents in-
vaiiably manifested much anger and excitement when inter-
fered with, or even distantly approached. They made a great
noise, and, indeed, ofte)u,'r than once tlieir folly in coming to
scream lou'lly over our heads attracted attention to some that
would othei'wise have escaped notice. The earliest date of
finding a nest was May 10 — tlie eggs were f|uite fresh ; tiiougli
one taken tive days later contained partially formed embryo.
In a few cases youn-j birds were in the same nest along with
eggs, the contents of which were but little chauLjed, and in
another an agg perfectly fresh was found with several ready
to hatch! This Falcon is supposed to be a "winterer" in the
northern Territories of Canada, where its prey is said to con-
sist chiefly of Partridges. The allied F. Jiut^ticolu.s oi prob-
ably /'. Islavdieui< breed, in small numbers, in the same region,
— 24 —
as the Indians often spoke of a large Hawk, twice observed
by myself, which had .successfully eluded all attempts to cap-
ture itself or its eggs.
356.— Falco peregrinus anatum. (Bonap.) Duck Hawk.
From what is stated in Volume III. of the aforesaid His-
tory of North American Birds, one would infer that although
sample skins of this species were obtained from Fort An-
derson, the received eggs belonged to F. Peregrinun Pealeii.
As both Hawks Are, however, .so closely allied, it is very
probable that one or more of the recorded Ne.sts should figure
under F. Perer/rivvs Aimtnmi.
356a.— Falco peregrinus Pealeii. Ridgeway. Peale's Falcon.
This Falcon constructs no nest whatever so far as I know
— it lays its eggs on the most inaccessible ledge of a river
cliff of strata, earth or rock. Four is the usual number, and
in some instances the eggs were laiger than in others. All
of the discovered nests were found in the country to the
southward of the post ; and it is doubtful if they breed much
beyond latitude 08" north. The Duck Hawk makes a great
ado when its eggs are taken. Early in August for several
successive . years, young birds of the season, fully fledged,
but still attended by their parents, were noticed along the
limestone and sandstone banks of the Mackenzie River.
358.— Falco Richardsoni.
Pigeon Hawk.
Ridgeway. Richardson's Merlin, or
This Falcon ranges along the Anderson River to near the
Arctic Coast of Liverpool Bay. Several of their nests had
apparently l)een built by them o.i pine trees, and others on
the ledges of .shaly cliffs — the former were composed exter-
nally of a few dry w^illow twigs and internally of withered
hay or gi-as.ses, &c., and the latter liad o\\\^ a very few de-
cayed leaves under the eggs. In one instance the oviduct of the
female contained an egg almost read}' for extrusion — it was
colored like the others, but the matter was still so soft that
it adhered to the fingers on being touched. This peculiarit}'
was noticed in the case of several among a number of similar-
ly discovered eggs, although a few (^xaiii])les taken from the
oviduct of the same species were perfectly white. I would also
mention the following interesting circumstance. On the 2r)th of
May, 18G4', a trusty Indian in my employ found a nest placed in
the midst of a thick pine branch of a tree, at a height of about six
feet from the ground. It was rather loosely constructed of
a few dry sticks and a small quantity of coarse hay — it then con-
tained two eggs; both parents v;ere seen, fired at and missed. On
the 31st he revisited the nest, which still held but two
vice observed
3mpts to cap-
Hawk.
iforesaid His-
that although
im Fort An-
inus Peoleii.
it is very
should fio^iii-e
le's Falcon.
ar as I know
ge of a river
number, and
others. All
mtry to the
f breed much
akes a jjreat
D for several
'ully fledged.
