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BI
RA
^.:^ia<-v
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
ROBERT BELL, M.D., Sc.D., (Cantab.), LL.D., F.R.S.
CATALOGUE
OF
CANADIAN BIRDS.
PART II.
BIRDS OF PREY, WOODPECKERS, FLY-CATCHERS
CROWS, JAYS AND BLACKBIRDS.
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING ORDERS ;
RAPTORES, COCCYGES, PICI, MACROCHIRES, AND PART
OF THE PASSE RES.
BY
JOHN MAOOUJVT, M-A., F.E.S.O.,
Naturalist to the Geological Survey of Canada.
OTTAWA :
PRINTED BY S. E. DAWSON, PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST
EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
1©03.
The m.erval which has elapsed since the publication of Part I
embody ,n h,s work the results of observations made during the
others. The concludmg part of the Catalogue, which will con-
Will be published next autumn.
Ottawa, April 2Sth, 1903.
ROBERT BELL.
^^,---^fea<r^.
PREFACE.
Three years have elapsed since the publication of Part I of this
Catalogue. During that time many further facts have been
gathered and recent publications received, so that the part now
published will give a somewhat more comprehensive sketch of
the geographical distribution than was possible when the first
part was published.
Our knowledge of the avi-fauna of Alaska, northern British
Columbia, Labrador and the Hudson Bay region has been very
much increased by the valuable papers mentioned in the accom-
panying list. Certain omissions were also made in the list of
authorities which are included in this.
Mr. Spreadborough has been busy during the past three sum-
mers, and has as usual added much to our knowledge of the whole
fauna in the districts where he has been at work. The summer
of 1900 he spent in Algonquin Park, Ont., under the direction of
the writer ; in 1901 he collected in the Coast Range, B.C., chiefly
around Chilliwack Lake ; and in 1902 between Trail and Cascade
on the International Boundary, B.C. During these two seasons
he collected under the direction of Mr. J. M. Macoun, Naturalist
to the Boundary Commission. Many of the observations credited
to Mr. Spreadborough were made by the writer, but as the work
was done in company and all the specimens collected by Mr.
Spreadborough, some confusion and repetition has been obviated
by the omission of the author's name for the years when Mr.
Spreadborough was with him. The same may be said of Mr.
J. M. Macoun for the years 1901 and 1902 when Mr. Spread-
borough acted as his assistant.
Valuable manuscript notes have been received from Mr. C. R
Harte ; Mr. Harold Tufts, Wolfville, N.S. ; Mr. W. H. Moore
Scotch Lake, N.B. ; Mr. J. Hughes-Samuel, Toronto, Ont. ; and
Mr. J. H. Fleming, Toronto, Ont., and many additional ones from
some of the gentlemen mentioned in Part L
The manuscript for the remainder of the work isnearly ready
for the printer but other duties claim my attention during the
coming summer and the remainder of the work will be published
IV
next winter. In the meantime, however, the writer asks ornitho-
logists and collectors to send in any other notes they may have on
the nesting habits of the Frmgillidce and following families, so
that they may appear in their proper place in the concluding part
of the wo'k. An addendum will also be published with Part III
in which will be included such additional information as may
come to me.
An index and a complete bibliography of the authorities con-
sulted will be embodied in Part III.
Ottawa, April 22nd, 1903.
JOHN MACOUN.
thorities con-
MACOUN.
LIST OF AUTIIORITIKS SUPPLEM1:NTING ITIAT PUH-
LISIIKD IN I'ART 1.
Osgood, W. H. Birils of Quc(mi Charlotte Islands, H.C. ; and
Cook's Inlet, Alaska, N. A. Fauna, No. 21.
Brooks, Allan. Various papers on British Columbia Birds in the
Auk and Ottawa Naturalist.
Bigelow, Henry B. Birds of the Northeastern Coast of Labrador,
The Auk, Vol. XIX.
Ridgway, Robert. Birds of North and Middle America, Parts I
and II, igoi, ig02.
Grinnell, Joseph. Birds of Kotzebue Sound,' Alaska ; Birds of
Sitka, Alaska.
Rhoads, Samuel N. Notes on British Columbia Birds.
Stone, Witmer. Birds of North Greenland.
Fai
324.
A
cntly
In
{Fam
mon
it wa
the G
Islani
four
{R/ioc
and t
Vultu
mens
this s
325.
On(
Board
in tht
northt
they t
houses
was fo
of the
was as
captur
Nequa
saw th
I
RAPTORES. Birds of Prey.
Family XXVIII. CATHARTID^. American Vultures
CXVIII. PSEUDOGRYPHUS Ridgway. 1874.
334. California Vulture.
Pseudogryphus cali/ormanus (Shaw) Ridgw. 1874.
A rare visitant at the mouth of the Fraser River. B.C., appar-
ently attracted by the dead salmon.
In September 1880 I saw two of these birds at Burrard Inlet.
{Fannin.) This species was said by David Douglas co be a com-
mon species as far north as the 49th parallel in 1826. At that time
It was extremely abundant in the valley of the Columbia between
the Grand Rapids and the Pacific. {Richardson.) Seen on Lulu
Island (m the Fraser River near its mouth) as late as "three or
four years ago" by Mr. W. London. None seen since 1892
{Rlioads.) On the loth September, 1896, I saw between Calgarv
and the Rocky Mountains two fine specimens of the California
Vulture. (/. Fannin in The Auk, Vol. XIV, p. 89.) As the speci-
niens were not collected I am inclined to doubt the occurrence of
this species so far east.
CXIX. CATHARTES Illiger. 1811.
325. Turkey Buzzard.
Cathartes aura (Linn.) Spix. 1825.
One specimen recorded as taken in New Brunswick by Mr
Boardman. {Chamberlain) About loth January,i884, some farmers
m the neighbourhood of Nequac, an Acadian village on the
northern shore of Miramichi Bay, New Brunswick, observed what
they took to be a stray turkey feeding almost daily around their
houses and farm yards. The imposture was discovered when it
was found feeding on a dead sheep, and it was killed on the 29th
of the same month. Towards the middle of September, 1886 I
was astonished to learn that another Turkey Buzzard had been
captured by Mr. David Savoy of Black Brook, about 20 miles from
Nequac in a direct line. I am also informed by a gentleman who
saw the bird after it was killed that a Turkey Buzzard was shot
m
T"
220
OEOLOaiCAL SUKVICY OF CANADA.
five years ago in the vicinity of Kinjjston, Kent Co. {Philip Cox,
Jr., in The /I///-, Vol. IV. 205.) The Hishop of Moosonee informed
me that a specimen was taken at Moose Factory, on James Hay, in
June, 1H9H, by one of his men. (/. //. Fleming.) As far as I am
aware this species has been observed only in the southwestern
part of the province of Ontario ; Mr. Wa^staff writes that he has
frequently seen it in Essex Co. and once at Haptiste Creek, some
years since. (^Mclhvmith.) Mr. John Sullivan of Kerwood, Lamb-
ton Co., has found the nest of this bird, and as it is common in
the three western counties it doubtless breeds in fair numbers. I
once saw 19 individuals in a single field at Forest, Ont. {IV. E.
Saunders.) In Upper Canada near Sandwich and Lake St. Clair,
in 1823, I saw vast numbers of C. rf«n^ (Turkey Buzzards) and had
every opportunity of watching their habits. {David Douglas.)
The above extract taken from Richardson's Fauna Boreali will
show the change that has taken place since then.
A tolerably common summer resident in many parts of the
prairie region extending from Winnipeg, Man., to the Rocky
Mountains. Thompson-Seton in his" Birds of Manitoba" says that
it breeds near Qu'Appelle, and as others have seen it in pairs it
doubtless breeds in other localities. In May, 1895, the writer
found it breeding near Home's Ranch at the mouth of Old Wives'
Creek in Eastern Assiniboia. In June of the same year a few
pairs were seen in the Cypress Hills at Farewell Creek, and
occasional birds were noticed at Medicine Hat, Crane Lake, at
West Butte and along the Milk River; three were seen at different
times at Edmonton, Alta., in May, 1897 by W. Spreadborough.
One was seen at Banff in 1891, and they were seen in numbers at
Deer Park on the Columbia River in June 1890; a few observed at
Vernon, B. C, in July, 1889. {Macoun.) Distributed throughout
British Columbia but nowhere common, though in September,
1887, I saw about a dozen together at the mouth of Harrison
River. {Fanning One seen at Nanaimo July nth, 1893, and in
the autumn of 1889 about a dozen at Victoria, Vancouver Island ;
in June, 1901, eight were seen at Chilliwack, B.C. {Spreadborough^
Fannin on page 34 of the catalogue of the museum at Victoria,
B.C., describes two vultures in the park at Beacon Hill. He has
since written me that they developed into this species.
Breeding Notes. — I never saw the Turkey Vulture in Mani-
toba, but have often seen it in Assiniboia where it breeds. A set
326.
mk
I
CATALOGUK OF CANADIAN BIR.;l. 221
of two rjrjjs in my ollc-ction was taken near Moose Jaw, Assa
May uiU ,807. I ...... found it breeding at Rush Lake inX.'
ly. It lays 2 a'gs on thr ^^round. usnallv on the slopinrr bank
of a stream. (/F. AW.) Nest on the ground, or in'a hcZw
log or stum,). (Mclhvraith.)
MUSICUM SPECIMENS.
One taken at Old Wives Creek, Assa.; one at Indian Head
Assa., and another purchased with the Ilojman collection
«9«. the other at Hush Lake. Assa.. June .5th. . 893. L/the
1. St case there was no nest and the eggs were laid on the ground
"t tne side of a coulee,
CXX. CATHARISTA Vieillot. i8i6.
326. Black Vulture.
I Cotharista atrata {Wxwxv..) {:,^\^ i86g.
: JVj^'^'Jhalf a dozen specimens taken near St. Stephen, N.H.,
, by Mr. Hoardman {Clunnbcrlain.) A Black Vulture was shot a
I ugwash, Cumberland Co., N.S.. on Jan. 12th. 1896 and wis
^cH.ght to Halifax where I identific./it. ^H^rry pLnt Te
w s ' Itr-^ T^ , """, '"' '''' ^^•^"'^^•^ ''^^^ ' »'-k Vulture
yucbct , the bird was flymg towards carrion. This is I believe
e f^rst record of a bird of this species being found o ar nor h
It was an adult male. (C. E. Dionnc in The Auk, Vol. XV., 53.)
Familv XXIX. PALCONID^. Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, &c.
CXXL ELANOIDES Vieillot. i8i8.
327. Swallow-tailed Kite.
Elanoidcs forficatus (Linn.) Coues. 1875.
G ^r'wL ^"' '^^''1"''" ^"^ ''^^"'■^'"' *'^'-«"?h a glass by Mr.
prior' T'Sr?^:' -^>-^af¥atthe rifle range at oLwa
prior to 1881. {Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V, p. 38.) Mr Hav
r,th i8:r > 'rr ''^" ^^^ ^' ^°^* ^^^-^^ ^nt.. on Ju y
O ar • ().'r^£;") ^'^ ^P-^"^- -^- -"^ years ago
222
iil
i >
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CXXII. CIRCUS Lacepede. i8oi.
331. Marsh Hawk. Marsh Harrier.
Circus hudsonius (Linn.) Vieill. 1807.
Rare in Newfoundland. Only once seen at Cow Head. (Reeks.)
Audubon saw it in Labrador. (Packard.) The following are our
most northern references to this bird : Moose Factory, James
Bay, where Spreadborough saw it on June nth, 1896 ; Dr.
Robert Bell records it from York Factory, Hudson Bay ; Clarke
mentions its occurrence at Fort Churchill, on the west side of the
Bay, and Richardson places its northern limit at Great Bear
Lake, in Lat. 65°. Bernard Ross, on the other hand, places its
northern limit at Great Slave Lake, and says that it is scarce
there.
li is a summer resident and generally distributetl in Prince
Edward Island, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, New Bruns-
wick, Quebec and Ontario, and is very abundant throughout the
whole prairie region, breeding as far north as Great Bear Lake.
Rather rare in the mountains, but not uncommon in the Colum-
bia Valley from Revelstoke south. Rather common westward,
and becoming abundant at Sicamous and wesiw.^rc' to Spence's
Bridge, B.C. (Macomu) Abundant on the mainland of British
Columbia at Sumas, ChilHwack, mouth of the Fraser, and east of
the Coast Range. Partially migratory. A few are found through-
out the wmter in the neighbourhood of Ladner's, near the
mouth of the Fraser (Fannin) These birds are numerous
throughout northern Alaska during the migrations. They are
seen frequently along the barren coast of Behring Sea, and have
bcc^n recorded as r=ither uncommon in the Interior. (Nelson.)
This bird appears to be a resident of the Yukon district only
between the early part of April and late November. The species
is a rare summer visitor on Attn Island. (Turner.) Observed in
winter at Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.) Noted at every stopping-
place in British Columbia. Nowhere abundant. (Rhoads.) I
saw this s,iecies at Cape Rlo;,son, Kotzebue Sound, A.aska, on
two occasions. Marsh hriwks were frequently noted at our
winter camp on the Kowak the last of August. (GrinnelL)
Notes.— This specier, breeds frequently in the
of Ottawa. Its nest is compo'ed of dry grass
Bi
sreeding
neighbourhood
CATALOGUK OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
223
:ad. (Reeks.)
wing are our
:tory, James
1896 ; Dr.
Bay ; Clarke
5t side of the
Great Bear
id, places its
it is scarce
id in Prince
New Bruns-
oughout the
Bear Lake.
1 the Colum-
)n westward,
to Spence's
id of British
•, and east of
Lind through-
r's, near the
re numerous
3. They are
>ea, and have
Dr. {Nelson.)
district only
The species
Observed in
txy stopping-
[Rhoads.) I
J, Alaska, on
oted at our
innell.)
ntly in the
of dry grass
with a few dry sticks, probably to strengthen it. There is an inner
lining of feathe-.s few and far between to form a bed for the eggs
which are from four to six in number, of a dull white with the
f.nntest shade of green and soiled, but no decided spots on them.
The nest is built on the ground, or at the base of a low bush near a
marsh, about the middle of May. {G. R. White.) Besides in the
large marshes and the small ones, this bird will even breed in an
uncultivated field at times, and is, if anything, more common
than formerly. Nest on the ground, among shrubs, generally in
a swampy place. Eggs four or f^ve, white, rapidly soiled. (IV.
E. Saunders)
This is a well-distributed summer resident in the counties of
Renfrew, Leeds and Lanark in Eastern Ontario. It arrives in
the early part of April and does not leave until October. I have
found its nest, on several occasions, in marshy places. Once in a
small marsh, Township of Escott, Leeds Co.,' near a public road
This was on the 22nd May, 1893. The nest contained five eggs
almost as much spotted as those of the Red-shouldered Hawk.
The nest was built on the end of an old log that was partly cov-
ered with moss and other growth and surrounded by rushes. It
was formed of sticks, and grass stalks were used for lining. This
species breeds every year at the head of Wolfe Island and lower
down the St. Lawrence. Its eggs are seldom laid before May
I8th in Eastern Ontario. {Rev. C. J. Young.) Breeds in abund-
ance on the prairies, but prefers bushy places for nesting in. Its
nest IS built, on the ground, of sticks and lined with coarse grass.
Mr. Spreidborough found two nests near Medicine Hat in May,
1894 Both were located amongst a low growth of snow-berry
{Symphoncarpus racemosus) and contained four eggs. {Macotin)
I have found this bird breeding throughout Manitoba, Assin-'-
boia and Alberta. It makes its nest on the ground, consisting of
a heap of marsh hay, and lays from 5 to 7 eggs. I took a set of
5 eggs at Crescent Lake, Assa., on June 5th, 1901. I have
another set of 7 eggs taken in northern Alberta, May 24th, 1898.
{W. Rnt?ie.)
In June, 1865, an Eskimo snared a female bird on her nest in a
willow bush along the lower Anderson River, about Lat 68° 30'
It contained five egg^. In June, i86w, a nest composed of twigs
and grasses, &c., was found in a similar position ; there were six
eggs in this nest. {Macjarlanc.)
224
GEOLOGICAL SURVKV OF CANADA.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Six ; one taken at Britannia Bay, six miles from Ottawa, Oct.
loth, 1887, by Mr. G. R. White; one purchased with the Holman
at
ssa.
collection, and four others taken at Indian Head, A
Medicine Hat,Assa., at Edmonton, Alta., and one at Chilliwack,
B.C., September 19th, igoi, by W. Spreadborough.
One set of six eggs taken near Edmonton, Alta., June 2nd, 1897 I
nest on the ground made of grass and weeds. Another set of
four eggs taken May 27th, 1894. Both taken by VV. Spreadborough.
CXXIII. ACCIPITER Brisson. 1760.
332. Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Accipiter vclox (Wils.) Vigors. 1824.
This is one of the commonest hawks we have in the greater
part of the Dominion.
Spreadborough saw only one, when exploring, in northern
Labrador, July 8th, 1896. Richardson records the taking of one
at Moose Factory on James Bay, and these two records cover
our knowledge of its occurrence in the Hudson Bay region.
Reeks records it as a common summer resident in Newfoundland,
the writer found it common on Prince Edward Island, Downs
says it is equally ' so in Nova Scotia and Chamberlain says
it is the commonest hawk in New Brunswick. All observers
agree that in Quebec and Ontario it is a common summer resident.
Thompson-Seton mak( s it a common species in the wooded parts
of Manitoba, and the writer found it everywhere on the prairie
regions where there was brush or trees. Ross says it is common
on the Mackenzie to Lat. 62" at Fort Simpson. With the above
records we are sate in saying that it is found in all the wooded
country south of Lat. 60°. Our mountain records show that it is
common at Banff and in the whole valley of the Columbia, more
especially at Revelstoke and Arrow Lakes, also in the valley of
the Thompson River from Eagle Pass to Kamloops. Fannin and
Brooks report it common vest of the coast range in British Col-
umbia, while the writer and Mr. Spreadborough found it common
on Vancouver Island. Turner and Nelson say that it is common in
the wooded parts of Alaska, straggling northward into the tuntlra.
Several sharp-shinned hawks were seen about our winter
quarters on the Kowak, Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, the last
week in August. {Gri?i>uil.)
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN HIRDS.
225
northern
ng of one
rds cover
ly region,
oundland,
d, Downs
rlain says
observers
r resident,
•ded parts
he prairie
5 common
the above
e wooded
' that it is
ibia, more
valley of
annin and
•itish Col-
; common
ommon in
le tuntlra.
Lir winter
the last
Brkeding Noies.— In the vicinity of Ottawa this sp( , gen-
erally builds about the end of May or first of June in a nemlock
tree about 20 feet from the ground. The nest is made of dry
sticks luied v.'ith some kind of soft bark and nearly resembles a
crow's nest. The eggs, four or five in number, are white with a
slight purplish tint marked with splashes of various shades of
brown. (6^ R. White.) This species breeds, in small numbers only
in the vicinity of London, Ont. The nest is usually in pine trees
and the eggs four to six. {W.E. Saunders.) A nest of this species
was taken at the corner of Dow's swamp near the canal close to
the city of Ottawa, July 6, 1900. It was in a balsam fir about
fifteen feet from the ground, built of sticks and lined with cedar
hiirk, {Thuya occidentalis). This species is quite common in
Assiniboia, and a number of nests were taken in Tune, 1895. On
June I2th a nest was taken in a willow thicket at the police station
Wood Mountain. It was in the crotch of a willow less than ten
feet from the ground, built of sticks and lined inside with finer
material of the same character. There were four eggs partly
incubated, lightgreenish incolour and heavilvspotted with brown.
Another nest in a spruce tree was taken, built of the same class
of material, on Farewell Creek, Cypress Hills, June 27th In this
nest the eggs were half incubated. {Macomi.) I have clutches of
eggs of this little hawk taken near Toronto, also others taken in
Muskoka, Manitoba and Assiniboia. It builds its nest in tree
tops and lays from four to six handsomely marked eggs (W
Rame.) This bird has always been regarded as a rare summer
resident near London, Ont., but during the summer of 1900 six
nests were found by three observers and it may prove to be more
common than was supposed. Its silent unobtrusive manner mav
have been its shield from observation. These nests, as well as
four others taken in previous years, were all in conifers, five of
the ten being in tamarac. All of them were built of twigs and
many had a few flakes of bark as a lining. One nest was on an old
foundation but all the others were entirely new. In height from
the ground they varied from 15 to 30 feet. The birds were in
some cases fairly silent and peaceful, and in others very noisy
and aggressive, in one case particularly the male would attack a
man 100 yards distant, although the nest was not found. All the
sets of eggs taken, varying from three to six to the set, are very
handsome particularly one set of six fresh eggs in which the colour
of the markings is a very bright reddish brown. ( W. E. Saunders )
226
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Seven ; two taken at Ottawa, Ont., by F. A. Saunders, August
2nd, 1890, and September 12th, 1891 ; three at Ottawa by G. R.
White in 1884, '885 and 1888 ; two taken at Chilliwack, B.
C, by W. Spreadborough, August nth and September 7th, 1901.
One set of four eggs, taken at Wood Mountain, Assa., June 12th,
1895. Nest in a small tree about ten feet from the ground.
333. Cooper's Hawk.
Accipiter cooperii {Bo^AV.) Gray. 1844
This species is either unequally distributed or not readily sep-
erated from other species
An uncommon summer migrant in Newfoundland. {Reeks.)
Very rare in Nova Scotia. Col. Egan procured and mounted one
specimen. (Gilpin.) Not common at Wolfville, King's Co., N.S.;
absent in winter. {H. Tufts.) A pair seen in Brackley Point woods,
Prince Edward Island. {Macotm.) An uncommon summer resi-
dent in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain.) Common in the Resti-
gouche Valley and sparingly distributed through the whole St.
Lawrence Valley and and westward throughout Ontario. (Macottn.)
This species is a summer resident in Manitoba and extends north
to the Saskatchewan. {Thompson-Seton.) I have a mature bird,
taken on April 25th, 1896, at Banff, Alberta. (/. H. Flemifig.)
Apparently rare in the Rocky Mountains. Not common in the
Columbia Valley, but was taken at Revelstoke May 5th, 1890, and
seen later at Nelson on Kootanie River. {Macotin.) Met with, in
British Columbia, only at the Ducks, near Kamloops. (Streator.)
Tolerably common summer resident in the lower Eraser Valley.
{Brooks.) Found both on Vancouver Island]and on the southern
mainland east and west of the Coast Range. {Fannin) Dis-
tribution general. Breeding at Lake La Hache, B.C., and in the
Rocky Mountains at Field. Alt. 7000 feet ; rare. {Rhoads,)
Breeding Notes. — This species comes early in the spring and
leaves late in the autumn. It is far from common and its nest is
seldom taken. I have met with the nest twice. First in a small
grove in the township of Escott, Leeds Co., May 15th, 1895.
This nest was in a tamarac tree {Larix Americana) and contained
three fresh eggs. The other nest was in the township of Lans-
downe, Leeds Co., and contained four fresh eggs on the 8th of May.
CAfALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
227
On the 1st of May this nest contained one egg. It was built in
the crotch of a yellow birch {Bettila luted). The eggs are hardly
distinguishable from those of the Marsh Harrier. {Rev. C. J.
Young) Not a common bird around London, but breeds spar-
ingly in the western part of Ontario. {W. E. Saunders)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
One specimen purchased with the Holman collection.
One set of eggs, taken atLansdowne, Leeds Co., Ont., June rst,
1895, by Rev. C. J. Young. Another of two eggs taken in North
Toronto, May 20th, 1889.
334. American Goshawk.
Accipiter atricapillus (Wils.) Seebohm. 1883.
Taken av York Factory, Hudson Bay, {Dr. R. Bell.) One
observed at Seal Lake, Ungava District, July 24th, 1896, and
another a short distance above Ungava Bay, August 23rd, the
same year. {Spreadborough) Resident in Ungava District.
{Packard) Settlers report the occurrence of this hawk in New-
foundland. {Reeks,^ This is the commonest hawk in Nova
Scotia {Downs) and winters, as a pair did at Digby Gut in the
winter of 1880. {Gilpi?t) Resides in New Brunswick throughout
the year and breeds. {Chamberlain) Common winter visitant in
Quebec. {Dionne) In Ontario this bird is an irregular winter
visitor, sometimes appearing in considerable numbers and again
being altogether wanting. {Mcllwraith) A tolerably common
fall and winter visitant in Manitoba usually appearing in August
Not seen during the breeding season. {Thompson- Seto7i) Not
observed on the prairie or in the Rocky Mountains nor in southern
British Columbia in summer. Not uncommon at Edmonton, Alta
where they were evidently breeding in June, 1897. {Macoun)
Seen only at Vernon in British Columbia. {Rhoads) Rather '
common in the interior of British Columbia, the coast bird may
be the next species. {Streator) Has been taken on Vancouver
Island and on the mainland east and west of the Coast Range
{Fanm7i) Have taken this form both east and west of Coast
Range, the only hawk observed in the Cariboo District in winter
{Brooks)
Breeding NoxES.-Permanent resident at Scotc ' .,ke York
Co., New Brunswick. Breeds. {W. H. Moore) Immature
228
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
goshawks come regularly to Toronto in the autumn and often
remain all winter. Until 1896 full plumaged birds were almost
unknown, certainly I was not aware of any records of mature
birds for ten or fifteen years previous to that date. In October,
1896, a remarkable migration of mature birds took place. They
spread themselves all over Ontario in large numbers, and I
believe the New England States were invaded in like manner. I
received the first mature bird on October 26th from Toronto, and
from then till December the birds continued to come in. The
deer hunters reported that the hawks were playing havoc with
the patridges and hardly a shooting party returned in November
without one or more mature goshawks. I fancy that the sudden
inroad of the sharp-tailed grouse into Muskoka and the migra-
tion of the goshawks were likely caused by ihe same necessity-
lack of food. Both species appeared in Muskoka together. Never
a scarce bird in the districts of Parry Sound and Muskoka ; the
number of breeding birds has greatly increased since the autumn
of 1896 (/. H. Fleming:) The only nest I ever saw of this
species in Muskoka was in the fork of a large black birch
{Betula lento) about 40 feet from the ground. It was made of
sticks lined with leaves and clay. In it I- found four young
ones all differing in size which leads me to think zhat they are
not all hatched at the same time. In the nest I found a blue-
jay and hairy woodpecker which had been plucked by the old
birds. Beneath a maple log that was lying about 100 yards away
from the tree having the nest, and several feet from the ground,
I found a large quantity of feathers which the old birds had
plucked from barn-yard fowls and other birds. It was evident
that the old birds had carried their prey here and picked it before
taking it to their young. The nest was within half a mile of
Bracebridge and about 300 yards from the south branch of the
Muskoka River. They are more plentiful in Muskoka in winter
than in summer. {Spreadborough.) A not uncommon bird in win-
ter in Ontario but as a rule going north to breed. I found a
nest of this species near Otty Lake in the county of Lanark, Ont.,
in 1885. It was a large structure built in the fork of a beech tree,
about 30 feet from the ground, and on the 3rd of May contained
three almost bluish white eggs, incubation commenced. In
addition to the breeding of this bird in the county of Lanark,
Ont., I find that t nested regularly in the township of
Oso in Frontenac Co., Ont,, up to 1901 but will probably soon
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
229
I and often
I'ere almost
of mature
In October,
lace. They
)ers, and I
manner. I
oronto, and
ne in. The
havoc with
1 November
the sudden
the migra-
necessity —
;her. Never
skoka ; the
the autumn
law of this
)lack birch
as made of
[our young
at they are
jnd a blue-
by the old
yards away
the ground,
birds had
vas evident
;d it before
a mile of
inch of the
:a in winter
bird in win-
I found a
mark, Ont.,
beech tree,
r contained
2nced. In
of Lanark,
>wnship of
bably soon
cease to do so as the larger timber is rapidly being cleared away.
It seems to affect woods where beech and black birch are plenti-
ful, not far, however, from a growth of evergreens. {Rev. C.J.
Voting^
This bird is generally distributed in the forest country north
of the prairie. Richardson records it from Jasper House in the
Rocky Mountams and describes one shot from the nest on the
Saskatchewan, May 8th, 1827. He also speaks of another taken
at York Factory, Hudson Bay, Aug. 14th, 1822. Apparently it
has the same range yet. {Macoun.) This species is confidently
believed to breed, in small numbers however, between Fort Good
Hope and the Anderson, Mackenzie District. {Macfarlane.)
I have eggs from Oak Lake and Crescent Lake in Assiniboia
and also sets from Alberta. I have a set of two eggs that was
taken by Mr. Wenman at Stedman's River, Alberta, the female
was shot and is now in my collection. I have another set of three
eggs collected by Dr. George in northern Alberta, May loth, 1894.
The female of this nest was also shot by Mr. Wenman. Dr.
George also took a clutch of four eggs out of this same wood in
May, 1893. It makes a large nest of sticks, weeds and roots and
builds in the highest tree tops. The American Goshawk is a
rare summer resident in northern Manitoba, but is more plentiful
m northern .Assiniboia and Alberta. The eggs are bluish white,
unmarked, although they are sometimes nest-stained. {W.Rmfie.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Two ; one purchased with the Holman collection, and the
other taken at Toronto, Ont., in 1885 by Samuel Herring.
A set of two eggs taken at Great Whale River, Hudson Bay
June i8th, 1896, by W. Spreadborough. Nest built on top of a
large tamarac, which was nearly two feet across. It was made
of tamarac branches and lined with a couple of green spruce
branches and a few ptarmigan feathers. A nest taken at Fort
Saskatchewan, Alta., contained three eggs. Nest in spruce tree
about fifteen feet from the ground ; it was built of sticks and
lined with weeds.
334a. Western Goshawk.
Accipiter atricapillus striatulus Ridgw. 1885.
Tolerably common throughout British Columbia. More abun-
dant west of the Coast Range. {Fannin) One seen at Sooke,
230
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA,
Vancouver Island, Aug. 2nd, 1893. {Spreadborough.) This seems
to be the form that breeds in southern British Columbia, where I
have noticed it in summer as far east as Arrow Lakes, Columbia
River, in Lat. 50°. (Brooks.)
CXXIV. BUTEO CuviER. 1779-1800.
337. Red-tailed Hawk.
Buteo i>orealis (GnAEh.) ViEiLL. 1816.
We have no records of this species being seen in the District of
Ungava (Labrador), but it breeds in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia,
Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario.
Mr. Spreadborough saw three specimens on Moose River, near
James Bay, June 6th, 1896, and Dr. Bell took it at Fort Churchill,
Hudson Bay. This species is abundant in the wooded portions
of Manitoba, especially in the Riding Mountains, Duck Moun-
tains, Porcupine Hills and northward to the Saskatchewan.
VVestw ird, Spreadborough found it nesting at Indian Head in
Assiniboia, and at Edmonton, Alta., and along the foothills to
Crow's Nest Pass, but not being a prairie species it disappears with
the wood. I agree fully with Thompson-Seton in his " Birds of
Manitoba," when he says on page 529 : "This species seems to be
the complement of Swainson's Hawk in Manitoba, adhering to
the forest regions, while the latter is found only in the more open
places. The differences of habit presented by these two species
are slight but quite appreciable." As no specimens of Krider's
Hawk have been recorded from southern Manitoba all the east-
ern prairie region and the northern forest up to Lat. 60° are
included in the range of the Red-tail.
This species is common in the Northwest Territories which it
visits in summer. Specimens were shot in the Rocky Mountains,
on the plains of the Saskatchewan, and at York Factory, Hudson
Bay between Lat. 53° and 57°. {Richardson) This species is far
outnumbered at London, Ont., by the Red-shouldered Hawk.
More common in the more remote districts. {W. E. Saunders.)
Breeding Notes.— This is a rare bird along the St. Lawrence.
In eleven years I am only certain of having seen one specimen.
In the counties of Lanark and Renfrew it is common and I used
to see it every year. Within a few miles of the village of' Ren-
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
231
frew it breeds. {Rev. C.J. Young.) The red-tail breeds in scat-
tered pairs about one to four of the red-shouldered. It nests a
little earlier and lays two to three eggs. {W. E. Saunders.) This
bird breeds in Welland Co. and throughout southern Ontario.
{W. Raine) On May 31st, 1891, I took a nest of this near Indian
Head, Assa. The nest contained three eggs and was built of
sticks in a dead poplar {Po^ulus trcmuloides) about 30 feet from the
gTound. This species feeds chiefly on gophers and mice. At
Edmonton, on the North Saskatchewan, in 1897, I observed a
a number of nests mostly along the river and small streams.
These were nearly always in cottonwood trees {Populus balsami-
fera) but I think it is on account of these trees having large
branches near the top that they seem to prefer them than from
any other cause, as I also observed a few in poplar trees {Populus
tremidoides) where the branches were suitable for them to build
upon. The nests were scarcely ever less than thirty feet from
the ground. In the summer of 1891 it was common at Banff and
hence breeds there. {Spreadborough.)
M'JSEUM SPECIMENS.
Four ; one purchased with the Holman collection ; another
taken near Toronto, Ont., by S. Herring ; one taken in poplar
woods near'Fort Pelly, Man., September 3rd, 1881, by the writer,
and one at Hyde Park, Ont., by W. E. Saunders.
A nest taken near Edmonton, Alta., by W. Spreadborough,
May 17th, 1897, contained two eggs. The nest was in a poplar
tree, built of sticks and lined with bark and twigs. Another set
taken at Chatham, Ont., on April 30th, 1888, contains two eggs.
337d. Western Red-tailed Hawk.
Buteo borealis calurus (Cass.) Ridgw. 1873.
I have obtained from Mr. M. J. Dodds, St. Thomas, Ont., a fine
adult of the Western Red-tail, which was killed near there in the
fall of 1885, by Mr. John Oxford. This appears to be the first
recorded occurrence of this species in Ontario. {W. E.Saunders
m The Auk., Vol. V., 203.) Mr. J. Hughes-Samuel took a specimen
of this form at Toronto on November 4, 1895. (/• H. Fleming)
The only known instance of the occurrence of this bird in
Alaska is recorded by Dr. Bean, who secured a voung bird near
Sitka, June 5, 1880. {Nelson.) Rare ; a few seen at Kamloops
333
GEOLOOICAL SURVKY OF CANADA.
and Ducks in central British Columbia in Jiuic, i8Sg. {Strcator.)
Very abundant east and west of Coast Ranf,'e. [Fannin.) Resi-
dent at Chilliwack, H.C., and tolerably common; rather rare in
winter at Lake Okanajjan. {Brooks.)
This species was common at Revelstoke, H.C., in the sprinp of
l«90. First observed on the gth April, and became common
before the end of the month. On 30th May two pairs were found
nesting in the cliffs at Deer Tark, Arrow Lake, Columbia
River, B.C., and a female shot. Another nest was found in a cliff
at the mouth of Pass Creek, near Robson, B.C., 1902. A few were
seen near the 49th parallel between Trail and Cascade. Seen on
Vancouver Island at Victoria, loth Sept, 1893. {Sprcadborou^h.)
Distribution and abundance like that of the eastern form. Breed-
ing near the summits of the Rocky Mountains at Field, B.C.
{Rlioads.)
MUSEUM SPECIMUNS.
One specimen taken at Agassiz, B.C., May 17th, 1889, by W.
Spreadborough.
839 Red-shouldered Hawk.
Bitteo lineatus (Gmel.) Vieill. 1816.
This species may reach Newfoundland occasionally, as it has
been taken in northern Nova Scotia. It is rare in New Bruns-
wick, though Chamberlain says it may breed near St. John. In
Quebec it becomes more common, and in the St. Lawrence Valley
it is far from rare. Quite a common summer resident in Ontario,
breeding freely, and extending westward to eastern Manitoba.
Our most* northern reference is York Factory on Hudson Bay,
where it was collected by Dr. R. Bell. This seems to be an east-
ern species with its centre of distribution in Canada, north of
Lake Ontario. It is much more restricted in its range than the
Red-tail.
Have met with these birds occasionally in December and
January, and know of at least one having been taken in the latter
month. On the 8th January, 1900, I saw two. While wintering
they seek the shelter of deep ravines. (/. Hughes-Samuel.) Our
most common hawk in summer at London, Ont. {W. E.
Saimders.)
CATALOOUR OK CANADIAN BIRDS.
333
Brrrding NoTRS.-This species builds about the middle of
April. The nest closely resembles a crow's, but is larger and very
untidy. It is composed of coarse sticks loosely placed together
with fine ones, and lined with bark of a vine (probably grape vine)
and pieces of rough bark. The nest is placed near the trunk of
the tree at from 20 to 60 feet from the ground. The eggs, three
or more in number, are yellowish white, with blotches of yellowish
brown and slate. A nest found on 30th April near the mouth of
the Gatineau River at Ottawa, L«nt., was built in a swamp ash
{l^mxtHHs samhmifolia) about 20 feet from the ground. The old
bird was sitting at that date. {G. R. White)
Strangely enough this is the most common hawk along the St
Lawrence between Kingston and Jirockville, though I never saw
It m the counties of Renfrew and Lanark. It seems to just take
the section of country where the Red-tail is absent. It is an early
breeder, returning to the same woods year after year, even
though disturbed. It usually builds or repairs a nest' in a beech
tree, but I have seen nests in maple, ash, oak, pine, elm, and once
in a hemlock. The earliest eggs I have seen were a set of four
on Aprd I4th, 1898, an unusually early date ; the latest was May
23rd. The average time of laying is about April 2Cth ; the
^nvourite tree for nesting, a beech. This bird becomes rare in '
Eastern Ontario, 15 to 30 miles north of .he St. Lawrence, and
IvTh'^R ^ •" ??f ""''"°^"' ''' J^''*^'^^ ^^'^"^''"ff to be taken
by the Broadwinged Hawk. {Rev. C.J. Ymng.) Rather com-
mon, breeding in all suitable woods in the vicinity of London.Ont
{W.h. Ciaunders.)
MUSRUM SPRCIMENS.
Three ; one purchased with the Holman collection in 1885 : two
taken at Toronto by Samuel Herring.
A nest taken at Lily Lake, Peterborough Co 2q miles
north of Port Hope, Ont., by Mr. N. H. Meeking, on Ap il 24 h
contained four eggs A set of three eggs was take'n in the ounty
of Leeds. Ont April 21st, 1901, by Rev. C. J. Young. Anothe^
set of three taken near London, Ont., by J. I^ Keays, April, 17th!
339J. Red.bellied Hawk.
Buteo lineatus elegans (Cass.) Ridgw. 1874
Not very common. I have taken it at Burrard Inlet, B.C. Mr
W. B. Anderson found it at Port Simpson, B.C.. and Mr. Brooks
234
UEOLOGICAL SUKVEY OF CANADA.
at Chilliwack. I have no record from Vancouver Island. {Fannin.)
Only noticed west of the Coast Ranye ; rare. {lirooks.) Hawks,
presumably of this species, were thrice seen in the British Columbia
interior. {Rlioads.)
■342. Swainson's Buzzard.
Buko stvainsoni. Honap.
1838.
Accidental visitant ; rare. A few examples of this large hawk
have been shot at Montreal, Que. I saw a fine dark specimen
which was shot early in the spring of 1894 near the city, and was
stuffed by Mr. Hailly, taxidermist. {Wintle.) Rare around
Toronto, Ont. I have two specimens taken at Toronto, Ont.,
both in the dark plumage. (/. H. Fleming.) This species arrives
on the southern prairie in March, and soon becomes abundant.
It is the characteristic hawk of the prairie, and is found in every
part of that extensive region. Although a prairie bird it ranges
in the valley of the Mackenzie beyond the Arctic Circle, and has
been taken at Nulatoon the Yukon. It is very rare in the Rocky
Mountains ; only one pair was seen in four months residence of
Mr. Spreadborough, at Banff, in 1891, and only one, a female,
was seen and killed at Revelstoke by him in i8go.
On British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island. Nowhere
common. {Fannin.) I once observed a flock of some hundreds,
all of the dark phase, at Chilliwack, B.C., and have seen young
birds in the autumn ; this dark form is a common breeder on all
the mountains, at high elevations, being only found in open or
park-like country. The only pair of white-breasted birds I ever
saw in British Columbia was breeding on a low mountain at
Vernon. {Brooks.)
Breeding Notes.— Thompson-Seton in " Birds of Manitoba,"
on page 532, says : " The nest of this bird is not peculiar. I have
examined about fifty altogether, and have hitherto failed to find
one that answers the published descriptions, which credit the bird
with using a lining of hair and other fine material. All the nests
examined early in the season were merely masses of sticks and
twigs, with a slight hollow to contain the eggs, and had no special
lining. But nests examined after the growth of leaves — usually
about the end of May— were more or less lined with twigs plucked
with green leaves on thein, and these when slightly wilted readily
flatten down and form h v'n 'proof screen.
CATALOGUE OP CANADIAN BIMHI.
235
" In general appearance this nest is much h'ke that of the red-
tail, but the position is different, beinjr usually less elevated I
have seen many that I could not reach from the ground The
favourite sites are the crown of a dense clump of willows, or the
highest fork of a low scrub oak ; occasionally I have observed the
nest at a height of 20 or even 30 feet, in some poplar, but this is
unusual.
" The eggs are commonly three but sometimes four in number •
they are more or less spherical and vary much in colour The
young, when hatched, are the purest and downiest looking of
innocents, and it is only on examination of the tiny though promis-
ing beak and claws that one can credit that little snowball with the
makings of a ruthless and bloodthirsty marauder "
First seen ru ^oril 4th, 1892, at Indian Head, Assa. ; common
by the i6th. May 25th found a nest with one egg, nest in live
poplar, made of sticks, lined with a few twigs from the living
poplar trees with the leaves on. All the nests that I saw later
were built in the same way and all contained the green twigs and
leaves. They invariably repair the old nests and only one new
nest was seen during the season. Nests contained 2-4 eggs
Farther west they build their nests chiefly in clumps of willow
along the banks of streams and the edges of sloughs and scarcely
ever in thick woods. Where there are no willows or trees they
will build their nest in a clump of rose bushes or upon a "cut bank "
(a cliff of earth by a stream). Their principal food is gophers
and mice, of which they kill a great number. They are a great
benefit to the farmer but he does not seem to know it, for in
southwestern Manitoba last autumn (1891) I counted no less than
nme dead buzzards along a trail in less than half a mile Found
two nests in trees at Crane Lake, Assa., in June, 1894. The
nests were built of sticks and lined with dried grass One had
two eggs, the other three. I shot one of the old birds as it came
[from the nest and it proved to be a male showing that both
took turns at the nest. This species is a very late breeder and
"1 y in one ca-e ^id I find eggs before the first of June. (5mW-
The writer has taken many nests of this species in Assiniboia
1 and has found that a tree is preferred to nest in but that they
change the site to agree with changed conditions. Where oak
scrub exists they prefer oak, farther west poplar (Popuius
hremulotdes) and on treeless plains they descend to low bushes and
236
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
last of all cut banks where they often make a bulky nest. In the
summer of 1895 nests were taken in box elder (NegUTido aceroides)
on Old Wives' Creek. These were lined with the outer bark of
dead trees of this species. Each nest contained only two eggs,
both fresh, May 27th and June ist. A nest was taken at the
forks of the creek on June 2pd. This was under a cut bank about
six feet below the summit. This nest was lined with green poplar
twigs having young leaves. Later, nests were taken at Wood
Mountain, Assa., in willow clumps and under banks, and
towards the last of the month on the Cypress Hills in choke-
cherry bushes. In the Milk River country the nests were chiefly
under banks. {Macoun.)
In July, 1861, we discovered a nest of this species which was
built on a spruce tree along Onion River, the principal tributary
of the Lockhart. It contained two well-grown birds. Both
parents were about and made a great ado in endeavouring to pro-
tect their offspring. The male was shot. In June, 1865, another
nest was found on the top crotch of a tall pine in a ravine some
20 miles southeast of Fort Anderson, Lat. 68° 30'. In composi-
tion it was similar to the nest of an Archibuteo. The female was
shot as she left the nest, which contained but one egg in a well
developed stage. The male was not seen. [Macfarlane.)
This bird breeds commonly throughout Manitoba, Assinibo5a
and Alberta, seldom having eggs before the third week in May
and is, therefore, a late breeder. Between June 5th and 13th,
1901, I examined close upon thirty nests in northern Assiniboia.
All these nests just contained three eggs each, no more or no less,
showing that three eggs is the number laid. Incubation was
advanced at this time but I did not find a single nest containing
young. Some of the nests were built in fire-killed willows and so
low that I could reach the eggs from the ground. A few nests
were in poplars and built from 10 feet to 20 feet from the ground.
I never found two pairs of birds occupying the same bluff, and the
nests are usually a quarter of a mile from each other. This hawk
has a habit of lining its nest with green poplar leaves and the eggs
look very pretty lying on the green leaves. It is a most useful
bird to the farmer, devouring an immense quantity of gophers
and mice. {W. Raine.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Five ; one taken in the Moose Mountains, Assa., June, 1880, by
the writer. Four others taken at Indian Head, Assa.,' one in
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
23;
lest. In the
ido aceroides)
uter bark of
ly two eggs,
aken at the
t bank about
jreen poplar
:n at Wood
banks, and
Is in choke-
were chiefly
is which was
pal tributary
irds. Both
uring to pro-
865, another
ravine some
In composi-
i female was
?gg in a well
ane.)
a, Assiniboja
veek in May
th and 13th,
1 Assiniboia.
re or no less,
:ubation was
5t containing
Allows and so
A few nests
I the ground.
)luff, and the
This hawk
and the eggs
I most useful
/ of gophers
jne, 1880, by
issa., one in
September, 1891, and three others in May, 1892, by W. Spread-
borough.
One set of two eggs taken at Indian Head, Assa., June 4th,
1892 ; one of three taken at the eastern end of the Cypress Hills,
Assa., June i8th, 1894 ; three others each containing two eggs
taken at 12-Mile Lake, Assa., June 6th, 1895, Wood Mountain,
Assa., June 14th, 1895, and on White Mud River, June 22nd, by
W. Spreadborough.
343. Broad-winged Hawk.
Buteo platypterus (Vie!ll.) Faxon. 1901.