1 along the
iver.
n's Merlin, or
to near the
!ir nests had
d others on
posed exter-
of withered
ery few d»'-
iduct of the
sion — it was
so soft that
peculiarity-
r of .siinilar-
n from the
I would also
the 2r)th of
st placed in
of about six
nstrueted of
it thencon-
niisscd. On
d but two
— 25 —
eggs, and again missed the birds. Several days later he made
another visit thereto, and, to his surprise the eggs and parents
had disappeared. His first impression was that some other per-
son had taken them ; after looking carefnlly around, he per-
ceived both liirds at a short distance ; and this led him to institute
a search which soon resulted in finding that the eggs must have
been removed by the parent birds to the face of a nmddy bank,
at least forty yards distant from the original nest. A few de-
cayed leaves had been placed under them, but nothing else in
the way of lining. A third e*^(r had be«'n added in the interim.
There can hardlv be anv doubt of the truth of the foregoing
facts.
364.— Pandion haliaetus Carolinensis. (Gmii.) American
Osprey.
If this species does not extend quite u< Fort Anderson, I feel
satisfied that I have seen mere than one specimen, th'-ugh not
suflaciently near to be shot, between that post and Fort Good
Hope on Mackenzie River.
367.— AsiO aCCipitrinUS. (Pallas.) Short Eared Owl.
Twelve nests of this species were found in various situations
in the " Barrens," as well as in wooded tracts, but all were on the
ground, and mere depressions apj)arently scraped for the pur-
pose, and lined with dried grasses and withered leavers — a few
feathers were noticed in about half of them, and they seemed to
have been plucked from her lireast by the prrent bird. She oc-
casionally sits very close on her nest. The numi)er of eggs in a
nest varied between throf nnd five, and i)ut erne contained as
many as seven. On 30th June, 1865, an Owl was observe<l fly-
ing about a particular spot in the Barren Grounds, and wo con-
cluded that its mate was not far ott", a suspicion conflrmed by its
uneas}' excitement as soon as a search was instituted. Myself
and four of our party were tiuis fully engaged over an hour ere
success rewarded our eflbrts by the female getting off her nest
in the centre of a small clump of dwarf willows, one foot in
foot in height, just as she was almost tro<lden upon. It was
composed of withered grasses and feathers, and contained five
eggs. We must have frequently ajiproached her in the course of
our protracted search.
370. — Scotiaptex cinerea. iOmel.) Great Grey Owl. vStrix Ciiierea.
(Coues. )
I should not saj' that this Owl was in " great abundance " in
the Anderson regio as inadvertently stated on i»age ''V^t, Vol.
III., of the Land Birds. We certainly observed very few speci-
mens, and we found but one nest, that referrcid to in tln^ same
paragraph, on the 19th July, 1802, near Lockhart River, on the
route to Fort Good Hope— it was built on a pine spruce tree
I (I!:,
— 26 —
at a height of about twenty feet, and was composed of twigs and
inossi's thinly lined with feathers and down. It contained two
eggs and two young, both of which had lately died. The female
left the nest at our approach and flew to another tree at some
distance, where she was shot.
371.— Nyctala Tengmalmi Richardsoni. (Bonap.) Richardson's
Owl.
This Owl, or a birtl closely answering to the description, was
repeatedly oKserved in the country between Fort Good Hope and
the Anderson river.
375b.— Bubo Virginianus Arcticus.
Owl.
(.Swainson.) Arctic horned
A similar reuu.rk to that made regarding No. 371 will also
prove coiiurt uii'ler this Owl, or to the B. Virgininvv.s Sub-
Arcficus of Hoy.
376. — Nj Ctea nyctea. (Linn.) Snowy Owl. Scandiaca. (Coues.)
This species is not plentiful in the Anderson country, while
every effort made to secure even one specimen nest with its eggs
proved unsuccessful. On one occasion we noticed a white owl
hunting marmots (SjwrnurphilvH h^rq^etra) in tlie barren
grounds; and there can be no doubt that this and other Owls
sometimes rob Ptarmigan and Ducks, &c., of their eggs.
377a.— Surnia Mula Caparoch. (Mull.) American Hawk Owl. s.
funerea. (Coues.)
The Hawk Owl is not unconunon in the region of Anderson
river, although only four nests were discovered and the eggs
taken therefrom — all of these were built in pine trees at a con-
siderable height from the giound. One was actually [)laced on
the topmost boughs, and like the others, it was constructed of
small sticks and twigs lined with hay and mos.s. The male and
female of the latter were shot, and the nest contained two young
birds, one of which was apparently ten days and the other three
weeks old, together with an addled egg. All of the others, how-
ever, but one, had six eggs, and in a single instance as many as
seven were secured. The parents always disapproved of our
proceeding\s. Verj'^ few owls were observed on the lines of march
travelled over during the seasons of 1864- and 1S<!'). This species
winters in Arctic America.
300.— Ceryle Alcyon. (Linn.) Belted Kingfisher.
Altlumgh sevej-al birds were seen on the Anderson, and else-
where, and some skins were obtained from the Esquimaux, yet
we never found any nests, nor received its eggs from any of the
natives
400..-
— 27 —
arctiCUS- ( Swainsoii . )
Arctic three-toed Wood-
Richardson's
\^rctic horned
-Picoides
pecker.
It is believed that this species breeds and also winters in the
Arctic regions. My notes record tiic finding nt Fort Anderson
on 80th May, 1808, of a nest containing three perfectly fresh
eggs — a mere hole in a di'y pine several feet from the ground. A
fe.iiale bird answering to thu given description was shot in its
vicinity. It may, however, have been an example of P. Anierl-
caniiH.
401a.— Pieoides Americanus Alascensis. i Nelson.) Alaskan
three-toed Woodpecker.
Although no reference is made to their receipt in the said
Land Bird's History, my notes record that on .')th June, l<s64,
both ])arents were shot in close proximity to the nest, wliieh con-
tained four eggs. It was a hole in a dry spruce, at a height of
six or .seven feet — the eggs were lying on the decayed dtist of the
tree, and their contents were perfectly fresh. On 21st June,
1862, a nest probably of the same species was found in a similar
position, and it was occupied by four yt^ung birds of a week or
ten days age. One of the pai-ents was seen in the vicinity. This
bird was formerly known and the speciniens receipted by the
Smithsonian as P. hivHutUfi.
412. — Colaptes auratUS. (Liun.) Flicker. Golden Winged Wood-
pecker.
It is by no means scarce in the valley of the Anderson ; but
as its eggs were not in demand very few indeed were gathered
for transmission to Washington.
420.— Chordediles Virginianus. (Gmel.) Night Hawk.
A few straggling birds have been observed in the far north ;
but I never came across its nest except in the Clear Water river,
Athabasca, where one containing two eggs was found on the
ground in the end ot June, 1873.
468.— Empidonax Hammondi. (Xantus.) Hammond's Flycatcher.
From an article published in Volume II. of the " Proceedings
of the United States National Mu.seum, 187!)," l>y the late emi-
nent and well-known oologist, Dr. Brewer, of Boston, 1 liml a
reference to some eggs of this Flycatcher ol)tained fi'om "Xn-
derson river," which 1 conclude were sent to the Smithsonian
among a number of unidentitied specimens, as 1 can discover
no specific record thereof, nor of an example of .]fi/'n)ifii)ffrs
pusiUus, entered in the Receipt List of Birds, under eitlier
heading in my field notes.
474.— Otocoris alpestris. (Linn.) Homed Lark. Ereniophila Al-
pestris. (Coues.)
Nine nests of this Lark were received at Fort Anderson — a
IS^ii.
m.
m
— 28 —
few of them from the Esquimaux, and the others were collected
by us in the Barrens and on the coast of Franklin Bay. The
nest was visually composed of fine hay neatly dispo-^ed and lined
with deer hair. Several of the parent birds were secured by
snares placed thereon.
484.— Perisoreus Canadensis. (Linn.) Canada jay.