This species probably occurs in Newfoundland. {Reeks ) It
is very rare in Nova Scotia. {Downs.) A rather rare summer
resident in New Brunsivick, but increasingly common as we go
west m the valley of the St. Lawrence. It is found all over
Ontario and extends westward to Winnipeg where it breeds. As
a straggler it has been seen by Thompson-Seton at Carberry in
Manitoba. Sir John Richardson records its occurrence at Moose
Factory on James Bay, and in June, 1896, Mr. Spreadborough
found It common on Moose River, but none were seen north of
Moose Factory. This may be considered the northern limit.
Breeding Notes.-I observed three of these hawks, old and
young, 24th July, 1887, circling round above Mount Royal Park
Montreal, and heard them uttering a note very much like that of
a cowbird. I also saw a pair in the trees near the same place on
June 4th of the same year, and probably they bred there I have
observed this species here from March 30th to October 19th
(Wtnf/e.) This species breeds about the middle of May and
seems to prefer a hemlock or swamp ash tree to nest in ' The
nest IS placed about 20 feet or more from the ground, is composed
of dry sticks and lined with pieces of bark and dead leaves and
IS rather larger than a crow's. The eggs, two or more in number,
are of a dirty yellowish or grayish white with blotches of reddish
brown. The species is not rare around Ottawa, Ont. (G 2^ W/ttte)
The writer shot a female of this species as she rose iwm her
nest, which was on a swamp ach in what was then Stewart's Bush
within the limits of the city of Ottawa. This was on 24th May,
1884. Since then the city has extended over a mile to the south
of his locality and night hawks nest on the roofs of the houses
built on the same spot.
238
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA,
This is a hawk whose young are commonly met with near the
St. Lawrence in September and October. Only once have I met
with its nest there — 24th May, 1899. This nest was built against
the trunk of a maple and contained two fresh eggs. It is a late
breeder, seldom laying before the last week in May, though once
I found the eggs earlier. It is the commonest hawk in the
county of Renfrew, near the Ottawa River, and is also common
in the county of Lanark. Unlike the red-shouldered it is partial
to thick swampy woods near creeks and builds its nest more
often against the trunk than among the Hubs of a tree. I have
seen five nests. Four of these were in birch trees and one in a
maple. The earliest date for its eggs was 8th May, i886, and
the latest 3rd June, 1888. The average time is about 24th May.
The favourite trees selected seem to be black or yellow birch.
{Rev. C.J. Young.) Common in Parry Sound and Muskoka dis-
tricts. A large number breed. Found a nest at Emsdale, Parry
Sound District, 27th May, 1897 ; it was apparently an old nest
and contained three eggs. It was built about 30 feet from the
ground in a birch. (/. H. Fleming.) We found this bird nesting
at Woodlands, Manitoba, June nth, 1894. The nest contained
two eggs. {W. Raine.)
Very common in the woods around Muskoka lakes. Always
builds its nest in the large black birch trees. I have never seen one
in any other tree and I have taken many nests. The nest is made of
sticks lined with leaves and bark. The food of the young ap-
peared to be chiefly frogs. A person will scarcely ever miss
seeing one or more sitting upon a stub of a dead tree just above
the water in which frogs are plentiful in spring. They also catch
mice and a few young birds. On one occasion I saw one carrying
a snake more than two feet long. I think that the reason they
prefer the birch is on account of thick foliage and the forked
nature of the tree near the top, which makes a very suitable place
to nest in. I have always found the nests in thick woods and as
I have never seen a nest anywhere except in Muskoka they have
always been near water as it v/ould be hard to be otherwise.
{Spreadborough.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Three ; one purchased with the Holman collection in 1885.
One taken at Toronto, Ont., by S. Herring, and one taken at
London, Ont., by W. E. Saunders, May 3rd, 1884.
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 239
CXXV. ABOHIBUTEO Brehm. 1828.
347. Bough-legged Hawk.
Archibuteo lagopus (Brunn.) Gray. 1841.
• Several specimens from St. Michael and one obtained by me
on Unalaska are indistinguishable from European birds contained
in the National Museum collection. On the northern coast of
Alaska, including the shore of Behring Sea and the Arctic, and
thence in the interior along the entire course of the Yukon,
many specimens of the Rough-legged Hawk have been taken, but
none from this region are in the melanistic phase so common
among birds from the Hudson 'Bay country. In fact all the
specimens from northwestern Alaska appear referable to the Old
World form, as certainly are the examples mentioned. {Nelson.)
347a. American Rough-legged Hawk.
Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis (Gmel.) Coues. 1872.
This species is the common hawk of Ungava and the barren
grounds extending west from Hudson Bay. It breeds especially
in the northern part of its range and eastward to Newfoundland.
It IS a winter migrant in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Mr. Wmtle remarks that it is a transient visitor at Montreal
especially in November.
A spring and autumn migrant in Ontario. {Mcllwraith.) A
remarkable migration of these hawks took place in October, 1895,
and a considerable number was killed at Toronto. The flight was'
simply enormous. I could have bought over one hundred had
they been any use to me. I obtained four or five of the black
form. (/ H. Flemitig.) This bird is far from common in
Manitoba, and so far as noted it is found only in the spring and
fall. {Thompson-Seton.) The only specimens of this bird I have
seen west of Manitoba were one taken at Indian Head, Assa., in
the spring of 1892, and one observed at Edmonton, Alta., in
April, 1897. {Spreadborough.) Richardson, Ross and Macfar-
lane found it in the northern forest in summer but in all my
wanderings south of the Saskatchewan or in the mountains I have
never met with it. I am led to believe that the following refer-
ences belong to a race distinct from the eastern bird which seems
to have its centre of migration in Ontario. {Macoun.)
240
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
No examples of this bird were secured by me in northern
Alaska, nor have I seen any. Several specimens from Kadiak are
the only ones known from Alaska. {Nelson.) Both on the main-
land and Vancouver Island, B.C. In my experience rare. {Fan-
nin.) Tolerably common migrant at Chilliwack, B.C. ; rather
scarce in the Cariboo district of British Columbia in winter.
{Brooks.) Sumas and Osoyoos Lake. {Lord.) One seen at
Vernon and a specimen seen at the same place in the collection
of Mr. Pound. Another shot on Vancouver Island is in the pos-
session of Mr. Lindley of Victoria. Considered a very rare bird
on the Pacific Coast. {Rhoads.)
Huds
Bay north of
Breeding Notes. — First observed
Great Whale River, 28th June, 1896. It breeds on nearly all the
high cliffs all the way across Ungava District from James Bay
to Ungava Bay. On 13th July, Mr. Russell found a nest with
three eggs, incubation far advanced. I found a nest on a cliff
at east end of Seal Lake 3rd August in which the young were
about half grown. The nest was a mere mass of sticks lined with
dry grass. This is the common large hawk of the country.
( Spreadborough . )
This form of A. lagopus is abundant in the Anderson district as
specimens have been obtained from all parts of the surrounding
forest to the borders of " the barrens," as well as from the Arctic
coast. Over seventy nests were collected during the period of
exploration treated of by these notes. About fifty-five of them were
built in the crotches of trees not far from the top and at a height
of 20 to 30 feet from the ground. They were externally of sticks,
twigs and small branches, rather comfortable, lined with hay,
mosses, down and feathers. The remaining fifteen were situated
near the edge of steep cliffs of shady rock on the face of deep
ravines and on declivitous river banks, and these were 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 number, and their contents were
like those of some other birds' eggs gathered by us, in different
stages of incubation in the same nest. {Macfarlane.)
A rare summer resident in northern Assiniboia and northern
Alberta from where I have received both eggs and skins. \ have
sets of eggs taken by Mr. L. Dicks at Hamilton Inlet, Labrador,
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
241
May 17th, 1897, also sets taken by Mr. Stringer at Mackenzie Bay,
Arctic America. {PV, Raifie.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Three ; one purchased with the Holman collection in 1885 !
two taken near Toronto, Ont., by S. Herring.
A set of three eggs taken at the mouth of Whale River, Hudson
Bay, Ungava, by W. Spreadborough, July 13th, 1896. Three other
sets of three and one of two taken at Fort Chimo, Ungava, June
20th, 1896, by Mr. G. Bouchier. One nest found on Artillery
Lake, north of Great Slave Lake, by Bishop Lofthouse, on June
4th, 1900, contained three eggs.
348. Ferruginous Rough-legged Hawk.
Archibiiteo ferrugineus (Licht.) Gray. 1849.
Apparently rare in Manitoba as Thompson-Seton does not
record it in his "Birds of Manitoba." Ip 77/^ .(4«/§, Vol. X, 49, how-
ever, he states that a fine specimen of this bird is now in the Mani-
toba Museum, taken by Mr. Hine. Dr. Coues found it breeding
in the Pembina Mountains on the International Boundary in
July, 373.
This is not a rare species in the prairie region. In 1895 the
writer found it at Old Wives' Creek, Assa. Two nests were taken
at this point on 27th May, eggs in one just hatched. The species
was seen at Wood Mountain and everywhere on the prairie west
to the Cypress Hills and south to Milk River. It was common in
the West Butte and along St. Mary River north of the 49th
parallel. It seems to be purely a prairie species, not being
recorded from the Saskatchewan.
Breeding Notes.— A pair was seen at Indian Head, Assa., on
1st May, 1892. On i6th I shot a fine female that had a nest in a
dead poplar about 12 feet from the ground. T! - nest was made
of sticks and lined with dry grass and contained five eggs.
Another nest in live poplar had the same number of eggs and
was lined with the inner bark of dead poplar. This bird was
tolerably common all summer. In May and June, 1894, a number
of nests were found in box elder {Negimdo aceroides) at Medicine
Hat, Crane Lake, and along Skull Creek, and in the Cypress Hills.
In the summer of 1895. they were found breeding in the same
242
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
situation. I have found their nests in poplar, cottonwood, box
elder, upon " cut banks " (clay cliffs) of streams, and upon clay
domes in the "bad lands" south of Wood Mountain. In the
spring of 1894 one pair built a nest upon the tovirer of a windmill
at Langevin on the C. P. Ry. west of Medicine Hat. It had to
be taken down, however, as it interfered with the working of the
mill. The highest nest I have seen was not more than 30 feet
from the ground. Nests were always near water, but I think that
this is more because the cut banks and trees are usually along the
streams and not for any preference that they have for it. On nth
June, 1894, took two nests at Crane Lake, Assa. Both contained
young ones. The nests were very large. One was built of sticks
and cow dung lined with dry grass ; the other of sticks alone
lined with dry grass. The young are white when first hatched.
Their chief food is gophers, of which I have seen a number in the
nests, as well as at the foot of the tree or bank where the nest
was. {Spreadborough.)
. this species builds a very large nest and seems to prefer the
old one to a new structure. All the nests seen were composed
of large sticks for the body of the nest, then the droppings of
horses and cattle to consolidate the margins, and lastly lined
inside with the inner bark of dead box elder and poplar. Two
nests were taken on 27th May, 1895, each had three eggs
originally, but in one the young were just hatched. Each nest
was in the fork of a box elder about 10 feet from the ground.
{Macoun.)
I have examined about a dozen nests of this bird in northern
Assiniboia. It is an early breeder, laying its eggs early in May,
and building a very large nest in the highest trees it can find. It
lays from three to five handsomely marked eggs. Most of the
nests I have examined contained dead gophers, proving that this
is another useful hawk to the farmer. {W. Raine.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Two ; a male and a female. The latter was taken at Indian
Head, Assa., in May, 1892, by W. Spreadborough. The male was
taken on the Cypress Hills, Assa., by the writer, Aug. 2nd, 1880.
A set of three eggs taken at Indian Head, Assa., in May, 1892;
and another of three taken at Old Wives' Creek, Assa., June 26th,
1895, by W. Spreadborough.
CATALQGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
CXXVI. AQUILA Brisson. 1760.
243
349.
Golden Eagle.
Aquila chrysaetos (Linn.) Dumont. 18 16.
Specimens procured in the Ungava District. Breeds in the
northeast portions among the hills. A pair also breed at the
" Forks " m the Ungava District. {Packard.) Saw what I took
to be an example of this species near the " Forks " above Ungava
Wh. e at Fort Chimo, September, 1896, saw the skin of one that
the Indians had shot a few days before on the river. {Spread-
borough) Not a common bird in Nova Scotia, but breeds there
and resides throughout the year. {CAlpin) Only one specimen
known to have been taken in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain.)
laken at Beauport ; a summer resident in Quebec. {Dio7ine )
"Transient visitant " at Montreal ; rare. Saw a fine specimen of
this eagle in the Bonsecours market in the month of May, 1891
It was evidently shot near Montreal. {Wintle.)
A female was shot 30th October, 1883, at Casselman, near
Ottawa, Ont., by Mr. J. S. Casselman, and another was seen near
the same place shortly afterwards. {Ottawa Naturalist, Vol V)
It breeds in the Laurentian Hills. (6^. R. White.) Breeds in the
rugged hills of eastern Canada, and is frequently taken at Hamil-
ton and Toronto, but chiefly young birds. {Mcllwraith.) A
golden eagle was killed at Toronto, Ont., on October, 24th, 1806
The only record in many years. I received a golden eagle shot at
Lonng, Ont., about the first of March, 1897. One was killed at
Lake Scugog, Ont., on October 20th, 1897. I received two females
from Dunchurch, shot in March, 1898 and three more from Loring
two females and a male. It is a remarkable fact that till 1896 I
had not met with a single golden eagle from Parry Sound. Bald
eagles always abundant but no golden eagles. (/ //. Fleming)
Very rare m Manitoba. Possibly resident. {Thompson-Seton)!
Tf.r'P^^'L' '" ^'^'"'boia, but was seen in the " bad lands " south
of Wood Mountain in June, 1895, and in July of the same year on
m' ^ ?u "' """^ ^' " ^"''"S on Stone "on the Milk River
Mr. Spreadborough believed it was breeding in the above locality'
{Macoufi.) -^
This powerful bird breeds in the recesses of the sub-alpine
country which skirts the Rocky Mountains and is seldom seen
farther to the eastward. {Richardson.) Extends north in the
244
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Mackenzie valley to the Arctic coast. (Ross.) Throughout a
large portion of Alaska, especially that part which is more or less
heavily wooded and interspersed with mountains, the golden
eagle is found. The Point Barrow party secured a single speci-
men taken by the natives east of Colville River. It extends its
range west along the Aleutian chain, having been obtained by
Dall on Unga Island, who ^mentions it as a common resident on
the Aleutian chain as far west as Unalaska. {Nelson.)
The golden eagle is not rare in the vicinity of St. Michael. It
is more [frequently seen further north in the vicinity of Norton
Bay, and in the hills back of Pastolik than on St. Michael Island.
On the Aleutian Islands it is quite a common bird. At Unalaska
they are fully as common as the bald eagle, and are reported to
breed in March on the high bluffs on Makushin Point. {Turner.)
The ;whole of British Columbia, but chiefly east of the Coast
Range, where it is a resident ; rarely west to Vancouver Island.
{Fannin) Resident but not common in the Lower Fraser valley.
Not common in winter in the Cariboo district, B. C. ; also in
the winter at Lake Okanagan, B.C. {Brooks.) Rare in British
Columbia. A few specimens seen around the higher mountains
at Ducks and Kamloops. {Streator.) Seen two or three times on
the interior mountains. As rare in British Columbia as on the
Atlantic seaboard. {Rhoads.)
Breeding Notes.— From various points along the valley of
Anderson River Lat. 68°— 69°30' to its outlet in Liverpool Bay and
from the mouth of the Wilmot Horton in Franklin Bay, an aggre-
gate of twelve nests of this eagle was obtained by us in the course
of the seasons from 1862 to 1865, inclusive. Ten of this number
were built against the face of steep and almost inaccessible
banks of shale or earth at a height of 70 to 80 feet, and from 20 to
30 feet below the summit. One thus examined, in 1864 was found
to be of considerable size ; 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 constructed
nests appeared to be annually renovated prior to reoccupation,
. they must ultimately assume vast proportions. Pillaged nests are*
however, frequently deserted for a period, but in one instance
where the female had been snared upon her nest and the eggs
taken it was found occupied the following season probably by the
widowed male and another mate. In two instances only were the
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
245
nests constructed near the top fof tall spruce trees; the sandy
on T7 ^l"'"'} '? '•'"' "'"'"'^y ^^^ "°^ favourable to building
on cliffs. {Macfarlane.) ^
In the spring of 1891 Mr. Hine of Winnipeg found this noble
b.rd breeding in a cliff on the Winnipeg River. In June, 1893, I
saw a golden eagle at Morley in Alberta and was inform d a L
ested in the Rocky Mountain foothills. My collection contaTn
36 eggs of this eagle collected in California and Montana. It lays
MUSEUM SPECIMENS
Four fine specimens from various parts of Canada.
CXXVII. HALI^ETUS Savigny 1809.
351. Gray Sea Eagle.
HalicBetiis albicilla (Linn.) Leach 1816
General in Greenland ; has been taken in many places. {Hcrlur
It} ;"^^'?'^j.g--^"y -d breeds in the wh'ole of Dadsh
Greenland, including the eastern coast. Its northern range not
as yet determined. (Arct.Man.) A common resident at iSgtut
Greenland, and breeds there ; more common in winter. (nTg-
Breeding NoxEs.-At Ivigtut, Greenland, Mr. Hagerup
the iles'tV "'""'^l '' '''' °" ^'^ ^Sth that had'been taken' oT'
Uie nest two weeks previously ; they had been sat upon about one
week. On June i.th another clutch was secured that had been
ubated "V- " ^ '.^'°"' ^"' '""^'^ -- almost whollvin-
in AorH TA' a t' "'^'^ ^''^ ^'^'^ 'Sgs can be fo'und
«n April. (C/iamfi. ^he Auk, Vol. VI., 292 )
20 h iSos'-lhr^ '\ f •f''^'" '* ^°^*'^^^'^' Greenland, April
20th 1898 the nest was bu.lt on the ledge of a sea cliff. I have
Xo (Iv.Rai::; '''' '-'-'' ^" '°"^^ Greenland, June 15th!
352. BALD EAGLE.
HalicBetiis leucocephalus alascanus C. H. Townsend. 1899.
P tr'' °^ n" 'P'''^' ^^^ ''^" ^" ^"^"^t '7th, 1896, bvMr. A*
fn ,^°7 "^^■:,U"?^^-^ .B-y- Though far from common, it' breed
in suitable situations in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia. New Bruns
,246
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
wick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and westward to the Pacific.
In it3 northern range in the Mackenzie River valley it descends
to the Arctic coast. It is extremely common on the coasts of
British Columbia and very common in the interior of the province.
Passing to the north it becomes still more abundant on the
Aleutian Islands.
While collecting on the Bay of Chaleurs at Port Daniels near
Gaspe in August, 1882, I amused myself watching a fish hawk
trying to supply its young with flat fish caught in the shallow
waters of the bay. At some distance from the shore on the margin
of the forest were a series of large trees that had been killed by fire.
In a tall one of these an eagle usually stationed himself and kept
an eye on the hawk. As soon as the hawk caught a fish the eagle
would move out in pursuit and then would commence a series of
gyrations by both birds. The aim of the eagle was to get above
the hawk and if he failed to accomplish this the hawk won. If
the hawk was beaten the eagle would come down on him, the fish
was dropped, the eagle caught it and each would sail away, the
eagle to the forest, the hawk to the sea. Day after day this
performance was repeated and the hawk's nest was located but
that of the eagle was not seen.
In June, 1893, the writer was collecting at Comox, Vancouver
Island, and observed the same thing to a less extent, but besides
getting a supply from the hawks the eagle fished for himself.
Not by diving, however, but by going to stony flats at Cape Lazo
and fishing for himself. Shallow pools were left when the tide
was out and in them numerous small fish chiefly under stones.
We had been collecting seaweeds and small fish and a " singing
fish ", we were told, was found there. This fish certainly made a
booming noise and guided us to its retreat, and numerous speci-
mens were collected. The eagle seemed to be guided by the
sound for he, too, obtained specimens under our very eyes. All
my observations are against this form killing birds. I have seen
him catch snakes and fish, steal fish from the fish hawk and eat
carrion, but beyond that I never saw him go. All observers
report this speeies as breeding near water and it seems to know
that it is an advantage to build its nest as near the food supply as
possible.
Breeding Notes.— This bird is fast becoming scarce in east-
ern Ontario. Up to the year 1895 there was a nest every year in
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. -yA',
a tall pine about seven miles east of Gananoque ancj a mile from
the St Lawrence There is still (igoi) a nest every year near
Charleston Lake about lo miles from Lansdowne. It aL breeds
on S.mcoesland, opposite Kingston, Ont. I was present at he
ready to hatch As the seventy acres of woodland in which this
ne ,s situated are being cleared of timber it is probabirthat the
bird will shortly be banished from this locality, but it st 11 nests
(tr^ / kI^O """^^ '"^"'^ '^"' "'"^'^^^ ^^''"^' ^^^^ ^"-^°-
This species nests regularly, though rarely, along the shores of
Lake Ene. and along other large bodies of water in^Ontario whe^e
the country ,s not too thickly settled, but I have never heaTd of
nor seen it breech'ng away from the water (W F%7 ^ [
At Shuswap Lake. British Columbia, in^uly, m,^ 'Tf^^
'n a large Cottonwood tree about forty feet from flT }
near the shore of the lake. Nest very larLe m.T ''''/5^""d'
must have been three feet in dir^eTe:' ' tIM^ ^ tttZ'
ouler .rn^'i: CoZ'^h" T'^^"- ^^'^^^^^ throughoufvt-
^M A. lu . ^ . °'' "''"t many specimens both youn^ and
ft tu^'l '"^"' •^""^' ^^93, they were feeding on the s"Lin^
fish which they caught from under stones when fhe ti le was out^
hir'M''A"'f ''""■'.^''""^ with eggs and young in them on Lock
hart and Anderson rivers. They were built on high trees dose to
the river banks and composed of dried sticks and banche lined
Trom r . ^v,' ""'"' '^^ '"' "^'^^^ ^°f^ "^-^erials. There were
r^ZT^^ r '^^' '" ""'^ "^^*- ^" °"- instance the parin s
made hostile demonstrations when their nests w^r. hJ ^ I! ,
but they generally flew away and kepTa a afe d sta "ce "Th'e '
are not very numerous, and it is very douhffnr f ^f"^^", ^^^V
northward of Fort Anderson. Lat.^6^0^;"^;^":^.^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^
This bird nests in Muskoka and in northern Alberta T h.,
SIX clutches of eggs, some of which were taken nnAu'^'
It wa. at leas. 4 fee. ac.oss and buiU of ^Lt' uVSZ'n
248
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA
he level top there was an inner nest about i6 inche? across with a
slight depression in the centre where the two CRgs lay. The inner
nest was almost entirely composed of moss. {IV. Harvey.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Two mature birds. One set of eggs taken at Sheet Harbour near
Halifax, Nova Scotia, and another set of two taken on an island
in the Gulf of Georgia, British Columbia, by W. Harvey.
CXXVHI. FALCO Linnaeus. 1758.
363. White Gyr falcon.
Fa/co islandus Brunn. 1764'
Common in Greenland. {Herluf Winge.) In summer more
common in the northern inspectorate of Greenland than in the
southern, but occuring according to Dr. Finsch also on the eastern
coast. The limits of its breeding-range in either direction have
not been determined {Arctic Manual.) Common at Ivigtut.
{Hagerup.) Taken at McCormack Bay, and at Disco Island,
Greenland, by the Peary and Relief expeditions. {IVitmer Stone)
Common at Fort Chimo and east coast of Labrador. Resident in
northern portions, breeds at Fort Chimo. [Packard.) Pretty
regular in its fall migrations but does not breed in Newfoundland.
{Reeks.) A casual visitor to Nova Scotia. (Z?i?w;w.) Occasionally
seen in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain.) Two specimens killed
at Port Burwell, Hudson Strait, July, 1884. {Dr. R. Bell.) A very
fine male of this species was shot at Point des Monts, eastern
Quebec, and another seen in the spring of 1885 by Mr. N. A.
Comeau. {The Auk, Vol. II, 315.) We have received a specimen
of this species from Ungava Bay, Ungava District, shot by Mr.
Thomas Mackenzie in 1890. (/. A. H. Brown in 7%.? Auk, Vol.
VIII, 236.)
" Accidental visitant ;" rare at Montreal. Mr. Kuetzing says
he has purchased four examples of this species in the Bonsecours
market. I have not heard of any gyrfalcons occurring here in recent
years.' {IVintle.) A very rare visitor at Ottawa, Ont. ; one fine
specimen taken. {G.R.White.) The gyrfalcon is aconstant resident
in the Hudson Bay territories, where it is known by the name of the
" Speckled Partridge Hawk " or by that of \he " Winterer." I
have ascertained that it is occasionally seen as far south as Lat.
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 345
52-. It is found northward to the coast of the Arctic Sea. and
probably HI thr most northern Georgian Islands; it is a well-
known inhabitant of Iceland and Captain Sabine observed it on
the west coast of Greenland, as high as Lat. 74°. {Richardson )
During my residence in the north I secured only a single
specimen of this bird, an ^.skimo skin taken at Cape Darby on
the Alaskan shore of Behring Strait. {Nelson.) A single specimen
of this species was killed at St. Michael. 15th May, 1877 It is
not a common bird in this vicinity, and oftener seen in spring than
at other seasons. {Turner.) F "g man
MUSEUM SPECIMf-NS.
Bay!'byDrR.''Bel7'"''''' ^'"'"''"^ '' ^°'' Churchill, Hudson
354. Gray Gyrfalcon.
Falco r us tic Ills Linn. 1758.
di.Tit f 'k' h' ^7"" "l^""'"' ^°^'''^'^" ^''*'^°"' by ^°"^e held to be
Hmitsofiffh T "^^ "''f'" '"^ F.gyrfalco. The northern
hm.ts of IS breeding range have not yet been determined. A
young niale falcon killed 24th September, 1872, on the Fisken^s
eferred by Dr Finsch to F. gyrjalco probably belonged to th s'
^rm {Arct.Man) Common in north Greenland, {nlluf Wi^A
Winter specimens only obtained at Fort Chimo. Not known to
breed in the Ungava District. {Packard) Common resist n
Greenland and breeding at Ivigtut. {Hagencp.) Probably
occurs in Newfoundland. {Reeks.) ^ ^ ^f rrooaoiy
Casual. One specimen of this species was shot by Mr. E White
on the banks of the Rideau, below Cummings' Bridge, Ottawa on
b l?e"T^^' '''°.; ^"°;h^^-- ^hot byG.R. WhLsomey a"
before. {Ottazva Naturahst. Vol. V.) Since the year isL I
land Tir f"" '° "'^^' '""^ '^^' '' ^'^'^ fi- bfrd from L-
letes 'f ir^sercli^.^^ ^J^^ --' ^^^'"^ ^ ^^'^^^^ -st on
354a. GyrfalcoD.
Falco rusticolus gyrfalco (Linn.) Stkjn. 1885
K i? r ^ '^'^^'^^so" 3s he found the birds nesting not far from
where Macfarlane found this species 40 years later.
250
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
ii
Seen from 6th to 20th September, 1884, flying south at Prince
of Wales Sound, Hudson Strait. (Payne.) Taken at Fort
Churchill, west side of Hudson Bay. [Clarke.) York Factory,
Hudson Bay. {Dr. R. Bell.) One specimen taken at Disco,
Greenland, 1891. {Witmer Stone.)
Throughout all Alaska, from the Aleutian Islands north, both
along the coast and through the interior, extending from Behring
Strait across che northern portion of British America, the
present falcon is the commonest bird of prey. It frequents the
vicinity of cliffs and rocky points about the sea coast, or the
rocky ravines of the interior during the breeding season, and the
remainder of the year, especially in the fall, it is found wandering
over the country everywhere that food can be obtained. (Nclsofi.)
Several specimens of this gyrfalcon were obtained in the vicinity of
St. Michael, where it is a constant resident, with probably excep-
tions during protracted periods of very severe weather. The
natives assert that this bird breeds on the high hills, either on a
rocky ledge or on the moss-covered ground. (Turner.) The
only hawk obtained at Point Barrow was of this variety. Hawks
were seen in 1882 and 1883, but were always very wild and dififi-
cult to approach. (Mtirdoch) Observed numerous individuals
along the Kowak, Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, during 1899. (Grinn£ll.)
Two specimens taken at Point Barrow, Arctic Sea, Alaska,
September, 1897. (Witmer Stone.) A regular though scarce
fall and spring visitor at Chilliwack. (Brooks)
Breeding Notes. — This gyrfalcon is common in the wooded
country on both sides of the Anderson River. Over 20 nests
were 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 were found close to or near the top of the tallest trees in the
neighbourh lod. They are similar in composition, but smaller in
size than those of the bald eagle ; and while the number of eggs
was either three or four, their contents were frequently found
in different stages of development. The earliest date for finding
a nest was May loth. The eggs were quite fresh, though one
taken five days later contained partially formed embryos. In a
few cases young birds were in the same nest a'ong with the eggs,
the contents of which were but little changed, and in another an
ejTg perfectly fresh wai found with several ready to hatch. This
falcon is supposed to be a " winterer " in the northern parts bf
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 25 1
Canada where its nrev i<; cmVi f • , .
The allied F. „.,u!,7 ol\r^tl T'^l 7"^^ °' ?'""='«=„.
numbers in the same n^JjTZ^- ,• '" '"«''= '" ^mall
hawk, twice obse^d ?;°m; 1 wl^icthL?'"'" '^°^=, °' = '=^«'
an attempts to captute iL,i ^ 'L?,;^. "^^i^XtJ'^ ^'"*''
864A. Black Gyrfalcon.
Falco rusticolus obsoletus (Gmel.) Stejn 1885
Mf t;'iri^™%^r.rKa.^Tptfr -^
Labrador ; one taken 1901. {Bi^dorv \ On! • ^anvers,
at Long Island Kin?'. Co m r t o ? 'P'^'""'^" ^^^ t^J<en
number^ofincvidtl^nhii^n '^^^^^ ^^- ^^'^^•^•) A
on the Lower St LawrL.rrS'%'^'''''''"'^'^^"«^Godbout,
two individuals' lotX;; ^'gt^^^^^^^ ^-wn'
was common in the river helnw ., 7-^^\^^^«''^) This species
the St. Clair Flats Ont!'^'* '''^ ^ specimen taken on
Thompson-Seton n h^ "S^ru ^ ^^^ "' ^''--^O
this bird to tha prov nee as 1 " f "•^°^^' ^^"btfully refers
Auk^ Vol. X, p. 49 ^he lavs ' ?• t"" "''*°''- ^^'^'^ ''" ^>^^^
toba- two Je sp';cimerhavet::\^^^^^^^^
Manitoba Museum." In ^he ooininn of ^ ' "■' "°^ '" ^^e
from Hearne and Hutchins refe to ?h T- ''' '^'^ quotations
not to this one. *° ^''^ precedmg subspecies and
For the nesting of this bird see Bendire's" I if. w . •
North American Birds," Vol I p 286 Histories of
Ontario," has no record ^f.h^rh ?'.'". '" "°*' " '''"•'^ "<
wrote his book therTtslh "' bot^'sC^th" h'^ "T ''
Burton in Hamilton, This skin ul -J ''°""' °' Mr.
Fleming, of Toronto, whose coectrn' is .'"?='''"'°" ''"^'•■
birds. (IV.Sam,.) '=°"'^""'" '^ ^h 'n rare Ontario
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
.8S:Vg. BoncMe: '''' ''''" " '°" C-™"' "ngava, Jnne,
3
n
2-2 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
365. Prairie Falcon.
Falcomexica:us,'^cm.v.G. 1841. . c . '
The firs. .m,e th. writer observed .hi. species was u, Sep.em-
.e.e«raph poie w-^o-P'l:". s.™ . n-Xt. in .he spring
r»rM-;:="--r:Trrerror^^,iro:
su„,n,erof ,895 "one was see on averse^o ^^^^._^^_ ^^^^^^
p-e'rird'Jri* on*;:. MUU R^, .hev were L.erons and douh.-
"onrrpedir:: .auena. Deer ParUCoin.bia River BC
I „ ,SM {Sprmdbomigh.) Formerly a regulai fall and
June 9^^«9°■ ,*-^'^:Xeed in the mountains in the lower iTaser
V:,:rBC tS.)'"TaUen a. Comox, Vancouver Island,
----'-•^f ™oruras^::;i a, s.a.ions.o„ .he
BR.Enmo No™^;-^' <>« ° °"„7Milk River no less .han four
-r<:;C\l.^rad^irnes.^
aL only a few '>-'- ^^^e^roLo^f Ic" a,K. the present
the Ferrugnrous buzzards, 'he^con^^^^ ^^ ^^.^^^ ^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^
s^red ..b July, -r^o^^^jzif;:^::::^^
main embankment, .n such ^ P«^ ^^"^^^fj ^t it was certainly
be obtained from any accessible ^^/^^P^'^^^-^^^ ^'^^^ hollow of the
placed directly on the ground, m %^'"'^\;;'' ,7,'" .i^^ost like a
bank bt hind the projectmg mound, so that it was aim
t::row. ic.^^r\^:t^/^:^t::J^'^.... my .;.b,
,4"^ThV::sfirm^e:!f;e'ggs sin,p.y.ald on the graveUn a
hoUow on the high bank of a river. (»'. Ram.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
T n ■ one taken at Rush Lake, Assa., by the writer, Septem-
bey:6th,iT85Th: other taken at Indian Head, Assa., m Sep-
tember. !
Sol. bv W. Spreadborough.
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
253
One set Of eggs taken at the Elbow River about 50 miles south-
wes of Calgary, Alta., by Colonel Windham. My 24'h 18^
Nest very shght, a hollow in the cliff of the river bank
36«.
Duck Hawk.
Falco peregriims anatum (Bonap.) Blasius. 1862.
A common species in Greenland. {Herlnf Wimre) Said to
breed generally throughout Greenland, certainly up to La\
69^ N. and m many of the lands to the westward of R.ffi
Bay. Examples obtained by Dr. Walker o the F.l '' R Y s"
at Port Kennedy, Lat. 73^ N., are specifically indislgulshable'
from European specimens. {Arctic Manual.) Frequen l7observ^^^^^
.n the v.cm.ty of Ivigtut. {Hagemp) On Marbrisland 1"^^^^^^
• York Factory, Hudson Bay. September, 1885. {DrRm^
This species is rare in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia as a m,V
rant. Reported to breed in New Brunswick by Chamberlain^^
known to breed in Quebec and Ontario Probabrhl m
northern Manitoba, but is rare on the pra.Vies 0^'thre:tecT
mens were seen by Mr. Spreadborough at Indian Head As an
Breeding NoxEs.-Abundant at Fort Chimo lino-'., p
cliffs along .He Hu„,be. LI, Nelt,:dL„d"VVXr) "'
Yamaska Mountain, at Abbottsford ;,ho„f .^ -i
n s o„ * we side"":?, h/' ' T- °' '""= "^""^ "^^^ ^
.his species .C'e^t ll^XrZ^'Zr'J' ^^ t^'lT'
w.
'^
m
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
„e.. on LaUe Muskoka, Ont., regularly^ Z''t:i::^^^tV::
„, four eggs Ton, the nest^n^«, '^f ; ;;'--^ -3,^, ,,„
the Bruce I'eninsula. (/ Ji- '"''""'f-' ..?,. ^„t bank " of the
'tis falcon constructs no nest ■«"--' - ar a, . know ,.
lays its eggs on the most '-"-^^ „'„t|:, 1,^ ,„ ^ome
of earth or rock. Four is x.n^t u^^ the dis-
instances the eggs were larger *- " o< -. Al.^^^^ ^^ ^^^
River. (Macfarlane) ...
saw the birds but they "aa nui yc ^ ^
secured later, on the 9th May, and t and th. eggs a e^
-rr Thr^s&^itJ. - '" —
T <;;,w the eecs from there, (i^^z^ C./. y^««^-)
1 saw tne eggs Muskoka and
I have eight clutches of eggs of this bird, Jaken in i
norttrrAerta. One set of 4 eggs was « Ue-d >, J' ^ ^^
nier.at ^f-'<°'<> L^^,'^; ^^^r"^', eUrom the t'op of thecliff and
a cliff overhanging the watei , ^5 tee^ ^^^^ j^^,,^^ ^„ ^
;o feet above '^f/^f , J.^ ^"^iedrmaL of 'a ruffed grouse
ledge 2 feet wide, the halt aevuu ^^^^
ani pileated woodpecker were ly.ng on he edge n= ^^^^^^^
Mr. Wenrnan has co lee ed f"^- - ^ " esf in either case, the
Blindman's R.ver Alberta. Ij^"^ . „„t „„ Scarboro
:fS s^::^ 2':,::;rTlr::d .hre^ .Hes fron,n,yho„se
bufthe nest is inacessible. (W. Rn.M.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
.^r\ ntVnrk Factory, Hudson Bay, by Dr.
Three; two P'^°<^"'^^^^ j\^°' ,„7a^^^^
R.Bell. Another taken at Edmonton, Alta., oy v
May 1 5th, 1897.
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 255
One set of 3 eggs taken 8 miles northwest of Red Deer
Alberta, by J. W. Dippie, June 13th, 1896. Two sets of 3 each
taken at Fort Chimo, Ungava, by G. Bouchier. in June, 1898; and
one egg from Repulse Bay. • v » '*""
356a. Peale's Falcon.
Falco peregrhms pealei Ridgw. 1880.
Along the southwestern coast of Alaska from Kadiak to Sitka
th.s dark handsome variety of the duck hawk is found, perhaps
entirely replacmg its more eastern and northern relative It has
not been recorded from the interior or northern portion of the
erntory to the north of the Alaskan Mountains ; but it is known
ft7- 1 f^I^«" was frequently observed on Amchitka
««o H «« "'?'u °^ ^"""' '^^' ' ^"^^ «" Attu Island during
880 and 1881. It breeds on nearly all the islands of the chain
and .s a winter resident of the Nearer Group at least. On Agattu
•t IS reported to be very common ; and on Amchitka I knew of
hree "ests on the ledges of the high bluffs hanging over the sea
Is and. Chiefly coastw.oe. (Fannin.) Mounted specimens of
(^W"" ""''' '"'" '" '^" '^°P °^ ^'- ^"^''^' Vancouver, B.C.
357. Pigeon Hawk,
Falco co/um6anus Linn. 1758.
This species was scattered all across the District of Ungava
from the mouth of Whale River almost to Fort Chimo in Jhe
summer of 1896 and others were taken off Cape Chidley in
Hudson Strait. (Spread6o.oug/,) Audubon, Vol. 1. 89, states^hl"
eggs and nest were found in Labrador about June s Coues
-et with It (p. ai6) on two occasions at Grosiater Bay on 5th
August and on 2Sth of same month at Henley Harbour. (LJ^A
This species is more or less common, breeding in suitable places
on Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince EdLrd Island.^New
Brunswick Quebec and Ontario. It is also common in the wooded
parts of Mamtoba, extending north to Fort Churchill on Hudson
Bay where it was taken by Dr. R. Bell. Richardson says ' t
makes Its appearance on the coast of Hudson Bay in May abou
York Factory in Lat. 57°. He also saw what he^ook to\e the
256
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
same species at Great Bear Lake in Lat. 66°. This was m the
spdng of 825 Ross records it north to Lapierre's House m the
va ey of the Mackenzie. It is a common spec.es m the wooded
portion of Alaska and extends west to Unalaska according to
Turner. It descends south into British Columbia east of the
Coast Range where it is fairly common though rare on the -ast,
according to Fannin. A mated pair seen at Lake La Hache, B.C.,
by Mr. Rhoads. . ,
On the prairie it is seldom seen but one was taken at Ij. - i.- •:« '
Hat in May, 1894, and a pair in the Cypress Hdls m the
year A few were observed on Old Wives' Creek, Assa m i«95.
^No'e were seen in the mountains by Mr. Spreadborough m 1890
1891 1897 and 1898, but a pair were found breedmg by h.m m the
summer'of 1902 a? Cascade, B.C., on the 49th parallel, and a nest
was taken by him at Edmonton, Alta., m May, 1897-
I found the pigeon hawk quite common during August along
the Kowak, Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. {Gnnnell.)
Breeding NoTES.-We have few authentic records of the
nesting of this bird. u /- u *
It breeds every year in the Magdalen Islands m the Gul f o
St. Lawrence, selecting a thick bushy place (^^^^ ^- ^T^,^
A Ipair built regularly on an island in Lake Joseph, Mus-
koka Ont U- iiPl'^^'S>) This falcon ranges along the
Anderson River almost to the Arctic coast at Liverpool Bay.
Several of their . ests had apparently been built by them on pme
trees, and others on the ledges of shaly cliffs. The former were
composed externally of a few dry willow tw.gs, and -terna Uy of
withered hay or grass, etc., and the latter had only a jer^ f^J
decayed loaves under the eggs. I would also ment.on the to low-
ing interesting circumstance. On May 25th, !864, a t u y
Indian in my employ found a nest placed m the .'"f ^^ ^^'^ f^
branch of a pine tree at a height of about six feet from the
ground. It was rather loosely constructed of a few dry s^cks
and a small quantity of hay. It then contained two eggs. Both
parents were seen, fired at and missed. On the 31st he revisited
the nest which still had two eggs, and again missed the birds.
Several days latter he made another visit thereto, and to nis sur-
prise the eggs and parents had disappeared. His first impression
was that some other person had taken them. After looking care-
fully around he perceived both birds at a short distance and this
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
^^7
ed h.m to mstitute a search which soon resulted in finding that
the eggs must have been removed by the parent birds to hf ace
of a muddy bank at least forty yards disJant from the orl nal
nest. A ew decayed leaves had been placed under hem bu
n the mtenm. There can hardly be any doubt of the truth of
the foregoing facts. {Marfarlane.) "*'' °*
I have sets of eggs taken in Muskoka and southern Labrador also
others from northern Manitoba and northern Assiniboia. One of
DM J" 'f '".'' ^'^^ ^^- J^^^Ph. Muskoka, Ontario by
. D. McMurnck. The nest was built in a tall pine and conta^'ned
four handsome eggs. {W. Raine.) contained
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
ffHfn?;:^ ac;,^cir "^;"; Z: "^^ ^'^' ''- -^ °-
One set of four eggs taken in Muskoka, Ont., May 24th 1800
Received from W. Raine. ' ^ ' ^°'
357^<. Black Merlin.
Falco columbarius suckleyi Ridgw. 1873.
W^ 'aT"'7 '""''^^'' '■'"'''^"* "'°"& the coast of British Colum
bia. Abundant on Vancouver Island. ^Fannin) R sident Tn
t^^Tonrsren^ff ^^T'"^"^^ *^^" the^igeo:';!"
l^^Tl ^"f^^^^"at Sooke, Vancouver Island, August i8q^
{Spreadborough) Examples seen on the coast shoukl 1.^.1 ,
under this name though Mr. Fannin has both forn we t fthe
S:ir'^- ^'^^•'"" '''"^ ^'^^^"^ '^ ■•" theToTleail'!
358. Richardson's Merlin.
Falco richardsonii Ridgw. 1870
the International Boundary Lat zin"^ Sfh c 7^''^"^^"^^^
(Coues:, One specimen was shofby hVwrte at.^hT db' ' "'^i
the South Saskatchewan, Assa., g.h Septembe:. «8o °'
258
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
li
A single pair was seen in the neighbourhood of Carlton
House in May, 1827, and the female was shot. In the oviduct
there were several full-sized white eggs, clouded at one end with
a few bronze-coloured spots. The specimen killed at Carlton
House is, beyond doubt, an old female merlin just beginning to
have its new feathers. {Richardson.) Carlton House was situated
about Lat. 53° on the North Saskatchewan about lOO miles north
of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Macfarlane had no certainty
of the occurrence of this species on the Anderson River and I am
inclined to believe that only stragglers reach the North Saskat-
chewan.
Taken at Chilliwack on the Eraser by Mr. Brooks and
near Victoria by Mr. A. H. May. {Fanfiin) Occurs in migrations
only, both east and west of the Coast Range, B.C. ; a few individ-
uals seen at Lake Okanagan in the winter of 1897-98. {Brooks.)
One shot at the head of Lake Okanagan, B.C. {Rhoads.)
Breeding Notes.— Breeds in Alberta and western Assiniboia.
The first authentic set on record is in my collection. It was taken
by Mr Roy Ivor, south of Moose Jaw, Assa., on May 20th, 1893.
The nest containing four eggs was made of sticks and weeds and
built in a poplar tree-top. The next set recorded was found by
J. E. Houseman at Calgary, Alberta, May 12th, 1894. Mr. House-
man kindly sent me these eggs to make drawings of some time
after he collected them. It is a handsome clutch and is now in
the collection of Mr. Crandell. Mr. Dippie has also taken eggs,
young birds and parents near Calgary. A handsome set in my
cabinet was taken at Fort Saskatchewan, May 17th, 1899. showing
this bird usually has eggs by the middle of May. It is rather
singular that there is no record of the nesting habits of this bird
in Bendire's " Life Histories of N. A. Birds," probably on account
of the author having such a vague knowledge of the birds nesting
in northwest Canada. {W. Raine.)
358.1. Merlin.
Falco merilliis (Gerini.) Oberholser.
1899.
A specimen caught at sea,Lat. 57° 4i' N., Long. 35° 23 W., in
May 1867, by Mr. E. Whymper, and by him presented to the
Norfolk and Norwich Museum, seems to have reached the most
western limit of the species known. {Arctic Manual) A speci-
CATALOGUE F CANADIAN BIRDS
• 259
359.1. Kestrel.
Fa/co tinmmailns, Linn. 1758.