Tolerably numerous in the wooded country, even to its
northern and eastern limits; but none were observed by
us it) the Barrens proper west or east of Horton river, nor
on the Arctic coast. While snow is still on the ground, it usual-
ly builds its nest in spruce or tamarac trees — often in the middle
of a swamp — on the branches close to the trunk and well
concealed from view, and at a height of about nine or ten feet.
They are constructed of hay and feathers ; supported underneath
by twigs and willow sticks laid crosswise and partly inter-
laced. On 11th May. 1803, an Indian discovered a nest and
one egg pei'fectly fresh, along with two young birds a few
days old. Another nest contained four eggs, the contents of
which were in a more or les.s developed stage of incubation.
It is very probable that the one referred to, as .. ell as all other
specimens of the "Whisky Jack," procured from the lower An-
derson and Mackenzie Rivers, really belong to Ridgeway's re-
cently determined form of this Jay, P. Canadensis iwniions.
486.— CorvUS COrax sinuatUS. ( Wagler. ) American Raven.
This species is abundant at Fort Anderson, and on the lower
Lockhart and Anderson rivers ; and although not seen by
us there, it may possibly breed on the shore- of the Arctic Sea.
All but one of the eight recorded nests were situated on tall
pines, and composed of dry willow sticks and twigs, and
thickly lined with either deer hair or dry mosses, grasses and
more or less hair from various animals. The average number
of egg.s was six ; but instances of seven and eight were com-
mon. In the months of February and March, 18G5, a Raven
became almost domesticated at Fort Anderson. At first it fed
on garbage outside of the Fort with a companion ; but shortly
after it came alone, alighting within the stockade square, and
would allow itself to be very closely approached by the inmates.
Several young dogs soon became familiar therewith, and they
would even frolic and gambol together. It was never known to
attempt to injure the smallest of them, nor did they ever offer
to annoy it. While this Raven seemed to have full confidence
in the people of the fort, it kept at a careful distance from all
Indian or Esquimaux visitors. It, however, suddenly disappear-
ed one day, having probably come to grief. On 11 th June, 1863,
an Esquimaux bi ought me an egg of Richardson's Merlin and the
head of a C. C. Sinuatus, having, as he declared, shot it on the
e collected
Bay. The
d and lined
secured by
jven to its
iseived by
river, nor
d, it usual-
bhe middle
and well
)r ten feet,
inderneath
rtly inter-
. nest and
ids a few
on tents of
ncubation.
IS all other
lowei- An-
eway's re-
ruions.
/en.
the lower
seen by
ctic Sea.
i on tall
igs, and
isses and
number
re com-
i Raven
it it fed
shortly
are, and
inmates.
nd they
nown to
er offer
fidence
crom all
|appear-
i, 1863,
md the
)n the
— 29 —
ne.st, which was built on the topmost crotch of a pine tree — the
latter therefore probably either ate the other eggs, shells and all,
if there were any, or dispossessed the former birds with the view
of occupying it herself
488. — CorVTlS Americanus. Audertou, American Crow. C. frugivous.
On loth May, 1865, an Esquimaux snaied the parent bird on
a nest which was built on the top of a tall spruce on the lower
Anderson river — a moss of dried twigs and branches, lined with
hay, mosses and sundries — it contained four eggs. Another
taken near the fort on oth May, 1S6G, had five eggs with largely
developed embryos in them.
509.— ScolecophagUS Carolinus. (Mull.) Rusty Blackbird. S.
ferrugineus. (Coues.)
This bird is fairly abundant in the neighborhood of Fort
Anderson ; but examples were fi'equently observed as far as the
eastern limits of the forest, as well as near the "crossing "on
Horton Hiver, in about latitude 69 N. and longitude 125° W.
The twenty-five nests discovered in those several localities were
built on trees at a , height of from five to eight feet from the
ground — five eggs was the maximum number found in any one
nest. The parents manifested great uneasiness when their nests
were approached, and they would often fly from tree to tree in
order to attract <jne away from the spot.
5 1 5.— Pinicola enucleator. (Linn.) Pine Grosbeak.
In the spring of 1861, an Indian discovered a nest of this
species on a pine tree some sixty miles south of Fort Anderson ;
but unfortunately while descending therewith he fell and de-
stroyed both nest and eggs : and although we fre(juently observ-
ed some birds at the post and elsewhere, we never succeeded in
finding another nest.
52 1 . — Loxia CUrvirostra. ( Brehm. ) American Crossbill.
Several birds resembling the published description of this
species were seen at Furt Anderson, fired at and missed on 20th
June, 1862 ; but the closest search failed to discover any nests.
522. — Lozia leUCOptera. Gmel. white winged Crossbill.
A male and female specimen of this Crossbill was obtained
during our i-esidence on th(> Anderson, where example.s — .some of
which were subsecjuently lost — of special desiderata, were kept
in hand for the benefit of our Indian and Esquimaux collectors.
The former assured me that they had occasionally observed birds
of both, but especially this species, in the countiy to the south-
ward of the fort.
^^'wwmw
527.— Acanthis Homemanni
thus hornemanni. (Cones.)
— 30 —
(HoU.)
Americau Red Poll, .^gio-
Coiunion on Anderson River. They build their nest.s on low
pine and willow bushes, and the ej^i^s are usually four and five in
number. This is believed to be one of the "winterers" in that
fjuarter. .^4 HornemoMni Exilipen may also be a residenter.
628.— Acanthis linaria. (Unn.) Red Poll. ^. liuaria. (Coues.)
A similar remark will apply here as under the preceding —
both species being about e(|ually abundant in the wooded coun-
try. In all we received and exported about eiglity nests belong-
ing to Nos. 527 and .528 ; ami we found them more abundant in
1864 than during any other season.
634.— Plectrophanes nivalis, (ivinn.) Snowflake.
The only authenticated nest and eggs (No. 10,4333) in the
Smithsonian Museum in 1874, was that discovered by us on 8th
July, 18t)4, in a small hole large enough to admit
of the lemale, and it was placed at a distance of nearly two
feet from the entrance, in a sand bank, along the shores of
Franklin Bay. The nest is deeply saucer-shaped, and composed
of wiry grass stems, with a few feathers in the lining. External
diameter 3.75 inches, internal about 3.00, depth 2.50 externally,
and 1.50 internally. The egg.s, five in number, are of a dull
white, with perhaps a faint bluish cast sprinkled and spattered
with a dilute yellowish rufous, the markings mo.st numerous to-
wards the larger end. They measure .95 of an inch in length,
by .64 in breadth. The parent bird was snared on the nest." In
1865 we observed a number of P. nivalis on the same coast,
but failed to find another nest.
636.~Calcarius Lapponicus.
pbanes Laphonicus. (Cones.)
(Linn.) Lapland Spnr. Centre-
Altogether eighty-three nests of this species were obtained
in the Barren Grounds, as well as on the shores of Franklin Bay.
One from the latter, found on 27th June, 1864, was, like all the
others, built on the ground, " and is deeply saucer shaped, meas-
uring 3.75 in. external, and 2.30 in. internal diameter ; the depth
2.75 exteriorly, ami 1.50 interiorly. It is composed of coarse
wiry grass stems, and .softly lined with feathers of Larfopics. The
eggs, five in number, have the ground-color light umber-drab,
faintly blotched with deeper livid slate, and with a few straggly
black lines, much as in certain Icteridcv and in Chodcstes. They
measured .86 of an inch in length, by .63 in breadth.
637. — Calcarius pictUS. (Swains.) Smith's Long Spur. Centrophanes
pictus.
Very abundant in the country to the eastward of Fort An-
derson, in the Barren Grounds, and on the Lower Anderson river.
Centro-
>tained
In Bay.
(all the
meas-
depth
coarse
. The
■drab,
-affgly
They
Iphanes
It An-
I river.