One said to have flown on board shin r.ff r
of Greenland, on Parry's first retunv'P °^ ^^P^ farewell, south
Manual) ^ ^ '*'^"'" ^"^^g*^- ^"^ killed. (^^^^,v
360. American Sparrow Hawk.
Falco sparverius, Linn. 1858
Edward Island, New Brun wicL O T^" '". N"™ Scotia, Prince
observers its occur" nee "„ 3!!:, ?'"''"."'' °"'="°- ^X "any
corded, Dr R Bell nl , """''"' ""<* breeding is re-
Tho^pson-Sefon'str ,: s™ lefJt ^-'T '""''°" «^^-
toba, and the writer's own „hr, . T"^ P''=""'"' '" Mani-
borough give the sa^eTs ul^for thT'.'"?'' '""^ °' '"'■■ ^P-ad-
ing Assiniboia and Alberta ,"« ■"■"" ''*''°" '"'='''^-
of the Rocky Mountains ai K. « '°T"'°" 'P"''^' '" ""= """eys
Revels.oke,Jn the Col "r^btwhTr* tTsH""': ^'""'="' ^'
9eh. Later it became quite pint fu Z I" '"'^SC on April
Columbia to Robson. This soec e, L K T "'"'"''""' ''°™ ""=
British Columbia, but doubtless bLo '''""''.^"'"'"'ward through
sparrow hawk in the T'X'oZT ^Z^'''^ '^^ *-rt
Fanmr, re ts it common on L coasfan^tncreSud."'-
fou'^d-rat :;!;Ttrirthr£[" """'.■•- ^-- 54^ bu. ross
House, though rathe; rare .n^ A^Tka irTs ™"^" '' "-''''"''
son says only one specimen was kntn umi Kra'^ "^ f ""•
numerous on Chiica, River nearthe Zl otl^lT ' "'"
Breeding Notes.— This is fh^ ^^ "
end breeds every year „ sVi aSe T""'"'"' "' °"'' ^"^^" ^^^-^s
selects a hole, us'lially lm£^l'-,fT' 'h "^''" ^"^^"^- ^^
tree, and lays its eggs about iVthM ^'f P'"^ °^ ^«n^e other
able to fly in July. %,T^ /y ^^ J ^'^^ ^^en the young
and around tl^cit^: 'J Ilf^.fTjl'llT'n^. ^"^
inc rarry bound District.
250 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
( J H. FlemiuLr.) This bird seems to prefer holes in trees, the
old nests of the flicker are probably the ones used The eggs
fiv in number, are of a butf or pale yellowish brown w.th
splashes of dark brown all over, but most numerous at the
greater end. About the f^rst week in May. the nest may be look d
for in the neighbourhood of Ottawa. (^^ R. WInte.) Breeds
always in cavities in trees-eggs 4-6. {W. h. Saunders.)
This species was first seen in 1892 at Indian Head, Assa., on
I6th April, and was common by the 24th. It breeds m the woods
Ld in Uees in the stream valleys. A nest was found m an old
flicker's nest in apoplar,June 5th; .t contamed five eggs. In Apr.l
1804 it began to breed on the 17th in holes m poplars. On the
f7?h Mav, 1895. a nest was discovered in a flicker's hole .n a box
elder trJ; on Old Wives' Creek, Assa. The female sat so close
hat she had to be shoved with a stick before ^^^ would m
The nest contained five eggs of a deep cm namon buff, butbecom
ing brown or cinnamon at the larger end Th's ^P-^. '^.^ ^°
common on Vancouver Island, always breedmg m holes. It feeds
upon mice, young birds, grasshoppers and other msects and on
one occasion I saw one catch a small snake. I have seen nest
from 60 to 70 feet above the ground. {Spreadborough.) It breeds
in tl interior at least as far north as Fort Rae, Great Slave Lake,
in Lat. 62° N. {Befidire, Vol. I., 309)-
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Fourteen; of these two were taken at Toronto, Ont., by S.
Hernng ; two at Ottawa by F. A. Saunders ; the others by W
Spreadborough at Indian Head, Assa., Banff, Rocky Mountams,
and Revelstoke on the Columbia River, B.C.
A set of five eggs taken near Edmonton, Alta., May 31st, 1893;
anothfrirtakSonOld Wives' Creek, Assa., by W. Spread-
borough. May 27th, 1895.
360a. Desert Sparrow Hawk.
Falco sparverius deserticolus Mearns. 1892.
Near the mouth of Milk River, Montana, June 30th, 1874, col-
lected by Dr. Coues. {Mearns in The AuK Vol. IX 266.) Abund-
ant resident ; Mr. Brewster informs me that my Chilhwack speci-
iTTsparverius belong to this form. It is a permanent resident
Throug out the southern part of British Columbia ; a few remain
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 26I
Cascade, B.C aZT^llTj^ X ","'"'' ■'"«=" ''''" -''
valley are „( .Ms subsAcS^d^r;"^'"" '" '^^ "-"«'-'
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
y 49th parallel, all collected by Mr. Spreaclborough.
CXXIX. POLYBORUS Vieillot. i8i6.
362. Audubon's Caracara.
Po/j^dorus chernvay (Jacq.) Cab. 1848
supen-o:::ot f^rfroitrtrr °" T^ "^^^'^ ''-^ «^ L-^^e
by Mr. George E. rki!! .^^ ^^^ i' ^,f ^J) f ^3. is reported
Ontario. iWilHa. Brer.sU. -.. tLaTvo, X^ ' ''
CXXX. PANDION Savigny.
364. American Osprey.
Pan^wn haliaetus carolinensis (Gmel.) Ridgw. 1870
ttc Manual.) ^viuseum at Copenhagen. {Arc-
Nova Sccia, Ir^ce Ed«rS IsTatr;' 't"' '" N-f^-d'-d.
Ihroughou. Ontario. wTs ward,, i, ^'"^ Brunsw.ck, Quebec and
ditions throughout the nr« I • °""'' ""''" ""= «">« """
Pacific coast Northward ' 7^'T- ""n ""= -""""'"'"^ '<> 'h<=
beyond the Arctic cTrclt \n ^ n" '" ""^ '°''^' """"-y ='"<'
Alasl^a, Nelson pace its bredi"^^ °' ^-^ ''"'"="^'- '"
Circe so that it bUMlX:|h3^;X"^ '" "''"
colTnrto''bS~r„:i*\'T'""'"^ °' ^'^'y -^ -P«y
- It soon -^^r-'^7^-^---r/---
|i' ii
id
3^2 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
two or more o,«s. A nest found at Lake ^^^^^l^;^^
Ottawa. Ont.. would bo nearly s.x feet across and s app^rc nt^y
made of large '.sticks, weeds, cornstalks and bark. {Geo. A:.
White.)
This bird is becoming very scarce along the St. Lawrence^
During the last ten years 1 have only seen a ^^w exampl s. A
nest was found on May 23rd. 1900. at Ganan<>que Lake bmU on
top of a large broken pine, which conta.ned three eggs Th.s j
the only case I know of its breeding '";,'^^Cr^y ;J,^,\^!f,';
Ont., but I formerly saw its nest frequently .n the -unt.cs^ of
Lanark and Renfrew, built on the top of P'-^ "^^^^^f^"^^^^^^^^^
Vo,o,e-) Generally distributed in the Muskoka and Parry bouna
Jisufcts. I met with a nest in the centre of a heronry u. Parry
Sound. {/.H. Fleming.)
Three specimens were observed on Moose River near Moose
Faa^^jTries Bay, June 7th, 1S96. A pair were bree mg m he
top of a dead spruce tree. None were ^^^f^^^'^/^f , ;. "^'^'j;
(Sm'addoroujrh.) The fish-hawk breeds about four miles up
^N^nhwest \iverl above Hudson Bay Company's station,
Labrador. (Packard.) „ . • u r^ 1 ,k;o
An abundant summer resident throughout Bf'sh ^^j-^^^;
Its nest is usually on the broken top of a tree, not far ^^om ^ater^
iFannin.) Common throughout Vancouver I^ -- " ^-t very
bulky and generally placed on the broken top of a ^all dead t ee
I have seen a few nests, however, on living trees. The food of
hisspecTes consists principally of f^sh. I ^-e watched then,
after flying slowly over a shallow bay, stop and hover for a few
Ids tLn cloL their wings and drop like a meteor upori som
luckless fish which they seldom fail in catching. On a few occa
s^n I have seen them with snakes. Their nest ,s a huge heap o
sUcks usually placed on the top of a taU stub, scarcely ever less
than fifty feet from the ground. (Sprea^^orovgh.)
Breeds amongst the lakes of Muskoka, Ont. In June ^893. we
shot a specimen at Banff, Rocky Mountains, and Mr. Fear in
earned me a pair had a nest behind Tunnel Mountain. I have a
serSs of 200 eggs of the osprey and they are the most handsome
S all ha^^s e?gs ; this bird usually lays three eggs, but occ -
.ionallv four (W. Raifie.) Almost invariably there is a hsti
h::k n'esdn;- wL the great blue heron at Sydney Cpe Bre^
Island. At the heronry I visited, the hawks chased the herons
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIROS,
263
was tolci of ,«^r„ fl t , ""' ' T.""' >"''"• '-»'" •
haw. „..„, a™„^^ :hX.::'°"'(r: ^/cr'^^ "'^' » ""■■
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Ncn-aTcot: j:i L^^^ ^t;" ^, ^'^'^^'-'' Lake, near Halifax.
Family XXIX. STwaiDiE. Barn Owls.
CXXXI. STRIX LiNN^us. 1758.
365. American Barn Owl.
Strix pmtbicola Bonap. 1838
alive on a coal dock nea thf bTv fl. 7 ?'" ""'^ "P^"^"'
;th, 1899^ The bird soon cfitd a7d";r;. JrbTa' ^alf '^tT' -"^
the only Toronto record of which I am awa e ( J H fi ''
The Aiik, Vo\. XVW m\ in fi, d U- H. Fleming xn
Museum of Comoara I've 7-1 u '■■''^"' collection in the
taken by Mr LlTc2t^^ l"' p"' " '" ''"^'•'^^" "^-^ «-'
ember i«no tk ^* ^^°"^ ^°'"*' Ontario, early in Nov-
lea ^Mr H^B^r ^^^;^«^>7- — d fo^ thetl-
Family XXX. BUBONIDiB. Horned Owls. &c.
CXXXH. ASIO Brisson. 1760.
366. American Long-eared Owl.
Asio ivilsonianus (Less.) Codes. 1882
t,
iv
lii;!'
264 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
1 A fKot 5t hreeds in its range from New-
this account we ^°"<^l"d%*?'"';Vdward sland, New Brunswick,
^-r i^ar ^Wrre ^r ^ " U. 'occurence . aU
These provinces but not as being anywhere common
*";rr .on. watchin. I a. '- -l^^'e ml^^^o ^^e
^•■fof 0«a"w: O-r'an^ seclr^^a'sne pal on the .St November,
iQOi {G. R. White) .
%his is a toierabiy common ^^:^'^'^£:^::^
evidently breeds throughout "« P™^"- /g,,, afd not seen
°""^:.inre'"Th:t^« ed '>ada w,:l:;-fo'ot'ed mouse and
r\:re£ieslusstomach 0„Ma.B.,.8,.apa^w.
„ at Medicine Ha. Assa an o*"^swere^see^^^^^^^^ ,_^ ^^^
^K:s:;M^rl:^£L-:"com^^^^^^
rpric^e^r^bSe^f^itfinegr^^^^
lined with dried grass ^'''^^f':'''i:^^^^'JTJ'^^rionr^i as far
^"•>:.'^'Lt*Kn£b.ye Utiasfar noTh as the forest
rndt'ftifpie^fJi-iJwood^;,^^^^^^
plains, and frequents the shores of ""^"f Mackenzie ; rare.
iRiclmrdson) North to For SmP=°» °" *^ Mad<e .
\ross) Common throughout f""* CoUrmbm^ A" )^ _
\ have taken it 0-7--;:;, : ^^'^r, Lt ^uncommon on
Lr o^^Lg^in tS J.W ;;f :,:r (S
s::t:urrfJ:-^^vrt^^^^^^^^ >- BriLhco..
umbia. {Rhoads) .
B..BP,.o Nox.s._Rare.y observed in e^^rn On -^ On^ .
about eight feet from ^^e ground egg , three.
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
265
water. The >onle.r.4 o„l Jds'upo ''„!:" „^'^^ ^.^ ""^
also upon nsects • I h;,v^ f^. i . ^"*^ ^"^^ll birds,
Manitoba, t/a. 'was onfyV:itZZ"t::::. 'I °'' ^.^^^'
five eggs. This bird is an early breder anT ' ,', '""^"•"'•^
eggs by the end of April or early in Mav Z ,r^"'' *"' ''"''
the short-eared owl-is a la,l k i '^' , *^ "'"' ^Pecies-
beforejune. (K-.L,,/ ''"= '""''" »"<' ^-^Wom has eggs
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Seven ; one purchased with the Hnlmn„ .1 •
another,akena.O.,awa,0„!byMfG R w\ "'T '" '*''■
Grenfell, Assa.. by Richard Lake! 1894 ' ''^'^' '''''" '^
867. Short-eared Owl.
^^?^ accipitrinus (Pall.) Newt. 1872
gether unknown, but it has been sh„?' ' . ''V"""""" ""«>= ^l'"-
Bay, Lat.68» 50!' X l^SV^Th s" pt^^ls" a'"' '" °''=°
dent at Fort Chimo Labndnr • ."P^^^'^s 's a summer resi-
Inlet, plentiful on tl'etrstr; TlZ^J^ti: ^^''^
pr r„;"er?:„?rcL'^rSh r-^° '-"-:;ra"
. ^^'^"^^'^' Labrador in Seotemhpr /ov / s
A summer res dent hnf- ,^^^■ ^ • !. '^^P'^^"'Der. {Bigelow.)
Not con,™on in Nova'sri ,7u?b:e:"s the^ ""(t"''- t^'''
wick. (CnaS^UA L -^ ' R'"-'^'" St. Johns, New;Bruns.
Lake, York Co N b' W ^ T"? ';;""^ '"^"^ ^«° ^'Scotch
256 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
IDr R Bell.) An owl believed to be this species was seen in
t^fe marshes on the Magdalen Islands. {Bishop.) Summer res.-
dent in Quebec. {Dio,L) A common, but transient v.s.tant a
Mo^ eal more plentiful in the autumn. Specmiens taken at
Montreal n October, 1889 and 1890, and others seen at Bouche
viUe s and in October, 1892. {WM.) A pa.r was shot October
rr 88? bv Mr G. R. White, and one was seen the same month
bv M W L. S ott ; these are the only records. {Ottawa Natur-
^LfvoV v.) This is a commoner species than the long-eared
owl and is likely more northern in its range. I have often observed
^ht species skimming noiselessly over the inlets and mo.st
t^t::Xo.... at Port Cidney ^y^^^^y^^^^^
October 896. t'hey were particularly abundant and wh.le wa k-
^r'n he island it was not at all unusual to see upwards of a
dozen on the wing at the same time. Everywhere on the island
their advent was clearly marked by the vast numbers of bud
emains sea tered around, among which I noticed those of many
ofX woodpeckers. I also noticed the remains of -v-al smalle
owls which Teads me to conclude that they are not altogether
innocent of cannibalism. (/. Hughes-Samuei:)
This species is tolerably common in Manitoba, but is a dweller
amongst the marshes and is seen there chiefly. It breeds through-
r:;^p..nce. ^^^-^^^ :^:^::^zr^
reclmrco«, fnTbeg^nt btd. ^hey fly often in the day
tiSeTn bright sunlight and on one occasion I saw one fly aimlessly
abou for ove. an hour and clapping its wings together so rapidly
h.t they sounded like a rattle ; quite common at Medicine Hat
A Trie Lake Assa., in May and June, 1894 ; '" July, 1895, they
;t common'^ng Wilk Riv'er and on the West Butte, Lat. 49°,
Ilta a -ew individuals seen at Edmonton, Alta., in May,
f8Q7"- not observed in the Rocky Mountains,but seen in the Eraser
v.Uey at Agassiz in May, 1889. {Spreadborough.)
This owl is a summer visitor in the Northwest Territories, arnv-
inJa soon as the snow disappears and departing in September^
We observed it as far north as Lat. 67°. and a female killed at
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN HIKDS.
Fort Franklin on the 20th May, contiin.-rl ■
C..S nearly ready for exclusio^, X^Ll^rt T^ 'i"^^^
S.mpson on the Mackenzie ; c..nmon A^^^^^^^^^^ J^" '""
rcfTuIar and common mhn-int -.n.l ' '^" ^P^'^-'i^s is a
and is found as far no h K T'""'^' '''^^^'"' '' ^^- Michael
procured in ,880. ^Z l^^tt H ""' "'"'" ^^'"-^ -"-
in Alaska. It is to be mn I . / f '^"'"'"""^'^t bird of prey
i^-ands. ,z..^;tma:::;,c;;t;^.; v^^^^
only on the coast ; a male wis f,k,>n . ^ ''"^'^ '^"""''
-inster. (S^r.a^o.) Ab m hnt be! ";;^'-clay at New West-
'"ainland ; remains on '1^';"^. 7 the .sland and on the
Abundant resident in ;^r ^:^:^'-;! ^'^ -J^ter. (/^..,,)
mon in the Okana.ran distnVr in ^ ^ ^' "■^••' '''t'^^''" com-
•li^trict in winter.' W^^^ "^l'"- ''"the Cariboo
about the lakes of th^rtlriir."^^ aC:^\ '^'--'-'^ -^^'
was noted everywhere durin.r ..^'^'''''''^'■^ /'^^' short-eared owl
Cape Blossom \.p; Il';/^7"^'; ^^ ''" "'^'"'■^'^ "^
-•Wither stone iU;^^:,—rtl-,';^^
(Ontario. Onesp I K;l',::;Xr;' " n" ''" '"-'='-
.very year „„ The M.,;S ,t f ("r';".';';''' """■ »■-"'
l>ircl forms a .slight nest on the ' ' , l ■^'- L™''™.;^. This
«""etin,cs n„,o'fi. I„w b, si^v shrZ "''"r;'''" '^■■"■'''''' '"'^^-^^ '="^-
.•BBS i„ the ,„„„,h olCTl n : '• "T','"^' '""^ ^"'^ '" """■
'^th, ,898, i„ the nor ;,„,L'r" :";; ""'rr '"''■" ^""<-
''■>"l>' a few pairs breed the" ev ' ' , '^^'""'•;"«' "-e „„
seven eir^s was foil rul in rnf • "^ "^-^t containintr
May .3ri ..c.t;t:\;;"t;'!.;ri- ti'^f 'if'"''' '"" • -
l>"tgr.issy place. (A'n. C J. Vomg.\ ""'"'"■ " *''s ,n a wet
^ra;:;t,:r:itf S"- r-r^'^-- -
fe.lthers were n„,iee<l „ abotK , K Tl '""'"'"' ''"''''' ' '■> ^^
l»ve been ph.cked frL her* e bv . "'' """,""'' "''■™"' '"
»ionally sits verv elose o„ her „e , Th '"'""! ''"■"■ """-• "«-
n«, v„rie<l between three i,;:. .'',? "".'"^" "' ^'W' i" »
and five, and but
one contained
as
268
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Ol< CANADA.
":;'',e ot ■ n, U .m-.f 'iwarf willows, one foot in hciglu, ,us.
trasses ami fcalhcrs. and contained hvc: egRs. W. '"" ■■^^'■
ta'nen.ly approached her in the conrse ot our protracted sea.ch.
*-'n^f "oilnd this species nesting in Manitoba and Assinibola,
". Ba V Arctic An erica. One set ,>f five eggs was taken
^' fi,h ^08 a. tier set of four, Jnnc 4th, .890, and another
^roffiVlnne th ,858,s„that the first week in Jnne appears
;:be the iin .1 is bird has fresh eggs in the Arct.c regions. The
Eskimo's ',an,e for this bird is NipaiclooktiK. (M . K.n,u:)
MUSKUM SPECIMENS.
Six • one purchased with the Hohnan ^^^^^^'^'^''^^''^^^J'^
1 -,t Avhiier Que, in 1886; one in Russell Co., Ont., in
i:r ::bJ ^o h^;: oU^e. were taken at Indian Head Assa..
bepteniDci. loyu Spreadborou^'h.
^^trr-c^t;^.ruU::'M;!:^e Ja^^Assa.. May .8th
.SorbyM W Raint. Nest on ground. A hollow hnec w.d.
;'!:;ancl weeds, built on a rising ground overlooking the s-ough.
CXXXIII. SYRNIUM Savigny. 1809.
308 Barred Owl.
SyniiioH nebulosim iFoRST.) Boie. 1828.
CATALOOUK OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
269
tlic Ottawa district. {Ottaiva Naturalist. Vol. V.) Alo.uv the
;^>/tl^ A "" h--:"ot heard of it bein, observed.
P ik "-7;'""";;"""^' To;-to, also at Caclu. Lake. Algon-
quin 1 ark (/ H. Fleming.) The most northern point I lriv.>
olio ^;')'^7--^«"^he Parry .Sound Rai.::; north
fr e idlntL h ■ ^"■'-"""' P-^ablv mi.natory. A sum-
mer residen though rare ; more common east of VVinnipetr Min
Uhompson-Scton) This species was described from asp?;^"n
sent from Hudson liny by Mr. Graham. I have never ,Ce e
the b,rd .n my travels in America. (Richardson )
Breeding Notes.-A few of these birds are met with every
year along the St. Lawrence but it is not common. The neJt
has been found ,n a hole in a tree near Kingston; Ont,anl a
few years ago 1 saw five young birds that were sho abou a mile
mUsKle of the town of Brockville. Ont., in July. (AV / "^ 7
Yoxng) Rare ; .k. authentic record of its breeding near London
Ont., though doubtless it does so. {W. E. Saunders.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Three; one purchased with the Ilolman collection in 1S8; •
one taken at Ottawa, Ont.. by G. R. White ; another fine speci-
irL-lrose" '' '"' "'' ^'■"'"'"' '" ^'"^ '"^"^'^"" ^y Mr rXge
One set of three eggs taken near Chatham, Ont., by W Raine
Apn. 4th, 1S97. Nest in a hole in a tree about 35 fe'et Lm th^'
3«9.^ Spotted Owl.
Syrnium occidentale caurinum Merriman. i8gS
I saw a specimen of this owl which was taken a few miles down
o^er'F^L"";''''''^'"'' '•^- •■ "^^^^'^""''y confined Ltl
Lower Eraser valley, where it is a rare and local resident. {Brooks)
CXXXIV. SCOTIAPTEX Swainson. 1837.
370. Great Grey Owl.
Scotiaptex cifierea (Quv.i,.) Swains. 1837.
Specimen No. (32,306) in the Smithsonian Institution collec-
tion was obtained by James McKenzie at Moose Factory, J^m"s
I-
m
f? I ;
Ijjj.
W)-
l»li !|l|
h
270
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Bay No record from any other part of the country. {I ackard.)
One seen on the Humber River, Newfoundland, August 28th, 1899.
(/ H Porter) A specimen taken a few years ago in Pictou Co.,
Nova Scotia, is the only one known except one in the collection o
the late Dr. McCulloch. {Gilpin) Occurs in winter at Grand
Manan, New Brunswick. {Herrid') Taken at Lorrette; .-esident
in northern Quebec. {Dionne.) A scarce winter visitant at Mont-
real During the winter of 1889-90 this owl appeared at Montreal
in great numbers and many specimens were taken. (Wwtlc.) A
rare winter visitor at Ottawa. Only one secured in ten years. {G.
R White ) In southern Ontario this species is a casual visitor in
winter only. I have seen specimens taken in Muskoka and at
Hamilton. {Mcllwraith) Sometimes abundant in the Farry
Sound and Muskoka districts in winter. Occurs irregularly
about Toronto, Ont.; it sometimes appears in southern Ontario
in numbers, tut is usually absent, such migrations are i-are the
last one at Toronto was about 1889. (/• H. Fleming) On 28th
February, 1896, a specimen was taken on Toronto island. In Dec-
ember, 1898, I saw one, taken at W hitney, on the Parry Sound
Railway, and 1 was shown two fine specimens which were taKen
at Scotia Junction, on the same railway the preceding year (y.
Hughes-Samuel) ^ id 1
Rare winter visitor in Manitoba. Found chiefly along the Red
River and at Lake Winnipeg. {Thorn pson-Seton) This imposing
bird which was first described from Hudson Bay is by no means
a rare bird in the Northwest Territories, being an inhabitant ot
all the wooded districts lying between Lake Superior and Lat.
67" or 68°, and between Hudson Bay and the Pacific. It is com-
mon on the borders of Great Bear Lake ; and there and in the
higher parallels of latitude must pursue its prey during the
summer months by daylight. It keeps, however, within the
woods and does not frequent the barren grounds like the snowy
owl (Richardson) This fine owl is a common and well known
resident throughout all the wooded parts of Alaska froni Sitka
north to the northern tree limit, and from the vicinity of Behring
Straits throughout the territory. {Nelson) This species is a
resident of the Yukon valley and was obtained on the coast at
Uphim Slough, the northern part of the Yukon Delta. {Turner) A
rare species; shot at Sumas only. {Lord) A rare species; I
have one specimen taken at Chilliwack. B.C in November 188/.
and another that was taken at Stewart's Lake, B.C., Lat. 54 ,
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. . 271
1891. {Favni,,:) Rare at Chilliwack ; most probably breeds-
Breedino N0TES.--4 should not say that this owl was in
"Reat abundance" in the Anderson region, as inadve tent'
s a ed on page 33, Vol. III. of the Land Blfds. We certainly ob-
e erred to LtT ''"'"""' ""' "^' '^^"'"' "^"^ "-■ "-^' ^hat
Lockh t r' '■ T"" ^""''^''P'^^ "" ^he 19th July, 1862. near
Lockhart R.ver, on the route to Fort Good Hope. It was built
i;jo?r''"'''V''""^'^^^" ^^^-^^-"ty feet, and w.s com-
posed of tw.gs and mosses thinly lined with feathers and down
ll7 rr f ^''"f/'"'' '^"° y«"%^both of which had lately
cI.ecL The female left the nest at our approach and flew to
another tree at some distance, where she wai shot. (M^c/arLl^
During the winter of ,895-96 Mr. Dippie and myself receiyed
..er a do^en of these birds in the flesh that were shot in Alberta
V\c also .eceived about 50 American hawk owls in the flesh that
ame w.nter Settlers informed me that the whole of Albe
swarmed w.th owls and they remained until April when a
.-grated north except one pair of great grey ow s whic
remamed and nested in the Red Deer Riyer district. ancTM
D.pp.e secured the eggs along with the parent which is probably
he only record of this bird eyer nesting as far south.as its^summe^
home ,s along Great Bear Lake and northvyard. It breeds at the
mouth of the Macken.e Riyer, Arctic America, making n to
^.cks and weeds ,n the highest spruce trees it can find. (Iv.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Two fine specimens. Both were procured at Toronto, Ont., by
Ml. b. Herring. •
370rt. Lapp Owl.
Scotiaptex cincrea lapponica (Retz.) Ri
dgw,
1887.
A single specimen of this species was taken in the Yukon
Delta, on Apr. ,5th, 1876, and sent to me. It is said to be q .ite
lare. {Turner) h '"•<-
si'''
V .1
ii I
I;
272
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CXXXV. NYCTALA Krehm. 1828.
371. Richardson's Owl.
Nyctala tcngmahni richardsoHi (15onap.) Ridgw. 1872.
A possible resident of Newfoundlaiicl, but I have not seen it.
(Reeks.) Becoming very rare ; seen only in winter in Nova
Scotia. {Doivns) Very rare in Nova Scotia. Have seen only
four specimens. {Gilpin) Occasionally met with at St. John s.
New Brunswick. {Chamberlain.) One taken at Scotch Lake,
York To , N.B., in winter. ( W. H. Moore) Taken at Beauport ;.
winter resident in Quebec. {Dionne) A scarce winter visitant
•U Montreal. {Wintle) This is a winter visitor at Ottawa, Ont.,
and has been taken by Mr. G. R. White and seen by Mr. Lees.
iOtta^va Naturalist,^ o\.^.) My specimens of this species were
shot at Toronto, Ont., and I have very few records of it^ occurence
i„ other parts of the province. {Mellwraith.) Occurs about
Toronto but is very rare. Mr. Hay has met with one or two ,n
the Parry Sound district. (/. H. Fleming.) Probably resident in
the wooded sections of Manitoba. A common winter visitor ; in
January, 1885, Mr. Hine of Winnipeg showed me several dozen
skins taken that fall near Winnipeg. {Tliompson-Seton.) I cannot
state the range of this species but believe that it inhabits all the
wooded country from Great Slave Lake to the United States.
On the banks of the Saskatchewan it is so common that its voice
is heard almost every night by the traveller wherever he selects
his bivouac. (Richardson.) North to Fort Simpson on the Mac-
/enzie; rather rare. (AW.) This handsome little bird is cc.m-
mon throughout all northern Alaska, wherever trees or bushes
occur to afford it shelter. (Nelson) This owl does not occur at
St Michael, on the coast. It inhabits the wooded districts.
( Turnrr ) A rare winter visitant at Chilliwack, B.C. ; a consider-
•ible irruption of this owl occurred throughout the southern
interior during the winter of 1898-99 : -are in the Okanagan dis-
trict in winter ; resident throughout the winter in the Cariboo
district, B.C. {Brooks)
Breeding NoxES.-This small owl is occasionally met with in
eastern Ontario in the late fall. I have seen a specimen shot
near Kingston. It breeds not uncommonly on the Magdalt;n
Islands, usually selecting a hole that had been made by the
" flicker " in a dead spruce stub. I saw two sets of eggs, ot tour
|i
CATALOGUK OF CANADIAN HIRDS.
273
and five respectively taken in 1898. The set of fn„r tofrether with
part of the remains of the parent bird, killed by ravens that
occupied an adjoining tree, I now have. These were laid early in
April. The other set was taken on May 3rd, the old bird being
captured on the nest at the same time. {Rev. C.J. Yomig ) This
owl, or one very like it, was repeatedly observed in the country
between Fort Good Hope and the Anderson River. {Macfarlane)
Dr. George informs me that Richardson's owl nests in northern
Alberta. (Jl\ Rtn'f/e.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Two; one purchased with the Ilolman collection in 18S5 and
the other procured in Toronto, Ont., by S. Herring.
3' 2. Saw-whet Owl.
Nyaa/a acadua (Gmkl.) Boxap. 1838.
Specimen (No. 32.301) in Smithsonion Institution collection was
obtained at Moose Factory, James Kay, by James McKenzie.
ilackard.) A not uncommon summer migrant in Newfoundland
(Rirh.) A resident but becoming rare in Nova Scotia. {Dozvm )
A common resident in Nova Scotia. (Gi/pw.) Present through-
out the year at WolfviUe, York Co.. N.S.; most common in
winter. A nest was taken in April, 1902, containing six eggs
(//. 7///A.) A pair heard at .Sydney, Cape Breton Island, June
I2th, 1902. (C. R. Hartc.) Resides throughout the year, but
more common in winter at St. John, New Brunswick, [chambcr-
laoi.) Permanent resident : not common ; breeds at Scotch
Lake, York Co., N.B. {W. H. Moon-;) Taken at JSeauport •
resident in C>-.ebec. {Diomtc) Permanent and common resi-
dent at Montreal. I have taken this little owl. May 24th, 1884,
in the woods below Mochelaga ; also on Isle Jesus' and Mount
Royal. iJVhah'.)
A moderately common resident in the Ottawa district. {Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) This species though a resident in Ontario is
of infrequent occurrence and in some winters is not seen at Hamil-
ton while in others it has been taken in numbers. {Mcllwraith.)
Not common at Emsdale; reported as resident at Port Sydney,
Parry Sound and Muskoka districts; generally distributed but not
abundant in Ontario ; large flocks have been seen on Toronto
Island in the autumn; observed at Cache Lake, Algonquin Park.
274
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
(J H hlcmin^.) Not common in summer in the London district,
thoufih youn'ti have been found ; more often noticed in winter
and fall. {W. E. Saunders.)
A rare resident ; noted only on Red River and eastward in
Manitoba. {Thompson-Seton.) This species was not noticed on
the prairie nor in the mountains until the Columbia River was
reached ; a few specimens were seen in the Columbia River valley
at Arrow Lake in June, 1890 ; others were seen at Sicamous in
July, iS^'g. {Sprcadborough.) This owl was not noticed on the route
of the expedition, but specimens were sent fromNewCaledoniaby
Mr. Archibald McDonald. {Richardson.) Obtained only east of
the Coast Range. {Lord:) Not by any means common; I have taken
it in winter at Burrard Inlet ; and a few have been taken on Van-
couver Island ; Mr. Anderson reports it from Port Simpson, B.C.
(Fannin.) Tolerably common at Chilliwack, 1?.C.; a possible
resident ; common in the winter at Lake Okanagan, B.C.; resident
in winter in the Cariboo district, B.C. {Brooks.) An immature
male was taken at Vernon, B.C., in July, 1892. (Rlioads.)
Breeding NoxES.—This owl breeds sparingly along the St.
Lawrence, as in June, 1892, I saw a young one captured alive on
one of the wooded islands of the nver. The bird has also been
obtained near Kingston. Ont. {Rev. C.J. Young.) A young bird
in pin featherswasshotnearSt.Thomas,Ont., in June. Doubtless
breeds in some of the heavy cedar swamps. (IV. E. Saunders.) I
have a set of eggs taken north of Peterboro, May 17th, 1894.
The eggs were laid in a woodpecker's hole. (W. Raine.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Five ; one taken at the falls of Blind-man River. Alta., by G.
I'. Dippie; the others at Edmonton, Alta., and Victoria, B.C., by
W. Spreadborough.
CXXXVI. MEGASCOPS Kaui>. 1848.
37 3 Screech Owl.
Megascops <sio {Iah^:) Stejn. 1885.
A summer migrant in Newfoundland and tolerably common.
{Reeks.) Apparently very rare at St. John, New Brunswick; but
said to be common and breeds at Grand Manan. {Chamberlain.)
Very rare at Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Winter,
visitant at Montreal, but scarce; both forms occur here. {IVmtle.)
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIROS.
275
Alter hunting. a„cl watching for some years, in December ,go2 I
obtained my first specimen of this owl. taken at OttawT'oT'i
-sm the.ray or normal phase, and in fine plumage. ^}^^\
In the same month a fine specimen was taken by M Younta
Hurdman^ Bndge. near Ottawa, and another was seen sS n
a tree on Daly Avenue, Ottawa, in open day. ^
This is the most abundant of the owls in the vicinity of H.mil
Ti^e'^r"' ", '^-'V^r ''''' ^'^"■'"^' ''^ -"*- «f •« - ;
at l^.msdale. M,. Hay reports ,t as resident at P .rt .Svdnev Mus
{iV.h. Saunders.) Mr Hunfer rlaJm^ fU l , >'"•' '-^"•^•
itobi <,-,v;n,r . u , "inter claims the screech owl for Man-
itoba saymg : I saw a pair at Sabaskong Bay. Lake of the VVonrk
a.K, ,n rS7i heard them at Point du Chene.'' (^^l^^^^{
The writer reported this species from near Fort PeTl7Mani ll.^
but discovered later that it was the Acadian owl ^^'^^'^-^^a.
Breeding NoTEs.-One of the owls that is becoming more
crrront^" ';r^:'r' •^"' '^'-^^'^""^^ *- ^-^^^'^ wo:2nr
and have seen the young near Lansdowne. It is a common thint^
i^l iVVe'f r'"'r''''- ^^- ^- /• >'-^^) Well Hs'
|/l^t ^1^,"^°"'"" ^"^^'-'^^ ^ ^^'-'^ '" -'vities in trees.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Three .• two procured in Toronto. Ont., by .S. Herring i„ ,88; •
y'ung " '' """"^^^ ""''^ P^^'^^"^-' ^- «- -iseum by mV'
One set of three eggs, taken at .Scarborough Heights eist of
Xrtho'i ^1'"' ^'r'- ''''^ ''''■ ^^^' 'aid in o^d ; i:
pecker s hole in a decayed pine 25 feet from the ground.
373c/. Kennicott's Screech Owl.
Megascops asio kennicottii ( Elliot) Stejn. 1885.
The type of this bird in the tawny brown phase, was iaken -it
S ka and described by D. T. Elliott. Within^he a!t f w y a
w have k^arned that it extends down the northwest coasT uZ
Hi
I
if
2-g GEOLOOICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
373A. Macfarlane'B Screech Owl.
Megascops asio macfarland H i< i:wst. i 89 » •
Southern portion of the- mainland of British Columbia east of
the Coast Range, (/v.'--) A specimen seen at S.camous. H.C.,
July 16th. 1889, is referred here. {Macoun.)
373A:. Puget Sound Screech Owl.
Megascops asio saturatus Brewst.
Vancouver Isla.ul and coast of southern British Columbia ;
bridsn he neighbourhood of Victoria. <Panrnn^ Common
r in in the Lower Eraser valley. (W.) ^-;";-;-/^^
woods around Chilliwack Lake. B.C., Ju ly anc ^-^^^J^^^;J
common resident throughout Vancouver Island. .Spnadborougn.)
MUSKUM SPF.CIMENS.
Two specimens taken at Victoria, Vancouver Island, February
2nd, 1890, by W. Spreadborough.
One set of three eggs taken on Vancouver Island by Ro •
G. W. Taylor in 1886.
CXXXVII. BUBO DuMKRii.. 1806.
375. Great Horned Owl.
Bubo virginianus (Gmei..) Bonap. 1838.-
Summer resident in Newfoundland and breeds. (^..^..)
Common on the Humber River, Njwfound and. (Z. //- /-^^^^^^
Abundant throughout the year .n Nova Scot,. iDo.m^
breeds and winters in N^a ScoUa an C^^^^
iGitpiu.) A common resident in New KumswicK. v .
Sevf lal voung observed in the Restlgouche valley, N.ll (Bnmw
I 6-1 -Permanent resident; rare at Scotch Lake. York CNV
iWH Moorc\ Once seen and frequently heard^ C^nibcil. d
cT Nov, Scotia, winter of ,397-98. (■'/»"•'*) '•°;' ^"'o ' !
HudL Bay. yClar^c, Taken at Beaupor. ; a res,*.nt n Que
bee (Diome^ A common, permanent, rescent ^' ™°"''"^
Jaw two of these owls October ,8th, 1885, m 7°° ''J"' ^'^■J";„
:• ,.s Junction, and two others the next^year in e sam^ P^ace. In
't "'"thfvliX "otl^Two^indiWd/als'^observetl.on
St::e'Rit," Xn'ontariljune and, ,8,6. None seen
CATALOGUE OI- CANADIAN BIROS.
27;
vh Ic crossm,. Ungava. {Spreadborough.) A .arc rcsiclcnt in th,-
( ^'7;';lf 'ct (OUauu; Naturalht. V.,1 V.) This spc-cies is gencM-
a lye. stnbt/ecithn,u,hout Ontario and is vc-ry variable in colour.
1 s ricts of Parry Sound and Muskoka ; common around Toronto.
On ;'h .,'" /}'^"'r'"''" ' •'^'<' '' f^-^ breed. (/ H. Flemiv^.)
On the 29th March, ,897. I took one of these birds wh.te
stomach contained the j^reater part of a crow, primaries and all.
f th.s powerful rascal ,s m the habit of payinjj nocturnal visits to
fhe roos in^' places of the crows in bad weather it is small
wonder that the retaliative instinct asserts itself in davhVht " (/
Hughes-Sann^cl^ Well distributed throu.diout the London .lis-'
tr.ct; breedm^r ,„ large nests in the early spring. {W. E. Saunders.)
1 he typical form occurs in British Columbia as well as 'every
possible .ntergrade between the darkest sat,mH,s and snbarrtinn
almost light enough for .,;r/,W,,. {Bn>oks.) /\ discussion of the
horned o^yls of Washington and British Columbia will be found
-"an article ,n 'r/^e M, Vol. X.. p. ,8 (1893). It is probable that
all the races ot Bufio vir^i>nrj„ns are to be found in British Colum-
iJia. {R/io<fds.)
Bkheding Notks. When we first came to Muskoka they were
N c-iy rare I only observed two in twenty years, but during that
nne the barred owl was very abundant. Since the horned owl
has become common it has almost disappeared and now one sel-
dom hears or sees one and the horned has become just as common
as he barred used to be. This leads me to think that it has been
killed or driven away by the other. The homed owl is not
benea h killing a mouse if there is no larger game about but I
think-hares are its chief food during the winter. It kills a good
many skunks m the summer. On one occasion mv brothers found
one that had seized a skunk which had bitten it' so badly that it
had died from the wounds. It kills muskrats in the fall when
they are building their houses and when they are out upon the
marshes gettinggrass to build with. One night two winters ago
one came into a barn-yard and killed two geese. The farmer
caught It in a trap a few nights after. These owls are usually
tound along the rivers and streams in thick woods. The western
form ,n Manitoba and the northwest is usually found in willow
thickets along the banks of streams and the edges of sloughs
I have seen them time and again fly from a log or a stone, up
-i
;i
}^'i'.
278
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Mm
the bank of a stream at my approach, which leads me to think
that they are very fond of bathing and washing themselves,
although I nevei saw one in the act. They feed chiefly upon the
hares that live in the thickets. {Spmrd/>om,gh.) This spec.es
builils in holes in trees when such can be found, it also
builds in hemlock, beech or other large trees in the vicinity
of Ottawa The nest is placed near the trunk of the tree
and i^ composed of dry sticks, probably lined with leaves
and fe.>thers; the eggs are two or three in number. [G. R. U/ijti'.)
A fairlv common species along the St. Lawrence, but rapidly
becoming rarer. I have seen the nest several times ; one near
Perth Ont., in a tamarac tree not more than twelve feet from the
ground, which on May 30th, 1886. contained two young ones just
able to H^•. It is a very early breeder ; on the nth April, 1895.
I found a nest with two much incubated eggs. The nest
occupied was in a yellow birch, and the previous year had been
tenanted by a pai'r of red-shouldered hawks. This nest was
again occupied by the owls three years later. Again m 1899 1
found the nest in a hemlock about sixty feet from the ground on
March 28th, when the weather was very cold and snow covered
the ground. This nest contained two eggs, incubation tai
advanced. This owl is easily kept in confinement and does not
appear to suffer from changes of weather. I have had one tor
fifteen years. (AV.^. C. J. Voia,g.) A nest of this species found
in May, 1900, containing two large young, had beneath it numei-
ous fragments of birds and mammals, among the former were
remains ot a broad-winged hawk, two red-shouldered hawks and
one red-tailed hawk. {IV. E. Saunders.)
MUSKUM SPECIMENS.
Three ; one purchased with the Holman collection in 1885,
another procured by -S. Herring at Toronto, Ont.; one taken at
Walker's Pond near London, Ont. by W. E. Saunders.
One set of two eggs taken at Scarboro Heights, east ot
Toronto, Ont., April 2nd, 1897 ; nest in an old red-shouldered
hawk's nest in the top of a tall maple.
375f/. Western Horned Owl.
Bubo virginianus pallesccns Stone. 1897.
I have a specimen taken at Rosseau, Muskoka District ; among
the horned owls killed about Toronto in the autumn will often be
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS 370
^^/tf«. Fine SDecimen^ of th.-c f "^ree n tnis. {Ihompson-
May, ,894 ; and in .he Cypress Hills in J i S The t t v""'
a few were seen on Old Wives' Creek. A„, , , ^"-'"'
Hutte, I.ae. 40° AssT ,Xnc „ ^'.=^'>' A^sa- and at ehe Wesl
Monnuins, inlh^ su, ^er o 'Z"T^ T" "' """«■ "^"'^'O'
Sophie Mountain BC„ ,,?•"'''""'' "■-■•■" Casea.le and on
in a.,.„„,„ .„ .,, Pp,,„ treeless^: of atn^S;;:?, %:r\
portions of the Arctic coast. (N,h„„ 1 This Mr, ii? "'"'
sional visitor at St Michael 11,0^7 l''^'"' '^ ""'y "" occa-
taken by the snowy ow';^,'; " ',"'",''■''7- S.""""* l-in.
comn,on in the Lower Fraser valley. (£„"}") ^* '*""^'=''
M,"r w"!,^?"'— '''^'"'^"''"■■'- "<"^' 'SS". I>«rtage la Prairie •
itned^wif t i.'^h:: ;;::.:; -7 'rr^'ri '""'- ^ ^''■-
i'Kiications observedthse - itlelh '■;,'■•■"" '™'" ""'
chiefly on fish, which were a Ian , , red r "'' "f"'
Nast shot^h:t:„;'.hr tz ir::^::^::^ ""■
unquestionably, evidences of in owl h P'^C', there were.
wi.h one foot Ld held 0^.0°^:^;' ^i^^lZ X' '^hll^rf:.^
■f I'
ill
J( ''
1 \
2^Q GEOLOGICAL itiJKVEY OF CANADA.
being very small, and surrounded with large bare trees is a favorite
nu between the river and the lake for large fish at n.ght, so tl at
,1 the circumstances are very favorable for the prosecution of the
pis torial pursuits of the owls. On the 8th May, 1884, I found a
p-^ir o^hese birds in possession of an old nest in the B.g Swamp
on the Assiniboine River, south of the Big Plain Th.s nest was
bo^a 30 feet from the ground, in the crotch of a poplar tree
which was as yet without leaves. The nest was formed of
TtkU and twigs and was indistinguishable from that of a red-
aUed buzzard' Once or twice I tried to shoot the old b.rd on
the nest, but she was too wary, and evidently had all her w.ts
nbout her even in the day time. {T/iompso,>-Seton.)
' As earlvas 20th March, 1892, at Indian Head, Assa., a pan
of these birds were nesting. On May 24th I visited the nest and
took the two young birds home with me. They soon became
'ut tame and would allow me to stroke them, and although
Tv'often pecked my hands they never were able to draw blood
Tlev seem to have little power with their beak. By July 7th
they were as large as the old ones. It depends very much on then
o^d how often Ly eiect pellets. If fed on chopped gop ers
skins and all, they would eject about five times a week, if on the
bodies of birds that had been skinned, about three t-es a week^
On June 3rd found a nest with two very young ones. The r eye
V re not open yet, and they seemed only about five days okL O
he 7th one opened its eyes and on the 10th the other one. They
were' quite white when very young and altogether without ear
Tufts Their eyes are very small at first and the ins a dirty
white, and it wL not until they were a month old that their eyes
attained the bright yellow appearance. {Spreadborough)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Two ; one taken in the Touchwood Hills, Assa. September
2ist, 1880, by the writer; the other by W. Spreadborough at
Edmonton, Alta.. June nth, 1897. , „ , r-.