— 31 —
These several localities yielded an aggregate of one hundred and
fifty nests. They were all on the ground, and usually in open
spaces or plains, but some were also placed in the vicinity of
trees. The average nnmber of eggs was four, occasionally as
many as tive. " The nests were constructed of fine dry grasses,
carefully arranged and lined with down, feathers or finer mate-
rials simiUir to those of the outer portions. In a few there were
no feathers, in others feathers in varying projjortions, and in
several the down and feathers composed the chief portion of the
nes, with only a few leaves and a little hay as a base for the
nest."
540.— PoCBCetes gramineus. (Gmel.) Vesper sparrow. Grass
Sparrow.
On 2()th June, 1804, we found a nest of this species contain-
ing six eggs, in a sparsely wooded tract of country east of Fort
Anderson — the female was snared. The bird, as well as the nest
and eggs, all strongly agreed with the published description, but
as it is stated in the History referred to that no specimens were
obtained by us, I must conclude that they were lost en route, or
that we had erred in our identification.
542 A.— Ammodramus Sandwichensis Savanna. (Wilson.)
Savamia Sparrow.
Numerous on the Anderson, and although frequenting
marshes, it generally makes its nest on dry ground, of course,
with a lining of the finer gi-asses. There are usually from four
to .six eggs in a nest.
542 B.— Ammodramus Sandwichensis Flaudinus. (Bonap.)
Western Savanna Sparrow.
Very abundant in marshy and sparsely wooded tracts or
plains near Fort Anderson, and on the lowei* river, seeing tliat
" upwards of two hundred nests with eggs " were collected in
that quarter — they were all placed on the ground and composed
of dry stems of grasses lined with finer materials of the same.
Sometimes the nests are lined with a few feathers and deer's
hair. The number of eggs in a nest was four or five.
556.— Zonotrichia intermedia. iRirlgeway.) intermediate Spar-
row.
Later invetigations have resulted in determining that all
references to Z. Gdmheli, given in Baird, Brewer and Ridge-
way's History of North American Birds, should apply to this
new species, which replaces the other in Northern Alaska, as
well as on the Lower Andeison and MacKenzie rivers. The In-
termediate Sparrow breeds in great numbers in the wooded
sections of Anderson District. The nests were nearly always
placed on the ground, in tufts or tussocks of grass, clumps of
Labrador tea (Ledum latifoiium), and amid stunted willows.
— 32-
They were composed of fine liay, and lined with di-'-r hair, oc-
casionally nnxf 1 with a few feathers. Several were made en-
tirely ot the Hiier j^rasses. The usual number of eg<^.s was four,
but a lot contained as nmny as five and six. Upwards of one
hundred nests were collected in the retfion referred to.
659.— Spizella monticola. (Clmcl.) Tree sparrow.
This is perhaps the most abundant Sparrow found breedinj*
in the valley of Anderson River, as is evidenced by the number
of nests, two hundred and sixteen, secured. They were almost
invariably composed of hay or drie<l j^rasses, intermixed with a
little stringy bark and lined with feathers. Most of them were
found on the ground and the others on dwarf willow, at a height
of from one to four feet. Four and five eggs, occasionally as
many as six and seven, appeared to be the compliment.
667— J unco hiemalis.
bird.
(Linn.) vSlate Colored Junco. Common Snow-
This species breeds in the forest and to the border of the
" Barrens ", where several birds, nests and eggs were secured,
these were always < n the ground and made of Hue hay lined
with deer hair. Four an<l five eggs was the usual number found
in them.
485.— Passerella Iliaca. (Merriam.) Fox Sparrow.
Tolerably common on both banks of the Anderson, and two
or three nests were alstj discovered in the vicinity of a small
stream named Swan River, in the Barren Grounds. Most of the
nests were built on trees, and they I'esembled those of Turdus
Aliciiv, but a few found on the ground however, were composed
of coarse dry grass, lined with some of a finer quality, a few
deer hairs, and a sprinkling of fresh moss. The complement ot
eggs varies from four to five.
6 1 2.— PetrOChGliden lunifrons. (Say.) Cliff or Eave Swallow.
In 1856 about one hnndred and sixty nests of these Swallows
were, for the first time, built under the eaves of the three |)rinci-
pal Iniildings of Fort Good Hope, Mackenzie River, but as many
of the young were destroyed by Indian boys, only one hundred
nests were constructed at the same place the following season.
In I860 a bird of this species was observed closely examining the
eaves of the houses at Fort Anderson, but probably not finding
them suitable, or inconsequence of having been rudely disturtied
by an Indian boy throwing stones thereat, it flew away and never
returned. They, however, breed in large numbers along the
banks of the Lockhart and Anderson livers, whence several ex-
amples were obtained.
'\\
as
lows
finci-
^any
Ired
ison.
the
ling
bed
lever
the
ll ex-
— 33
616.— Clivicola riparia. (Unn.)
(Coucs.)
Bank Swallow. Cotile riparia.
This species is to be met with in considerable numbers during
the season of iiidiHcation. It builds its nests in lioles in sandy
clayey bunks on Anderson River. Several birds and eggs were
taken, but not bi'iug in mueh request, their collection was dis-
couraged.
6 1 8.— Ampelis garrulUS. iLinn.) nohemian Wax wing.
Up to IS74- " the only instances on record of the discovery
of the eygs of this interestiny; bird in America were those of a
nest and one egg taken, by the late Mr. Kennicott, at tort You-
coi!, Alaska, in ISOl, and of a nest and egg feuud the same sea-
son in a pine tree on An<lerson River, in about longitude 68 '
north. Both are now in the Smithsonian Institution at Wash-
ington." Several skins of the bird were obtained at Fort An-
derson in 18G2, lint the most diligent search failed to secure any
moie nests or eggs.
621.— LaniUS borealis. tVieill.) Northern Shrike.
A nest of the Northern Shrike, containing six eggs, was ob-
tained at Fort Anilerson on 11th June, 18G3. " This is in nmny
respects in sticking contrast with the nests of its kindred species
of the Southern States, far exceeding them in its relative size, in
elaborate finisli and warmth. It is altogether a remarkable ex-
ample of what is known as fctted nests, whose various materials
aie most elaborately matted together into a homogenious and
symmetrical whole. It is seven inches in diameter and three -
and-a-half in height. The cavity is proportionately large and
deep, having a diameter of four-and-a-half inches, and a depth
of two. Kxcept the base, which is composed of a few twigs and
stalks of coarse plants, the nest is made entirely of soft and
warm materials, most elaborately interworked together. The.se
materials are feathers from various birds, fine down of the Eider
and other ducks, tine mosses and lichens, slender stems, grasses,
etc., and are skilfully and artistically wrought into a beautiful
and symmetrical nest, strengthened by the interposition of a few
slender twigs and stems without affecting the general felt-like
character of the whole. The eggs measures 1.10 inches by .80,
and are of a light greenish ground, marbleil and streaked with
blotches of obscure purple, clay-color and rufous-brown." A
second nest of a less elaborated character, containing eight
eggs, was subsequently discovered on Anderson River, to the
northward of the post.
646.— Helminthophila celata. (Say.) Orange Crowned Warbler.
Helminthophaga celata. (Coues.)
This is one of the rarest Warblers which breed on the Ander-
— 34 —
■son, where .several of its nrsts, containing from four to .six eggs,
were fbun<l. They were niutle of hay or gra.s.scs, lined with
deer hair, feathers and finer gi-asses, and placed tm the ground
in the sliade of a oluinp of «lwarf willow or Labra<lor tea.
662.— Dendroica aestiva. (Omel.) Yellow Warbler.
Very abundant tlnou;,di()ut the entire wooded region of
Arctic America, wht-r** it builds on dwarf willows and .small
scrub pine, at a height of a few feet from the ground. As their
eggs were not wanted, we did all that was po.ssible to di.scourage
their collection.