One set ;f two eggs taken about four miles north o Red Dee.
AVa by G. F. Dippie, April loth, 1896. Nest evidently man
oldhawk's nest in a cottonwood about 35 feet from the ground.
37.56 Arctic Horned Owl.
Bubo virginianits arcticus (Swains.) Cass. 1854.
The purest type of arcticus seems to centre about Lake Mani-
toba, in the winter at any rate, and I have always been able to get
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 28 1
typical specimens from there ; darker forms occur but not so
often as farther west. There have been several horned owls
taken in Toronto that are almost, if not quite, ^p^.^x^arcticus. Some
specimens from Kdmonton, Alta., are very light coloured ; in
tact from Winnipeg to Calgary light ones are found in abundance
in winter. The relationship of the horned owls seems to be in
a very confused state. (/. H. Fleming.)
One shot near Duck Mountain, Manitoba, in the fall of i8cS^ •
another individual was taken by Macoun in October, 1880 in the
Touchwood Hills, Assa. {Tliompson-Seton.) This very beautiful
owl appears to be rare, one specimen having been seen flying at
mid-day in the immediate vicinity of Carlton House and was
brought down by an arrow by an Indian boy. {Richardson.) This
owl or the other variety was repeatedly observed in the country
between Fort Good Hope and the Anderson River. {Macfarla^J)
1 his pale-coloured form is sometimes seen in northern Alberta
where it breeds. {W. Raine.)
3'5o'. Dusky Horned OwJ.
Bubo virginianus saturatiis Ridgw. 1877.
Not rare at Eort Chimo, Ungava. Resident. Downy youno-
obtained June 20th, 1884. {Packard.) A rare winter visitant al
Montreal. I purchased a f^ne specimen of this owl February 8th
1892, in the Bonsecours market, which was shot at Boucherville
tour days previously. {IVintie.) Large numbers of horned owls
come into the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts every winter
trom the north, probably from Hudson Bay, some of them are as
dark as the dark Labrador form. I have one of this form taken
in Toronto. (/ //. Fleming)
This species is an extremely dark-coloured form of the horned
owl, found along the damp, heavily wooded south coast of the
Alaskan territory, and extending its range southward to Washing-
ton. {Nelson.) An abundant resident west of the Coast Range
Khanmn.) *'
Breeding Notes. - A fine skin of the dark-coloured race of
genus Bubo with the two eggs was collected for me by Mr
Dicks at Sandwich Bay, Labrador. The eggs were taken May
1st, 1896, and the nest was built in the top of a spruce, a large
structure of sticks, weeds and rubbish. {W Raine )
' u
W
w
9
282
I
p
n
1.
%
1'
i
l\
V-
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
;, MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
One specimen taken by Mr. James McEvoy at Lillo6et,west of
Spence's Bridge, B.C.
CXXXVIII. NYCTEA Stephens. 1826.
37().
Snowy Owl.
Nycietz nyctca (Ljnn.) Licht. 1854.
Very common in Greenland in summer ; more numerous in the
northern Inspectorate than in the southern. Found also on the
eastern coast and extends westward to Liddon Island and Mel-
ville Island, Lat. 75°- i^^^<^t. Man) A rare winter visitor
at Ivigtut, Greenland. (Hagcrup.) Common throughout the
country Breeds at Fort Chimo,Ungava. {Packard) Tolerably
common and probably resides all the year in Newfoundland.
{Reeks ) Some years plentiful and others scarce in Nova Scotia,
seen only in winter. {Dow,is.\ A common and often an abun-
dant winter resident ; seen on Sable Island, N.S., in August, 1854.
{Gilpin) A winter visitor at St. John, N.B. ; reported as occa-
sionally spending the summer. {Chat, berlain.) Winter visitor ;
rare at' Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B. {W. H. Moore.) Taken at
Beauport; a winter visitant at Quebc. {Diotine.) Winter
visitor at Montreal ; some years it is scarce and others more
plentiful In the winter of 1891-92 I saw exposed for sale at one
time in Bonsecours market five females and two males. ( Wmtle.)
A winter visitor in the Ottawa district. {Oitazva NatiirahsU Vol.
V ) An irregular winter visitor in Ontario, sometimes appearing
in considerable numbers and again being entirely absent. {Mcll-
wraith ) This owl i-^ found in both the Parry Sound and Muskoka
districts in winter, but is not common, except in years of unusual
migrations. A regular migrf-nt at Toronto, very large numbers
have appeared about the city at irregular intervals ; 1889 was the
last (/. H. Fleming.) The snowy owl is commonly met with
in the fall and winter in eastern Ontario and has been shot at
Long Point, Wolfe Island, near Kingston. {Rev. J. C. Young)
\ tolerably common winter resident in Manitoba. It arrives
early in autumn and leaves in April. {Thompson-Seton ) Abun-
dant from Norway House to Hudson Bay in winter. {Dr. R. Bell,)
One seen April 1st and the last on April 20th at Indian Head,
Assa in 1892. {Sprcadborough) This highly beautiful and
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. jg-l
powerful bird is common i„ the more northern parts of America
I. f.requents ,n summer the most arctic lands and hunVs „ he
^ay as ,„deed ,t has to do. When I have seen it on , hi Bar en
G ounds , was generally squatting on the earth, and if put un"
e^ ass:.; Xth-t'o^Ktr.-rrr^;^:
the farthes pent of Alaska this species keeps mainly to the mo e
barren portions of the coast and interior, and always^found le !
numerous where trees are abundant. It occurs also on the .shmd
.n Behrmg Sea and more sparingly on the Aleutian chain (S.t
Turner.) Th.s bird may be said to be a resident at Point Bar^w
although >n the depths of winter it retreats with the ptarmLan
back to the "deer country," that is, to the valleys of^he'S"
l7Z:irLr/'' ^T'^ ^^^^" ^^^^ of^Pomt Ba!r?w
{MurM.) Not unfrequently seen near the entrance to the
Fraser R.ver. (Zor^.) Resident in the northern portions of the
province ; south during some winters only, to the mouth o the
Fraser and Vancouver Island. (Famm) An \LT}
at Chilliwack, B.C. ; occasionally^ee:^^ittVrLtke OkTn"
tnct. (Brooh) I found the snowy owl unexpectedly scarce in
he v.an. ty o Kotzebue Sound and when seen were mostly nVle
.nd.viduals. (Gnnnell) This beautiful bird may be seen close to
my house at Kew Beach, Toronto, almost every day in the winter
bu they are very wary. They perch on the ice floes al^n" he
beach and keep out of gun range. My neighbour, Mr hLI
Douglas, shot one Nov. 28th, igor. When wounded hey a7e ve v
oc.ous and a dog is afraid to attack them as they throw W
selves on the.r backs and strike out rapidly with theT sha n
s rong c aws, and woe to the dog that gets^is'^face st/uck by the'
A^::ccrcVT?ir^%r-,,^''^ ''■' ^-^^ -^^^^
^rctic Circle. (W. Rame.) Usually seen on the Pribylov Islands
Behrmg Sea, m winter but occasionally in summer. ( ivZpa^t]
Breeding NOTES.-In Bendire's " Life Histories of N. A Birds "
s a record o a snowy owl nesting in Manitoba and having eggs
!?r!l' '" '"'^"^^^l^" - .*he middle of February, but thf Zl
of the year— Manitoba midwinter
5
.(•Jj
-IS sufficient to pronounce
e time
this
284 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
record as a pure invention of the alleged finder of the nest-one
calling himself Le Grand T. Meyer-th.s, no ^ o"bt be.og a
fict ious name. The nest is described as being made of hay,grass
and sticks warmly lined with feathers and eighteen inches high
above the 'level pr'airie. The alleged finder of this nest eviden y
was never in Canada or he would know that the ground ,s usua ly
cov ered deep with snow at this time of the year and that ,t vvould
be an impossibility for the snowy owl to prevent .tself, being
buried in L snow drifts ; besides if the bird left its eggs for a
few minutes they would get frozen and burst. I have a clutch of
even eggs anJ another of four eggs taken by Mr. Young on
nlrschel Island, west of Mackenzie Bay. The nests were on he
"round \w. Raine.) This species is not plentiful ,n the Ancler-
fon count y, while every effort made to secure even one specimen
nest with is eggs proved unsuccessful ; on one occa^.on we
note da white owl hunting marmots iSpermopkilus empetra) in the
b:n-en grounds ; and there can be no doubt that this and other
owls sometimes rob ptarmigan, ducks, etc., of their eggs.
{Macfarlane}j
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Five • one purchased with the Holman collection in 1885 ; one
take: a't Toro'nto by S. Herring ; one taken at ^reat Bear L k
Lat 6;° so' by Max Bell; one taken at Ottawa, Ont., March, i»9i.
and' another pure white one taken north of Ottawa.
CXXXIX. SURNIA DuMERiL.
a??. Hawk Owl.
Snrniauliila (Linn.) Bonap. 1842.
The introduction of this bird into our fauna rests on the capture
of a 'ing specimen near St. Michael, Alaska, in October i 7^
rr:;.:n;iri:^it^;^:^notgo^
( Turner^
377a. American Hawk Owl.
Surnianlulacaparoch(,^^^-^>)^-^^)^- ^^84.
Rare at Fort Chimo, Ungava ; eggs obtained J"- ^t^ ^884;
and downy young nearly ready to lea^ c the nest were taken June
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 385
Nova Scotia (DoL^\ A . , • x ''^'^^"''"C very rare in
■n winter. (/ M. Maco,„,\ Taken a, Rn 9" " ' "="' ""'^
Quebec. (/),»,„..) Tran,,Vn, , . P°" • "o":»ninio„ in
J7- ,. ^^'"""^■) transient visitor at Montrf^ni c
co„,es here „; •, hZ mT.,? °''''°"'7°'-°"'°' ^"' " ^eldon,
andMuskokadiserc, i.is' ?e T'" u""' ''°"' ''"''V Soun<l
winter visitor. uSplcmiZT^Zt ",°. ^^ 'u^ "'""" ' '"f"'-'
a. Whitney, Pa^So^S ; 'd^ rt'lt"' 'f "k""'^^
another in the same n>„„,i, -''""'='=.'="""!'. iSgS.anti obtained
&W.) No recen" record ,f ,?' "'" ^.''""'°"- (^- ^"^-S"-
((f. E. L,„*J.) '"'"'" '" "■= Lonrfon district.
5rt«,.) This is \ on „, ' ■ '°"" "!"'"'■ («.«/..„-
Territories, an^frL^^Wn^?:': 1 rpt^ ']' """"-'
feeds principally on mice and Tnsects burin ^ '"•""'""
chiefly o„ ptarmigan. (^-Vwr,) North to trAr t'' ""''
arnirts'UiTr^ytri ™ ''-^^^^^^^^^^^
Of northern Alaska-ltfs S^iX" I in •.::'":: hT^f^ "^1
:i:i:l^:" hrrrJ:;ra::d°yct'"'%'°'' -'' °--^ ^'"- '"
is unknown fVJm the a^iln "l^, ''T ";"''{ "^ " ''"«'-• ^"<i
This species is a vlrv , „ , "' '^'=''""8 ^ea. (msm.)
o^io^icb li, a very common resident in th^ \r i ,■ .
Along the coast it is quite abundant /r ''^^^'■•^«" district.
Lake Osyoos. {Lordrt tZlTJ^Ti:^ c^''''' ^'■^^'^'
west occasionally to vLicouve s lane h . ^'"^' '
5j^ ^ "''''"' ^' '"'^"f'- breetis along the valley
n
lis-
mi-
? .'
M-
jgg GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
at Lake Okanagan, B C. ( Wj.) Lo""'™ , (^,,„„rf5.)
bv W. F. Findlay and at Vernon, B.C., by W. L.roun ^ ,
Tfirs. met with the hawk owl near the h-'l of Hunt K ver ,„ Ae
foothU. o, ''^eJt-=„;rKreretn:,At:ka."Tt arrived
"tSiZ^-^^ .he sp,in.onS.theita.iv,, ».s„o.ed
on April .oth in ^-^.^-^r^tr.rs c^^u'^d onfaln^l la? e ova'.
rA;in^rir.r:;atptwko.s^
Sdnrl^fwe^ns^Srer ^^wal^^fehoiiowendo.
'Xt. dead spruce stub bout^^o .ee. above the .ound. Jhe
a far-reaching rollmg tnl. Both bi'ds frequently ^^_
whine, alternately answerng one ar^oher^On May 8.h, w
shoeing across the country toward 'he base of the
rn;ber;\'roca:ed\hebirdpercheda..hetpofa.al v^^^
partly hidden by the fohage. Then 1 bega" an P ^^
fd^ ra"e::tnd":d st'a Lrr'w'hen, brnr'elan'c. I^ha,
A close aPP™a':h showed a s,ttng ^^ ^^^^^ ^^_^.__^^^^ j^^_^ ,^^
shot. It pianieu 11.3V. i,. :„ mir <;raln Mv hat was torn ott
i„g blood from 'hree c aw-ma k . my «:aV My^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^
and thrown twelve feet. All this tne ^^^^_
'" -"' )tTir:L.Tz:::i ztii^^. before i had
ageous bird maae anui fema e which was
-"r':f rbtd";ha"fi?: l ofe'd Jn"=,ook-out d„ty.he„
m"dn'rr*a;p:ranc'e: but was less vociferous. The nest con-
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN HIRDS.
287
tamed three newly hatched young and six eggs in various ad-
vanced stages of incubation. The downy young, although their
eyes were stdl tightly closed and they were very feeble uttered
a continuous wheedling cry, especially if the tree were tapped or
hey were m any way jarred. This could be heard 20 feet away
from the base of the tree. The nest cavity was evidently an
enla.ged woodpecker's hole. The wood was very much decayed
and soft, so that ,t had been an easy matter\o enlarge "ihe
(.ntrance. The entrance was 14 feet above the snow, and the nest
proper was three inches below that. The cavity was lined with a
n.xture of feathers and bits of the rotten wood. The feathers
were all apparently from the breast of the female parent The
emale b.rd (the male not at all, although he was sitting on the
nest when ,t was found) had the whole breast and abdomen, from
he upper end of the breast-bone to the vent, entirely bare of
hrl h'.K T ""u ''''"' "P '^ '^^ '"^^'•^' f^^ther tracts, and
through these for about one inch on both sides under the wings •
also down the inside of the thighs to the knees. This was the
("Sw/r^" '"''" ''"'""'"' ' ''" ''^ '" ^^"^ ^P^^'^^-
R.w' l.r'' 7' ',' r' ""^°'""^«" i" the region of Anderson
Kiv er although only four nests were discovered and the eggs taken
tnere from. All of these were built in pine trees at a considerable
height f^-om the ground ; one was actually placed on the topmost
boughs, and. like the others, it was constructed of small sticks and
twigs lined with hay and moss ; the male and female of the latter
were shot, and the nest contained two young birds, one of wh-'ch
was apparently ten days and the other three weeks old, together
with an addled egg ; all of the others, however, but one, had six
eggs, and in a single instance as many as seven were secured • the
parents always disapproved of our proceedings; very few owls
were observed on the lines of march travelled over during the
seasons of 1864 and 1865 ; this species winters in Arctic America.
(Mac/ar/a,^.) Th:s bird breeds sparingly in northern Assiniboia.
Dr. George and Mr. Wenman inform me they have found it breed-
ing in northern Alberta, around Red Deer ; I have received eggs
with the parent from northern Assiniboia ; the four eggs were
aken June 6th, 1899, and the nest was built in a willow nine feet
from the ground; this set was taken by F.Baines; I have another
set of five eggs that was taken at Hamilton Inlet, Labrador, May
24th. 1896 ; this nest was built in a spruce tree top. {IV. Raine)
•|]
rj^i
288
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Four ; one taken at Ottawa, Ont., and presented to our museum
by Mr. S. Lett ; another procured at Fort Chu chill Hudson Bay
by Dr.R. Bell; one at Jasper House, Rock^■ Air.v.i. tains, June 14th,
189S, by W. .Spreadborough; and one taken by the writer at Lag-
gan, Rocky Mountains, July 20th, 1885.
CXL. SPEOTYTO Gloger. 1842.
378
Burrowing Owl.
Speotpo a/ma//arui /ivfogcea {BotiAP.) Coues. 1872.
A specimen of this bird was caught by Mr. D. Breakey, Wolfe
Island, in the fall of 1894, and kept by him alive for a short tmie,
then preserved by Mr. W. Stratford of Kingston. His attention
was drawn to its presence by the noise some crows were making
in the bush, and on proceeding to the spot, he had no difficulty
in capturing the owl. This is probably the first record of this
bird's appearance in eastern Ontario. (Rez'. C.J. Vo/oiiT-) tirst
observed at a point on the International Boundary Line, a httle
east of Frenchman's River, not far from the mouth of Milk River,
where a few individuals inhabited a small settlement of praine
dogs {C}'fiom)'s/udo7ndafius). This seems to be about the northern
limit of the species, and it is nowhere so abundant in this region
as in many places further south. It was met with a second time
a little west of Frenchman's River, and for the third time, in
somewhat greater numbers, on a piece of prairie near Sweetgrass
Hills There were no prairie dogs here or at the locality last
mentioned, so far as I know, but the ground was riddled with the
burrows of the tawny marr ot {Spcrmophilus richardsom). which
seemed to suit the owls just as well. {Cone,) I found this bird
breeding in Assiniboia at Rush Lake, June 12th, 1891. I have
only once tauen the trouble to dig down to its eggs. It took
two of us nearly an hour to get at the nest, which consisted of
a hollow lined with cow dung and containe 1 7 eggs. The burrow
went down three feet and then ran along another four feet to
the nest. {W. Rainc.)
On June 23rd, 1896, three pairs were found occupying holes on
the prairie a little north of Moose Jaw, Assa. The nests were not
dug out, but the birds were nesting ; in June, 1895, along French-
man's River, Assa., this species was occasionally seen. In May,
SYOf
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
'89
Cnne .ke A s ' -^/P-'in-'Hs at Medicine Hat and
• 00. Hr" '^^ f " f*'^'"^' ■' "^'"^'^<-'- of pairs breeding at Kam-
OOP . B.C.n June ,889. (^W,,.) i have three records of
F.s/ ' r"""u"" ^'' "'"■ '" '^"^ ^^'•"'-''»^'"^' '"Verier. ( Wv )
East of the Coast RanK^e i„ British Columbia; not con men I
have on y found .t .n the nei,d.bou.hood of Kandoops, but have
heard of , tat Ashcroft. {Fa,./..) A special trip wa m.ckin
hev.c.n,ty of Kandoops and Ashcroft 'for this s'-" s b
trace remained of the colonies once existing there. ' The as pai^
known to rcMiKun in that localitv lived in'a badger's burrow'on
i>e bank of Thompson R. er, nea, the ferryman'.f house. None
have been seen at Kamloops or Ashcroft since 1890. (^/,.,^^")
MUSEUM SPECUfENS.
Three ; two taken at Kamloops, B.C., June, 1889, one taken at
Revelstoke, B.C., May 15th, 1890, by W. Spreadbor^ugh
One set of four eggs taken at Moose Jaw, Assa., by Mr. VV
Raine, May 28th, 1893.
CXLI GLAUCIDIUM Bon:. 1826.
379. Pigmy Owl.
Glaucidhtm glioma Wagl. 1832.
Comn^on throughout British Columbia. iFamnn.) Interior
Bnt.sh Columbia birds secured at Vernon are true ^noma. Mr
Pound says they winter there. {Rhoads) Observed one, Sep-
tember loth, 1902, on the highest peak of John Bull Mt at over
7,000 feet altitude, near Salmon River, B.C. {Spreadbon]^gh.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
One taken on September loth, 1902, on the International Boun-
dary, east of the Columbia River, I VV. Spreadboough.
379
a.
California Pigmy Owl.
Glauddium ^/loma calif oniiaim (Sc l.) A. O. U. Check-
List. 1889.
Southern coast region of British Columbia. {Famiin ) Mr
Brewster informs me that all the Ikitish Columbian specimens
'?!
\
2Q0 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
which I have s.nt Him arc.r.fcral)lc to this subspecies. Common
. \ . r-hilliw-,r I- riser valley ; common in winter at Lake
resident at ChiUiwac.v, I raser v.iuLy .^k,.„ ^t
Okanacan, B.C. (Brooks.) A number of specimens taken at
Chil iw.ck B C. in the autumn of .901 I one specimen taken
ne'rv'to'ria/v.l.. April, 1887. (^S>nWW.^/.) Numerous west
of the Coast Ran^e, B.C. {Rlioads.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Five ; our specimens have been identified by Mr Frank Chap-
mfnoVthe Museum of Natural History, New York Two were
taken at Hastings, Burrard Inlet, B^C, m Apr 1, ^889 . hrce
others at ChiUiwack, B.C., in October, 1901. by W. Spread-
borough.
Order COCCYGES. Cuckoos and Kingfishers.
Family XXXII. CUCULIDiE. Cuckoos.
XLII. COCCYZUS ViETLLOT. 18 16.
387. Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
CoccysHS americanus (Linn.) Bonap. 1824.
Very rare in Nova Scotia, one taken near Halifax {Do^vns.)
A rare summer resident in New Brunswick, {aamberlatn)
Accidental visitant ; rare. A few examples of this species have
b^en shot on the island of Montreal. I am not aware of any
occurring of late years. {WM.) A rare summer resident ,n
Quebec. {Dionne.)
A summer resident at Ottawa, Ont. A pair nested in Lt Col.
White's garden in the city in 1890. (OUazva NaturahstVoX.V)
Th' species is rather scarce and not generally chstnbuted in
Ontario, and is believed to be more southern ,n its hab.t than the
bla k-b lied cuckoo. {Mclhvraith) Rather common summe
resident at Toronto, Ont., where it breeds : 1 have met with it
nesting at Rosseau, and I believe it occurs at Emsdale in the
Par y Sound and Muskoka districts. (/. H. Fleming) Formerly
much more common than at present ; it is not usual to find more
Than a single pair of birds in a suitable small piece of wood
Their habit of having eggs and young in the same nest is well
known. {W. E. Saunders.)
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 351
BKEr.DiNG NoTEs.-Occasi„„ally nn-t with alonjj the St I -,w-
ence. and a, far north as the county of Renfrew Ontario Th I
iartcr sui and ehc- am.iuiit „f whit,' it slio«-» in thi- outer tail
tlllgu.^h It from the- next S|,ecie3. I I, .,e f„i„,<l it to bree<l in tile
county of Leed, at least a week or ten day, earlie „es'
I 'i-:;;: /:: r ;t "."-it t^z:^ -t i-r h' r ''-'^"
on. May .,.„, ,«,«, ant^ ^^.S "'■»:' rcrinSZ:'
eggs, .ncubafon advanced. They are plainly larger and n.ler
MIou. (i^^.. C/. >W,^.) Twenty years ago this species WIS
a he., rare, but now it is more con.n,on than fhe black'w ed nc
he latter .s less so than formerly. It is rarer in the Bruce penhv
ula where I have seen it but twice. It does not appear to lav more
than four eggs i„ the largest set, while the black'billed someZ
To o trOnt^buf- T ''■ ''''"'''-^ ^ ^""^'"- resident atnd
o onto, Ont., but rather scarce. A pair nest every sea.or a short
d tance from my house at Kew Beach. It is a late breede
eldom having eggs before the middle of July. On July 20th
ZJT^ . ' "''P'' "■"' '^^'^'^ ^^'^^ f--^"^ the ground ( IV
W Nest taken at Ottawa, Ont., composed of Ligs leaves"
Egt]L::sor;ou:?'"'^^ -''' ^^^^^^^^^S-
i^g.s in sets of four to six of a pale greenish colour. (G.R. White.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
coSo"inT88l""vv" T ""'"""' P""*^^"'^' ^^'^'^ ^^e Holman
collection m 1885. VVe have two sets of four eggs each One
taken by Dr. James Fletcher at Ottawa and the^the in High
Pa.k. Toronto, by Mr. W. Raine. Nest six feet from .L a
." a maple, composed of twigs, pine needles ancMe^v^s '"""'
38 7f/. California Cuckoo.
Coccyzus americatms occidentalis Ridgw. 1887.
While being transferred across the Eraser River at Mounf T .h
n7t:s:7arckor I T 'r^r^v^ ' '--' th^Lt- "kt ;
a cuckoo . I directed the boat to the spot and the bird
i
i
m
:MI
29-2
GEOLOGICAI. SUKVl-.Y OF CANAPA.
,vas scrn. hut not takrn, [SOr^for.) In M..y. t.sS. 1 sau o.u ot
those luals at l^iinard Inlot. a.ul in Ju.u-. iSS.'. tin- late Mr |. e .
lh,plu- fou.ul a pair ha^cdhv^ at Kaiuloops ; in June. iS.s;. I saw
, ,'ur at Skinnn-s swan.p near the eitv of Victcma a-l ^|HU
th^ir actions 1 conchuled they were hreed.n^ .n that Uh t .
1,1,, i, the same year one was shot on Mount lohiue {Jumu,',.)
Tolevahlv eonuuon sunuuev resicK-nt at ChiUiwack a.ul heeonunu
„„,,, ,hn.ula.,t in the coa^t reoion every year, probably on aeeonnt
of the invasions of the forest tent e.iterpiUar, (hnw^s.)
388. Black-billed Cuckoo.
( (;(•(• i'J//.v <
yll,rplitliuhni(s (Wii.s.) Uonai-. \Sj.i.
Audubon. Vol. IV.. p. 3">
Uates that they saw .i lew indiv
ul-
:lumps of low trees a few nuU-
uals in
Gulf of St. Lawrence. (
resident in Nma
IWhmi.) Not veryciMum
Sci>tia. {Downs.) Fairly CiMunu>n
from the sliore ol the
)n ; a suninu-r
at Wolfville
Kint;'
arouui
C(\. N.S., fr(Mn May to Sept
Septemb<M-. {//.Ti/J/s.) Never seen
1 St. lohn. New Rrunswic
k but common inland in sumnur,
{Cliamlhrhiin.) A toleral.K- com
New Brunswick. {W'Jl.Moon^
mo
11 snmnu-r resu
lent, York Co.
) (."omnuMi summeTes
ident. Breeds
in Moun
1
ue
(Jue. {W'intlc.) Summer r<siilent
'In-crtakenat Heauport. {Dionnc.) C-ommon summer resi
t Ro\
il Tark. ^bmtreal
ilent ari>uni
1 (Ottawa. Ont. {OtLmui Av////n///^AVol. V.) 'I'his spec
les
IS a rej^ii
is generally i
Ontario, and thou^^•h iu)t abiuulant
listributed. (^L■//ur,nt/l^ Fairly conunon arounc'
lar sumiuer resilient lu
lb
'roront<\ and breeds ; sA'i'Ui
and Muskoka districts.
ralU- distributeil over
the r.ur\' Souiui
^pe
cmien c
ame into the potato i
( /. //. Fhniiiii^.) On jul\' Oth. looo
tch at Cache Lake. Al^'uui
vnie
um
Park, aiul feil on the i-ot ito
bu-s. (SpmiMoroKoh.) 'I'his specie:
is a comnuui summer resu
^Lu^itoba and has been taken
lent throughout the wooded part i>t
b\' m\'S(
•If at Carberr\'
>ud Shoal
Lake, near Duck Mi>untain.
( riioiii/^son-Sifon.) .\pparently a ran
siK'cies we
^tof^Lulitoba. A female w
as hrst sei'U a
t Indian Head,
Assa.. lune j^t'i- i^O-- >'i -^ \^''
How thicket ; in
a few da\s another
female was seen
which shows that the spi-cies
uul shot and an es-^ was found m
her oviduct.
breeds theri>
On the It
)th M
one was sei
same place on
borough.)
■n at ^UHlicine
;rd. Noui
Hal, Assa., and .mother in
ly
thi
une
seen
fnrth
er wes
I. {Spnad;
CATAI.lHiUK l)|.- CANAniAN IIIKI^S,
-')3
Hrkk.mn,; NoTKs, Sum.mr ,vsi,|.,u. .onnnon. Huv.ls in
Monn R,n..,l Park. 1 hav. Ununl th.ir ,u-s,s. o.,
nlamm« fj.|.s,
h n,Juno„h to uly ...ul, (),snv.d Iu->v Iron, M.u'.st ,o
Sen.,,, „ lu..n.s,sa,v,onon.:ivhuilri„.ho.nln,sh..s.
av .■u>lMMm.nj;s,toslor,lu-m as wdl. This l,inl a,.,K-ars ,o
^;;;/7'!''^^'';''- ';•'•>-• '-Haying fr<.slM-^^s w
■ >ul< u,.. .our. ami .vpnlsiv.- looki,,,. l.,„ ,Iu.v lu, m:.,,'.
^^'t'^tu-,u-s,,whKh ,s a sli,h, stnu-t.MV ol .|...u| .wi.s.ui.h,.
•••y sl,a low .av,.y. II.uhI with a tov .h-ad h-avrs. thr ,u.s, hnn.
^;;>y small lo,-,h..s... ol .h. hircl ami its.-,... Tlu. .m-kor.
sofins to iMcIci- solitiul,', ami
wh
iMo its harsh pot
"lu-k
t's can he luard
■j's ilsril out of sii^ht in ihii-kch
lu-ow iv|)(\itt-(l (|iiickl\' si-vrial
soundint^ I'kc " row t-
ow
IIU'S. (//■/////,•.)
very i-onmion s
pi'i'ics in all the oonnti
ospn-ially at th«' foot of Lake Onl,
avc
■^(•fll SIX
N
or seven toncilu'r.
ii's ol eastern ( )ntario,
iiio, where earl\' in lime 1
J
ova Scotia, .iml it
Ii! I So;
lU'ard It at I'leton,
iiiu>, igoo. It usualN' l.uild
was ohsiMved on tiie Maj-dalen Isl
imis in
I h,
ive i
s a nest m
omul (he m-st almost on tl
swampy timket ; twice
le
|>lin,i; SIX teet ahove, |,nt ||
Ui'oiimi, onci> in an elm sai)-
tor
Usual I V I I
lis IS very iimisiiai. Th
i.N'iMj^ IS the . nd of the Inst week in |
lave
I'
<• .iveraj^c time
.lime III eastern Ontario.
ami
spri
loimtl (wo or three ,-j^|.s in .i nes(. I
June i^di. KHH), se\cn. This bird
)iit
omc
hv
prm^dian the yellowd.illed and cer(ainl
the tall, from which
CJ. ]'(>/( //^i;:) A siimm
suppose i( nil
«ra(es
ippears to ,irri\c Liter in
■ f^des awav e.irher in
fmd
sex'er.i
I (
cr residen(
icr south. (A'<
ironnd 1 oroiito. Out. I
(ol
)a ami in
niH'sseeni(snes(. I have also loumli(l,reed
lia\e
Lssinihoia
(//'. Kiiinr.) This hi.-d
lar
wesi as (he Ou'A
IM'
i:iK in M. mi-
le valley.
comi)ose(
I of t
iH'sts III ,1 low hush a( OK.iw.i, ()n(. Nest
wi^s, strips of b.iik, dr\'
.qr.iss.
''•Ki;s two to Ii\e of a iii^ht
In the transact
j^rass and le.u cs, lined with
K'rcenish hliie. {(,. A'. //'////,•.)
an intereslin-' ac
"•lis of the faiiadian Institute, Vol. I.
Its
not(
fact
'•">"'t by Dr. C. K. Clarke of tl
t'RRs in the nests of other hi
(I, and there is no donht in (I
Ids IS ptil)
lisl
led
pp. .|S-5(),
lis cuckoo iayiii}^
hree cases are
s are as it
Coil
h>ra, Out. In the fust
I^hI by Dr. Clarke. All th
ic miiul of tile writer that tht
e cases were noted .it
chi
ppin^; sparrow from which in due t
t-ase ,in v\^^ was laid in the nest t.f
a
line .1 yoimj^- cue
koi> was
1
1
1
■■'■
1
1
1
A
'f-
I
2g4 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
hatched. In the second case a cuckoo was seen coming from a
yellow warbler's nest. Upon examination an egg was found to
have been laid, and later on the young cuckoo was found with the
young warblers which, as the cuckoo grew, were crowded from the
nest In the third case cited a cuckoo was actually fo^nd si ting
on a chipping sparrow's nest. An egg was laid and hatched the
young sparrows were finally ejected from the nest by the young
cuckoo.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Four; two were taken at Ottawa, one at Toronto, Ont.; the
fourth by Mr. W. Spreadborough at Medicine Hat, Assa., May
2 1 St, 1H94.
Two sets of four eggs each, taken at Kew Beach, Toronto by
Mr W Raine. Nest made of twigs and rootlets in a tree five teet
from the ground. One set of four taken at Cyrville near Ottawa,
by.Mr. W. Anderson. Nest in a balsam fir about five feet from
the ground, built of twigs and leaves.
XLIII. CUCULUS LiNN/Eus. 1758-
388-1. Kamchatkan Cuckoo.
Cucif/us canorus tekphomis (Heine). Stejn. 1885.
An adult male of this species was collected on the sand dunes
of Northeast Point, St. Paul Island, Behring Sea, on July
4th. 1890. {The Auk, Vol. XI., p. 325-)
F..MILV XXXIII. ALCEDINIDiE. Kingfishers.
XLIV. CERYLE BoiE. 1828.
390. Belted Kingfisher.
Ceryle alcyon (Linn.) Bonap. 1837.
A summer visitor to Northwest River, Labrador, where it
breeds. Drexler obtained a specimen May 26th, i860, at Moose
Factory, James Bay. {Packard.) Common all along the Moose
Rh'er 'to Moose Factory. None seen farther north in 1896^
{Spreadborough) Tolerably common in Newfoundland during he
lummer months. {Reeks) Abundant along the ^""^ber Rive ,
Newfoundland. {L. H. Porter.) Very common .n Nova Scotia,
breeding all over the province. {Downs.) An abundant summei
^J
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
295
resident .n New Brunswick. {^Chamberlain.) Tolerably common
summer resident in York Co., N. B. {W. H. Moore.) Common
summer resident in Quebec, taken at Beauport. {Dionne\ Ob-
inTh T!:"f ^fy '"' '''"^'" "^•■^'^"■■' Q"-' --^ther common
in the latter locality. {Brewster.) Specimens obtained at York
Factory and at Fort Churchill, Hudson Bay, where it is rare. iDr
fr mI ^°'"'"°" ^V^^ke Mistassini, northern Quebec; breeds!
{J. M.Macouu.) Rather common on Prince Edward Island at
Brackley Beach 1888. Rather common on Cape Breton Island,
July, 1898. (Macoim.) Summer resident in the Magdalen
Islands. (Bts/iop.) Very common in the valley of the Resti-
gouche, N B. {Bnttain 6- Cox.) Abundant summer resident at
Otawa; breeds. {Ottawa Naturalist, Vo\.V .) This bird is gen-
erally distributed throughout Ontario, arriving in April and leav-
.ng in September. {Mcllwraith) This species is abundant in
Algonquin Park ; there were five nests in a railway ballast pit at
Cache Lake in 1900. {Spreadborough.) Breeds near Toronto
Unt. ; abundant everywhere in the Muskoka and Parry Sound
districts. (/. H. Fleming.) During the winter of 1894, three of
these birds spent the winter near a secluded stream a few miles
north of Toronto, Ont. (/. Hughes-Samuel) Common on every
stream and river. They are observed so late in the fall and so
early in spring that they must winter near London. A few have
been observed in the winter at London and more often nearer
LakeLrie. {W.E.Saunders.) A common summer resident along
all fish-frequented streams and lakes in Manitoba. It arrives
towards the last of April and leaves when the winter sets in
I have never seen this species in the vicinity of any of the drai":
age lakes, although they abound in ^a«^/;/,/-^;«^, insects, etc to
the exclusion however, of fish. {Thompson-Seton) This spedes
IS more widely distributed or more easily seen than any other
species noted between Manitoba and the Pacific Coast In 1802
1894 and 1895 it was found on all streams visited in the prairie
region ; common on the Saskatchewan and its northern tributaries
in 1896; on .dl streams south of Calgary in 1897 I abundant at
Banff in 1891; in 1890 it was found on the Co!un:bia between
Reve stoke and the International Boundary ; in 1S89 from
Revelstoketo the coast at the mouth of the Fraser t'ver- in
1893 It was found common everywhere by streams on Vancouver
Island ; in 1898 Mr. Spreadborough found it abundant on the
upper Athabasca ; in 1901 rather rare on ChiUiwack river and
m\
t #ifl
296
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
It I
lake and in 1902 at Trail, B.C. (iVh^coun.) This bird frequents
all the large rivers in the Northwest Territories up to the 67th
narallel, being more common, however, in the interior than on the
sea coast. It is a solitary bird and is generally observed sitnng
on the stump of a tree that projects over the river. {Rtchardson.)
Common at Athabasca Landing and up the Athabasca River to
Lesser Slave River in June, 1888 ; also down the Athabasca iviver
to Fort McMurray, and up the Clearwater River ; also common
from Methye Portage to Isle a la Crosse. (/. 31. Macoun.)
North to Peel's River, mouth of Mackenzie River ; common.
(Ross ) Although several birds were seen on the Anderson River
and elsewhere no nests were ever taken. {Mac/ar/am'.) Several
snecimens of this bird were brought me from the lower Yukon,
where it is a regular summer visitor. It is found the entire course
of this river, reaching the shores of Behring Sea from the Yukon
mouth north to the head of Norton Bay. {Ne/so„.) A sing e
specimen of this bird was obtained at Fort Yukon. It is said to
be common along the entire Yukon Rive, and is a summer nsi-
tant only {Turner.) Very abundant in British Columbia.
(Lorti) Found abundant everywhere in British Columbia.
iStrealor.) An abundant resident throughout the province
(Fa„mn.) Common resident at Chilhwack, B.C. {Broc's.)
Tolerably common along the coasts of Sitka, Alaska ; after its
first appearance, July 28th, one or two individuals were noted
daily at our winter camp on the Kowak. Kotzebue hound, Alaska,
during the last week in August. The last was seenon September
2nd, 1898, and the first seen the following spring. May 21st.
( Grill mil.)
Breeding Notes.- Summer resident, common. Breeds in
suitable places on the island of Montreal. Two eggs taken May
24th, 1882, out of a burrow in a sandbank at Hochelaga^ Ob-
served here from May 8th to September 27th. {Wintle.) This is
a common bird in eastern Ontario. Its nest is generally found in
a sandy bank near water, but on two occasions I have founo its
nest in a sand pit some distance away. The full comp ement of
eggs I have always found to be seven. These are aid between
the 20th and 28th of May. I met with this bird in the Magdalen
Islands in 1897, and found it breeding there. {Rev. C.J. i oioig..)
I have found this bird a common summer resident from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. I first met with the species in May, 1886,
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
297
on?heRiv^ ^7'"^JT' '«90.Ifouncl it exceedingly abundant
on the R.ver Thames between Chatham and Lake St. C -air in
western Ontano. n June, 1893. I found it common at Banff on
the Bow Ru-er, and a week later found it common at Vancou;er
B.C. Th.s spec.es nests abundantly on the shores of Lake
..d ,n a bank. The tunnel ,s often three or four feet in length
i^-^^^»e.) Nests taken at Ottawa. Ont., always a hole in a
bank from four to eight feet deep. (G. R While )
Common resident throughout Vancouver Island. Nests in
holes ,n banks usually near water, but I have seen a few nests
more than half a mile from water. {Spreadborough.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Ten ; taken at Toronto and Ottawa. Ont.; Banff, Alta.; Revel-
s oke. S.camous. Agassi, and Chilliwack. B.C. One specimen
taken at Dow's Lake, Ottawa, was presented by Ur W E
Saunders, London, Ont. ■ vv. r,.
Two sets of eggs of seven each. One taken out of ;i .sandbank
at the head of Fairy Lake, Hull. Que.; and the other near V c
toria. Vancouver Island, by Rev. G. W. Taylor.
Order PICI. Woodpeckers. Wrynecks, &c.
Family XXXIV. PICID^. Woodpeckers. '
XLV. DRYOBATES Boie. 1826.
393. Hairy Woodpecker.
Dryobatcs villosus {Ui;^.) CKB\ms. 1863.
One seen at Hebert River, Dec. 8th, and one at Shulee, Jan
2nd, Cumberland Co., Nov*^. Scotia. Winter of 1897-98 (CH
Morrell.) Strangely enough, although the distrfbution if tfe
present b.rd ,s eastern, and although in northern Alaska and the
nter.or of Bnt.sh America it is replaced by a large northern
then'/ Z T'^'r^'"'"' ^'■^" "'^^"'■^ '" ^••'■'-^' Ccflumbia and
thence north along the southeastern r^nn of Alaska. (Ne-/so,i.)
393a. i.'forthern Hairy Woodprtcji or.
Dryobatcs villosus kucomelas. (Codd.) Ridgw. 1885.
Tolerably common in Newfoundland as resident. (Reeks\
Fa.rly common along che Mumher River. Newfoundland. (L.H.
■4\
mamm
£11
298
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Portef ) Resident in southern portions of Labrador ; probably
does not occur north of the " height of land." (Packard.) Ob-
served all along the Moose River to Moose Factory, James Bay.
None seen further north in Labrador in 1896. (SpnaMoroi/g/t.)
York Factory, Hudson Bay. {Dr. R. Bell) Taken at Fort
Churchill, Hudson Bay {Clarke.)
Common resident in Nova Scotia. {Doxvns) Fairly common
throughout the year at WolfviUe, King's Co.. N.S. {H. Tu/ts)
Common resident at Sydney, Cape Breton Island, N.S. {C. R.
Harte) Summer resident Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton
Island. {Macoim.) Abundant throughout the vear in New Bruns-
wick {Chamberlain:) Permanent resident; breeds; rather common,
YorkCo,N.B. {IV. fl. Moore.) Uncommon in the valley of the
Restigouche, N.B. {Brttiain S^ Cox) One specimen seen on
Grindstone Island, Magdalen Islands. {Bisliop.) Taken at
Beauport ; a common resident in Quebec. {Diontie.) A transient
and scarce visitant in the vicinity of Montreal. I do not think
this species breeds in the vicinity of Montreal, as I have only
seen it in the months of October and November. {Wtntle.) A
common resident around Ottawa, {Ottaiva Naturalist, Vol. \ .)
A resident, though not an abundant species throughout Ontario;
more abundant at the north. {Mcllwraith.) It is a question
which form the Ontario bird is but I believe it to be the northern
form • it breeds abundantly in the district of Parry Sound often
choosing a dead pine to nest in ; it is very fond of districts where
the trees have been killed by tire ; the young are hatched early
in June. (/. H. Fleming.) Fairly abundant at Whitney on the
Pany Sound Railway during December. 1898., (/ Hughes-
Samuel.) Common and breeding in the Algonquin Park, Ontario,
July, 1900. {Spreadborough.) ^
A common resident in Manitoba in the poplar forest. {Thomp-
son-Seton.) This is a rare species on the margin of the praine as
only two were seen at Indian Head in the spring of 1892,
and one at Medicine Hat in 1894. A tolerably common resi-
dent at Edmonton, Alta.; not uncommon in the foothills from
Calgary south to Crow's Nest Pass in the Rocky Mountains.
Common at Agassiz and Burrard Inlet, B.C., in May, 1889.
{Spreadborough) Common at Grand Rapids on the Saskatchewan.
{Nutting) This species exists as far north as Lat. 63°. It
remains all the year in the Northwest Territories and is the
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS *
reaches i. by ,l,c way of the Ncreinves.^.uLt ^l'" ■-• " ""'
in my cllcclion was taken at For, R I Thespecmci,
Vukon, about Lit «" ,„,i . ^"" R'-'I'a"". on the unpL-r
f-ther to ,h Ll ;Ms.:Ic "' ?" '''"' "™t'8'« «»l
of British Columbia /tel s ^SZ7 "T"""' ""' '"'-'-
KaiiKt B.C., a common resident, (fimmn) A .
species m winter at Lake Okana., ,n H r ■ , u, 'o"""""
the Cariboo district- I hVw ,T !. '/"'''>' """"°" i"
the lower Frascr vaWV ,^«,itT ," "• '""'"' """--^ '"
from BritisI, Columbia one T <" T"' '" "'l^''' ■"'<'■"«
spotting on the ;: ;■ c ve ts Z-. ™.f ;■■ '"'^ ^'^ "^"'
for'n^;hltri;:X;,.r;:ixr -"-■">' ^-- "--
bufhTcifro-?:rX%o:::^sr"=r '- --
to cease. I traced it to , ., ,5l , '"rcely ever seeme.l
a hole about 30 fee f on th 1'°" "■ J:"-"'-'" ""'"^'^ '^""'^- --
I soon had the tree dow" a^,7„ h 'ri"? P™"'^«' »" »"-•
nes, of young hairv woo IpecersTh "" ' ■'" P°"'="'"" °' »
the work of the paZt birds ,' T V""" ="'°''=- '^"''''"tlv
inside a„<l 2 at the e ra^c Th f" °"' '^'"'^' ^ '"^"'^ -«'<-'
.rown and fledged, an^^ue^ y w^L' '3'':;:;^: "",'■'■
narrow chamber Tiiiv>.> ^f .1, crowded in M],s
bird in colour and th f^u^ 'd^S "X^^^- '"' """'"--
ear a cockade of rich yellow r7y T^ c ""''"« °''" "-'"'I'
species in Ontario wh e U a7e nK'tt^fiTblr' '' "'""'''"'
"inter. A, the latter season it is ..V: en on wjocl "","" ■'' 'l''
"e.mty of houses. It breerls along the It Lawretc ^1 '" """
ward. Unlike the other woodpeckers 1, t\ ,T ■'""'' "'"■"'-
'"encing its nest-hole the „ "f An 1 "' ■^^'""'"•■""'-
eon,plen,ent of eggs laid bv Ma: sfh' Mo" oT:; '^ "f^l "»
seen have been in w,^t ,.l-, -' ^"^' "^'^^-^ ^ hav^-
*no.more.h.ur^:;'c-;;:-S--^--
300
GEOLOGIGAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
the young were hatched by the 22ncl of May. {Rev. C.J. Young)
Breeds n fair numbers in summer and is our most common wood-
necke n winter. Not yet observed to use dead trees for nestmg.