655.— Dendroica COronata. (Linn.) Myrtle Warbler.
This Warbler is not numerous on the Anderson, where some
thirteen ne.sts were found, built on low spruce trees, and a few
were also placed on the grouml. It lays from four to live eggs.
661. — Dendroica striata. (Torster.) Black Polled Warbler.
More plentiful than I). (■immaUi, although only twenty-one
nests were secured. They were similarly situated, and contained
four or five eggs, and two or three of them were found on the
ground.
697.— AnthUS PennsylvanicUS. (Latham.) American Pipit.
There is reason to believe that this bird is al.so among those
that resort to Anderson River during their annual srason of re-
production.
739.— ParUS cinctUS obtectUS. x *«inis.) Siberian Chickadee.
On 1st June, 18f)4, a nest of this ..^ ;ies, containing .seven
eggs, was found near Fort Anderson, in *., ^ole in a dry spuce
stump, at a height of al)0ut six feet from the ground. It was
composed of a moderate (juantit}' of hare or rabbit fur, inter-
mixed with a sprinkling of dried mos.s. The female parent was
snared on the nest, but the male was not seen. The contents of
the eggs were tolerably fre.sh. It hni-i siace turned out that "this
was the first specimen of the .Siberia.n Chickadee obtained on
the American C(mtinent." As bii- '«s of the genus undoubtedly
winter in that region, additional examples of this, and some also
of P. Atricapilltis SeptentrioTiallH and P. Hiidmnicui<, may be
discovered there some day.
749.— Regulus calendula. (Linn.) Ruby Crowned Kinglet.
There can be no doubt that this Kinglet is to be met with
during the summer .season on the Anderson River, as both In-
dians and Esquimaux assured me that they had seen birds ex-
actly similar to a Good Hope specimen shown to them.
757.— TurdUS Aliciae (Baird.) Grey Cheeked Thrush.
This Thrush is very abundant in the Anderson River region,
ex-
— 5^5 —
not only wlierevtr trees arc to be had for nesting purposes, but
also in situations were none exists. " More than 200 specimens
(mostly with their egjjs), having been sent from Fort Anderson
to the Smithsonian Institution." The greatest numl)er wore
built on trees in" the usual njann«'.r, but some few of them were
placed on the groun-vi. One nest was also taken on the banks of
the VV'^ihnot Ho; ton River.
76 1 .— Merula xnigratoria. (Linn.) AtncricHii Robiu. Tunlus Mij;ra-
torius. ( Cones. )
One of tlie ujost nuiinnous and widely distributed of Ameri-
can birds, but not being decide i-at a, scarcely any of its eggs were
received at Foii; Anderson, where, on the contrary, both Indians
and Escpiimaux were enjoineil not to interfere with its n«»sts, A
few were also luet with on the banks of the Swan and Wilmot
Horton rivers, in the Barren (Jroiuuls. Comparatively few
parents display greater courage and devotion in the defence of
their j'oung, than Robin the Red Rrt^ast.
this
on
idly
ilso
be
Note. — In the preparation of the foregoing list and relative
notes at this remote point in British Columltia, I have labored
under the disadvantage of having but a rather limited number
of necessary books to refer to, and may, therefore, have unwit-
tingly fallen into a few errors, which a fuller access woidd have
obviated. I may further add that during the period ot which
they treat, a few .examples of Fish, Insects, Plants and Shells
were gathered for the Sinithsonian Institution, besides a con-
siderable collection of Ethnological sjiecimons pertaining to the
Esquimaux of the Andeison an<l MacKenzie rivers, while a list
of th<^ Mammals obtained and observed by me in the Northern
regions of the Dominion may possibly form the subject of a
similar, but shorter paper, in the n<;ar future.
R. MacB'arlane.
Fort St Jame-s, Stewart's Lake,
New Caledonia District,
British Columbia, 25th June, 1889.
hon,