This splcils drums on resonant limbs in spring, but not so com-
monly as the downy woodpecker. It is an exceedmgly early
breeder excavating its dwelling-house in April, and mdeed often
hying the eggs in the same month, while large young are alway
to be found by May 24th. ( W. E. Saunders.) Found breeding at
Ing Lake, M^anitobajune i6th, 1894. On May S-t 1901, ound
a nest containing four eggs at Yorktown, Assa. The eggs were
\Z in a hole in a tree about ten feet from the ground. I found
.other nest containing six eggs in a hole in a poplar about i
::t from the ground. I am not aware that the nes^ and eggs o
this species have been previously described so w.H g v th^
measurement of the egg. The average size of 18 specimens
before me is .98 x .70. {W. Ratne.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
S^ven • taken at Ottawa and Bracebridge, Ont. Two of these
were .ak;„'t. Ottawa by Mr. F. A. Saunders, and the others by
Mr. W. Spreadborough. . a Ur
Only one set of eggs, taken near Toronto, and presented by
Mr. W. Raine.
393c. Harris's Woodpecker.
Dryobates villosus harrisii (Aud.) Ridgw. 1885.
A few seen in the scattering timber in the vicinity of Sitka
AlC.W. where they doubtless breed. {Grmnell.) Vancou/e
common resident. {Fannm.) -^"^ . g p^^nd
xir (Rtnoks) One shot in Lat. 49 ' ^"g- ^'^'^"' ' /^ . ,
B.C. {ifrooKs.) v/u tr^.„^c\ Taken at Aeassiz and
,„,y in the ^°f/,f ™" r„„ '^ '^^h lulfck and nLtington;
Hastrngs, BC.'" -889 .common j,,,^,,^ Ri^^r, B.C.; a
examples of villosus. (Rhoads.)
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
301
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
all taken by Mr. Spreadborough. Th(
393«?. Cabanis's Woodpecker.
Dryof^ates villosus hyloscopus (Cab.) Brewst. 1888
Under this form we place a few skins examined by Mr F Chao
man and labelled " approaching hyloscopusr They come exacX
Rtky Mlt^rj^gior '-''- '- -' incLeTh:;^:;^
Mo u'nLtlnTheTmre: ff ^77 ^"' "^"^ '^ ''^ ^^^^
R r :„ k / summer ot 1891. Very common at Revelstoke
D.L., in burnt woods n Aoril iSnn \r^f ^vcvcibioKe,
Inons R r • T 1„ ^ ' ^O- Not uncommon at Kam-
district, N.W.T. (Bts/io/>.) ^"^'' ^"'^°"
museum specimens.
Five ; taken at Canmore, Alta., in Mav iSnr • .f p 1 ,
393/: Queen Charlotte Woodpecker.
Dryobates villosus picoideus {O^Gooxi) A. O. U. Comm.
Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. ^Osgood)
394. Downy Woodpecker.
i^O'^^^^..^.^.....^^,^,-^^,, (Swains.) Brewster. 1897.
Very common in Newfoundland and a rP.JH^nf 1 j? u s
Fa.rly common along the Humber Rive:, N L oundland ^iT^
Porter.) Common and resident in southern portions of Labradof
probably does not range north of Lat. 56° {pTkard\ ^ , '
specimen observed on Moose River June 6th iT^^^^ ^ ^x'^f
rador. {Spreadborough,) Seen durng the winer'at' ^^
sini, northern Quebec. (/• M.Macoun) "''"
! id
I
;%■■■'•■
II
ii
t I
1 >i
It. ;
JQ2 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Rather common resident in Nova Scotia. iDo^vns) Common
in woods Brackley Point, Prince Edward Island, 1888 , also .n
in woocis, Dia^Mc;y ^ Acommonrcsi-
woods, Cape Breto-i Island, 1898. ^Macom.^ /,o^, ^K (C II
dent Cumberland Co.. Nova Scotia, winter of i897-9«- (<^- "■
two Abundant throughout the entire year in New Bruns-
^Z Ickantberlai^ A tolerably common P--anent resiclen ,
Teeds York Co., N.B. {VV.H. Moore.) Very rare m the Re.t-
Se valley, N B. {Brittain &- Cox.) One seen on Grmd-
Tne Island Magdalen Islands. (Bishop.) One pair was
stone isianci, mrtgudici . . ,. ^ • t,,i,, iRy^'witct')
found nesting at Fox Bay, Anticost. Que., in uly (^'^^ ;•
Taken at Beauport ; common resident in Quebec. {JJw>m)
A comn^on and permanent resident in the Montreal district,
breerin Mount Royal Park; scarce during the winter months
but plentiful in the spring of the year. {IVwtle.)
An abundant resident in the Ottawa district, but more common
in spring and summer. {OUawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) A common
"Xt'in Ontario, but more common in spring and fall migra-
ons. (Mcmaraitk.) This species breeds near Toront^b^^^^^^^^
much more common in the Muskoka district. (/ H.Flemmg.)
Hound this species abundant at Whitney, Parry Sound Railway
during November and December, 1898. {J. Hughes-Samucl)
Br eding but not common in Algonquin Park, Ont uly, 1900.
%prtlrougk.) <^o..mon ^. s^n^..^n..r^^i^^^^
a few remain through the winter. I o .ce found a "1^1^ ^th^^
specTes diligently digging a hole in a small stump in Octobe,,
p'esumably'for winter quarters. [W. R. Sa.nders.)
A tolerablv common resident in the wooded sections of Mani-
toba but is " scarce in the more southern ^orUon. yhontpson-
tton ) Only a few specimens were seen at Indian Head, Assa
fn 92: one'specim^iwas taken at Medicine Hat, Assa., Apnl
2th 1894. Observed one April 22nd, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta
aw another on the 29th ; apparently quite rare ; one seen at
Crow's Nest Pass in July. Specimens were taken at Banff, Alta.,
in August, 1891. {Sprcadborough.)
Breeding Notes.-I have occasionally seen this bird in the
winter but not so often as the hairy. It breeds later ; most of
The n ;ts have seen contained fresh eggs the last week of May,
although once I found young birds at that d.te.- {Rev. C. J.
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 303
five, pure whit.. (6-. /?, «7«V^.) ^ ^ "' ^"""^ ^°
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Kr^'"l ' T !f''" "' °''"^" ^ '^' ^' A- Saunders ; three at
At; bit" w's"" if ""^'T' '^•''^' ^^^^•' -^' -^ ^t Banff
M.'^M M "i"^^' S'^'V'^^ P-t Hope. Ont.. May 30th, 1899. by
Ml. MM,.. king. Nest in a cavity in an appl. Hn an orchard
K^s laid on ch.ps at the botto. of the ca^v^ty lour fe;t C' the
s^-tw. Gairdner's Woodpecker.
Dryobates pnbescais gairdnen ( Aud.) Ri dgw. 188?.
General west of Coast Ranee {Toyd\ Rn^h
;^.^..t.eco.tre,lon;breedf,Svi^r^.^^^
^cst of the Coast Range; winters on Vancouver Island. iFanni^\
Omimon resident at Chilliwack, B.C. ^Brooks.) At RiveZke
thus species was found with Batchelder's woodpecker but lu'^her
down the Columbia Ri^er at Robson and Deer Park the specT
mens taken were all of this form. It was next found at Agassiz
B hi u.:: ^'^^^ -^ ^^ Chilliwack a,„, Hunttgto
l^^^risp^^:::^- '-^-^ '^ ^^ -'^^- and very
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Eleven ; one taken at Robson on the Columbia River one at
Agass.z. and four at Chilliwack in the Fraser River valley B C
s"^^'. Batchelder's Woodpecker,
^fj'odah's fiubesccm /lomorous (Cab.) Ridgw. 1896
th
Ve,y con,„,o„ throughcu, the interior of Britisl, Col„„,bi;, along
C.F.R. (St„^,^.) Common a,o„n<l Lake 01<anaga.,, B.c!
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
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Photographic
Sdences
Corporation
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716) 872-4503
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304
GEOLOGICAL SURVETi OF CANADA.
in winter. (Brooks.) We have not found this species further east
than the Columbia River at Robson, B.C., ^here a specimen was
taken, and another at Revelstoke in April, 1891. It was common
at Kamloops and Spence's Bridge, B.C., in June 1889. These
are the only points where found by us. (Macoun.),
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Three ; one taken at Revelstoke on the Columbia River, B.C.,
and two taken at Kamloops, in the dry interior of B.C., June 18th,
1889. All by Mr. Spreadborough.
sud. Nelson's Downy Woodpeckei*.
Dryobates pubescens nelsoni Oberholser. 1895.
We place here without remark all references to the downy
woodpecker of the northern parts of Canada and Alaska. We
have no specimens.
This species is a constant inhabitant of the Northwest Terri-
tories up to Lat. 58°. It seeks its food principally on the maple,
elm and ash, and north of Lat. 54°, where these trees do not
grow, on the aspen and birch. {Richardson) North to Fort
Laird, Lat. 61°; not rare. {Ross) A few specimens were observed
on the Athabasca River, Alta. Rare between Methye Lake and
Isle a la Crosse. (/. M. Macoun.) Throughout Alaska where
woodland or a growth of bushes and small trees occurs the present
bird is certain to be found, and is a resident, winter and summer.
{Ntlson.) This species ranges throughout the wooded districts of
Alaska. Along the Yukon River it is very common. {Turner.)
Alaska and northern British America. {Oberholser.)
All our skins of D. pubescens and its sub-species have been
examined by Mr. F. Chapman of New York Museum of Natural
History.
XLVI. XENOPICUS Baird. 1858.
399. White-headed Woodpecker.
Xenopicus cdbolarvatus (Cass.) Malherbe. 1862.
A rare and beautiful species ; obtained only east of the Coast
Range. {Lord) Coast Range ; Similkameen valley, collected by
R. V. Griffin. {Fannin.) I have heard of this species but never
came across it at Lake Okanagan, B.C. {Brooks.) This bird has
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. .q.
XLVII. PICOIDES LACEPfeDE. i8oi.
400 Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker.
P^coides arcticus (Swains.) Gray 1845
Rare wmter visitant at WolfviUe, N. S (H Tuf^s^ n'^
r;. V f;f ' throughout the year but is uncommon in New
Brunswick. (C/uiml>er^in.) Rare in the Restigouche vaHev
NK (T^Z""?'! ^ ^^''^^^ resident 'in York C?
^r-aio^^-ht--itih:tLr^^^^^^
Montreal in Octo.eT:nrr:mbVrT^c:^mr„Te:;^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ontar.0 about 90 miles west of Montreal in October. (I^S^^^^^
Possible resident in the Laurentian Hills north of the city o
Ot awa, as it is seen around the city in September and October
(O^^a^a Naturakst, Vol. V.) This is truly a northern bird seldom
Ontario "r ''";■""" 'f ^°"*' ^^ '""^ southern bounray of
wrmth) This woodpecker sometimes comes as far south as
d^rct\f' ^/;-7-';P--ens taken here in winder, ^tth
aistrict of Parry Sound ,t is a common resident and one
of the most interesting birds there, both from its nesting habits
and from its utter unconsciousness when approached U H
Flermng) Common in Algonquin Park in the^^summer "of^^gcf
A pair nested in a telegraph pole quite near Ciche Lake staZ"
of the Parry Sound Railway. {Spreadborough) Feedingon dead
maples at Kiladar, Addington Co.. December 1894 ve'rv pie i
m
%
1^1
306 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
ful at Whitney on the Parry Sound Railway during the fall of
1898, and feeding principally on the yellow birch ; I have seen
an occasional specimen taken near Toronto. (/. Hughes-Samuel)
A few only have been taken in the London district. {IV. E.
Saunders.)
A common resident in the woods in Manitoba and northward.
{Thompson-Seton) Not uncommon in the woods at Banff, Rocky
Mountains ; observed several in the foothills southwest of
Calgary in July, 1897, and in the Crow's Nest Pass,
Alta. ; common and breeding at Revelstoke, B.C., in 1890.
{Spreadiorough.) This species is rather rare in the Northwest
Territories and was only observed on the eastern slope of the
Rocky Mountains, where the common species was also procured.
{Richardson.) North to Fori, Simpson ; rare. {Ross.) It is
believed that this species breeds and also winters in the Arctic
regions. One nest was found in May, 1863, that was believed to
to belong to this species. (Macfarlane) One specimen at
Athabasca Landing, Alta., May 25th, 1888. Common on
Methye Portage ; not rare between Methye Lake and Isle a la
Crosse. (/. M. Macotm.) Very little appears to be known
concerning the movements and habitat of this bird, especially
in the north. I secured a single specimen which was brought
to me from Fort Reliance on the upper Yukon. {Nelson.)
Obtained only east of the Coast Range. {Lord.) Common
at Ducks, near Kamloops, B.C., in August, when they are on
their southward migration. {Streator.) East of the Coast Range;
resident. {Fannin.) Comimon in suitable localities around Lake
Okanagan, B.C., in winter ; scarce throughout the winter in the
Cariboo district, B.C.; the greater number seemed to emigrate
southwards. This should be the western form lately described
by Mr. Bangs, but specimens taken seemed to correspond in
measurement with the typical form. {Brooks)
Breeding Notes.— Frequently seen in the fall in the county
of Renfrew, Ont., more early in the county of Leeds. In the lat-
ter county I have once seen this bird in a thick wood of pine and
hemlock as late as the middle of May, and as the locality was
rough and favourable to its habits, it may possibly have bred
there, though I could not locate a nest. This was near Landon's
Bay, River St. Lawrence. {Rev. C.J. Yotmg.) This woodpecker
has a habit of sometimes nesting in colonies. I saw the nests of
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 307
such a colony near Sand Lake in 1896 ; there were six or seven
h. t branch, and usually eight or ten feet from the ground. The
cedars were in a dense forest overlooking a small stream tha^
empt.es into Sa..d Lake. Four eggs se'ms to be Te full set
The young are hatched by the ist of June. (/ //. F/emm^) A
roinher^lTer-'f ^"^ "^'^ '' J-^P^- MuskZ'Lt
i^iom there I ece.ved a set of six eggs taken May 30th, 1899
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Nine; two taken in the township of Low, Gatineau valley, Que ,
October, 1901, and presented by Mr. Marler ; two others taker^
near Ottawa by Mr. Herring, and four at Bracebridge Ont, b"
Mr. Spreadborough. -^
401. American Threo-toed Wcodpeckor.
Picoides americanus Brehm. 183 i.
Common and resident throughout the wooded portion of
Lab.ador. {Packard.) Scarcely so common as the preceding
Hudson R"/;;"fr'- ^^'^''^ ^^'^^^ -^ ^ort Churchil'
Hudson Bay. {Clarke)
I T^;:*^"^, ^he kindness of Messrs. Edward and Robert Christie
1 ^ is.ted their logging camp on March i6th. The camp is four
HehM" ^t'^T ^■'°^'''' "''°"* "^"^' ^'^^^"^^ f'-«"^ River
l^rt Wh , 7^ Tl ^•^' ^'-''''' ^^^°^'^^ '^'^-lity for many
b.rd.. While there I heard woodpeckers drumming and soon
ocated three of this species. After drumming for some time
they came down to the dry tops of spruces of previous cuttings
which ^vere everywhere, and worked about over them. They
Tdir^h .Ti''' T^ ^ ''°^^ ^''^'^'^ ^^« y^--^^ «f -^^h in turn
and watched them for some time. Two were males with golden
c.own ; the third was evidently a female. These three were the
h. NewT ''"• 1 ^^- ^■'''^''-''^-y An occasional winter visitor
.n New Brunswick near St. John. (Ckamder/am.) Have seen this
species in northern New Brunswick. (W. H. Moore.) Taken at
Beauport ; a scarce resident in Quebec. {Dionne) An old
osti n " '.r"' °^ T""^ ''^'" '" '^^ ^°°^'^ ^' Ellis Bay, Anti-
T^:^ ?r; ^^''^T''-) A t'-^"^i«nt visitant in the Montreal
distnct but rare. It occurs in October and November. (IVintle )
i:
I i'
308
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
This species is rarer than the preceding but is seen in the
vicinity of Ottawa every autumn and doubtless breeds to the
north of the city. {Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) This also is a
northern species but is seldom taken in southern Ontario in the
autumn though commoner northward. {Mcllwraith.) Rare in the
Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, only appearing in wintt r.
Mr. Handy sent me a pair taken at Emsdale. One specimen of
this species was shot on Well's Hill near Toronto, November i6th,
1901. It was seen in company with another, probably its mate.
(/. H. Fleming.) While at Whitney during November and
December, 1898, I looked very carefully for this species but only
succeeded in taking one, which was feeding on a yellow birch in
company with a party of P. arcticus. I obtained a second specimen
of this species from the same place a few weeks later. {J.Hughes-
Samuel.) Very rare in central Manitoba but probably general in
the north and east. {Thompsoti-Seton.) This bird exists in all the
forests of spruce-fir lying between Lake Superior and the Arctic
Sea. It is the most common woodpecker north of Great Slave
Lake. {Richardson) A few specimens between Athabasca Land-
ing, Alta., and Lesser Slave River. Rare between Methye Lake
and Isle a la Crosse. (/. M. Macoun.) North of Fort Good Hope
on the Mackenzie River. {Ross) Much more common than the
preceding species in Cariboo, B.C., in the winter of 1900. {Brooks)
Common md breeding in burnt woods at Banff, Rocky Mountains,
alt. 5,500 feet, June, 1891. {Spreadborough) This is probably
P. fasnatus, as we have specimens of that species from Banff
collected by Mr. Dippie in 1895.
401a. Alaskan Three-toed Woodpecker.
Picoides americaims Jasciatus BMKT>t 1870.
In the country from Fort Simpson (on the Mackenzie River)
north and west, including the lower Mackenzie and Anderson
rivers, and all of northern Alaska, occurs this well marked race,
which is characterized by the extent and amount of the white
markings upon the dorsal surface, mainly in the form of barring.
{Nelson.) Specimens of this form were obtained from Nulato and
Fort Yukon on the Yukon River. The bird is a resident of the
wooded districts and common in some localities. {Turner.) A
common resident in the spruce zone on the Coast Range ; also
taken in Washington as far south as Mount Baker. {Brooks)
i
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
309
Duncan S.Vancouver Island, by Dr. Hasell ; east and west of
Coast Range. B.C. {Fannin.) This, the only species of wood-
pecker detected by me in the Kowak region, was resident through-
out the year. It could scarcely be called common. {Grinneli)
Seen near Cascade, B.C., on the 49th parallel and taken on Sophie
Mountain at an altitude of 4,000 feet, July 12th, 1902. (Spread-
borough.) Collected at Haines Mission and Glacier, Lynn Canal
;!;-/*'^^^"^°" ''^"^y ^* Six-mile River ; three specimens near
Mi.es Cafion ; two on the Lewes River, Yukon district, and two
at Circle City, Alaska. {Bishop.)
Breeding NoxES.-According to Oliver Davis' "Nests and
Eggs of N. A. Birds," nothing has been published regarding the
nest and eggs of this species. It therefore gives me pleasure to
make the following record of a set in my collection of five eggs
which were taken with the parent bird on May 29th, 1897, at Peel
River that runs into the mouth of the Mackenzie River. Nest,
a hole in a coniferous tree about ten feet from the ground The
eggs average -go x -65. The Rev J. O. Stringer secured the parent
and found its crop filled with seeds and worms. {W.Raine.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Four; one taken by Mr. Spreadborough near the International
boundary at Cascade, B.C.; three in Alberta, two at Banff, and
one in the foothills south of Calgary, Alta., by Mr. G. F. Dippie.
Mr. Dippie's Calgary specimen extends the range of this species
eastward to the foothills so it is very likely that most if not all of
the Rocky Mountain birds belong to this form.
4016. Alpine Three-toed Woodpecker.
Picoides americanus dorsalis Baird. 1870.
A specimen of what I consider to be this species was procured
at Fort Norman on the Mackenzie River. {Ross) This form is
known to range from Fort Kenai and the southeastern Alaskan
coast and Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie River (Lat. 62°) south
to Oregon and Arizona. In well plumaged summer birds a longi-
tudinal white band begins with the nuchal collar and extends
down the back to the rump, with no trace, or at most a very slight
one, of transverse barring. {Nelson.) This form is abundant in
the interior wherever there are wooded districts. It rarely visits
the vicinity of St. Michael. {Turner) Mountains east of Coast
« i \
I I
310
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Range ; north to Cassiar. {Fannin.) A specimen of this form
was taken at Huntingdon in the Fraser River valley on the 49th
parallel, on October 4th, 1901. {Spreadborougli.) What was
likely this species was observed on the shore of Shuswap Lake,
above Kamloops, B.C., in June, 1889. The bird had a nest in a
dead tree, and was a three-toed woodpecker with a white back.
A specimen was not obtained.
MUSEUM SPECIMEN. •
One taken at Huntington, B C, in October, 1901, by Mr.
Spreadborough.
XLVHI. SPHYRAPICUS Baird. 1858.
402. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
Sp/iyrapia/s 7'anns (Linn.) Baird. 1858.
One found dead near Julianshaab, July, 1845 ! another sent
from Greenland about 1858. {Arct Man.) Common along Moose
River to Moose Factory ; none seen further north in Labrador in
1896. {Spreadborough^ Probably occurs in Newfoundland.
{Reeks.) Fort Churchill, Hudson Bay. {Clarke.) Abundant
summer resident in Nova Scotia. {Dowfis.) A fairly common
summer resident at Wolfville, N.S. {H. Tufts.) A common
summer resident at Sydney, Cape Breton Island, N.S. First
seen May 7th ; eggs far advanced by June 15th. {C. R. Harte.)
Seen at Hunter's River, Prince Edward Island, July, 1888. Not
rare at Margaree, Cape Breton Island, July, 1898. {Macoiin)
An occasional summer resident at St. Jo'in, N.B. ; breeds.
{Chamberlaiv .) Rare in the Restigouche valley, N.B. {Brittain &
Cox.) A tolerably common summer resident ; breeds in York
Co., N.B. {IV. H. Moore.) Taken at Beauport, and a common
summer resident in Quebec. {Dioufie.) Summer resident at
Montreal. More plentiful during the spring migrations. Breeds
sparsely on the island of Montreal. {Wintle.)
Common summer resident at Ottawa, Ont.; breeds. Commoner
in migrations than at other times. {Ottazva Naturalist, Vol. Y.)
A common breeding species, perhaps the commonest of the
woodpeckers in the summer in the Muskoka and Parry Sound
districts. (/. //. Fleming.) A summer resident aboit London,
but not common except in migrations. {11'. E. Saunders)
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
3n
Abundant in Algonquin Park, Ont., breeding in holes in cedar
trees about 12 feet from the ground. (Macoun.)
to^a'""mrr"'T: T'^^"^°f the wooded section of Mani-
toba {Thompson-Seton.) During the soring of 1802 onlv four
specimens of this bird were seen at Indian' Head,'Assa.; tl
pec.mens seen at Medicine Hat, Assa., May, 1894. None seen
further west on the prairie. First saw four. May 3rd at Edmonton,
Alta., common the next day. Common summer resident from Ed
monton Lat. 53° 30' to Crow's Nest Pass Lat. 50°. (6>WW.J/ )
Common from Athabasca Landing, where it is very abundant fnd
requent y met with up the Athabasca River to the mouth o
Lesse. Slave River. Common on the Clearwater River, Lat. 56°
30 , and on Methye Portage. Common between Methve Lake and
Isle a la Crosse. (/ M. Macoun.) This is the only woodpecke
that visits the Northwest Territories in flocks. It made its first
appearance m 1827 on the plains of the Saskatchewan on the 14th
May ,n considerable flocks. In the breeding season it is much
more re .ring and ranges as far north as Lat. 61°. ^Ruhardson.)
Nort^h to Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie River ; common.
Breeding Notes.-I notice that this bird is very common in
spnng along the St. Lawrence. It breeds plentifully in the cou
les of Leeds Lanark and Renfrew, in all of which' I have found
• ts nests. The locality chosen varies very much ; it is partial to
an ash swamp, hke the hairy woodpecker, but is also fond of
poplar rees commencing its nest-hole about the begining of May
I have found fresh eggs on May igfeh. They vary mu^h in siVe
and shape and a complete set consists of five or six I have
noticed a nest several years in succession in a opiar at the foot
of Grenad.er Island, St. Lawrence River, and have observed tt
the nest-hole ,s usually from 25 to 40 feet from the ground
though on one occasion I found it in a dead stub, standing in'
water, not more than three feet above the surface. {Rev CJ
\Z^L l^T " "''' °^^^""^ ^'^^^ °^ '^''' ^P^^'^^' J""e 2ist: '
i«87, on St. Bruno mountain, in a hole drilled in a live oak tree
only about six feet high in the trunk of the tree above the ground'
and another nest of its young, July i, 1885, at Calumet, Que., 58
mi es west of Montreal. This nest was in a small hoie dril ed
a st^ Xl^; '-' ''"" ''-'^ ^"^ ^^-^ ^'-^^^y ^-t high from the
hi
, H
313
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
I
On June 20th, 1883, at the spruce bush, I found the nest of a
sapsucker. It was in a new hole in a green poplar tree, about 30
feet from the ground. It contained five newly hatched young,
and in the chamber with them were some of the shells, out of
which I reconstructed two eggs. The male, length 8>6, stomach
full of ants, the female, length 8^, stomach full of ants, her bill
also was full of black ants, intended probably as food for the
young ones; excessively fat; no red feathers at all except
three or four scattered on the front of the crown, which was
black. The eggs were each -ff by 5^ and pure white. On
July 3rd, in spruce bush, found the nest of a sapsucker.
It was about 20 feet from the ground in a poplar, and facing the
southeast. Just over the hole was a large limb, which would
doubtless be of some service as a shelter from the rain. I shot
the female ; her crown was black, with but a very few red feathers
in the front, and some of these were tipped with yellow. The
gizzard was full of wood ants, Formica rufa. {Thompson- Seton.)
Excavates its nest-hole usually in living trees ; one that I took
was in an ironwood and there were nesting-holes of two or three
previous years in the same tree which had died the previous year.
{W. E. Saunders.) I collected a set of five eggs from a hole in a
poplar about twelve feet from the ground, at Long Lake, Manitoba,
June i6th, 1894. {W. Raine.) Always nests in a hole in a tree at
Ottawa. Nest made of chips and dust. Eggs, four to six, pure
white. {G. R. White.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Seven ; one purchased with the Holman collection in 1885 ;
two taken at Ottawa and one at Belleville, Ont., by Prof. Macoun;
one taken at Wallaceburgh, Ont., by Mr. W. E. Saunders ; one
at Indian Head, Assa., and another at Medicine Hat, Assa., by
Mr. Spreadborough.
402a. Red-naped Sapsucker.
Sthyrapims varius nuchalis Baird. 1858. .^
Osyoos and valley of the Columbia. {Ij>rd) Found common
everywhere in the interior ; breeds. (Streator) I found this bird
very common east of the Coast Range, especially along the
Cariboo road. {Fannin.) Generally distributed and breeding
throughout the interior of British Columbia ; did not observe it
on the coast. {Rhoads.) In the summer of 1891 this species was
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
313
taken at Banff, and in the preceding year it was found breeding
in numbers in the Columbia valley, B.C., at Revelstoke, Deer Park
and Robson. In the spring of 1902 it was seen at Trail near the
49th parallel. In June 1889 it was quite common at Kamloops,
B.C., and a few were seen as far west as Spence's Bridge. {Spread-
borough.) ,
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Eight ; one taken at Banff, Alta., one at Deer Park, one at
Robson, three at Kamloops, B.C., and two at Victoria. Vancouver
Island ; all collected by Mr. Spreadborough.
403a. Red-breasted Sapsucker.
Sphyrapicus ruber notkensis (Suckovv.) Richmond, 1902.
Known as an Alaskan bird only from the record of Hartland
of two males taken at Chilcat River, April 12th. {Nelson) Took
an adult male at Skagway, Alaska, May 31st, 1899. {Bishop)
Vancouver Island and Sumas. {Lord.) Ten specimens of this
form were taken on Queen Charlotte Islands, where it is common.
{Osgood) Found only on the coast; rare. {Streator) East and
west of Coast Range; not common. {Fannin.) Tolerably common
summer resident 'at Chilliwack. {Brooks.) Not uncommon at
Hastmgs and Agassiz, B.C., in 1889 ; rather common from Mc-
Guire's to the head of Chilliwack Lake, B.C., in 1901. {Spread-
borough)
404. Williamson's Sapsucker.
Sphyrapicus thyroideus (Cass.) Baird. 1858.
Taken at Similkameen, B.C., by R. V. Griflfin, June, 1882.
{Fannin.)
XLIX. CEOPHLCEUS Cabanis. 1862.
405a. Northern Pileated Woodpecker.
Ceophloeus pileatus abieticola Bangs. 1898.
Rather rare in Newfoundland. {Reeks) Tolerably common
along Moose River to Moose Factory, James Bay ; none seen
m Labrador farther north in 1896. {Spreadborough)
An uncommon resident in heavily timbered districts in Nova
Scotia. {Downs) One was taken at Wolfville, N.S., Sept., 1897;
rarely seen. {H. Tufts) Common in the interior of New Brunswick
throughout the year. {Chamberlain) A not uncommon perman-
314
OEOLOOICAI. SUKVKY OF CANADA.
I
ent resident, and breeds in York Co., N.B. {IV, H. Moore.) Said
to have been formerly common on Prince Kdward Island, but I
saw none. Mr. Karie showed me a stuffed specimen. {Divighi.)
Taken at Heauport ; a resident in Quebec. {Dionne.) Accidental
visitant at Montreal, but rare. The nearest place to Montreal
where I have seen this large woodpecker was at Casselman, Ont.,
about 90 miles west of the city. [Wintte.)
This species is not uncommon in the hills north of Ottawa,
and is known to breed. {Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Muskoka
and I'arry Sound districts seem to be the home of this species.
The work done by the pileateil woodpecker in cuttin^j into
dead trees is wonderful. A pair will work all winter at one tree
cutting it to pieces. I have several times seen stubs that have
been so cut up that they have broken down. The birds cut deep
holes in the sides of the trees to get entrance into the soft centre
when the cuts are continued and lengthened until little of its
inside remains. (/ H. Fleming.) Found quite numerous at
Whitney on the Parry Sound Railway late in the fall of i8gS. (/.
Hughes-Samiu'L) Not common in Algonquin Park in summer ;
more plentiful in winter. {Spreadboroiigh.) A rare resident in
the neighbourhood of London. (IV, E. Sautiders.)
Rare resident in heavy timber, but becomes more abundant to
the northward. According to liutchins it has been taken in
January at Gloucester House in Lat. 50^31' N., Long. 96° 03' W.
387 miles up the Albany River. {Thompson-Seton.) This great
woodpecker is a resident all the year in the interior of the North-
west Territories, up to Lat. 62° or 63°, rarely appearing near
Hudson Bay, but frequenting the gloomiest recesses of the forests
that skirt the Rocky Mountains. {Richardsoti.) North to Fort
Liard, Lat. 61° ; rare. {Ross.) Rare on the Clearwater River,
Atha., Lat., 56^ 40'. (/. M. Macoim,) Common east and west of
* the Coast Range. {Lord.) Common in the coast region where it
breeds; they are not very common on Vancouver Island. {Streator.)
Common; but more abundant on the coast. {Fatmin.) Common
resident at Chilliwack, B.C.; tolerably common around Lake
Okanagan, B.C., in winter ; scarce in the Cariboo district, B.C.
{Brooks.) A few were noted at Banff in 1891 ; seen at Revel-
stoke in April, 1890; at Deer Park, Lower Arrow Lake, June 14th,
1890, and at Robson on the Columbia River, at an altitude of
4,200 feet, June 26th, 1890 ; and quite common between Trail and .
Cascade, on the 49th parallel, in 1902 ; observed everywhere in
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN ". I)S,
SI5
the Ch.lhwack valley. H.C., and on the mountains in 1901 ; com.
mon -n Vancouver Island and resident wherever I have been.
(VWW^/,.) tound in comparative abundance everywhere
m British Columbia. {Rhonds.) >«-rywntre
Hkeeding NoTES.-This bird is becoming quite rar.-. I have
seen it in the counties of Frontenac, Lanark and Renfrew Ont •
•dXth"l>'r'''' '"' ^''r '"^"" '" '""^ ^'-"^y ^>f Leeds or'
alonK the St Lawrence. In the heavily-timbered and rough sec
tions of the former counties, as recently as ten years ago it was
comparatively common, now (1901) it is seldom seen. It breeds
early, commencing its nest-hole in April. In 1888 I saw a nest in
a large basswood tree between Perth and Lanark. Ont.. about 30
Bob s Lake, Wontenac Co., this is about its southern breeding
limit in Ontario at the present time. (Rev. C.J. Young.) I have
a set of ..X eggs that were collected at Lake Joseph, Muskoka,
Ont., on June 2nd, 1899. Kggs laid in a hole in a decayed pine
20 feet from the base. {W.Raine.) '
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Nine; one bought with the Holman collection in 1885 ; one
taken north of Ottawa by Mr. Herring ; one taken in the town-
bv Vr r°p wl'".''" ''''';i'*' ^""•' ""^ ^'■- ^•'>'-'^'- ' «"- taken
by Mr. G. R White near Ottawa in 1892 ; one obtained from
Mr. Henry at Ottawa in 1895 ; one taken at Bracebridge, Ont
one at Burrard Inlet. B.C., one at Chilliwack. B.C.. and ^ne a't'
Agassiz, B.C., all by Mr. Spreadborough.
CL. MELANERPES Swainson. 183 i.
406. Red-headed Woodpecker.
^t:lanerpes erythrocephalus {Um.) SwAiiis. 1831.
Very rare in Nova Scotia. A mere straggler. {Dozvns.) Oc-
casionally met with in New Brunswick. (^Otamberlain.) Occa-
sionally met with in Quebec. (Dionne.) Summer resident •
scarce. Observed on the Island of Montreal May 24th, 1882, and
June 24th, 1883. {Wintle.) '
V t ;'/ ,''^' '"^'■"f \"'^"^^'' "-e^'dent at Ottawa. ( OUawa Naturalht,
Vol. V ) One of the species that is increasing with the settle-
ment of the Muskoka and Parry Sound districts. Mr. Kav speaks
,', '
\n
3i6
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
of it as rare at Port Sydney in 1890, but increasing rapidly ; in
1893 it was rare at Emsdale, but has become much commoner.
(/. H. Fleming.) Fairly common in all the western peninsula of
Ontario. Ablmdant iu many parts, but not so much so near
London as formerly, the decrease beginning about i8;8. It
spends the winter here in considerable numbers if food condi-
tions ar- favourable. {W. E. Saunders.)
A rare summer resident in Manitoba, but commoner eastward.
(Tliompson-Scton.) In May, 1895, this species was seen at Old
Wives' Creek, in eastern Assiniboia ; also at Wood Mountain
Post and observed breeding at " Stone Pile " on the White Mud
River, Assa., in June, 1895 i '-^ P^'*''' ^^'^'"'^ f"""'* breeding on the
east end of the Cypress Hills in June, 1894 ; the same year one
was seen at Crane Lake and another at Medicine Hat, Assa.; a
pair seen at Pass Creek, near Robson, Columbia River, B.C..
June 25th, 1 890. {Macouu.)
Bri-eding Notes.—A common summer resident in Ontario.
Very plentiful along the St Lawrence, on Wolfe Island and else-
whe'-e becoming rarer northward in the county of R nfrew. It
occas.onally stays all winter. In the mild winter of 1890 I
saw two several times in a sugar bush of large maples in the
township of Kscott, Leeds Co., Out. Also at the sa- . sugcir
bush I noticed one in December, 1899- It 's ^ late breeder, sel-
dom having eggs before June, and making its nest-hole high up
in the dead limb of a large tree. I have only once or twice seen
the nest within ten feet of the ground. {ReiK C.J. Young.) Nest
taken in woods near Ottawa. It was a hole in a tree and con-
tained four pure white eggs laid on a bed of chips and dust.
(G R White) At Rice Lake, Ont.; June loth, 1902, t found this
bird more "lentiful than ihc common llicker. nesting in decayed
tree stubs.' {W.Rainc.) Mr. G. A. Uunlop found a nest with
e<To-s of this species at Lachine, and I came across it breeding in
aTole of a dead tree along a fence, between two woods at Longue
Pointe May 24th 1889. I shot the female bird at the time for a
specimen I have not met with this conspicuously coloured wood-
pecker in the autumn season, an ,1 there M,re I infer it cleparts south
a. soon as its young are reared and able t. migrate. {U^wHc) Is
perhaps the latest of our woodpeckers to b.-eed, seldom laying
before June. It lays five to seven eggs of very variable size and
shape, at varying heights from the ground, rangi.ig from tw.» to
ai least sixty feet. (fF. H. Saunders.)
CATALOGUE OK CANADIAN BIRDS.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
317
B.C
wiJrth.- ^vvo taken av Ottawa by Mr. Herring; one purchased
H ' As.. M '" '?"«"" [" ^''5 ; and one taken at Medicine
Hac, Assa., May 24th, 1894, by Mr. Spreadborough.
One set of si.x eggs taken near Port Durham, Ont., in 1892.
408. Lewis's Woodpecker.
Melanerpes lorqiiatus (VVils.) Bonap. 1838.
Shot only in the open timbered lands in British Columbia east
o the Coast Range. iLord.) Abundant in the interior ; breed3
{StrcatoK) Kast and west of the Coast Range; rare on Van^
couver Island ; young taken at Victoria and Comox. i^Fanvv,.)
A toleraby common summer resident at Chilliwack, B.C.
fr^ K Q , ? """■" ^^"^^"^P^^' «" on^^ of the head waters of
the South Saskatchewan at the eastern base of the Rocky Moun-
tams a Lewis s woodpecker flew overhead and was distinctly recog-
"ued by myself and Mr. Batty. (Coues.) One specimen seen at
Canmore east of Banff, in June, 1901 ; one specimen shot at
Reve stoke. B^C, May 5th, rggo ; only three specimens seen dur-
mg the nionth ; rather common at Sicamo.s, Kamloops and
Spence s Bridge in .889; one taken at Huck's, Chilliwack River
^.C, July, 1901 ; abundant at Cascade, on the International
Boundary, B.C .n the summer of ,902. {Spreadborough.) Only
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Nine ; one taken at Kamloops, two at Spence's Bridge, one at
Knderby, one at Ch.lliwack. and four at Cascade on the nte na'
t.onal Boundary. B.C. All bv Mr. Spreadborough.
40!». Red-beUied Woodpecker.
Mclnvcrpcs carolimis (Link.) Ridgw. 1874.
Not common near London but locally abundant in the western
part o the peninsula of Ontario. {W. E. Saunders.) Rare about
loronto; commoner msouthwester Ontario. {J. H. Fleming) A
female was taken ,n foronto. Ont.. May 19th. 1885. (T/Jnpson.
Seton) On July 27th. 1894, I took an immature specimen of this
specie^ at Tw.n Lakes, border of Lake township, nor hea t o
318
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
I
Havelock. (/. Hughes-Samuel.) Accidental visitant in the Montreal
district ; rare. Mr. Kuetzing says this species occurs in the
Eastern Townships, but I have not observed it near Montrea but
will treat it as a straggler until more is known of it in this chstrict.
{Wint/e.)
MUSEUM SPECIMEN.
One specimen, purchased with the Holman collection in 1885.
■CLI. COLAPTES Swainson. 1827.
412a. Nortliern Flicker.
Colaptes auratus lutcus Bangs. 1898.
Herr Moschler has recorded the receipt of a specimen from
Greenland in 1852. {Arct. Man) An accidental straggler was
procured from the mainland near Akapatok Island, Hudson Strait,
in October, 1882. Reported to be a common summer visitor to
Northwest River, Labrador. (P^^^W.) Observed all along the
Moose River to Moose Factory, and a few as far north as Fort
George in Labrador, June, 1896. {.Spreadborough:) A summer
visitor and tolerablycommon in Newfoundland. (^^^^/O One seen
on the Humber River Newfoundland, Oct., 1898. (Z. H Porter)
Fort Churchill, Hudson Bay. {Clarke.) Not common at Lake Mis-
tassini, northern Quebec, in 1885. {J. MMacoun.) Very common
from Lake Winnipeg to Fort Churchill, Hudson Bay. {Dr. R.
Bell) Quite common in Nova Scotia. {Dozvus.) In woods along
Rustico Bay, Prince Edward Island, July, 1888 ; common on Cape
Breton Island, July, 1898. {Macoun.) An abundant summer resi-
dent in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain.) Common around fields,
Restigouche valley, N.B. ^Brittain & Cox.) Common summer
resident and breeds in York Co.. N.B. (IK /^. f--) .^aken at
Beauport and a common resident in Quebec {Dtomie.) A few
were seen near Gaspe and one or two at tox Bay, Anticosti.
(Brezvster.) Common summer resident at Montreal. Breedc in
Mount Royal Park. {Winlle.) Common ^^J""^^"-,/;^ l^f "^f
Ottawa. Breeding in all woods. {OUawa Naturalist, Vol V.)
Abundant and breeding in the districts of Parry Sound and Mus-
koka {J.H.Fleming.) Common all over western Ontario A
few spend the winter in favourable seasons. {W.E.Saunders.)
Not common in Algonquin Park, Ont.; one pair breeding near
Cache Lake. {Spreadborough.) A very abundant summer resident
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 319
in the wooded parts of Manitoba. {rJwmpson-Seton) T! ueauti-
fully marked bird visits the Northwest Territories only in summer
advancmg as far north as Great Slave Lake, but resorting in the
greatest numbers to the plains of the Saskatchewan. Instead of
hidmg Itself in the depths of the forest it frequents the open
downs, and employs itself in turning over the ant-hills in search
of larvae on which it preys. {Richardson:) North to Peel River,
mouth of the Mackenzie ; common. {Ross) This bird is by no
means scarce in the valley of the Anderson but we made no
attempt to collect its eggs as they are not scarce. {Macfarlane.)
This handsome woodpecker breeds from one side of the Territory
(Alaska) to the other wherever wooded country occurs, according
to the Esquimaux it extends even to Behring Strait. {Nelsoti )
This species does not occur in the Yukon districts to my knowl-
edge. A specimen was obtained from Fort Yukon, where it is
not abundant. {Tjm^er.) In the Yukon valley this is by far the
most common woodpecker. VVc found it quite frequently from
Log Cabin to Circle City. At Caribou Crossing, June 27th, 1899,
Osgood secured a female and found her nest containing eight
young and three eggs in a cavity three feet from the ground in a
partly dead poplar. At Six-mile River another nest was found
and at Lake Laberge another, all in the Yukon district. {Bishop )
This IS not a rare bird at Indian Head, Medicine Hat, and
Cypress Hills ; it was found breeding in 1895 in company with
the hybrid flicker m holes in Acer Negmido on May 30th and two
fresh eggs taken from the nest; early in June it was found at Wood
Mountain, and towards the end of June on Sucker Creek in the
Cypress Hills, Assa. ; common and breeding at Banff and shot as
far west as Revelstoke, B.C., May 14, 1890. First seen at Edmon-
ton. Alta., on April 30th, 1897 ; it soon became common and com-
menced to breed. Common in the foothills southwest of Calgarv
{Spreadborough.) Common from Athabasca Landing up the
Athabasca to Lesser Slave River and down to Foi t McMurray
Lat. 56° 40'. Common up the Clearwater River and on Methve'
Portage. {J.M.Macoun)
Breeding NoxES.-In this region (Carberry) the flicker seems
to prey principally on ants, taking them sometimes from the
rotten stumps that are honeycombed with their galleries but
more often, I believe, from the mound-like ant-hills which are to
be seen on the prairie in such numbers. His method of attack
seems to be by first pecking a hole in the centre of the hill and
'i
f,
V
In^ "
320
GEOLOGIC XL SURVEY OF CANADA.
then as the ants come swaming out he dispatches them till his
appetite is satisfied. Afterwards he comes again and agam to the
hill till it is completely depopulated. {Thompson-Scton.) I
found a nest of this woodpecker, June 8th, 1882, at Bedford, Que.,
in the trunk of an old beech tree, containing two younglmgs, five
eggs incubated and one egg quite fresh ; also another nest m the
decayed trunk of a beech tree in the woods below Hochelaga,
June'i, 1883, containing four eggs, and in the same tree two eggs;
May 2ist, 1887, another nest, with one egg, in a hole in the dead
limb of a tree on the spur of Mount Royal. The flicker's nest can
often be discovered by the quantity of chips strewn over the
ground under the tree, from the hole they have been excavating
in it. {Wintle.) One of these birds has nested in a telegraph
post :n front of my house at Kew Beach, Toronto, for the past
five summers and has never yet succeeded in hatching its eggs on
account of its nest being robbed by boys. As many as 40 eggs
have been taken from this nest in one season; as fast as the eggs
are taken the bird lays another lot and in spite of this persecution
returns every spring to its old home. Higher up in the same
telegraph post a pair of tree swallows nest annually and succeed
in hatching out their brood as the hole is too small for the boys
to get their hands into. {W. Raine.) Nests taken at Ottawa are
in holes in stubs or broken trees. Eggs five to seven, pure white,
laid on a bed of small chips and dust. {G. R. White.) First seen
in 1802 at Indian Head, Assa., April igth. After this they became
common and were nesting by May 9th, one shot at this date had
its stomach full of ants. First seen in 1894 at Medicine Hat,
Assa on April 12th. After that they became common and could
scarcely be distinguished from the form I call the hybrid flicker.
Both forms were breeding. Later this species was found at Crane
Lake and very common in the timber at the east end of the
Cypress Hills. In May, 1895. it was found breeding with the
hydrid form at Old Wives' Creek and the eggs of each taken.
Both nests were in holes of Acer Negundo. It was also found at
Wood Mountain and along Frenchman's River in the Cypress
Hills Common and breeding at Banff, Rocky Mountains, in
1891 Met with at Revelstoke in 1890 in company with nybrids
and the red-shafted flicker. {Macomi:) A very common summer
visitant. Found everywhere. It is plentiful in the Magdalen
Islands where its former nest-holes are sometimes occupied by the
small owls that breed there. Once in the county of Renfrew I
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
321
found a nest with nine ejrgs, but six or seven is the usual number
{Rev. C. J. Young.) Abundant from April to October. Usually
the flicker's nest is situated quite a distance from the ground as
one of the bird's names-" high hole "-suggests. But last sum-
mer a nest was observed so low that the bottom was on a level
with the ground outside the stump in which the nest was made
The nine eggs which this nest contained were also remarkable
One egg was no larger than a sparrow's and contained no yolk
while the other eight varied greatly in shape from spherical to
extremely elongate. [H. Tufts.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Twelve ; three taken at Ottawa, one at Belleville, Ont., bv Prof
Macoun ; one taken at Indian Head, Assa., one at Old Wives'
Creek, Assa., one at Medicine Hat, Assa.,one at Edmonton, Alta ,
three at Banff, Rocky Mountains, and one at Revelstoke, B C
all by Mr. Spreadborough.
One set of 14 eggs taken at Hurdman's bridge, near Ottawa
Nest in a hole in a tree where the bird had nested for years
Another set of two taken at Old Wives' Creek, Assa., May 30th,
1895. ^^'^^ '^n -A \\o\ii\n Acer Negii lido.
413. Red-shafted Flicker.
Colaptcs atjer collaris (Vigors) Nelson. 1900.
A specimen of this species was killed to the westward of the
Rocky Mountains by Mr. Douglas. {Ric/uirdson.) During Bis-
choff's visit to Sitka a number of these birds were taken there
and the specimens are now in the National Museum. It has not
been taken since. {Ndson.) The most abundant of the summer
visitors on Vancouver Island and in British Columbia. (Lord)
Five specimens taken at Ashcroft are of this form. {Stre tor.)
hast of the Coast Range ; common. {Fatimti.)
This species was commo.n at Banff in the spring of 1891 ;
breeding at Devil's Lake and seen eating ants above the timber
line on Mount Aylmer, Aug. 6th, 1891 ; common at Revelstoke
on the Columbia, and down that river to Deer Park and Robson;
also common and breeding in p:agle Pass, west of Revelstoke^
B.C.; common on the International Boundary between Trail and
Cascade, B.C., in the summer of 1902. Not uncMmon at Sica-
mous, Kamloops and Spence's liridge, B.C., in May ar- 1 June, 1889.
( Spreadborough . )
^m
322
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Seven • two taken at Revelstoke ; two on the International
Boundary, B.C.; one taken at Banff, Rocky Mountains ; one
taken at Sicamous, B.C., and one taken at Kamloops, B.C.; all
by Mr. Spreadborough.
In the summer of 1902 Mr. Spreadborough took four sets o
eggs on the International Boundary, two of which contained
seven eggs and two, six each.
413a. Northwestern Flicker.
Colaptes cafer saturatior (Ridgw.) A. O. U. Check-list,
1886.
Abundant on the coast of British Columbia. {Streator) Abun-
dant west of Coast Range ; a number winter in the neighbour-
hood of Victoria. {Fannin:) A common resident at Chilliwack.
iBfooks ) Common at Chilliwack and at Huntington, B.C. Ob-
served a few on the mountains at Chilliwack Lake, also a few
along the Chilliwack River and in the hills, and at Burrard Inlet ;
a resident throughout Vancouver Island. Nests in holes in dead
t.ees • nesting commenced April 24th, 1893- {Spreadborough)
Noted occasionally about Sitka, Alaska, in the dense forest a
mile or more back from the beach. {Grinnell) While r^^r seems
to be exclusively an eastern species, saturatior c^wnoi be said to
confine itself to the coast ; examples from local areas of great
rainfall in the interior being indistinguishable from ordinary
Vancouver Island specimens. {Rhoads.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Eleven specimens ; four taken at Chilliwack; three at Agassiz;
two at Burrard Inlet, B.C., and two at Victoria, Vancouver Island;
all bv Mr. Spreadborough.
One set of four eggs taken near Victoria, Vancouver Island, by
Rev. G. W. Taylor.
Hybrid Flicker.
All the Colaptes of the Upper Missouri, Yellowstone and Milk
River appears to be of the hybrid race in which there is every
decrree of departure from he characters of typical aurattis. The
change begins on the Middle Missouri,as low down, I think as Fort-
Randall, and certainly as low as old Fort Pierre. It is a point of
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
323
interest that this mongrel style overruns into the Saskatchewau
region ; for of two species secured at the eastern base of the
mountains, one had the red quills and ash throat of mexica?ms, and
the cheek-patch mixed with red. while the other was nearly
pure auratus. {Cones.)
This form was tound breedin- in the same locality and under
the same conditions with ^mi, auratus, in holes in Acer Negundo on
Walsh s ranch, near the mouth of Old Wives' Creek, May 30th,
1895. The nest contained four eggs indistinguishable from those
ot the eastern species. Others were seen at Medicine Hat. Assa
in 1894 and a number shot. Specimens were taken at Sucker
Creek, west end of Cypress Hills, July 1st, 1895 ; later in the
season it was seen at Castellated Rocks in southwestern Assini-
boia, in the Milk River valley ; on July 26th others were seen at
Lees Creek, near Cardston, Alta.; and still later at Waterton
Lake, almost where Dr. Coues saw the species in 1874.
Numerous specimens were taken at Revelstoke, B.C., in the
spring of 1890. These varied from almost pure auratus to pure
ca/er Tvjo specimens were shot having all the characters of
cafer, but each had a crescentic patch of red on the nape of the
neckj
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
r^M^xr P^'i'r"' ' three taken at Medicine Hat, Assa.; one at
Old Wives Creek, Assa., six at Revelstoke, B.C., in 1890 ; all by
Mr. Spread borough. ^ ^ ^ y
On- set of four eggs taken at Old Wives' Creek, Assa.. May
30th. 1895, by Mr. Spreadborough.
Order MACROCHIRES. Goatsuckers,
Swifts, 8cc.
Family XXXV. CAPRIMULGID^. Goatsuckers.
CLH. ANTROSTOMUS Gould. 1838.
417. Whip-poor-will.
Autrostomus vociferus (Wils.) Bonap. 1838.
Formerly common but now becoming rare in Nova Scotia
\L>oivns.) An occasional summer resident at St. John. N.B.
r
1
■ ■
1
1
H
. I
H
324
GF.OLOOICAL SURVHY OF CANADA.
{Cliaiitbtrlaiu.) Not common at Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B.
iVV.H. Moore.) Rare summer visitor in Quebec. (Dioiinc.) Tran-
sient visitor at Montreal, scarce ; this bird is said to be plentiful
at St. Jerome, 33 miles north of Montr^^al. {IVinttc.)
A common summer resident .it Ottawa. {Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) Fairly common in Muskoka ; I have not met with it in
Parry Sound district. (/. H. Fkinini^r,) Common from the Geor-
gian Bay to Lake Erie in most retired localities. {W. h. Saun-
ders.) North to Norway House, foot of Lake Winnipeg. {Dr.
R. Bell.) A common summer resident in Manitoba, arriving early
in May. {Thompson-Seton). Very common in thick woods at
Manitoba House, Manitoba Like, and westward along Lake Win-
nipegoosis, nesting in the poplar woods in June, 1881. During the
day many specimens were seen lying at full length, and perfectly
flat, lengthwise on the branches. {Macoun:) Not seen nor heard
anywhere on the prairie. {Spreadborougli.)
Breedinp Notes.— Common in central Ontario in rocky
uneven ground, partially wooded. I noticed it in a plantation of
small oaks near the canal, Wolfe Island, opposite Kingston, but
it is not common in level sections of the country. It arrives
earlier in the spring than the night hawk, and I have heard its
" call " as early as the end of April, and as late as September. It
is nowhere commoner than among the Thousand Islands. On
some of the larger of these it breeds, returning to the same
vicinity year after year. On one island, among ferns, and second
growth trees I came across the eggs three times. They are laid
in pairs on the bare ground without a vestig. of nest, generally
among the trees. I have found them on the 9th and 16th of
Tune, but two years ago 1 saw two eggs that were said to have
been found on the 8th May. This bird leaves Ontario nearly
a month later than the nighthawk, at least many do. {Rev. C.J.
Fifteen years ago this bird could be heard any evening on the
outskirts of Toronto, but of late years it has become scarce I
found a set of two beautiful eggs of this species at Rosedale,
Toronto, May 24th, 1889. There was no nest and the eggs were
laid on dead'leaves on the ground in a wood. On the evening of
Tune i8th, 1894, Mr. Menzies drove me from Woodlands, Mani-
toba, to Shoal Lake, and we were astonished at the number of
whip-poor-wills calling in the woods at the sides of the trail. {W.
Raine.)
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
325
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Two ; taken at Toronto, Ont., by Mr. Herring.
One set of two eggs taken at Garden Hill, ten miles north ot
Port Hope, Ont., by Mr. VV. H. Meeking, June loth, 1898 No
nest the eggs just laid on the ground where the fire had burned
all the woods the year before.
CLHI. PHAL^NOPTILUS Ridgwav. 1880.
418. Poor-Will.
Phalcenoptilus tiuttallii (Auix) Ridgw. 1880.
Only one pair of these birds was seen in two weeks stay at
Kamloops, B.C., in June, 1889. One was shot in open day but no
nest was discovered. The country was open, drv and arid
{^preadborough) From Kamloops south through the Okanagan
distnct of British Columbia. {Fannin.) A tolerably common
summer resident throughout the southern portions of the semi-
arid interior. {Brooks.)
MUSEUM SPECIMEN.
One specimen ; taken at Kamloops, B.C., June i8th, 1889, by
Mr. Spread borough. "
CLIV. CHORDEILES Swainson. 1831.
420. Nighthawk.
Chordeiles virgiidanns (Gmel.) Swains. 1831.
One specimen found dead on Melville Island. {Arct M n )
Stearns records this bird from Natashquan ; also obtained by
Drexler in August, i860, at Moose Factory, James Bay. {Packard.)
A summer migrant in xNewfoundland. {Reeks.) Very common
in Nova Scotia. {Bo7vns.) Seen at Baddeck and Sydney, Cape
Breton Island, August. 1898 ; one seen in the marsh'at B'rackley
Point, Prince Edward Island. 25th June, 1888. {Maeoim.) A few
were seen almost every day frequenting the open cl ariiigs or
sailing high in the air while I was on Prince Edward Island
{Dwight.) An abundant summer resident at St. John, N.B
{Chamberlain.) A common -mimer resident ; breeds at Scotch
Lake, York Co., N.B. {W.H.Moore.) Not common in the Resti-
gouche valley, N.B. ; only seen in burnt districts near settle-
ments. {Brittai,, S- Co.x.) Taken at Beauport; a common summer
I
326
GEOLOGICAL SURVKY OF CANADA.
resident in Quebec. {Diofim:) Not rare ; breeds at Lake Mis-
tassini, northern Quebec. (/. M. Macoini) A single specimen
observed at Fort Churchill, Hudson Bay. {Clarke.) York Fac-
tory. Hudson Bay. {Dr. R. Belt.) One heard, June 27th. at Grand
Entry Island, one of the Magdalen Islands ; but none afterwards.
{Brexuster.) Common summer resident, breeds in Montreal upon
the gravelled roofs of houses. {Wintle.) An abundant summer
resident. Since the building of houses with gravelled roofs these
birds have become very common in the city. They breed in
security on many of the flat roofs. {Ottawa Naturalist, Wo\.W .)
Common summer resident in Muskoka and Parry Sound districts.
(/. H. Fleming.) Not so common as formerly in the London, Ont.,
district. {W. E. Saunders.) Two observed in Algonquin Park,
June i8th. No others seen in three month's residence. {Spread-
borough) This species is quite common in Manitoba and breeds
freely. {Thotnpson-Seton.) Exceedingly abundant on pleasant
evenings near our camp at Grand Rapids, Saskatchewan River.
{.\nttiiig.) Few birds are better known in the Northwest Terri-
tories than this, which ranges in summer to the Arctic islands.
It makes its appearance at Great Bear Lake generally about the
last of May, and was observed hatching on the Saskatchewan on
the 8th June. {Richardson.) North to Lapierre's House on the
Mackenzie River ; rather rare. {Ross.) A few straggling birds
have been observed in the far north but I never came across its
nest except on the Clearwater River near Fort McMurray in June,
1873. {Mac/arlane.) Seen along the Athabasca River from the
mouth of LesseK Slave River to the Clearwater River, Lat. 56° 40',
also on Methye Portage and from Methye Lake to Isle a la
Crosse. {J.M. xMacomt.) Vancouver Island and throughout British
Columbia. {Lord.) Abundant summer resident in the interior ;
breeds. {Stre tor.) East of Coast Range ; a summer resident.
{Fannin.) Summer resident at ChiUiwack ; tolerably common.
All the specimens taken belong to the typical form and not to
Itenryi. {Brooks.) Abundant in all interior localities of British
Columbia. {Rhoads.) From Caribou Crossing, Lat. 60°, B.C., to
Tatchun River, Lat. 62" 20', near Rink Rapids, Yukon River.
The specimens were slightly darker than virginiatius from the east.
{Bishop.)
Breeding Notes.— A common summer resident, though it does
not appear to be as common as it was fifteen years ago. It lays
its two eggs, without any nest, on rocks, in a disused stone quarry,
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIKDS.
32;
or even on land that has recently been burnt over, (/^a^ C. I
Young,) All the nests taken at Ottawa, Ont.. were on the Kmuncl
or on the gravel on the flat roofs of houses in the city. Eggs two
of apaleol.ve buff, thickly mottled and daubed with varied tints of
darker gray slate or even blackish. {G.R. White) On August ist,
1883, whde m the eastern sand hills with Miller Christy, we found
the two young of a nighthawk sitting on the bare ground in the
open. They seemed about thre. days old. On the tips of their
beaks were st.ll the hard white with which they are furnished to
aid them m ch.pp.ng the shell. The old shells were lying around
the nest, as ,s the case with the Pooccetcs, and but for these I
should have passed by the young ones, as they had squatced close
to the ground and shut their eyes, for the blackness and brilliancv
of these would almost certainly have betrayed them. I gently
ouched one of them, whereupon it crouched down more closely
to he ground ; but its companion, rising up, hissed with open
beak and snapped savagely at my fingers. On being further
teased they ran off, exactly in the manner of young ducks, with
outstretched wmgs and with neck and body at an angle of aq
degrees. After running a few feet they shopped, squatted as
be ore, and closed their eyes. This they repeated several times,
but at best they only made little progress, and each time on being
overtaken the bold one was always ready to fight. This proved
to be a male ; the sex of the other was not ascertained, but pro-
bably It was a female. At this age the middle claw is not pecti-
nated. {Thompson-Seton) The eggs of the nighthawk (a^;-^.^7«
vtrgmtanus)^^,^ several times f.und on the bare ground among
the sand hdls, on the north side of the Souris, near Plum Creek
with no approach to a nest for the helpless young. The parent'
b.rds endeavoured to draw us away from their eggs, fluttered as
If wounded a short distance from them, and uttering cries of dis-
tress. {Hind)
MUSEUM SPKCIMENS.
Two ; both taken at Ottawa, Ont., by Mr. G. R. White.
One set of two eggs taken from roof of house, 374 Gilmour st.,
Ottawa, Ont., June 12th, 1895, by Mr. R. H. H. Hunter. Another
set of two taken on bare rock in the township of Metheun
Peterboro' Co., Ont., by Mr. J. Keele, June 3rd, 1899.
?ll
saS
GEOLOOICAL SURVKV OK CANADA.
420a. Western Nighthawk.
Chordiilcs virf^i-.ionus hiiiryi (Cass.) Couks. 1S72.
On June 7th, 1892, two were observed at Indian Head, Assa.,
and by the lOth they were common. 1 have seen them s,tt.n« on
poplar trees by the shore of Dee,, Lake, ten miles fr..m Ind.an
H.-ad. in the daytime. Very abniulant all summer; breeds in
the vicinity. First seen in 1894 at Medicine Hat, June 3rd ; also
at Wood Mountain, June lOth. 1895; afterwards it was common
and in lar-.^ numbers at Frenchman's River and Cypress H.lis.
near Cvpress Lake ; it is a common species in the pra.r.e region
and was seen along Milk River. St. Mary's River and Lee s Creek,
■It Cirdston, Alta. This form was abimdant on the International
Boundary, between Trail and Cascade. H.C.. in the summer of
,00^ Rather rare and breeding at Banff, Rocky Mounta.ns ;
heard occasionally at Deer Park, Lower Arrow Lake. B.C. m
Tune 1890. Breeding in numbers on the rocks 700 feet above the
Columbia at Robson, B.C., and west of Pass Creek. Brcn-drng on
bare rocks without any sign of a nest, l-.gs^ two. The bud olten
flies in the diytime. All specimens observed m the mountains
are referred here. C.Miimon at Sicamous. Kamloops and
Spence's Bridge. Observed at Chilliwack, B.C., and up the r.ver
as far as Huck's ; a summer resident on Vancouver Is and ; one
seen on June llth at Victoria, and first seen at Comox, June 15th ;
on August I8th, 1893. sa v a fJock of at least 200 at Sooke ; they
appeared to be going southward. {Spreadborough) I have found
this bird nesting throughout Assiniboia and Alberta laymg its
twoe<.gs on the ground in the poplar bluffs. {WRame.) A
summ^^- resident in British Columbia ; breeds on the mamland
and Vancouver Island. {Fannin.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Nine ; one taken at Indian Head, Assa. ; one at Robson. Col-
umbia River. B.C.; one at Banff. Rocky Mountams ; tour at
Trail, B.C.. and two at Kamloops, B.C. ; all by Mr. Spreadborough
One set of eggs taken at Robson, Columbia River, B.C., June 22nd,
1890, by Prof. Macoun. Another set of two taken at Atlin Lake.
B.C., June 25th, 1900, by VV. H. Boyd.
420c. Bennett's Nighthawk.
Clwrdeilcs virghuaM.-s -. 'nctti {Co\}V^.) Bishop. 1896. ,
Treeless region of tr.e G, - t P' uas from the Saskatchewan
southward to Texas. {S^t VIl/. u. the A. 0. U. Chcck-hst.)
ii
CATALOOUK OF CANADIAN lUKDS.
329
Our specimens have not been taken «,n tin.- treeless plains and
though some of the references under C. virfriniauus may refer to
this form we have no specimens of it.
Family XXXVI. MICROPODIDiE. Suins.
CLV. CYPSELOIDES Sikkuhkl. 1.S4S.
422. Black Swift.
Cypscloidis niffcrhonnlh (Kknnkki.v) I)ki;\\| 1.S85.
Sumas, British Columbia. (iMrd.) A mifjrant in British Col-
umbia, {lumnin.) Al.undant summer resident. {Brooks) Ob-
served a nrnber at Chilliwack. B.C., June 2nd. 1902 ; seen at
Agassiz. B.C., May 19th. 1889; first seen at Como.x. Vancouver
Island. June 15th. 1S93, also at Nanaimo ; only seen for a few
days durinjr mifjration. (Sprcadboyouo;li.)
First seen at Lulu Island May 25th. and more seen on the '5th
mifjratin^- leisurely. Frequently seen in great flocks on the
Thompson and over the lakes near Ashcroft. On the ;th of
June, my notes report " 2,000 hovering low about a small lake,"
the only chance I had to secure specimens. They remained there
all that day, but were gone the next day. Occasional flocks
appeared at Clinton. Lac la Hache. Ashcroft and Kamloops until
June I2th. They were ayain seen at Vernon June 22nd. At no
time did they appear singly or in detached pairs. {Rlioads)
Strphkns. 1825.
182:
CLVI. CHiETURA
423. Chimney Swift.
C/uet/im pela<rict7 {Li^ti.) .Steph. .o^jj.
One shot in 1863 'i<-^ar .Sukkertop, Greenland. {Arct Man.)
Apparently rare in Newfoundland, at least at Cow Head. {Reeks.)
An abundant summer resident in Nova Scotia. {Downs.) Baddeck
aid Marg;ne. , Cape Breton Island. July. 1898. Seen near
Lrackley Point, Prince Edward Island ; not common June 23rd.
1888. {Macoun.) Rather rare and not often seen in Prince
Edward Island. It usually nests in hollow trees. Not rare at
Baddeck, Cape Breton Island. {Dzvig/it.) A common sum-
mer resident in New Brunswick. ^Chamberlain.) A common
summer resident and breeds at Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B.
(/f. //. Jlfoore.) Common in the Restigouche valley, N.B. ; nest-
i:!i
f "
I '
m
330
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
\
m
I
\ns on trees. (Brmin & Cox.) Common summer resident m
Quebec (Dionne.) Numerous about GrenviUe and throughout
the valley of the Rouge, Argenteuil Co., Que., 1856. {nUrban.)
Summer'resident at Montreal; abundant; breeds m the city,
attaching their nests against the i.side walls of chimneys.
{Wintle.)
An abundant summer resident, breeding in immense numbers
in the great chimnevs of the Parliament buildings. Early in
May they begin to ar;ive and by the end of the month they con-
gregate in thousands and late in the evening begin to descend in
a constarc spiral stream in a large chimney in the western b ock.
In the ^rst week in February, 1883, a chimney swift came down
a chimney in the house of Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, Assistant
Director of the Geological Survey. It was caught and
examined by him and remained alive for several days. A
similar instance in known to have occurred in Toronto. {Ottawa
Naturalist. Vol. V.) Abundant in Muskoka and Parry Sound
districts (/. H. Flenmig) A common summer resident through-
out western Ontario. {W. E. Saunders.) Common in Algonquin
Park, Ont. Some nesting in a chimney at Cache Lake and others
in hollow trees. {Spreadborough.) Nesting on the ins.de wall of
an outbuilding near the railway station at Aylmer, Ont. {A. G.
Kingston.) , ,■ •
A tolerably common summer resident in Manitoba, but dimin-
ishing westward. {Thompson-Scton.) Common at Pembina Lat.
40° and traced tnence westward only to the Mouse (Souris) Ruer.
(Coues) A few seen at Indian Head, Assa., in June, 1892. Two
individuals seen at Edmonton, Alta., May 17th, 1897. {^prcad-
borough.)
Vol V of The Ottatva Naturalist, pp. 89-104, contains a very
complete description of the Ottawa colony of chimney swifts by
Mr. A. G. Kingston. The whole article should be read by those
interested in this bird.
Breeding Notes.— Verv common in summer, a few birds re-
maining until the end of September. It usually arrives from the
ttrd to the 6th May. Its curious nest of sticks, glued together,
fs well known. This is often placed in a disused chimney against
the woodwork of an empty house, and such like positions. {Rev.
C J. Young.) Nest composed of small twigs of nearly uniform
size, which are interwoven into a neat semi-circular basket. Each
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAH BIRDS.
331
twig IS firmly fastened to its fellow by saliva secreted by the bird
Kggs five, pure white. {G.R.White.) The nest of this species is"
occasionally found against the inner walls of outhouses and more
rarely in hollow trees in the woods, its former nesting place
{W. E. Saunders.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Three ; two taken at Ottawa by Mr. Herring, and one pur-
chased with the Holman collection in 1885.
One set of four eggs taken near Scarboro, Ont., June 20th,
1898. The nest was in an old disused chimney. Nest taken bv
Mr. W. Raine. ' ^
424. Vaux's Swift.
Chatum vmixii (Towns.) DeKay. 1844.
Only seen at Sumas, British Columbia. {Lord) East and west
of the Coast Range, but not to my knowledge occurring on
Vancouver Island. {Famiiii) Summer resident at Chilliwack •
common. {Brooks.) Seen above the station at Revelstoke, B.C ,'
May I2th, 1890. Rather common towards the end of May;' com-
mon at Deer Park, Lower Arrow Lake, and at Pass Creek near
Robson, Columbia River. Seen at Kamloops and Sicamou^ and
on Mount Queest, Gold Range, B.C., at an altitude of 6,000 feet
Always flying very high ; common at Trail, near the Interna-
tional Boundary, for a few days in the spring of 1902 ; com-
mon at Chilliwack and along that river to Chilliwack Lake
B.C., June, 1901; seen for the first at Comox, Vancouver
Island, June i6th, 1893 ; after this they became common •
1 believe; they breed in the vicinity. {Spreadborongh.) Arrived
April nth at Nisqually and May 13th at Coldstream, Vancouver
Island, where it was an abundant migrant, associating at times
yNMhC.mger. Seen at Lac la Hache, B.C.. July ist. {Rhoads.)
MUSEUM SPECIMEN.
One specimen taken at Trail, B.C., near the International
Boundary, May 29th, 1902, by Mr. Spreadborough.
Family XXXVII. TROCHILIDiE. Humming-birds.
CLVII. TROCHILUS Linn^us. 1758.
428. Ruby-throated Humming-bird.
Trochilits cobibriy Linn. 1758.
A single individual, a male, was seen within tour feet of me
July 17th, 1882, on the hill top (825 feet elevation) back of the
o
?! I
332
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Ill
station at Davis Inlet ; Audubon states that few were seen by him
in Labrador. {Packard.) An abundant summer visitor in Nova
Scotia Comes when the red maple is in bloom. (Doivm.)
Rather common at Baddeck and other parts of Cape Breton Island,
August 1898. {Macoiin.) Not observed but undoubtedly occurs on
Prince Edward Island. Mr. Earle showed me a stuffed specimen.
{Dwight.) An occasional summer resident at St. John, N.B.
iCIiambsrlain.) Summer resident, but not common ; breeds at
Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B. {W.H.Moore.) Taken at Beau-
port ; a common summer resident in Quebec. {Dto?me.) been
from May 27th to August 12th, 1858, in A-genteuil Co., Que.
(D'Urban.) Summer resident at Montreal; common. Breeds in
the city gardens and in Mount Royal Park, but their nests are not
often found on account of their diminutiveness. On their arriva
in Montreal in spring the flowers of the wild gooseberry and
lilac bushes are their favorite resorts and later on they frequent
horse-chestnut blossoms, wild columbine and cultivated flowers.
(Wintle.) , ,
Common summer resident at Ottawa. A nest with two fresh
eggs was taken July 12th, 1890, by Messrs. W. E. & F. A. Saunders.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Plentiful during migration in Mus-
koka and Parry Sound districts. At Emsdale, the males arrive
soon after the 15th of May, the females a few days later ; I think
some go further north but a great many remain to breed. (/. H.
Fleming) Not common in Algonquin Park, Ont., only three
observed from May 25th to June 17th, 1500. {Spreadborough)
Common at Kew Beach, Toronto. Several pairs visit my garden
everv summer and feed on the flowers of the nasturtiums and
scarlet-runners. {W.Raine.) This species is a common sunimer
resident around Winnipeg and westward in diminishing numbers.
Macoun took it at the head of Lake Winnipegoosis, Aug. i6th,
i88i (Thompsoii-Scto),.) We obtained specimens of this species
on the plains of the Saskatchewan, and Mr. Drummond found one
of its nests near the source of the Athabasca River. This nest
was composed principally of the down of the anemone, bound
together with a few stalks of moss and bits of lichen. It ranges
in summer as far north as Lat. 57° and may go even further.
(RicJiardson.) . „ ,
Breeding Notes.— Generally distributed in Ontario. Breeds
commonly about the middle of June. One nest I saw was on the
outermost branch of a beech. The eggs were destroyed by black-
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 333
birds and the nest torn down on July 12th. Another nest was on
a dead limb of a small hemlock. The nest, like the wood-pewee's
IS built on the upper side of the limb. {Rev. C.J. Young ) A nest
taken at Ottawa was built on a horizontal branch of a tree It
was built of gray lichen lined with soft plant down. Eags two
pure white, blushed with pink. {G. R. White.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Two ; one taken at Ottawa, the other at Toronto, Ont , by Mr
S. Herring.
One set of two eggs taken at Toronto, June loth, 1891, by Mr
W. Raine. Nest in the fork of an apple tree. Another nest taken
near Ottawa in the fork of a plum-tree ; built of the usual gray
lichen, {Parmelia saxatilis). •
429. Black-chinned Humming-bird.
Trochilus alexatidri Bourc. & Muls.
Confined to the mainland ; on both slopes of the Coast Range
(^Fanmn.) Summer resident at ChiUiwack ; not common. {Brooks)
This species was found in some abundance at Agassiz B C in
May, 1889, and a few at Spence's Bridge, B.C., on the mountain
back from the bridge. {Spreadborough)
museum SPECIMEN.
One specimen ; taken at Agassiz, B.C., May 13th, 1889, by Mr
Spreadborough.
CLVIII. SELASPHORUS Swainson. 1831.
433. Rufous Humming-bird.
Selasphoriis rufus (Gmel.) Swains. 1831.
This species was discovered at Nootka Sound by Captain Cook
and 1 have before me one of the identical specimens. {Richardson^
This species is a summer resident at Sitka and beyond, thus
occurring far along the coast of the North Pacific. {Nelson)
Tolerably common in the more open clearings about Sitka, Alaska,
and along the quiet shores of the secluded inlets. A nest with
eggs nearly hatched was found on June loth. It was five feet
from the ground on a horizontal branch of a fir tree (Grinnein
334
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
H
Common on Vancouver Island and throughout British Columbia.
{Lord.) Moderately common everywhere in British Columbia.
( Streator) West of the Coast Range ; an abundant summer resi-
dent ; the only one to my knowledge on Vancouver Island
{Famlin^ Common summer resident at Chilliwack. {Brooks.)
This was a common species at Banff, Rocky Mountains, Alta.,
during the season of 1891, breeding in numbers on the lower
branches of the spruce, especially about Vermillion Lakes.
Observed several in the Crow's Nest Pass in August, 1897 ; first
seen at Revelstoke, B.C., April 30th, 1890, after that date became
very common, still very numerous on May 30th, feeding on rasp-
berry bushes ; only occasionally seen at Deer Park and Robson
on the Columbia River, in June, 1890 , quite common on Mount
Oueest, Gold Range, B.C., at an altitude of 6,500 feet, in August.
r889 ; not uncommon at Waterton Lake, Alta., at the eastern
base of the Rocky Mountains in July, 1895 ; a few seen at
Chilliwack and McGuire's ranch, Chilliwack River, B.C., June.
1901 ; a few seen near the International Boundary between Trail
and Cascade ; very abundant along Murphy Creek trail, just north
of Rossland. in Julv, 1902. First seen at Victoria, Vancouver Island,
April 22nd, 1893. and common by the 25th. At this date they were
feeding in great number? on the wild gooseberry, {Ribes divan-
catum). A summer resident throughout the island. {Sprcad-
boroueh ) Incredibly numerous on the coast during April migra-
tions ; nesting at Nisqually while night frosts still lingered and
mercury averaged 45° to 50° during the day. Scarcely less com-
mon in many parts of the interior districts and found on the sum-
mits of the highest mountains, including the Rockies ; nests with
eggs nearly hatched found April i8th, 1892. {Rhoads.) On June
15th 1893,1 found this species to be common along Vermillion
Lakes at Banff, Rocky Mountains. Three specimens were shot
and a nest was found containing two eggs. The nest was attached
to the branch of a spruce tree seven feet from the ground.
{W. Raifie.) Mr. T. W. Hanmore, who has been stationed at
Tyonck, Cook's Inlet, Alaska, for eleven years, says that he has
seen humming-birds there several times. {Osgood.) One specimen
seen on P:agle Island, Lynn Canal, and one at Glacier, above
Skagway, and a nest with two eggs taken. One was seen at
West Arm of Lake Bennet about Lat. 60°., B.C., on June 24th.
1899. (Bishop.)
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
335
Twenty-five ; one taken at Banff, Rocky Mountains ; fifteen at
Revelstoke, B.C. ; two at Spence's Bridge, B.C. ; one at Burrard
Inlet, B.C. ; and four at Victoria, Vancouver Island, all by Mr.
Spreadborough.
One set of two eggs taken at Banff, June 13th, 1893, by Mr. VV.
Raine. xNest attached to the end of a limb of a spruce tree about
fifteen feet from the ground.
434. Allen's Humming-bird.
Selaiplioriis alleiii Hensh. 1877.
Eastern Coast Range and Rocky Mountain districts. {Fannin)
One specimen shot about six miles up Eagl- Pass, west from
Revelstoke, B.C., May 25th, 1890; next day another specimen
was taken at Revelstoke ; not uncommon at Sicamous. B.C., in
July, 1889. {Spreadboroti.-li.)
MUSEUM specimens.
Two ; taken in Eagle Pass and at Revelstoke, B.C., by Mr.
Spreadborough.
CLIX. STELLULA Gould. 1861.
43B. Calliope Humming-bird.
Stelbila calliope Gould 1861.
.Summit of Rocky Mountains ; alt. 7,000 feet. {Lord.) East
and west of Coast Range. {Fannin.) Common at the Crow's
Nest Pass, Alta., in August, 1897 ; breeding in considerable
numbers at Banff, Rocky Mountains, in June and July, 1891 ;
while camped at Deer Park, Lower Arrow Lake, Columbia River'.
B.C., in the early part of June, 1890, I took seven specimens and
they were so abundant that many others could have been taken.
They were not observed examining flowers bu. were seen perching
on small trees and chasing small flies and returning again to their
perch just as small flycatchers do. p-arther down the river at
Robson this species was quite rare. In May, 1889, 't was not
uncommon at Spence's Bridge, at an altitude of 3,500 feet, and a
number were taken ; saw a number in a marsh in Depot Creek,
east side of Chiliiwack Lake, B.C., July, 1901. Observed at Trai '
and Cascade, B.C., near the International Boundary, in the sum-
336
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
mer of 1902. {Spreadborough.) A very few small " hummers "
frequenting the interior anJ southern Rocky Mountain, districts,
B.C., were probably 5. calliope. {Rhoads.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Five ; two taken at Banff, Rocky Mountains ; two at Deer
Park, Columbia River, B.C. ; and one at Spence's Bridge, B.C., all
by Mr. Spreadborough.
One set of two eggs taken at Elka Station, on the Crow's Nest
Pass Railway, B.C., June, 1900, by Mr. J. Keele. The nest differs
from that of the rufous humming-bird in being smaller and having
less lichen on the outside. It was fastened to the small iwigs of
a dead branch of a spruce tree.
Order PASSERES. Perching Birds.
Family XXXVIII. TYRANNIDiE. Tyrant Flycatchers.
CLX. MUSCIVORA Lacepede.
442. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.
Muscivoraforficata. (Gmel.) Oberholser. 1901.
The swallow-tailed flycatcher {Miiscivora forjicata) is such a
characteristically southern bird that its accidental occurrence in
Manitoba is worthy of note. Last January I was shown a splendid
specimen taken at Portage la Prairie by Mr. Nash. He found it
lying dead on the prairie on the 20th October, 1884. Its
stomach was empty and the bird very emaciated, although in fine
plumage. On the previous night there was a sharp frost. In
addition to this record, I quote the following rather startling
statement from the report on the Hudson Bay, by Professor Bell,
of the Canadian Geological Survey, 1882. " But the most singular
discovery in regard to geographical distribution is the finding of
the scissor-tail, or swallow-tailed flycatcher (Miiscivora forficatd)
at York Factory, Hudson Bay. The specimen in the Government
Museum was shot at York Factory in the summer of 1880, and I
have learned since that these remarkable birds were occasionally
seen at the posts of the Hudson Bay Company, all the way west
to the valley of the Mackenzie River." (Thompsoft-Seto?i .)
On July 9th, 1899, the writer was out in the country about 26
miles north of Winnipeg, and being out for a walk about 5:30
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
337
a.m. noticed a bird with an enormous tail (about twelve inches
long) sitting on a bare limb of a poplar tree about loo yards from
me. On closer inspection I found it to be opening and closing
its tail. I am quite sure it was a scissor-tailed flycatcher. (Z.
Osborne Scott in Ottazva Naturalist, Vol. XIII, p. 195.) The speci-
men taken by Mr. C. W. Nash in Manitoba and referred to above
is now in the collection of Mr. J. H. Fleming in Toronto.
MUSEUM SPECIMEN.
One specimen taken at York Factory, Hudson Bay, and pre-
sented to the museum by Dr. R. Bell.
CLXI. TYRANNUS Cuvier. 1799.
444. King-bird.
Tyranniis tyrannus (Linn.) Jordan. 1884.
Audubon (Vol. I., p. 207) found it breeding in Labrador.
{Packard.) A common summer resident in Newfoundland.
{Reeks.) Common summer resident in Nova Scotia, but rare at
Halifax. {Dozvns.) A common summer resident at Sydney,
Cape Breton Island, N.B. {C. R. Hartc.) Fairly abundant from
the middle of May to the middle of September at Wolfville, N.S.
{H. Tufts.) Not rare at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton
Island, July, 1898 ; breeding and rather common at Brackley
Point, Prince Edv.'ard Island, 1888. {Macoun.) Rather common
on Prince Edward Island, 1892. {Dzvight.) An abundant summer
resident in Ntw Brunswick. {Chamberlain.) Observed only at
Point du Chene, in New Brunswick. {Bretbster.) Common sum-
mer resident at Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B. {W. H. Moore.)
Seen only in the neighbourhood of houses ; very rare in the valley
of the Restigouche, N.B. {Brittain & Cox.)
Only ( ne specimen seen on the Magdalen Islands. {Bishop.)
Taken at Beauport ; a common summer resident in Quebec-
{Dio/ute.) Quite common at Bevin's Lake and Hamilton's farm,
River Rouge, Argenteuil Co., Que. {H Urban.) Common summer
resident in the Montreal district. (// intle.)
Common summer resident in the Ottawa district ; breeds
abandantly. {Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Abundant in the set-
tled districts as a summer resident in the Muskoka and Parry
Sound districts. (/. H. Fleming) Common everywhere along
the shores of the lakes in Algonquin Park, Ont. A pair nested
i lltl
• 'i^i
338
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
in a canoe birch overhanging the water near the buildings at Cache
Lake. Other birds were nesting near them but were not inter-
fered with. On the other hand they allowed no intruders around
their tree and sat peacefully on the tree or caught flies when
necessary in the immediate vicinity. {Spreadborough.)
An extremely numerous summer rrsident wherever there are
trees throughout Manitoba. {Thompson-Seton) First observed
at Indian Head, Assa., May 27th, 1892 ; after which they became
common and a steady stream was seen flying north on June 2nd ;
very abundant all summer, breeding in great numbers ; in the
summers of 1894 and 1895 this species was found in profusion
throughout the whole prairie region, and every piece of brush or
patch of rose bushes from Moose Jaw to the Rocky Mountains
had one or more nests ; only two pairs were seen at Banff, Rocky
Mountains in the summer of 1891 ; quite common at Revelstoke,
B.C., and at Deer Park, Lower Arrow Lake, and at Robson in
June', 1890 ; common at Trail and Cascade, B.C„ in the summer of
1902 ; it was found more or less common all the way to the
Pacific coast in 1889 ; common at Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring
of 1901 ; more seen in the autumn. First seen at Edmonton, Alta.,
on May 17th, 1897, common by the 19th. June lOth found a nest
in a willow about 12 feet from the ground, with three fresh eggs.
Nest composed of weeds lined with grass and horse hair. Com-
mon in the foothills southwest of Calgary in July. {Spreadborough)
One specimen seen at Grand Rapids of the Athabasca. A few
birds seen at north end of Methye Portage, Lat. 56°. A few
specimens between Methye Lake and Isle a la Crosse. {J. M.
Macoim.) Common at the Grand Rapids of the Saskatchewan and
Chemawawin. (^Nutting.) This well known bird is common on the
banks of the Saskatchewan, and ranges in summer to Lat. 57°,
or beyond it. {Richardson.) North to Fort Simpson on the
Mackenzie River ; rare. {Ross) Vancouver Island and throughout
British Columbia. {Lord) Abundant in the interior and decreasing
in numbers towards the coast. {Streator) East and west of
the Coast Range ; more common on the mainland ; a summer
resident. {Fannin) Common summer resident at Chilliwack.
{Brooks) Abundant in the interior of British Columbia. {Rhoads)
Breeding Notes.— Common everywhere in Ontario. Its nest
is sometimes found as late as the middle of July with fresh eggs.
{Riv. C. J. Young) I examined a nest of this bird June 30th,
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
339
1880, which was built in a thorn bush in Mount Royal Park It
contained younglings covered with white down. Observed from
May 4th to August 22nd. {IVwtlc.) Nest found on Duck Island
near Ottawa, Ont., 1st July, 1S97, in a low bush, was composed of
fibrous roots and dried vegetable substances, lined with f^ne grass-
eggs four, creamy white, spotted and blotched with reddish and dark
brown spots. {G.KWhite.) On July 21st. 1882, down by the
slough in a low bush, found a king-bird's nest. It was just com-
pleted and contained no eggs yet. The king and his wife made
more fuss over my intrusion than most birds would have done had
the nest been full of young ones. Further on I found another
nest of this species. It was placed on the top of a stub, about"
eight feet high. The bird flew off. The nest was made of roots
and fine fibres and contained four eggs. One of them m-asured
I'A by 5/8 ; it was creamy white, with a few clear spots of brown
and lavender, inclined to form a wreath about the large end • the
others were simi 'ar; all were quite fresh. ( Thompsov-Seton ) ' The
king-bird breeds in the low scrubby oak trees which cover the sand-
hill in western Manitoba.building, like the shrike, a nest consisting
largely of the stalks of a species of Gnaphallum. After the young
are able to fly they often live around the settler's houses on the
open pr iirie, but about the end of August they all leave. {Christy )
h-xtr.mely numerous at Pembina, where many nests were taken after
the middle of June, and traced westward as far as the survey
progressed that year. One of the nests (No. 3062) was placed on a
rail fence, in the crotch formed by a post. In the Missouri region
It was equally abunda:.t from Fort Buford to near the headwaters'
of the Milk River. Many nests containing two to four eggs were
taken the latt, " '-,ne and early in July. One of these was
particularly inte, ...owing that the summer warbler is not
the only species th.: " - of the obnoxious eggs of the cow-
b.rd by building a se. story to trte nest and thus leaving the
alien eggs to addle in the basement below. A nest taken near
frenchman's River containing two eggs seemed to be a curiously
built affair, and on examining it closely I found the wrong eg-
embedded in its substance below the others (No. 4185 ) The
king-bird is not so much attached to woodland as has been sup-
posed. I saw great numbers whilst travelling by rail on the
prairies of Minnesota and Dakota, where it seemed to be as much
at uome as anywhere. All things considered, it may be rated as
one of the most abundant and generally diffused species of the
*: : \
340
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
whole rt-gion under consideration. (Corn's.) The nests of this
species are usually built in an apple tree in some orchard, and are
constructed of dried grasses, weed stems, wool and hair. Wool is
the most conspicuous article used in building. One nest observed
was within three feet of the ground, being situated in a small
apple tree and was plainly exposed, there being nothing whatever
to conceal it. {W. H. Moore.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Eleven; one purchased with the Holman collection in 1885;
three taken at Ottawa, two of these by Prof. Macoun and one by M r.
F A. Saunders ; one taken -it Carberry, Man., by Mr. Thompson-
Seton ; two at Medicine Hat. Assa., two at Banff, Rocky Moun-
tains, one at Deer Park, B.C., and another at Kamloops, B.C., all
bv Mr. Spreadborough. ^ „ d-
■ Four sets of eggs. One set of four eggs, taken on Gull River.
Minden, Ont., June l6th, 1896, by Mr. A. E. Barlow; one set ot
four taken on Gull River, Minden, Ont., June 14th, 1894, by Mr
A. A. Cole. Nest in an alder three inches above the water of
Gull River. One set of three, taken in a wild rose bush, at Crane-
Lake, Assa., June 12th, 1894; by Prof. Macoun. One set of three,
taken at Edmonton, Alta., June lOth, 1897, by Mr. Spread-
borough.
445. Gray King-bird.
Tyrannus dominiccnsis (Gmel.) Richardson. 1837.
One specimen taken at Cape Beale (west coast of Vancouver
Island, September 29th, 1889, by Miss Cox, and presented to the
museum at Victoria. {Fannin?)
447. Arkansas King-bird.
Tyrannus verticalis Say. 1823.
Two specimens of this species, an adult and one in first plumage,
were taken bv Mr. D. Losh Thorpe at Souris coalfields,
August 20th, 1891, a little west of Manitoba. {Thompson-Seto>. )
Observed at Old Wives' Creek, Assa., its most eastern limit as far
as my observation goes, on May 26th, 1895 ; also at Medicine Hat,
Assa., in Mav, 1894 ; nesting both at Medicine Hat and Crane
I ake ; quite'common at Castellated Rocks, near the West Butte,
on Milk River, in Julv, 1895, and westward to the Rocky Moun-
tains ; breeding in great numbers in soutnern Alberta ; one pair
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
341
seen on the Columbia River, about eight miles below Deer Park,
H.C., June l8th, 1890 ; not rare at Trail and Cascade. B.C., in the
summer of igo2 ; taken at Sicamous, Kamloops and Agassi/, in
1889. One pair seen at Chilliwa' k, B.C., May 27th, 1901. {Spread-
borough.) This species finds its northern limit in British Columbia
a few miles south of Clinton. It ranges east in the breeding season
to the Selkirk Mountains. I did not find it on the coast. (Rlioads)
Vancouver Island and throughout British Columbia. {Lord.) Not
common on the coast, but more abundant in the interior.
{Streator.) East and west of Coast Range, but chiefly on the
mainland; found breeding at Ashcroft. {I annin.) Summer
resident ; tolerably common at Chillivvack. {Brooks.)
Brkhding Notes.— In the Red River region T. carolineitsis alone
represents the genus ; but throughout the Upper Missouri and
Milk River country the two are found together, and it is hard to
say which is the most numerous. They have much the same
general habits and often associate intimately together ; indeed, I,
have known one tree to contain nests of both species. The cries
of vcrticalis are louder and harsher, with less of a sibilant
quality, than those of the king-bi--' ; but there is little else to note
as different. The nests of the verticalis are bulky and conspicu-
ous, all the more easily found because the bird has a way of leaving
the general woods of the river bottom to go up to the ravines
that make down from the hillsides, and there nest on some isolated
tree, miles away, perhaps, from any landmark. Taking nests of
both species at the same time, I found that those of verticalis
were generally distinguishable by their larger size and softer make,
with less fibrous and more fluffy material ; but the eggs, if mixed
together, could not be separated with any certainty. The sets of
eggs taken during the latter part of June consisted of from three to
six. Eggs were found as late as the second week of July. The
nests were placed in trees at a height of from five or six to forty
or fifty feet, generally in the crotch of a horizontal limb, at some
distance from the main trunk ; but in one case a nest was placed
in the crotch which the first large bough made with the trunk. In
one case a pair of the flycatchers built in the same tree that con-
tained the nest of Swainson's buzzard, and both kinds of birds
were incubating at peace with each other, if not with all the world,
when I came along to disturb them. In another one they nested
with a pair of king-birds. The birds display admirable courage in
348 OKOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
(leffnsi: of tht-ir homes, losinj,' in tluir anxiety all sense of clanger
to themselves. (Cotu's.)
MUSKUM Sl'KClMKNS.
Sixteen ; one taken at Old Wives' Creek, Assa.; ei^ht at Medi-
cine Hat, Assa.; one at Knderby, H.C.; one at Spence's Hridjje,
B.C. ; and three at Afrassiz, H.C. ; all by Mr. Spreadborough.
CI.XII. MYIARCHUS Cahanis. 1S44.
4.52. Crested Ply catcher.
Mvianhus crinitits {Xa-h^.) Licht. 1S54.
Have observed this species at Scotch Lake, York Co., N.H,, in
Auifust ; thev seemed to be migrating in families. {\V. If.
Moon-.) Taken near Woodstock, N.iV, by Mr. I'urdie in 187S.
(^Chamberlain.) Rare summer resident in woods near Quebec.
(Dio/i/ie.) Coiiimon summer resident in the district of Montreal.
(Wiutle.)
A common summer resident in the Ottawa district. {Ottaiva
Natitralht, Vol. V.) Reported as common at Beaumaris on May
12th, 1898, by Mr. Tavernier ; I believe it will be found distri-
buted over both Muskoka and Parry Sound districts in summer.
(././/. Fleming.) A common summer resident at London and in
Bruce Co., Ont. {\V. E. Saiimlcrs.)
A very rare summer resident of thick woods in Manitoba and
northwest to Lake Winnipegoosis where Macoun shot it in l88i;
there are also three specimens in the Museum at Winnipeg taken
by Hine. {Tliompson-Seton.)
Brkeding Notes.— One of those birds that within the last
fifteen years are certainly becoming commoner in Ontario. They
are numerous in the vicinity of Kingston and on Wolfe Island.
A curious breeding habit is the use of snake skins in the nest,
which is always placed in the hole of a tree. I never saw a nest
without pieces of snake skin. They commence to lay about the
1st of June, and are by no means rare now, 1901. {Rev. C.J.
Yoiifig.) This large flycatcher has the peculiar habit of placing
around the edge of its nest the cast-off skin of a snake, which is
probably done to protect its nest from squirrels taking possession
of the hollow wherein the nest is built, as, no doubt, the sight of
a snake's skin coiled up would scare that little animal away. I
CATALOGUK OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
343
havi- shot s|)cciimns of this spocics in tht- months of May and
AuKUst and noticed the phinia^rc very fmv in thi- lattc-r niOnth
Observed from May Sth to August 28th. {m;,f/r.) Kound this
spi-cifs nesting at Kice Lake, Ont., June i6th, 1902. {IV. Raine.)
Nests (|uitefre(iuently at Ottawa. Ont. Nest is generally built in a
hole in tree about ten f(;et or more from the ground, where a large
branch has been blown off. The nest is composed of straw,
leaves, rootlets and vegetable matter, lined with feathers and
pieces of snake skin. Kggs. four to five, light buffy brown,
streaked lengthwise by lines and markings of purplish and dark
brown. A nest found on May 2nd had the young half-irrown
(6'. A'. White) ^
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Four ; one purchased with the Holman collection in 1885; two
taken at Ottawa, and one at Helleville, Ont., by the writer.
One set of eggs taken near Toronto. Ont., Mav 25th. 1895, by
Mr. W. Raine. Nest in a hole in a poplar 15 feet from the
ground.
CLXIII. SAYORNIS Honapartk. 1854.
45(s. Phoebe.
Sayornis phocbc (Lath.) Stkjn. 1885.
A summer migrant in Newfoundland but not common. {Reeks)
One pair seen near Dominion Mine. Sydney. Cape Breton
Island, N.S., August 30th, 1901. {C. R. Hartc) A common
summer resitlent in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain) A rare
spring migrant at .Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B. {W. H. Moore)
An irregular summer visitor at Beauport. Que. {Dioune) A com-
mon summer resident at Montreal. Breeds in Mount Royal
Park. Nests with eggs found from RL-iy 17th to June 9th
Observed from April 3rd to October 8th. {lVi,a/e.) Common
summer resident in the Ottawa district ; usually building its nest
close to houses or on the verandah. {Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
Abundant summer resident in Muskoka and Parry .Sound districts.
(/. H. Fleming) One specimen observed at Dog Lake, northern
Ontario, May 30th. 1896. {Spreadborough) Very common every-
where m Ontario and one of the first arrivals in spring, when the
weather is still cold. {Rev. C.J. Young) Rare summer resident
m Manitoba, one or two pairs seen each season ; usually nests
'H
' I
1.1 ij
' 8!
344
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
under bridges at Winnipeg ; tolerably common (apparently .") as
far west as Qu'Appelle. (See Thompson-Seton, p. 560.) Spread-
borough spent a summer at Indian Head, about 10 miles south ot
Ou'Appelle, and never saw or heard one and I am led to believe
that the pair noted at Qu'Appelle and at Oak Point, Lake Mani-
toba, was Contopiis vires and not Sayornis pha'be as the observe r
thought. {Macoun.) Apparently not common at the Grand
R-ipids of the Saskatchewan; only one specimen secured.
(Nutting.) A pair had a nest beneath the wharf at Norway House,
Keewatin, and several more nests were observed on June 28th as
we were passing through Hell Gate. The nests were placed on
the cliffs overhanging the water. {Prebles.)
First saw one April 19th, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta., next on
May 7th, nesting under a bridge, nest built of weeds and moss
lined with grass and horse hair, rather bulky. On June 2nd
found a nest with f^ve eggs in a coal-shed. {Spreadborough) Hrst
noticed at Athabasca Landing May 23rd, 1888. The commonest
bird up the Athabasca to Lesser Slave River. Eggs had been
incubated about a week on June ist. Common up the Clearwater
River about Lat. 56° 30', and not rare on Methye Portage; com-
n,dn bet." n Methye lake and Isle a la Crosse. (/. M. Macoun.)
Brfeding NOTES.-Nest found 21st June at Lac des Isles
built on the end of a fallen tree overhanging the water, composed
of mud, grass and moss, lined with f^ne grass and feathers ; eggs,
five, white. {G. R. White)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Four ; two taken at Ottawa by the writer ; one at Toronto by
Mr S Herring; and one at London, Ont., by Mr. W. E. Saunders.
One set of four eggs taken at Port Hope, Ont., April 20th,
IQOO by M N. H. Meeking. Nest of grass, wool, moss, hair,
bark' and various soft material, placed under a projecting bank ot
a creek 2"^ feet from the water.
457. Say's Phoebe.
Sayornis saya (Bonap.) Baird. 1858.
One specimen was observed at Indian Head, Assa., on May 20th,
1892, which was the only one seen; not uncommon at Medicine
Hat and Crane Lake. Assa,, June, 1894; at Crane Lake a pair
built a nest on the verandah of the farm house ]ust as the phcebe
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
345
dcHs in the east, and another pair built their nest on a pole passin-r
through the horse corall ; in June, 1895, a pair was observed in the
"Bad ..ands" south of Wood Mountain; and westward in the
Milk River valley they were quite numerous, breeding on the
ledges in the cliffs ; a pair was seen at Banff, Rocky Mountains,
Alta., in 1891 ; a few individuals seen at Edmonton, Alta , in'
May, 1897 ; not rare in the foot-hills from Calgary to Crow's
Nest Pass, not uncommon at Sicamous, Kam loops, and Spence's
Bridge, B.C., 1889 ; only two specimens seen on Stubb's
Island, Barclay Sound, Vancouver Island, August 25th 1893
{Spreadborotigh.) One individual appeared at Carlton House on
the 13th May, when it settled on a low garden fence, flitting from
place to place when disturbed ; it was soon obtained and a female
was shot afterwards. (Richardson) North to Fort Simpson on
the Mackenzie River ; rare. {Ross.) Several specimens of this
bird were brought to me from Fort Reliance, on the Upper
Yukon, in Lat. 66°. {Nelson.) This species was noted at Glacier
in the White Pass, on the mountain side at Bennett, at Fort Selkirk
at Stewart River, at Charlie River, Yukon district; and at Circle
City, in Alaska, in 1899. {Bishop.) British Columbia. {Lord.) Com-
mon in the interior ; abundant during the migrations. {Streator)
East and west of Coast Range ; but chiefly on the mainland •
summer resident. {Fannin) Rare migrant at Chilliwack. {Brooks)
Not common ; same distribution as Tyrannus vcrticalis. {Rhoads)
Breeding Notes.— Nests quite commonly in Assiniboia, build-
ing Its nest on rafters in barns and laying four white eggs {\V
Rainc) May 27, 1894, at Medicine Hat, found nest in the unfin-
ished Industrial School. The nest was very compact, composed
of f^ne grass, weeds, wool, cotton and a few feathers. p:ggs, five,
pink before being blown, white afterwards. ySprcadboroiiirh)
■A- .'
la
,1'-
1 1
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Four ; three taken at Medicine Hat, Assa., and one at]Edmon-
ton, Alta., June 2nd, 1897.
Three sets of eggs of five each. One taken at Medicine Hat,
As?a., May 27th, 1895 ; the other taken at Edmonton, Alta., June
2nd, 1897, both by Mr. Spreadborough ; one at Fort Saskatchewan
Alta., taken by Mr. John Callaghan, May 3rd, i898.iiNest made
of roots and moss, lined with feathers and built in a stable.
346
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
I
CLXIV. CONTOPUS Cabanis. 1855.
459. Olive-sided Flycatcher.
Contopns borcalh (Swains.) Baird. 1858.
One shot at Nenortatik, Greenland, 2gth August, 1840, and
sent to Copenhagen. {Arct. Man.) Audubon, Vol. I., p. 252,
records it from the coast of Labrador. {Packard.) One observed
on Moose River near Moose Factory, James Bay, June 4th, 1896
{Sprcadborough.) A common summer resident in Nova Scotia
{Doiviis.) Rather common at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape
Breton Island, N.S.;, July, 1898; breeding in woods at Brackley
Point, Prince Edward Island, July, 1888. {Macoiin.) One speci-
men was observed at Souris, Prince Edward Island. Prof. P^arle
was familiar with it. {Dwight.) A common summer resident in
New Brunswick. {Chamberlain.) Summer resident at Scotch
Lake, York Co., N.B.; but not common ; members of the same
family keep together when going south. {W.H.Moore.) Com-
mon in the Restigouche valley, N.B, {Brittain & Cox.) A single
specimen noted at Plaster Cove, Cape Breton Island on June 23rd.
{Bre^vster.) Common summer resident in Quebec. {Dionne.) A
scarce summer resident at Montreal. Breeds in Mount Royal
Park ; arrives about May 8th and leaves about August 20th.
( Wintle)
A summer resident in the Ottawa district, but rare. (Ottatoa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Rare at Toronto ; but common in Muskoka
and Parry Sound districts. In the spring of 1894 I found this
flycatcher not uncommon in the country between Kearney and
Sand Lake ; they frequented the tops of the very tallest dead
trees. {J.H.Fleming.) Quite an uncommon bird at Toronto. I
took one on August 17th, 1897, and saw one during the past fall
(1900) ; two were taken at Port Credit, 27th August, 1894, by Mr.
Massey ; I have seen three or four other specimens durintj- the
last four or five years. (/. Hughes-Samuel) A very rare sum-
mer migr.i It near London. Ont., but a common breeder in
North Bruce. {W. E. Saunders.) Abundant and breeding every-
where in swamps in Algonquin Park, Ont., June, 1900. {Spread-
borough.) Observed but once, on July 4th, 19OO, in a swamp bor-
dering Trout River, between Oxford House and Knee Lake,
Keewatin, {Prcbles.)
A common summer resilient of woodlands throughout northern
Manitoba. On July 26th, 1883, in the tamarac swamp beyond
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
347
he spruce bush I noticed a very noisy flycatcher; its note was
loud and Its habits were much like those of the great crested
flycatcher. After some trouble, for it was very shv, and kept
chiefly among the topmost branches of certain dead trees I suc-
ceeded m getting it. It proved to be a male olive-sided flvcatcher-
length seven inches; stomach full of flies. {rhompson-Scton.) One
specimen seen at Indian Head, Assa., 1892. Not observed anv-
where in the prairie region, but common at Banff, Rocky Moun-
tains, Alta., m 1891, where it was breeding in numbers ; in the
spring of 1890 It was common at Revelstoke and west to Eaele
Pass where they were breeding; this species was also common at
Deer Park, Lower Arrow Lake; and Robson, Columbia River
where they had young ; common on the International Boundary
between Trail and Cascade, 1902 ; this species was seen at various
points in B.C.; at Sicamous and Spence's Bridge high up on the
mountains in 1889; observed, one at Chilliwack, B.C Tune cth
one at McGuire's ranch June i6th ; also one at Deer RicL'
August loth, 1901 ; a summer resident throughout Vancouver
island ; in burnt forest quite common. {Spreadborough.) Only
one specimen of this species was procured. It was shot on the
banks of the Saskatchewan as it was flying near the ground.
{Richardson.) North to Fort Resolution on Great Slave Lake •
rare. {Ross.) One specimen shot on Athabasca River a short
distance above Grand Rapids, June, 1888. (/. M. Macoun)
A single specimen of this bird was brought to me from
the lower Yukon in Lat. 63", and is the only instance of its
capture on record in Alaska. {Nelson) A specimen from Fort
Kenai, Cook's Inlet, is in the National Museum at Washington
It IS an adult male taken by Bischoff May 26th, 1869. {Osgood.)
At Six-mile River I took a female of this species and heard it at
Bennett and shot one, but not found at Carribou Crossing B C
about Lat. 60°. {Bis/iop.) British Columbia. {Lord) A
not uncommon and generally distributed summer resident
{S^reator.) East and west of Coast Range; a common summer
resident. {Fanmn.) Summer resident at Chilliwack ; not com-
mon. {Brooks.) Breeding at high altitudes in the east Coast
Kange and Rocky Mountain districts of B.C. {Rhoads.)
Breeding NoTES.-Rare in the counties of Leeds, Renfrew
etc. In the county of Leeds I twice identified this bird As this
was in the summer, it may occasionally breed, as it is reported to
9
: :g;|
348
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
ll'
do on Mount Royal near Montreal. (Rev. C.J. Ym„g.) On June
20th .893 at L""8 Lake, Manitoba, I found a nest and two egg
o° thi bi d The nest was like a large wood pewee's and saddle,
:!, to the limb of a tree eight fee. from the ground. (W. Ra.ne.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Six • three taken at Banff, Rocky Mountains, one at Revel-
stoke ' BC one at ChiUiwack, B.C., and one at V.ctona, Van-
couver Island, all by Mr. Spreadborough.
Two sets of three eggs each, both taken at Wolfvdk, N.S , by
Mr H Tufts. One was taken on June 6th, 1898. ^^e nest was
on a sp eading horizontal branch of a spruce 25 feet from he
g ouncrrnd ab'out three feet from the .-unk. ^^w- composed o
twigs and small vines with rootlets. The othei was taken June
mh 1894 It was on a spreading fir limb about 30 feet from the
ground The nest was composed of twigs lined w.th grass.
461. Wood Pewee.
Contopus virens (Linn.) Cab. 1855.
A , u v<.l T n ^xx records it (probably erroneously) from
T t" ir^ptw) I - incli^^ believe that this is the
b^rcUha M Reeks nan.^ Sayorm. pkccbc and also the same that
Mr Turner referred to and that Mr. Packard is in error m referr-
ing it to Co?itopus richardsonii. {Macowi) , cu . •
Common summer resident in Nova Scotia (/;.«...) Shot m
RrackTv Point woods. Prince Edward Island, August 22nd, 1888.
::m::rSe:" iXw i^runswick^ (^'-—''n B 'S
common summer residentat Scotch Lake Yoik Co., N.B. iNests
buUton horizontal linrbs from ,0 to 5c feet rom the S-"""^ j/^^J^;
Moored Heard in the vai.ey »< 'J- Res ,gou h . «•» (/|...;»
avCox') Summer resident in Quebec. K ^''"'"■>
merTesident around Montreal ; breeds .n Moun' Royal Park.
{Winile.) fu . nnawT district (Oitawa Na-
,„STi'Tri'::n";o:Vre:d'i:n;c;:rin Mi,skoka and
lumlisl, VOL v.; f/cmijiF.) Rather rare in Algon-
Parry Sound cstr^c. </^f ^^-;;J,^ ,,,„ ,„ .„,„ ,„onths in
T^'tfr^:L°,% A tolerably common summer resident of
1
I
t
I
b
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 349
Zrtt 'r^' 1"'''7 °f/^'"-P^g- but more abundant to the
north. ir/ionrpoH-Se^o,,.) Only noticed at Pembina (Lat 40°)
which ,s probably at or near its northwestern limit. (Coues.)
Breeding Notes.- Quite common in beech and maple groves
•n the county of Leeds, Ont.. and around Kingston. ! LZ rl-
quently seen the nest, sometimes as late as July iqth usually o!i
the upper s.de of a bough of a beech tree, bit occastnTy on
^nly two Tr' Trr '^r i'"^ '^^' '"^ ^ "^^^' several times
only two. iR,v. C.J. Young.) Mr. A. C. McKeand found a nest
Rovn'l P^?'l"' ^^"^^-^'"'"^ th--^*^ ^gg^ June 26th, 1885, in Mount
Roya Park ; the nest was attached to the fork of a small hori-
zontal branch o a tree growing on the top of the mountain The
nes of th.s b.rd is a difficult one to discover as it is generaUy
bu.lt upon a thick horizontal branch. ^Wintle) Thif "ped ^
breeds at Kew Beach, Toronto. It seldom' lays more than tee
eggs m a beautifully built nest, externally covered with pieces of
h^en^after the manner of the ruby-throated hummingbfrd (^
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Four; two taken at Ottawa and one near Toronto by Mr S
bo'ough.' "' ''"'" '" Algonquin Park. Ont., by Mr. Spread^
Two sets of three eggs each ; one taken near Ottawa in Tune
1892, by Mr. A. G. Kingston; and one at Toronto by Mr I pirke
July loth, 1897. The latter nest was lined outside with lichens and
inside consisted of hair, roots, S:c.
4ti2. Western Wood Pewee.
Contopus richardsonii (Swains.) Baird, 1858.
T t"'';'''°"vl°'\^- 1^' 2^°' ''^'^^ that he found it breeding in
Labrador. {Packard.) A tolerably common summer resident n
woods and bluffs. This species commonly frequen s the op n
woods and willow thickets while .W seems' to keep to 'he
iSaJat'l ; "\^'?r• ^^^--^-^^'^-O First obieVedn
h?, K . .f" "^'''^^';^-''^-»" May 26th ; a few were seen after
Ro ky^Mn -; """'• 'T""^ ^^""°" • ^"'^^ — - ^t Banff
Rocky Mountains, .n the summer of 1891 ; quite common and
breeding m low woods at Revelstoke, B.C., Deer Park Lowe
A^rc^ake and Pass Creek. Columbia River, B.C pJ^'^Zi;:
f'fl
350
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
placed on the limb of a spruce tree in the tork of the branch ;
tolerably common throughout British Columbia from Revelstoke
westward on the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway to
Sicamous, Spence's Bridge and Agassiz ; common everywhere
near the International Boundary between Trail and Cascade,
B.C., in 1902. Seen at Chilliwack, B.C. ; also at McGuire's
ranch on the Chilliwack River, June, igoi ; first seen near
Victoria, Vancouver Island. May 19th, 1893 ; a common sumtr.-
resident ; saw them later in the season at Comox. {Spn : .
borough) This species was found in the neighbourhood of Cul
berland House, on the Saskatchewan, frequenting moist, shady
woods by the banks of the rivers and lakes. It probably extends
its summer range to the shores of Great Slave Lake. {Richardson.)
Onefemalesecured July 1st, 1898, at Point Barrow, Alaska. {Witincr
Stone.) North to Fort Simpson, on the Mackenzie River ; rare.
. {Ross.) British Columbia. {Lord.) Not common on the coast
but abundant in the interior ; breeds. {Streator.) A common
summer resident east and west of the Coast Range. {Famti/t.)
Common summer resident at Chilliwack. {Brooks.) Not abun-
dant but represented in all localities visited in British Columbia.
{Rhoads.) Specimens were taken at Haines Mission and Skagway,
Lynn Canal. In the Yukon valley, from Windy Island, Lake
Tagish to Little Salmon. It was more common at Miles Canon
than elsewhere on the Yukon, and here I found an unfinished
nest which resembled that of richardsonii, in the fork of a dead
poplar about 10 feet from the ground. It was also seen 12 miles
above Circle City, Alaska. {Bishop.) This form has been
named " Alaska Wood Pewee."
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Fourteen ; two taken at Indian Head, Assa. ; one at Banff,
Rocky Mountains ; one at Revelstoke, B.C. ; one at Deer Park,
Columbia River ; one at Enderby, B.C. ; one at Agassiz, B.C. ;
one at Trail, B.C., 1902 ; three at Chilliwack, B.C. ; and two at
Victoria, Vancouver Island.
CLXV. EMPIDONAX Cabanis. 1855.
463. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.
Empidonax flaviventris Baird. 1858.
Two received from Godthaab in Greenland in 1853. {Arct.
Man) Apparently a common summer migrant in Newfoundland.
s
a
fc
m
R
•
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 351
(Rcrh) Two specimens were seen on the Humber River New-
foundland, on August 15th. 1899. (L. H. Porter.) A comJo^,
summer resident in Nova Scotia {Dowps\ fZi '^°"^"io»
dense woods at Wolfvil.e, N.S., duriigTe Lm- ' l^Z^)
{cZmerlaL Z7" '"""'''' ''''^^''' '" ^^^ Brunswick,
ed^roftr^ Rather common at Ellis Bay, Anticosti. about the
edges o the woods. {Brezvster.) I noticed this bird on the Ma^-
bo rd tt"sf '" ^'T' '"' °" *'^ ^^*' J""^ °^ '^^' yearone came on
board the steamer I was on, when off the Gaspe coast. I have not
nd" brred?^7';- if ^^'^-^T^ ^°'""^^" ^' ^^^^ ''^^^
and breeds (/. J/. Macoun) Taken at Beauport • a common
:eTd"::;::t :"M"t^"M-- •^'^^''^''^•^ a ratheLca'rce suZ:
Secies hSreve^rfn 'T ' '^^^ "^^ ^^""^' '-^ "^^ ^^ ^his
(mZe ) A ^ ' "^^ ''"^^ ''^"'"' specimens of the bird.
{I a^e.) A rare summer resident in the Ottawa district • a nest
ivaturahst Vol. V.) A common and widely distributed soecies
breed.ng m Muskoka and Parry Sound distrLs. uSfZZ)
spmg and fa 1 migrations ; while here they are very shy On
appearances. (/. Hughes-Samuel) Not observed to breed near
London, Ont., but Dr. P. J. Scott found a nest near Southalrn
I have not seen it in the Bruce peninsula. ^W. E. SaunZTlZ'
mr'^SSrsh*'; T''^"^'^ '" Manitoba. ^ Duck Mo^TaL, /un^
ikl''che'bic^' it^'^'^n ''^'T -"^--''y "ttering a note
T\u u u ' ^^^ ^" °''^'' °^ a greenish colour, but yellow
on he bel y ; .t answers fairly well to the description of ^i'l
ventns. but is very like an Acadian shot yesterday ; eviden iV the
species ,s breeding here. (Tkon^pson-SeL) Onfy on pe^^^^^^^^^^
at the Grand Rapids of the Saskatchewan. {Nutting.) ^
fou^'nd'a'eTt ^.^^.^-^^.M^^ ^3;d, i893,at Oak Lake, Manitoba,
lounci a nest of this species with four eges It w;,<; hnJK- ^
^U., .h,.ee fee. fron, .,e ,rou,K, in f Jwa^pr.lick^e'' "Iw.
■ MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
One ; taken at Ottawa, Ont., by the writer
One set of four eggs taken at Black River, Nova Scotia Tune
I7th, 1901. by Mr. H. Tufts. Nest on the gr;und at the tse of
" I
352
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
a small alder, overhanging a small stream; built of grasses, roots
and fibres.
464. Western Flycatcher.
Eiitpiihmax cUfficilis V>MV.\^ 1858.
This species was found abundant at Agassiz, B.C., in May, 1889;
a nest was taken that was placed on a rocky ledge in a cool
retired place not far from a farm house ; it was also common at
Port Heney and Hastings, Burrard Inlet ; taken at Chilliwack
and McGuire's ranch, B.C., June, igoi ; f^rst seen at Victoria,
Vancouver Island, April 26th, 1893 ; soon after they became
common ; they were also abundant at Nanaimo, Comox, Sooke
and Stubbs Island, Barclay Sound. {Sprcadborough.) Rather
common but shy and difficult to secure ; two males were taken at
Cumshewa Inlet, Queen Charlotte Islands. {Osgood.) A single
specimen taken by Dr. Bean on June 5th, 1880, at Sitka is
the only record of its capture in Alaska, but as others were
seen it is doubtless a summer resident. {Nc/so/i.) Common
throughout the deep forests which border the streams near
Sitka, Alaska. A female was taken June 30th, which contained
an egg ready to be laid. {Grime//.) Common in the coast region
and more so in the interior; breeds. {Strcator.) A common sum-
mer resident east and west of Coast Range. {Faimin.) Common
summer resident at Chilliwack. {Brooks.) Mr. Streator says that
this species while " common in the coast region is more so in the
interior." Not only is this disproved by the specimens taken by
him but by mv own skins, all of which came from west of the Coast
Range. {R/ioads.) Common at the Grand Rapids of the Saskat-
chewan in the dead timber of the muskeg. Three specimens
secured. {Nutting:) Surely these specimens \\e\-G flaviveidris.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS
Twelve ; one taken at Agassiz, B.C.; one at Port Heney, B.C.;
three at Chilliwack, B.C.; and seven on Vancouver Island at Vic
toria, Nanaimo and Comox, all by Mr. Spreadborough.
One set of four eggs taken at Agassi^/, May 14th, 1S89, by
Prof. Macoun. Nest placed on a ledge with rock overhanging it
built of mosses and lined with hair and feathers.
353
CATALOG'. t<: OF CANADJAN BIRDS.
400. Traill's Flycatcher.
Hmpidonax traillii {KxiXi.) Baikd. 1858.
I found this species common at I'cMiibina, like minimus., durintr
the first week in June, but did not observe it later than the gtli
ot that month. {Corns.) Summer resident in woodlands, breed-
.ns freely ,n the northern part of the province of Manitoba
{I hompson-Scton.) A few were seen at Indian Head, Assa on
June 6th, 1892, after this they became common and nested in' the
woods at Deep Lake; not uncommon at Old Wives' Creek Assa
ui May 1895; a pair was shot on the 25th of May; quite common
at Banff, Rocky Mountains, and breedin^r freelv in 1891; common
at Revelstokeand Deer Park, B.C., in June, 1890 ; taken at Kam-
loops. B.C. in June, 1889, and at Sicamous, Enderbv and
bpences Bridge; and also at Chillivvack and McGuire's 'ranch
B.C., June, igoi ; in 1902 they were seen at Trail, B.C.; common'
on Vancouver Island in 1893, when specimens were taken
{Spreadhorough) North to Fort Resolution on Great Slave Lake;
but rare. {Ross) Little is known resftecting the habits of this
bird. It was first seen by us at Carlton House, on the .Saskatche-
wan, on the 19th May, flitting about for a few days among low
bushes on the banks of the river, after which it retired to the
moist, shady woods lying to the north. {Richardson) North to
Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie River ; rare. { oss) A single
male of this wide-spread little species was brought to me from
Nulato in the spring of 1878, and a second specimen was secured
atSt.Michael the same season. {Nelson) A summer resident
at Chilliwack. {Brooi's.) Much more common in the interior than
on the coast of British Columbia ; breeds. We places// Mr Rhoads'
specimens collected at Ashcroft, Lake la Hache, Vernon and
Lulu Island, though named by him E. pnsillus, under this species.
{Streator) Very common at Chemawawin, Saskatchewan
especially in the trees bordering a slough, where thev seemed to
'have excellent hunting. They perched on the lowest branches
and bushes, and evidently lived on the insects flying over the
water. None were secured at Grand Rapids, where it is replaced
by minimus. {Nutting:)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Twelve ; one taken at Indian Head, Assa.; one at Old Wives'
Creek, Assa.; two at Banff, Rocky Mountains; two at Kamloops,
I
I !
354
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
B.C.; three at Chilliwack, B.C.; three at Victoria and Comox. Van-
couver Island, all by Mr. Spreadbdroujrh.
486a. Alder Flycatcher.
Empidonax traillii alnorum Brewst. 1H95.
Not a very common summer mif^rant in Newfoundland ; fre-
quents woods in the neighbourhood of houses. (^Rceks) A
rather common summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Aw/m.) Com-
mon in margins of woods at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton
Island, Julv, 1898 ; one taken at Mount Stewart. Prince Edward
Island. Julv nth, 1888. i^Maconn.) A few seen at Tignish, Prmce
Edward Island, in their favourite haunts, the alders. {Dtinght.)
An uncommon summer resident in New Brunswick. {Chamber-
lain) A tolerablv common summer resident at Scotch Lake,
York Co., N.B. {W. H. Moore) Taken at Beauport ; a summer
resident in Quebec. {Dionne.) A scarce summer resident in the
Montreal cli'^trict ; breeds in Mount Royal Park, where I have
found their nests with eggs from June 19th to July 30th, for several
years past. {IVititle) A common summer resident in the Ottawa
district. {Ottatva Naturalist, Vol V.) Rather rare near London,
but more common to the north and east. {W. E. Saunders) Not
common in Algonquin Park, Ont. ; only a few seen on the
Madawaska River below Cache Lake. {Spreadborough) I took
a male at Emsdale in Muskoka, on May 29th, 1899. Mr. Kay has
taken the nest of this species at Port Sydney, in the same district.
(/ H Fleming) One specimen taken and others seen at Lesser
Slave River, Athabasca, May 23rd, 1888. U-M.Macoun) First
seen May 26th, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta. ; common by June 2nd.
It is always found in the clumps of willow and alder and never m
heavy timber. {Spreadborough) Flycatchers referred io alnonim,
were several times observed by us at Norway House, Keewatui,
but we were unable to secure one. {Prebles) We first found this
species at Fort Selkirk, where the Pelly and Lewes unite to form
the Yukon, in Lat. 62^ 50', and hardly lost it again until we
reached Circle city ; later I heard one 15 miles below Fort Yukon,
Alaska, August 21st, 1899. {Bishop)
Breeding Notes.— The variety recently called the "alder
flycatcher" is the species usually met with along the St. Lawrence
and northward. I would observe that this name is very appro-
priate. I have commonly met with the bird in moist, low situa-
I
2
n
C
CATALOGUK OK CANADIAN BIRDS. 355
tions. where alder, willow atul Spinea abound. The nest I have
seen several times ; three near Renfrew, Ont., that I found were
two or three feet above the jjround ; one in a wild currant bush
another m the thick bushy part of a willow, and the third in
Sptraa Also near Lansdowne, Ont., I found the nest in SpircBU
in an identical locality, the middle of June. The e^f^s are three
or tour, and are distinctly spotted with brick red. The bird, when
near its nest, is wary and hard to observe. {Rev. C.J. Vounir)
Breeds in Mount Royal Park, where I have found their nests with
eggs from June 19th to July 30th for several years past. This
flycatcher is a very shy bird to approach when on its nest
during the term of laying the eggs, but will sit close wh. hatch-
ing them. 1 have always found their nests built in a thin thorn
bush or light undergrowth wood, from a few inches to about two
feet above the ground, and generally within sight from a foot-
path on the mountain. Observed here from May 24th to July
30th. I think this species migrates south in the month of August
ai I never met with it in the autumn. {IVintle.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Two ; one taken at Ottawa in May, 1888, bv Prof. Macoun •
another by J. M. Macoun near Little Slave River, Athabasca, and'
labelled '' tfmliu approaching aluorum" is placed here.
Two sets of four eggs each taken at Ottawa, one by Dr. James
Fletcher. May 24th, 1880. the other by Mr. A. J. Kingston.
407. Least Flycatcher.
Einpidonax minimus Bai r d. 1858.
Audubon, Vol. I., p. 23;, found it nesting in Labrador ; obtained
by Drex ler at Moose Factory, James Bay, August, i860.
Kyackard.) A rare summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks)
Common along Moose River to James Bay at Moose Factory,
June.1896. {Spreadborough) A common summer migrant in Nova
Scotia. iDozcHs.) Not uncommon at Baddeck, Cape Breton
Island. {F. H. Alleu) Union Road, Prince Edward Island, July
2ist. 1888. {Macotin.) A cheerful series of - che-bies " greeted
me one morning at Souris. P.E.L; no others were seen. (Dwig/a)
A rare summer resident near St. John, N.B. {Chamberlain^
Common summer resident at Scotch Lake. York Co., N B
(r/ . H. Moore) Common in the Restigouche valley, N.B ' {Brit-
tlll
356
GEOLOGICAI. SURVKV OH CANADA.
tain I'r Cox.) Taki-n at (iodhoiil Kivor ; a rathi-r rare smiimcr
migrant at Qu«'l)i'c, {Dioniic.) A scarci' summer rcsidt-nt in the
Montreal district ; breeds on the islanti of Montreal. {Wintlc.)
A common summer resident in the Ottawa district. {Otttiuii
Natin-niist, Vol. V.) The most alnuulant of the small tl\-catchers
in the Muskoka and I'arry .Sound districts. (./. //. I'lanini^r) Very
abundant everywhere in Al^ontjuin I'ark, Ont., Jul>-, icjoo.
{Spnadhoroiigli.) A nest containing well-incubated eggs was col-
lected near the south end of O.xford Lake, Keewatin, on the
morning of June 30th, the female bird was taken with the eggs.
{Pnhhs.)
Very abundant at I'embina and west to Turtle Mountain, in
Lat. 49°, beyond which it was not seen. (Cones.) A very abun-
dant summer resident of open grovt-s extending its r;inge through-
out the wooded part of the province of Manitoba. {T/ioinpson-
Scto/i.) Common at the Grand Rapids of the Saskatchewan.
{Niitiiiig.) First seen at Indian Head, Assa., May 27th, 1892,
later they became fairly common and bred in numbers in the
vicinity of Deep Lake ; collected at Medicine Hat and Crane
Lake, Assa., in June, 1894; abundant on Old Wives' Creek, Assa.,
at its mouth. May 24th, 1895 ; this species was seen all the way
up Old Wives' Creek and at Wood Mountain Post ; a small fl>-
catcher was seen at Farwell Creek, Cypress Hills, Assa., which
may have been this species ; taken at Canmore, Alta., within the
Rocky Mountains, but replaced at Banff by Wright's flycatcher.
First seen at Edmonton, Alta., May 12th, 1897, common next
day ; in the foothills southwest of Calgary common in July.
{Sprcalboroiigh.) North to Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie;
common. (Ross.)
Breeding Notes.— A bird almost resembling the last, but a
trifle smaller. It breeds commonly in the counties of Leetls and
Renfrew, selecting a very different locality from trai7/u for its
nest. It is a familiar bird, frequenting orchards and the vicinity
of houses, as well as the second growth woods. The nests I
have seen resemble a redstart's and were built in the crotch of
a maple and of apple trees. They contained four yellowish
white eggs which were laid about the end of May, about two weeks
earlier than the last. {Rev. C.J. Young.) I found it common on
my arrival, the ist of June, and during that month secured a large
series of specimens, including many nests and eggs, the latter not
CATALOOUK OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 35,
until thf niiddlt. of thr muiuli 'ih . • •
ol ntst that ' ,; u T T '"^'';- ■ '"' '^•"" ''^^•^'■■-'-'•
'"-•i"^ incubation i L dos f i^"'' " """'• '""' '^^"^"^
sparrows. In „„. i„st 1 ">T /'' ^'""^' "' t''^' k'rounci
the- hi.-., fl.v. a.:^ ';;r^j r;:,^ ;;;::r'"': 'r'^ 'r'"^-
stooclutterinfraclisconsol.tennN tJ ""' "^ '-^^ach and
ciown into thi: crotch :;;;'';::.r ^ J ;r ;yr '!'!" '7^'^
composed of intertwined stri, rr ' the twi^s. It ,s
composed .veedv «: '^ j^^; ^"^ """■'' '"^^ "^" "'^-
plant-down, and' finished vv^ r ''^''■^■•" M"antit>' oi soft
..pon .he .i,L „r ehe c" The wnl ""'";: '"' """" ''"'"""''
large for the L o^2^ ^J^^T""'' T^"' '''^^' ''"'"y ''
top; and abou. as wide as dee, .■ ■ " '"""•"-■"-•'' ■" '!"=
than f,.,„. eB,s, wh^'^: ;' 7„ J; ;;,:";:';'-« ■ I ■' "". more
are pure whi.e in enl, ^'7"°,?'- '"' '"" coniplemen.. These
-^ct),ann,:re^i: ^r "i -• ,f T .^^;;, dr'-'^^!^^ - jf
one-half in breadth. Fxtremes o ? . '" '^^"f-'^'^ ^y
0-68; thech-ameterisles -Sle ;^' ;"m^^ "^" °"55 ^^"'
r;:v;r -f=rti'-■"■:-
pure white. (G /^ ir/,,y,, \ i ^"*'' /°P^- ^^^ggs three or four.
Edmonton At. one in Vh T f"'"' '^^^' f°""^^ ^^^'° "^'^^s at
from the si-ou d" Ne f ^"''^ °^ ' ^"^^" P^P'^-" about two feet
n.st,four'e;;rtal ;:'r"TT":'.^"^''''^^-^'^^^
about 25 feet from 1 L I "'''"' '^^' '" ^ larger poplar
seven feet feet from the ground The T '^^ ^ ^r'""- ^^out
poplar about two feet h'om the" . . x'' '"'' '" " '^"'^""^
composed chiefi, of wiii::iris:::!.b^t J----
*.
I
358 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
I have found nests all the way from four to thirty feet from the
ground. ( Spreadboroiig h.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Eight ; two taken in Algonquin Park, Ont.; one at Indian
Head, Assa.; three at Old Wives' Creek, Assa.; one at Medicine
Hat, Assa.; and one at Canmorc within the Rocky Mountains, all
taken by Mr. Spreadborough.
Five sets of es^gs, three with four eggs each and two with three ;
all taken the first ten days of June, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta , by
Mr. Spreadborough.
468. Hammond's Flycatcher.
Empidonax hammondi (Xantus) Baird. 1858.
Reference is made to some eggs of this flycatcher, obtained
from " Anderson River" in Vol. H. of the Proc. of the U.S. Nat.
Mus. by the late Dr. Brewer of Boston, which I conclude were
sent to the Smithsonian by me. (Macfarlane.) Rather common ;
specimens from Ashcroft, Ducks, Mount Lehman, and New West-
minster, B.C. {Strcator.) Chiefly on the mainland; east and west of
Coast Range; common at New Westminster, B.C. {Fannin) This
species which appears to be the western representative of minimus
was only found in the Rocky Mountains where a single specimen
was secured in August, 1874. {Cones.) Taken on Lee's Creek,
near Cardston, southern Alberta, and at Waterton Lake, where
Dr. Coues obtained his specimen ; common at Trail, B.C., near
the International Boundary in the summer of 1902. June 1st
found a nest in a hemlock tre?, out on a slender branch about 16
feet from the ground. June 12th found another nest in a small
cedar tree about eight feet from the ground. Not uncommon
on Chilliwack River, B.C., in June, 1901. Saw one specimen
which I took to be this species on Mount Benson, near Nanaimo,
Vancouver Island, July loth, 1893. {Spreadborough.) Of uniform
distribution on mainland and islands, B.C., breeding wherever
found. {Rhoads.) I have the nest with three eggs and the parent
bird that were collected for me by Mr. Wenman at the base of
Moberly Peak, Rocky Mountains. The nest was built six feet
from the ground on a branch of a tree and the eggs are creamy
white, they were collected May 31st, 1902. {IV. Raine.) We saw
CATAIOGUE OF CANADIAN B1KD5.
11"^! ri "''^ T"" "' ^'-■"K"""' »"^' '^°"«ted three I took
about fifieen'^^i^r:,,^: «:,:;:'„ "«;,.:;::::::' c^^^^r::'."'
young one, July .9,1,. Fro™ that point .0 Charl,> Creel- i^ "
S,trr f ;rr; cir "srr :'- '^— ■-■■
(Bts/iop.) '''''' "^"^ '^^ "o "lore of it.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
ant M- r;::!;::,;,:^"' "•'^- "-" '~- '" '^^"""-^^ «c.,
Sp?e"a:,b::ough*'^ "'^" ■" '"'''■ "■'^- J"- '^"'. '^o^. by Mr
469. Wright's Flycatcher.
Emtndomx imiglitii Baikd. 1858.
Only two taken; a rare niigranf at Chilliwark Rr /z, , ■.
nstead of .,.,V«, „hi,h , expfcted to fi Tn ,h'e ^cklT '
tarns, th,s speeies was taken in that locality Three "
taken during the latter part of Aueus isllon Tl, , /P«'™'"^
Boundary in Lat. 49°. The bird d'o \les's'breei 1 "th' "''™''
Ro?ky Enir^: "I'-tit^iughTZh' ""T"''-- ''"'■'" •"=
.aken at Banff, twenty nril^fufL: ^^wlra'sr taT:
:ftar^:^f:fr.er^\v=tTe:;ia'^
Columbia River, and breeding there and at Deer Park tdZJ
iTT^fZ 'T: " ■■ ' "^^ "'" "-— -^."™ "ut
"■'-., in July, i«89 , and specimens were taken nt Wn *•
Burrai-d Inlet in Anrll isL • ^ Hastings,
«Hdge,B.c.i'„May^::ij:^;,r;EL;r" '•' -^^-"'^
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Fourteen; one taken at Canmore, three at Banff R i
Mountains; five at Revelstoke, B.C. on t Dee Park Bc"^
one at S.camous, B.C. ; two at Spence's Br d^e B C '
Hastings, Burrard Inlet ; all by Mr'.Spreadbo ough ' ' '"^ ^^
360 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Family XXXIX. ALAUDIDiE!. Larks.
CLXVI. ALAUDA Linn^;us. 1758.
47.3. Skylark.
A latida an>ettsis Linn. 1758.
Accidental in Greenland and Bermuda. {A. 0. U. Check-List.)
CLXVI L OTOCORIS Bonaparte. 1838.
474. Horned Lark.
Otocoris alpestrii, (Linn.) Bonap. 1838.
One shot at Godthaab in October, 1835, but known before to
occur on the other side of Davis Strait at Cape Wilson, loth July,
1822. {Arct. Matt.) Common summer resident in Labrador.
Breeds at the mouth of the KoKsoak River and at Rigolet.
{Packard.) Common and breeding on the rocky islar-ls of James
Bay from Moose Factory t( Richmond Gulf : not observed in the
interior of Labrador between Richmond Gulf and Ungava Bay in
1896. {Spreadboroiigh.) Greenland, Newfoundland, Labrador and
Hudson Bay, southward in winter into the United States. Our
bird breeds far north of the United States, about the shores of
Hudson Bay, Labrador and Newfoundland. Breeding birds have
been examined from Fort Chimo and Davis Inlet, Labrador ;
Penguin Island, Cape St. Mary, and Canada Bay, Newfoundland;
Moose Fort, James Bay ; non-breeding from Toronto and Rat
Portage, Lake of the Woods, Ontario ; also from Manitoba.
{Du'ight.) Common during the spring and autumn migrations,
in Nova Scotia. {Downs.) A winter resident at St. John, New
Brunswick. {ChambMain.) Taken at Beauport ; a migrant in
Quebec. {Diotme.) A transient visitant at Montreal ; scarce. I
shot five specimens of this species out of about a dozen found
feeding on th'^ river ice-roads in front of the city, April 8th,
1887, but since that time have not met with them, in the spring of
the year ; in the autumn only from Oct. 20— 26th. {Wintle.) The
horned larks of the Ottawa district were for the first time satis-
factorily . ^termined and distinguished in the spring of 1890.
This species arrived April 19th and remained together in flocks
till May 25th, when it departed ; it was again present in the fall
from September 26th to October 28th. {Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
Formerly common at Toronto ; Mr. Lamb of Toronto has a
specimen taken at Gravenhurst in Muskoka district. (/. H. Flem-
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIROS ^gj
observed belon/ec ,o ,hi a e X'/"-'' f " ."" ''""«' '"I"
flocks of shore lark" vi , Kc„ iS T '^ ■!°"'' T""=" '''«'^
occasionany ,.e,„ai„ a.K, "^^C^^JTZ^;":: !^T"
passi,,, in fro,,, of ,he window, lut^.tlZZ'^r''' ''f?'
front of my house I nut ., .. -f • i ^^"""8^ on the road in
.he f™,n r,oo;rHo.\i;::e\irw?:H:„:'^,f,r^ -rf '''^'°
boast of shootinff honierl hrl.« fr^., 1 ■ ^"^*^'^'^'^ff^- ^^w can
April Sth, ,^. Mr Znt'rT o ; :„; rr.^ of .heir ho.es.
a nest of ehe horned hrk h/h = rj ? ■ ""''' '""^ "« '«
and .he bird had ^'^.:^, alTio 7 h^r riTad rr^^l
nex. „,or„i„, and ^boT.tprn: w eh'rrotrbe XT '"",
no. pralicoa. .he esos like the hij, pro\ eu to be alpeslnsmd
oipratuola. Porfnoe Ontario M T ' ^'' ''■"■'•'" "'■■■" "'"^^
found a nest conta ,!« fou ^.f J^i' ' '?°°' "^'^ '^"'''"^
13th he found another set o th^e . ^ ''f'^f' ""'' "" '^P"'
found another set of fo, Is at, °" ''","' '*'"• '^°' l--^
collected at Port Hone ,r "^ P'""' These sets
fro,n an the ne: a^Xet,; rihl'nTh" '""f",'"" ""' '"■' ^^^^
urk collected b, „,e ou^o:r 'tii^^-^.f, Ef.rr
•ion Island. nea,'Daviss":;"j„,K. l^SrVt'T^U^^I"'
sonte cha,ac,ers of Z.^.W but is placed here' '" "'"
MUSEUM SPECIMENS
Two undoubted specimens of this sneci.-. ^.1 n ,
Bay by Mr A I> [ n,v • n i .. ^P^^^'^s taken on Hudson
above. ■ " • '"^' ^'^^^ ^^^° mentioned immediately
\im
I:
362
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Three sets of eggs. One of three taken at Great Whale River,
James Bay, June, 1899, by Mr. A. P. Low, one of three taken on an
island in James Bay, June i8th, 1896. by Mr. Spreadborough, and
one of four taken at Cape Prince of Wales, Hudson Strait, June,
1885, by Mr. F. F. Payne.
47 4«. Pallid Horned Lark-
Otocoris alpestris leucolcema (Coues) Stejn. 1882.
Alaska and western British America, southward in winter into'
the United States. A few breeding birds from the Saskatchewan
and Great Slave Lake region, though tinged with yellow on the
chin, are, on account of size and colours somewhat paler than al-
pestris referable to leucolcema ; so, too, are large dark birds with
white eyebrows and pale -yellow chins found in winter in the
upper Mississippi valley, coming as they doubtless do from an
intermediate region between Hudson's Bay and Alaska. Breeding
birds of these two races are few and limited mainly to those taken
on Government expeditions ; consequently I do not draw the
lines on the map as closely together as with some of the other
races better defined. Two young, in first plumage, taken on
the Arctic coast, east of the Anderson River, may be referred to
this race. While they are not as black and white as might be
expected in Alaskan birds, they lack the general yellowishness of
young alpestris from Newfoundland. In winter leucolama is found
as far south as the middle of the western United States, mostly
east of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Northwest coast speci-
mens indicate that a small-sized leucolcema may breed in the
mountains not far no. ch of the United States boundary, though
such birds may generally be referred to mcrrilli. A male in autumn
plumage, taken August 26th at Chief Mt. Lake, on our northern
boundary, Long. I I4°,W. suggests the possibility of this form breed-
ing also on the mountains at that point, or not far to the north.
It is not reported from Pt. Barrow, is rare at St. Michael, Alaska,
and is probably an interior race. Breeding birds have been ex-
amined'from Fort Yukon and St. Michael, Alaska ; Arctic Coast
east of Fort Anderson, also Horton River and Franklin Bay; from
Fort Reliance, Fort Resolution and Big Island, Great Slave Lake;
also from Saskatchewan region. Non-breeding from Chilliwack,
B.C. (Dzvight.) This very handsome lark arrives in the North-
west Territories along with the Lapland bunting, with which it
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
363
associates. It retires to the marshy and eastern wooded districts
to breed extenchng its range to the shores of the Ar^ c
to^Jett:f''^! ^'^^"^'^^"^ ^'-^^ ^^'-^ species ^p"";:
to be very rare. Two specimens were taken in the vicinitj^ of St
M.chael durmg my residence there, and three were secured on
the upper Yukon. All these were young males. It s much
more common on the upper Yukon in spring and summer Xn
along the shores of Behring Sea, where it c'an only b co,, te"
a very rare straggler. iNelson.) A single specimen of th^sbd
was brought to me by a native who said he had just kil ed it a
Kgg Is and a few miles from the village of St. Michael. iTurtr)
East o and .ncludmg the Coast Range ; I ha>-e taken i on the
summ.t. i^-nmn.) Common spring and autumn migrrt at
Ch.lhwack, B.C. iB.ooks.) This species arri^•es before the first o
Apr,l at Indian Head. Assa., but in what numbers it is ha to
determine as the form that remains to breed may be praHclla Z
rs I;t':^V"-^''■• .'^^-p-'-^^'- '- °"^ -n-tio^.t::tho
on April i2th, 1892, and on the same day I took a specimen o^
Kcvei.toke, B.C., where they appeared to be common ; in April
189I; specimens were taken at Banff, Rockv Mountains No
specimens that proved to be this form were taken in the autunfn
our specimens taken at Huntingdon on the boundary betvveen
Wash, ,„„ , , j3ritish Columbia, in September, 1901, provTd o
be this form. It is more than probable that Dr. D^Wghtl correct
when he says that this may breed on the mountains'nor h of the
Umted States boundary. iSprea,torou,k.) A careful reading o
Mr. Thompson-Seton's article on the horned lark in his " Bird^ o
e^l v" thisV;i/'''' ""^ ^'T ''^' ^^^'" ■" «-•" - - otbt-
edly this form. It ,s very probable that pratico/a is a later arrival
Nash says " that at Portage la Prairie/..//../, is a spring and a i
v.sitan ; stays nearly all winter; disappears and^reapp 1 a
.ntervals; arrn-c-s about March 20th, reappears in August and
departs in October." Now to me this is exacdy what a bifd b;eed
ng on the "barren grounds" would do. so I conclude hat t^is
form IS the one mentioned by Nash and included in prTo^X
Thompson-Seton. Two darker coloured specimen' taket a^
ndian Head, Ass... in September.1891. and named/..,v/by Bi hop
a.e p aced here. This is very likely the form that Dr R Be,^
found breeding at York Factory and Fort Churchill on Hudson
B.y iM.ro...) On May 29th. 1893, at Rush Lake, Assfn bo a
I
! (
ill
3^4
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
I found three nests containing eggs of this species. The
nests were bui'' in hollows in the ground, the brim of the nest
flush with the surrounding soil. Each nest contained four eggs
similar to those of the prairie horned lark. I secured two birds
which are easily distinguished from the prairie horned lark by
their paler form. {W.Raitu.) I believe this form \^2a arenicola,
as I have found it breeding everywhere on the prairie. {Macou?t.)
Breeding Notes. — Nine nests of this lark were received at
Fort Anderson— a 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 usually composed of fine hay neatly
disposed and lined with deer hair. Several of the parent birds
were secured by snares placed thereon. {Mac/ar/ane.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Six ; one taken at Indian Head, Assa., one at Revelstoke, B.C.,
and four at Huntington, on the International Boundary, in the
Fraser Rive*- valley, all by Mr. Spreadborough.
One set of three eggs taken June 9th, 1900, at Artillery Lake,
northeast r.f Great Slave Lake, by Bishop Lofthouse.
ilib. Prairie Horned Lark.
Otocoris alpestris praticola Hensh. 1884.
This bird is a rnxm^iwrtleticolcema, somewhat darker and with a
pale yellow chin which is seldom bright, and is often white.
Autumn birds seem to show more linear spots on the breast than
do the other forms, but this is not a constant feature. It seems
to have gradually extended its range eastward as the woods have
disappeared, and we can see why it should be nearer to leucolcstna
than to alpestris. However, as we go westward, we find a direct
gradation into arenicola and this race passes directly into leuco-
Icema. Now lencolcema passes into alpestris, and somewhere in
the Saskatchewan or Winnipeg regions we shall find, I venture to
say, breeding birds that might be referred to any one of these four
forms. Breeding birds have been examined from Toronto, Peel
Co., and Rat Portage, Ont.; Carberry, Man. {Divight.)
A specimen of this form was shot at Chateau Bay, southern
Labrador, on July 14th, 1891, which was possibly a straggler, but
may indicate that this form is a regular summer visitant to al!
eastern Quebec and the Straits of Belle Isle. {Nortofi.) A com-
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
36s
men summer resident in the Montreal district. They have been
found breeding here before the winter's snow has melted off
the ground ; they arrive in February and leave in November.
(W.«//..) Occasional at Quebec. {Dionne) A common summer
resident in the Ottawa district ; it arrives before the end of Feb-
ruary and remains all summer to breed, and leaves about the
beginning of November. {Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) An abun-
dant, breecUng, summer resident in the Muskoka and Parry Sound
districts. The date of its first appearance at Port Sydney, as
given by Mr. Kay, was 1887. (/. H. Flemi,^:) Summer resident
at Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B. {W. H. Moore.) Reaching us
during the early days of February these birds soon become very
abundant On 20th February. 1900, they were especially so along
the lake shore, and wherever a patch of weeds was in evidence
above the snow dozens of the birds were hurrying to and fro
clearing up all the seeds and enlivening the scene with merry
little snatches of song. (/ Hughes-Samuel.)
This is a common summer resident in Manitoba, breeding
freely on the open prairie. {Thompson- Seton) This form becomes
very abundant early in May at Indian Head, Assa. On the qth
of that month took a nest with three eggs ; by June 2nd, young
r«:.:;^- ' ''''-" ''-^ ''-' --^ '- - ^ ---
Breeding NoTES.-This sub-species arrives in February and
March, and continues all the summer. Early in February this
year (1901)1 saw a number of horned larks on the ice between
Kingston and Wolfe Island ; they are often in company with snow
buntings; the first prairie horned larks I saw on Feb 17th (^)
and one on Feb. 28th near the head of Wolfe Island. ' Thev are
tamer and more familiar birds than the northern variety, and are
now breeding commonly in Ontario. In the townships of Lans-
downe and Escott, and around Kingston, they nest every year
I have found the nest with eggs, in which incubation has begun"
as early as March 29th, and just hatching on April 23rd, 1895'
The usual time for laying is the first week in April, before the
snow has all melted in the spring. I have a record of a nest on
Wolfe Island with four egg., on March 8th, clipped from a news-
paper, and frequently the young birds are hatched by the middle
ot April. Three eggs is the commonest number, but I have
found four three times, and five once, April 13th. 1899. A com-
ioj4
366 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
paratively few years ago this bird was unknown as breeding in
eastern Ontario. {Rev. C. J. Yomig.) On May I2tli, 1882, at
camp, eight miles south of Brandon, midway between our tent
and the f^re ten feet away, I started a small bird from its nest. It
ran away very reluctantly, and continued wistfully close at hand,
running about among the tufts of grass in the glare of the fire,
returning each time as soon as it dared. At gray dawn I found
her on the nest again; she slowly walked away when I approached
to rekindle the fire, but returned almost immediately with her
mate; and, now, for the first time, I saw them plainly. They
were a pair of shore larks. PIncouraged, no doubt, by the presence
of her mate, she once more crept to her nest and took up her
position on the eggs, although I was but five feet off. Frying our
bacon over a brisk fire, I was very careful to avoid hurting the
birds or their home; and breakfast being over, travellers, tent ,
fire and horses all went off and left them to discharge their duties
in peace. The nest contained three brown eggs ; it was sunken
in the ground, and was made of grass and fibre, and lined with
two or three large feathers. {ThoiHpsoii-Seton.) Common resi-
dent from January to October ; usually rare in November and
December ; an exceedingly early breeder, eggs having been
taken in March, and on April 25th, 1900, a brood of young left
the nest able to fly. Raises two or probably three broods in a
season. {W.E. Saunders.) The bird nests on Toronto Islantl and
on Toronto Sandbar at Ashbridge Bay, seldom having eggs before
the middle of May, as the instances when shore larks nests have
been found here at the end of March and first week of April,
while snow was on the ground, have proved to be the eggs of
alpestris and not praticola. This variety of horned lark breeds
commonly in Manitoba. In northwestern Assiniboia and Alberta
it is replaced by the pallid horned lark. {W. Raine.) At Ottawa
this bird builds in a shallow hole in the ground. The nest is com-
posed of grass and lined with fine grass, horse-hair and feathers,
j-ggs four or five. Grayish white, marked with spots of brownish
purple. (G. R. While.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Thirty-three ; twenty-two of these were taken at Ottawa by
Mr. F. A. Saunders ; three at Lome Park, Toronto, by Mr. E.
Thompson-Seton ; four others at Bracebridge, Ont., and one at
Indian Fead, Assa., by Mr. Spreadborough.
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
367
One set of three eggs taken May 14th, 1889, on the Experi-
mental Larni, Ottawa, by Dr. James Fletcher.
Two specimens taken at Indian Head, Assa., and named hoyti,
are referred here for the present.
474c. Desert Horned Lark.
Otocoris alpestris arcuicola Hensh. 1884.
This is undoubtedly the form named by Dr. Coues Rremophila
alpcstns leucohcma in his article on "Birds of Dakota and Mon-
tana" and why his name has been attached to the northern bird
IS more than 1 can understand. He found this form breeding all
along the boundary across the whole prairie region. In the
writer's trip across the prairie this form was found everywhere on
the prairie south of Lat. 50" from the looth meridian to the 114th
at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Our northern specimens
are three from Indian Head, Assa., taken between April 7th and
I2th, 1892; four others from Medicine Hat.taken between April 6th
and May 2nd, 1894. On the prairie south of the line of the Can-
adian Pacific Railway this species with McCown's bunting and the
chestnut collared bunting were extremely common and constantly
flocked together. {Macotiii.)
^ Breeding Notes. -The horned lark is one of the species which
in this latitude, usually rears at least two broods each season -a
fact which in part accounts for the preponderence of individuals
over those of the species with which they are associated. I have
already adverted to the extremely early nesting-time which has
been ascertained and have only to add that the period of repro-
duction IS protracted through July. I have observed young birds
on the wing in June, and found fresh c-ggs in the nest during the
latter half of July. In lact, all through the summer months the
troops of larks everywhere to be seen consist of old birds mixed
with the young in all stages of growth. The great flocks, however,
are not usually made up until the end of the summer, when all
the young are full grown, and the parents having concluded the
business of rearing their young, have changed their plumage The
young of the first brood soon lose the peculiar speckled plumage
with which they are at first covered; the later ones change,
about the time the feathers of the old birds are being renewed
The agreeable warbling song is scarcely to be heard after June
The nest of the horned lark may be stumbled upon anywhere on
i
368
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
the open prairie. It is a slight affair,— merely a shallow depres-
sion in the ground, lined with a few dried grass stems. The eggs
are four or five in number, measuring nearly an inch m length by
about three-fifths in breadth ; they are very variable in contour.
The colour is well adapted to concealment in the gray-brown nest,
being nearly th^> colour of the withered materials upon which
they rest, thickly and uniformly dotted with light brown. The
eggs and young birds, like those of other small species nesting
on the ground in this region, often become the prey of the foxes,
badgers and weasels, if not also of the gophers. {Coucs.) Num-
bers of nests were obtained and examined in a wagon trip of 500
miles in 1895 and all were of the same character. The nest was
always a small hole in the ground lined with dried grass and con-
tained from two to four eggs. The latter seemed to be the usual
number. {Macotai.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Nine; three taken at Indian Head, Assa.; four at Medicine Hat,
Assa., and two near Wood Mountain, Assa., by Mr. Spreadborough.
One set of four eggs taken near Frenchman's River, Assa., June
22nd, 1895, by Prof. Macoun.
474^. Streaked Horned Lark.
Otocoris alpcstris strigata Hensh.
1884.
British Columbia (?) {Dtvight) West of Coast Range; at
Port Simpson, by W. B. Anderson ; also at Burrard Inlet. {Fannin.)
Spring and autumn migrant through the valley of the lower
Fraser ; breeds on mountain tops above timber line. {Brooks.)
Alii. Dusky Horned Lark.
Otocoris alpestris mcrrilli Dwight. 1890.
Specimens of this form in breeding plumage have been examined
from Ashcroft and Kamloops, B.C. ; non-breeding from Chilli-
wack. {Diviglitl) Observed only in the interior at favourable local-
ities. A few pairs were found on a mountain near Ashcroft, B.C.,
in July and were doubtless breeding. {Sircntor.) This form was
found breeding at Spence's Bridge and ten miles south of Kam-
loops, B.C., by some alkali ponds in June, 1S89, one specimen, a
young male, was taken June 24th at Kamloops, B.C. {Spread-
borough.) Taken at Chilliwack, B.C. {Brooks.)
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
MUSHUM SPECIMEN.
369
One young specimen, taken at Kamloops, B.C., June 24th, 1889,
by Mr. Spread borough.
NOTE ON GENUS OTOCORIS.
My notes on this genus were written before I had seen Mr.
Oberholser's " Revi(;w of the Larks of the genus Otocoris," pub-
lished in Vol. XXIV. of the Proceedings of the U. S. National
Museum. Our specimens were sent to Mr. Frank Chapman of
the American Museum of Natural History, New York for deter-
mination. Mr. Chapman followed Dr. Dwight's arrangement as
published in Vol. VII. of The Auk. and I have allowed my notes
to stand as originally written. Below, however, I give Mr. Ober-
holser's arrangement with a few added notes to make my own
work clearer.
Otocoris alpcstris l^m^. — O.alpestris alpcstris (Linn.) Ober.
Geographical distribution. In summer, northeastern British
America, west to Hudson Bay, from Newfoundland, Labrador
and the head of James Bay northward ; accidental in Greenland.
In winter west to Manitoba.
Otocoris alpcstris Iciicohema, in \i^x\.. — 0. alpcstris hoyti
Bishop.
Geographical distribution. In summer, British America from
the west shore of Hudson Bay to the valley of the Mackenzie
River, north to the Arctic coast, south to Lake Athabasca.
We have two specimens named as above taken at Indian Head,
Assa., in April, 1892, by Mr. Spreadborough. Mr. Trebles took
this form from 50 miles north of York Factory to 50 miles south of
Cape Eskimo on the west coast of Hudson Bay. Mr. Oberholser
has examined specimens from the following places in the Domi-
nion of Canada : Calgary, Alberta ; Indian Head, Assiniboia ; St.
Louis, Saskatchewan ; Fort Resolution, Great Slave Lake; Arctic
coast, east of Fort Anderson ; also Franklin Bay, Arctic coast ;
Big Island, Great Slave Lake ; Depot Island ; Fort Chipwiyan,
Lake Athabasca; Grand Rapids of the Saskatchewan; Fort
Churchill, and Cape l-lskimo. Northwest Territories.
0. alpcstris leifcolcema Dwight, in '^7kx\.. = Otocoris alpcstris
arcticola Obkrholskr.
Geographical distribution. In summer, Alaska (chiefly in
interior), with the valley of the upper Yukon River ; in winter
3;o
OEOLOaiCAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
south to Oregon, Utah and Montana. Type locality, Fort Re-
liance, Yukon district, specimens taken at Fort Yukon and St.
Michael, Alaska ; Chilliwack, Okanaj^'an, Sumas ['rairie, Twin
Buttes Mt., Ashnoia River, and Osoyoos, Hritish Columbia.
Otoioris alpestris cntliymia. Obkrholser.
Type locality, St. Louis, Saskatchewan.
Geographical ilistribiition : In summer, Saskatchewan, Assini-
boia, with possibly southwestern Manitoba. Breeding specimens
from Indian Mead, Assiniboia ; St. Louis, Saskatchewan.
O. alpestris arcnicola Vw\GHT. — Otocons alpestris leuco-
Iwtna (JouKs.
Geographical distribution: In summer, north to the eastern side
of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. Specimens examined by
Oberholser from Medicine Hat, Assiniboia; and Calgary, Alberta.
Otocoris alpestris praticola Henshaw.
Geographical distribution : In summer, southern Canada, from
Manitoba to the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Speci-
mens examined by Oberholser from Chateau Bay, Gulf of St,
Lawrence and Gatineau Point, Quebec ; Ottawa, Lome Park,
Peel County, Kingston, Toronto, Windsor and Bracebridge.
Ont.; Carberry, Rat Portage, Boggy Creek, Big Plain, Manitoba.
Otocoris alpestris merrilli Dwight.
Geographical destribution : In summer, southern British Col-
umbia, east of the Coast Range. Specimens examined by Ober-
holser from Chilliwack, Kamloops, Osoyoos, Ashcroft and Sumas
Lake, British Columbia.
Family XL. CORVID^. Crows, Jays, Magpies.
CLXVIII. PICA Brisson. 1760.
475. American Magpie.
Pica pica kudsoinca (Sab.) Jordan. 1884.
An accidental visitant at Montreal. A magpie was shot at
Chambly, twenty miles southeast of Montreal, about the year 1883.
{Wintle) I have known several to be taken at Kingston, Ont. ;
occurs regularly and is probably a resident along the east coast
of Lake Superior ; one was seen at Port Sydney, Muskoka district,
by Mr. Kay, in the summer of 1898. (/ H. Fleming.') On March
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
371
I2th, 1898. Charles M. Clarkr of Kingston, Out., observed a mag-
pie near Odessa, and since that date two specimens have been
shot am' sent to the taxidermist. {C. H. Clarke, M.D., in The Auk,
Vol. XV.. 274.) No majrpics were seen in the Red River region,'
where, if occurring at all. I doubt their presence as far east as the
river itself. During the second season, however, they were very
fre(iuently noticed at various points on the Upper Missouri and
Milk rivers, and thence to the Rocky Mountains. On tHe 1st of
July newly Hedged birds were taken near the mouth of Milk
River, and at the Sweetgrass Hills, during the first week in
August, imperfectly phimaged individuals, a little over a foot
long, were noticed. {Cones.) This species was formerly quite
common in most parts of Manitoba and eastern Assiniboia. but of
late years have only been noted as stragglers. {Thompson-Seton.)
This bird is plentiful on the interior prairies of British America,
but only a few stray individuals pass eastward of Lake Winnipeg!
It does not entirely t|uit the Saskatchewan plains even in winter,
but is much more frequent in summer. {Richardson) On west
side of mountains north of Lewes and Pellv rivers. Not seen in
the Mackenzie River valley. {Ross.) This'species is an abundant
resident along that portion of the coast-line extending from the
Shumigan Islands east and south. It is abundant on Kadiak
Island and in the vicinity of Sitka. North of the Alaskan moun-
tains it is comparatively rare and has been taken at Fort Reliance
on the upper Yukon almost on the Arctic circle. {Nelson.) Sev-
eral traders from the upper Yukon district reported this spJcies
to be not rare in the neighbourhood of I'ort Yukon and rather
more common farther up the river. {Tnrner.) Found common
everywhere ; breeds about Ashcroft, B.C. {Streator.) An abundant
resident ; breeds east of Coast Range ; west only during winter ;
a rare straggler on Vancouver Island. {Fannin.) Common in
lower \-alley of the Fraser ; arrives in August and leaves in April.
A tolerably common winter resident in Cariboo, B.C. ; an abun-
dant winter resident at Lake Okanagan, B.C. {Brooks.) On May
6th. 1892, one was seen at Indian Head. Assa. ; and another
killed by an Indian ; in April. 1894, specimens were seen at
Medicine Hat, Assa. ; in May. 1895, a few were seen at the forks
of Old Wives' Creek and nests were found in the trees up both
the west and south forks ; one was seen at the crossing of French-
man's Ruer on June 22nd ; also at Fast End Post and Farwell
Creek, where it breeds ; it was also common on Lee's Creek, near
J 72
GEOLOGICAL SURVHY OF CANADA,
Cardston, and at VVaterton Lake, Rocky Mountains, Alta. ; com-
mon about the falls in Crow's Nest Pass, and south of Calgary,
Alta. ; occasionally seen in winter at Banff, Rocky Mountains ;
seen in numbers at Revelstoke, B.C., in March, and ten miles south
of Kamloops in June, 1889, but not seen in April or May ; a few
specimens were seen on the mountains at Spence's Bridge, B.C.,
and at Agassiz in 1889; observed at McGuire's ranch, August 20th,
near Chilliwack, B.C., and common at Huntington and Chilli-
wack, in the fall of 1901. {Spreadborougli.)
Rare ; only two noted and one male shot in five years, near
forks of Saskatchewan. {Coubeanx) Well scattered over the
interior but nowhere so common ar. in the Okanagan valley near
Vernon, B.C. {Rlioads.) The miners at Sunrise City, Cook's Inlet,
Alaska, told us that magpies had been seen in that vicinity
frequently, but we did not observe them there or at any other
point on the inlet. Specimens were taken in Graham Harbour
by Townsend in 1892. {Osgood &■ Heller.)
Breeding Notes. — Two nests of this species were found in
green ash-leaved maple a little below the forks of Old Wives'
Creek, Assa., June 1st, 1895. Neither contained eggs. Nest
quite large, nearly two feet high. Base of nest built of coarse
sticks, then lined on the inside with about an inch of clay, this cup
being at least eight inches across. This is afterwards lined to a
depti" of two to four inches with fine rootlets and small twigs of
willow. The whole covered with a canopy of coarse sticks, leav-
ing a hole large enough for the bird to enter and leave without
injuring the tail. {Macoun.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Ten ; one taken at Medicine Hat, Assa.; one at Old Wives'
Creek, Assa., and eight at Chilliwack, B.C., all by Mr. Spread-
borough.
One full set of seven eggs taken at Three Hill Creek, Alta., by
Capt. W. Thorburn, May 28th, 1898.
CLXIX. CYANOCITTA Strickland. 1845.
4 "7 "7. Blue Jay.
Cyamculu cnstala (LhhS.) Strickl. 1845.
A summer migrant in Newfoundland, but not common. (Reeks.)
Common resident in Nova Scotia. {Dozvns.) Frequently seen
I
CATALOGUK OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
373
bv
towards spring in Cumberland Co., N.S. {C.H. Morrell) Common
resident at Sydney, Cape Breton Island. {C.R. Harte.) Common
resident King's Co., N.S. They are great destroyers of eggs and
young birds. {H.Tu/ts.) Rather common at Baddeck and Margaree,
Cape Breton Island, N.S., July, i8g8 ; one pair seen at Brackley
Point, Prince PIdward Island, June 25th, 1888. {Macoun.) A
small flock was seen at Plaster Cove near Port Hawksbury, Cape
Breton Island, but none elsewhere. {Brewster.) Not abundant
on Prince Pxlward Island, and only occasionally met with.
{D7vight.)
An abundant resident in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain.) Com-
mon in the Restigouche valley, N.B. {Brittain & Cox) Taken
at Beauport ; common in Quebec. {Diofine.) Abundant every-
where, but extremely numerous at Ilamilton's farm in August,
1858, Argenteuil Co., Que. {UUrban) Transient visitant it
Montreal, but common. I have observed this jay here in March,
May, June, September, October, November and December, and it
is likely that a few winter in the district. {Wintle) Permanent
resident at Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B. They are very destruc-
tive to eggs and young birds, but very shy about their own nests,
and during their nesting season, May 20th— July 20th, they are
very quiet. ( W: H. Moore)
A common and permanent resident in the Ottawa district;
more common in summer. {Ottawa Naturalist, Vol.V.) Common
in winter along, the St. Lawrence, a few breeding. I have seen
the nest in the counties of Leeds and Renfrew. The eggs are
laid about the middle of May. I observed this bird breeding on
the Magdalen Islands. {Rev. C.J. Young) One of the most
abundant resident birds in the Parry Sound and Muskoka dis-
. tricts. {J. H. Fie mi fig)
Not seen west of Pembina where it was abundant. {Coues)
This is a tolerably common summer resident in all the wooded
parts of Manitoba, many retire to the thick woods in winter.
{Thompson- Seto7i) Several individuals were seen in the groves of
Quercus macrocarpa, at West Selkirk, Manitoba. {Prcbles.) This
very handsome jay visits the Northwest Territories in summer up
to Lat. 56^ but seldom approaches Hudson Bry. {Richardson)
Taken at Fort Churchill, Hudson Bay. {Dr. R. Bell) I saw in
the post residence near Chemawawin, Grand Rapids of Saskatche-
wan, a mounted specimen of this species, which had been killed
by an Indian and mounted by Mrs. King, the wife of the post-
3;4
'^KOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
master. {Niitii/ig.) Not an uncommon resident but more fre-
quently seen in winter along the wooded banks of the Saskatche-
wan and in the well wooded parts of the prairie. {Coubeaitx.) Not
rare: around Athabasca Landing, May 22nd, 1888, and up the Atha-
basca to Lesser Slave River ; one specimen was taken three miles
up the Clearwater River from Fort McMurray in Lat. Sd^'so';
said to be quite common around Isle a la Crosse Lake and to.
winter there. (/. M. Macoim.) One observed, June 8th, 1897, at
Edmonton, Alta., eating a young bird ; the only one seen.
{SpreadboyoHgh.)
Breeding Notes.— Found nesting in a hemlock tree near
Beechwood, Ottawa. The nest was composed of sticks lined
with weeds, grass and down. Eggs four, clay colour with brown
spots. {G. R. White.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Nine ; two taken at Ottawa and one at Belleville. Onl., by Prof.
Macoun. One taken at Ottawa and another at London, Ont., by
W. E. Saunders. Two taken by S. Herring at Toronto, Ont. ; and
one in Algonquin Park, Ont., by Mr. W. Spreadborough.
Three sets of eggs. One set of three taken at Port Durham,
Ont., by Mr. Osbert Byers in 1893 ; one set of three at Minden,
Ont., by Mr. A. A. Cole, June 15th, 1896; nest built of dead
tamarac twigs in a black ash tree about iS feet from the ground.
One set of five taken at Berlin, Ont., by Mr. W. Raine, May 28th,
1899. Nest in an oak tree about eight feet from the ground, built
of twigs, roots and grass.
478. Steller's Jay.
Cya/iocitta stelleri (Gmel.) Strickl. 1845.
This species was common in the vicinity of Hastings and
Agassiz, B.C., west of Coast Range in May, 1889 ; abundant around
Chilliwack and Huntington, B.C., in the summer of 1901 ; a very
common resident throughout Vancouver Island, nesting late in
April. {Spreadboroidgli.) An abundant resident east and west of
the '''oast Range ; breeds both on the island, and on mainland of
British Columbia. {Fannin.) Quite common resident in the
lower Eraser Valley, B.C. {Brooks) P^ound only on the coast
and west of the Coast Range. {R/ioads.) Common along the
edge of the timber near the shore wherever I landed around
Sitka. Alaska. {(iHmic/l.) Se\-eral specimens were taken by C.
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
375
H. Townsend at Graham Harbour, Cook's Inlet. Alaska. We did
not see it farther up the inlet in Turnagain Arm. [Osgood &HcHcr.)
Osgood found the remains of a .Steller's Jay in the woods at
Haine's Mission, Lynn Canal. {Bishop.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
^ Twenty-one ; one taken at Burrard Inlet, R.C., by Mr. John
Fannin ; two taken at Comox, Vancouver Island, by Dr. G. M.
Dawson ; one at Nanaimo and two at Victoria, V.I., by Prof.
Macoun ; eleven at Chilliwack, two at Agassiz, B. C.. one at
Comox and one at Victoria, V.I., by Mr. VV. Spreadborough.
One set of four eggs taken near Victoria by Rev. George
Taylor.
4V86". Black-headed Jay.
Cyanocitta stcllcri aimcctens (Baird) Ridgw. 1880.
A specimen of this form was shot h the Rocky Mountains by
Mr. Drummond about Lat. 56°. [Richardson.) This species was met
with only high up on the mountains near Ducks, B.C. {Streaior.)
East of Coast Range and Rocky Mountain districts. {Fa7i/iin.)
This species was taken in the Selkirk mountains at Glacier in
August, 1885; they were then numerous. Very early in April,
1890, when the snow was on the ground they were in large flocks;
afterwards they scattered and retired to the mountains at Revel-
stoke, B.C., to breed ; one family of them was seen at Robson on
the Columbia River, June 19th, 1890. Of the specimens taken some
approach the long-crested jay, having the white spot over the eye
quite large and a blue and white frontal patch. Observed at Trail
and Waneta on the International Boundary. B.C., in the summer of
1902 ; not common. {Spreadborough.) Only once taken at Chilli-
wack, B.C. ; a common winter resident in Cariboo, B.C. ; common
winter resident at Lake Okanagan. {Brooks.) East of Coast Range
and Rocky Mountain districts of British Columbia. {Fa/miii.)
While many of the interior specimens are intermediate, all are
more referable to a/ifiectcns than to stcllcri. {Rhoads.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Eight ; one taken at Glacier, Selkirk Mountains, B.C., by Prof.
Macoun ; four taken at Revelstoke, one at Robson, one at
Sicamous and one at Cascade, B.C., by Mr. W. Spreadborough.
376 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
478c?. Queen Charlotte Jay.
Cyaiwcitta stelleri carlottce Osgood. 1901.
Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia.
Type from Cumshewa Inlet, Moresby Island, Queen Charlotte
Islands, B.C., taken June 17th, 1900, by W. H. Osgood and E
Heller.
CLXX. PERISOREUS Bonaparte. 1831.
484. Canada Jay.
Perisoreus canadensis (Linn.) Bonap. 1838.
Plentiful in the interior of the southern and western portions
Labrador ; breeds and is resident wherever found. {Packard.)
Common all the way from Missanabie, on the Canadian Pacific
Railway, down the Moose River, and through Ungava to Ungava
Bay in 1896. {Sprcadborough.) Common on Newfoundland and
remains throughout the year. {Reeks.) Abundant and very
tame, Humber River, Newfov^ndland, 1899. {Louis H. Porter)
An abundant resident in Nova Scotia. {Doiv?ts.) A common
winter resident in Cumberland Co., N.S.; very fearless, coming
about the buildings for scraps; I saw birds with grass in their
bills late in March; they evidently nest in April. {C.H. Morrell.)
A few observed nt Baddeck, Cape Breton Island. {F.If. Alle?i.)
A common resident at Sydney, Cape Breton Island, but could
find no one who had e\ er seen a nest. {C. R. Harte) Rather
uncommon in King's Co., N.S., but present throughout the year.
{H. Tufts.)
Abundant resident in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain) Not
uncommon in the Restigouche valley, N.B. {Brittain & Cox.)
Abundant on Anticosti where it is a resident. {Brezvster.) Remains
all the year at Lake Mistassini in northern Quebec. (/. M.
Macotm.) Taken at Beauport ; a common resident in Quebec.
{Diotine.) Seen only in the woods in summer ; approaches the
settlements in Grenville, Que., in October. {D'Urba?L.) Fort
Churchill, Hudson Bay. {Clarke.) Transient visitant ; scarce in
the Montreal district ; this jay visits us from the north in the
autumn, but I have met with them in the spring of the year.
{Wintle.) Permanent resident at Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B.;
but becoming scarce. Have never found a nest of this species,
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
m
but have seen them carrying nest material in the latter part of
March. They took wool and straw from robin's and cedar bird's
nests. {W. H.Moore.)
This species rarely visits the immediate neighbourhood of
Ottawa, though common in the hills to the north of it. {Ottatva
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common along the Ottawa in county of
Renfrew near the lumber camps. It breeds very early in spring.
I have seen one as far south as the county of Leeds, near West-
port, Ont. {Rev. C.J.Yoimg.) Common in the Parry Sound dis-
trict; reported only as a winter resident in Muskoka by Mr. Kay.
{J. H. Fie mi fig.) Found very abundant at Whitney near Al-on-
qum Park, in the fall and winter of 1898. (/ Hughes-Samiel)
Reported from North Bruce, but not reported from the London
district. (IV. E. Saunders.)
This species was reported at Norway House, Keewatin, and was
seen nearly every day from there to York Factory ; specimens
were taken on the Echimamish, at Oxford House and at York
Factory ; several were seen at Fort Churchill. {Prebles.)
AcoHimon resident in wooded sections, especially among ever-
greens, in Manitoba ; it becomes more abundant in the northern
parts of the province. {Thompsoii-Seton.) On May nth, 1892,
two individuals were seen at Indian Head, Assa.; after this no
others were seen. Observed three April 26th, 1897, at P:dmonton,
Alta. Tolerably common there ; a farmer near Red Deer, Alta.,
found a nest with eggs in a hollow tree the first week in March!
Another farmer while cutting wood near Edmonton found a nest
with eggs in a spruce tree the first week in Maich. {Spread-
borough:) Abundant at the Grand Rapids of the Saskatchewan.
{Nutting.) This species inhabits the wooded districts from Lat.
56° to eastern Canada. {Richardson.) North on the Mackenzie
to Lapierre's House ; abundant. {Ross.) Tolerably numerous in
the wooded country, even to its northern and eastern limits, but
none were observed by us on the "barrens" proper, west or east
of Horton River, nor on the Arctic coast. {Macfarlane.) From
the head waters of the Yukon to the mouth of the Tanana River
occur birds which are almost typical representatives of the jay
found in British America. {Nelson.) This bird comes to the
Saskatchewan as soon as the winter is here and is then seen in
numbers everywhere {Coubeaux) Abundant all over the interior
north of the Saskatchewan. (/. M. Macoun.)
37«
GEOLOGICAL SURVl-V OF CANADA.
Brkhding Notks.-A few pairs nest in northern Assiniboia and
northern Alberta. I have a beautiful nest and four eggs that were
collected by Dr. George near Innisfail, Alberta, March qth, kSqq
The nest was built in a willow seven feet from the ground and is
a bulky compact nest with thick felt-like walls of wool, moss,
feathers and hair. Dr. George remarked that at the time the eggs
were collected the thermometer registered several degrees below
zero. On March loth, 1900. Mr. John Wright found a nest and
four eggs at Horn Hill, northern Alberta. This nest was built in
a willow and is a deep cup^shaped nest, very warm and well lined
and has to be as the young nestlings are often exposed to i cO
below 2ero. On March i8th, igoo, Dr. George found a nest con-
taining one egg, m northern Alberta. This nest was also found in
a willow. It will be seen, therefore, that this bird is the earliest
breeder of all Canadian birds, h;a-ing eggs in northern Alberta in
the middle of March, at a time when the thermometer registered
below zero. I have yet another set of eggs and nest that were
col ected by Mr. Hugh Richardson i,, north Saskatchewan, April
2nd, 1896. (IV.Rawc.) ^
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Three ; one taken at Ottawa by Mr. S. Herring. Two fine
specimens taken at Indian Head, Assa., in April, 1892, bv Mr W
Spreadborough.
484a. Rocky Mountain Jay.
Pcrisorciis canadensis capitatis Ridgw. 1873.
_ Only seen in the Rocky Mountains at Lat. 49°, where, however
It was common and doubtless bred. The specimens secured in
this locality show the restricted dark areas of the head upon
which the variety captitalis is based. {Cones:) Only observed on
Sheep Mountain, VVaterton Lake, Rockv Mountains,'in July, 1895 '
quite common and breeding at Banff, Rocky Mountains', in the
summer of 1891 ; common high up in the Rocky Mountains from
Moose Mountain, south of the Bow River Pass to Crows' Nest
Pass in July., 1897; on June 6th, i890,a young one was shotat Deer
Park, Lower Arrow Lake, B.C., and later it was seen at Pass Creek,
near Robson, B.C., and common in the Gold Range, B.C., in 1889!
One pair seen on the mountains between the North Thompson
River and the Bonaparte at an altitude of 4,500 feet. Observed
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
379
near Cascade, B.C. ; also on Sophie Mountain, altitude 4.000
feet, on the International Boundary, in the summer of 1902.
{Spreadboroiigh.) An abundant winter resident in Cariboo, B.C. ;
I tried hard to find nests but failed, I believe the eggs are laid
about March 25th ; common in winter at high elevations at Lake
Okanagan, B.C. {Brooks^f I noted these javs at Lac La Hache
Bonaparte, Vernon, Nelson and Field in British Columbia.'
{Rhoads^
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Five ; one adult specimen from Moose Mountain, 40 miles from
Calgary, Alta. ; one (young) specimen taken at Banff, Rocky
Mountains, June i6th, 1891 ; another (voung) at Deer Park. Cof-
umbia River, B.C., June 6th, 1890 ; and t%vo adult specimens taken
on the summit of the Gold Range at Griffin Lake, B.C. ; all by
Mr. .Spreadborough.
484^/, Alaskan Jay.
Perisoreiis canadensis furnijrons Ridgw. 1880.
The only specimen brought home of this short-billed jay was
killed on the roof of the dwelling house at Fort Franklin. '{Rich-
ardson) This form is the only Perisoreiis found throughout the
Sitkan and Kadiak region, and thence north along the region
bordering the Behring Sea coast and up the wooded interior.
.Specimens have been taken at so many points on Behring Sea
that it appears wherever alder bushes occur to afford shelter.
{Nelson.) This bird rarely occurs at St. Michael, two specimens
only being procured during three and oi.e half years' residence.
Most of my specimens were obtained at Fort Yukon, Anvik and
Nulatoon the Yukon River. {Turner.) The Alaskan jay was
obser ed in the vicinity of spruce timber everywhere in the valley
of the Kowak, Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, from' the delta eastward
It was resident throughout the year, and was the most noticeable
and familiar bird about camp, especially in winter. {Grinnell.)
Occasionally seen in Cook's Inlet, Alaska. One morning a small
flock visited our camp in the mountains near Hope. A few were
also seen at Tyonek. {Osgood & Heller) We first met this bird
at Log Cabin, noted at also at Bennett and Caribou Crossing, B.C
and found it common from Lake .Marsh to Circle City, Alaska'
generally in families. Between White River and Circle C tv !>'
II --.v 1 1
380
GEOLOGICAL SURVKY OF CANADA.
was Ii.'ss common than fiirtlier up the Yukon. I saw one 15 miles
above Fort Yukon, heard several at Hendrick's Station, August
25th, and saw one at St. Michael, September, i8th. {Bishop.)
Breeding Notes. -Toward spring- the jays became remarkably
reclusive, and their visits around camp were less and less fre-
quent. 1 suspected that by the middle of March they would
nest, and I consequently spent much time in fruitless search. On
the 20th of March, while out snowshoeing across the valley, I
happened to see a pair of jayf frying towards a tract of spruces,
and as had become almost habitual with me under such incentive,
I followed them up. I did not see the birds for some time, until
finally I saw a jay with a large bunch of white down in its bill,
flying back along the timber. The other bird was accompanying
it, following a little behind. I lost sight of them among the dis-
tant trees, but by following the general course of their flight and
peering into all the thicker spruces I chanced to discover the nest.
It was ten feet above the snow in a dense young spruce growing
among a clump of taller ones on a knoll. It was as yet a flimsy
affair, consisting of dry spruce twigs, with bits of down and feath-
ers showing through from beneath. Although I did not disturb
the nest in the least, a visit two weeks later found it covered with
snow and apparently deserted. On April loth, among ten jays.
secured about twenty miles clown the Kowak from our winter
camp, was one female, which contained in the oviduct, a full-sized
though unshelled, egg. Not until May 13th, however, did I
finally find an occupied jay's nest, and its discovery then was by
mere accident. It was twelve feet up in a small spruce amongst
a clump of larger ones on a low ridge. There were no " tell-tale
sticks and twigs on the snow beneath," as Nelson notes, and in
fact nothing to indicate its location. The nest rested on several
horizontal or slightly drooping branches against the south side of
the main trunk. The foliage around it was moderately dense, so
that it could be seen from the ground, though only as .c. indistinct
dark spot. The bird was sitting on her nest when I discovered it.
Her head and tail appeared conspicuously over the edge of the
nest, and she remained on until I had climbed up within an arm's
length of her. She then left the nest and silently flew to a near-by
tree where she was joined by her mate. They both remained in
the vicinity, but ostensibly paid little attention tome. They
followed each other about playfully, uttering low conversational
notes. The male would try to approach the female, vibrating his
alter would
a serious
CATALOGUE OF CANAOIAN BIRDS. 381
winjrs and striking various cocjuettish attitudes, init the 1;..
quickly turn upon him, as if to repel his advances at such „
time. Then both birds would pause for a moment within six
inches of each other, with their beaks wide open, and mayhap
a snap or two. The nest proper was built on a loose foundation
of slender spruce twigs. The walls and bottom consisted of a
closely felted mass of a black hair-like lichen, many short bits of
spruce twigs, feathers of ptarmigan and hawk owls, strips of a
fibrous bark and a few grasses. The interior is lined with the
softest and finest grained material. The whole fabric is of such a
<iuality as to accomplish the greatest conservation of warmth,
which certainly must be n( cessary where incubation is carric-d on
in below zero weather. {Joseph Grimicll)
484f. Labrador Jay.
Peri son-Its caiiadaisis nigricapillns R i dgw. i S82 .
Locally common in northeastern Labrador especially as far
north as Port Manvers. {Bigdoiv.) Coastwise and 'interior,
especially abundant ; resident and breeds at Fort Chimo, Labra-
dor. {Packard.)
Breeding Notes.- I have a nest and four eggs of this bird that
were taken at ILimilton Inlet, Labrador. March 20th, 1894. The
nest was built in a larch tree and is a beautiful structure of inter-
laced twigs, the nest proper being a compact woven felt-like
structure of fur, hair and feathers. {W. Rahie.) A nest taken by
Mr. A. P. Low at Rigolet, Hamilton Lilet. Labrador, 2Sth March
1S94. IS quite a bulky affair. The outside is chieflv made up of
dead twigs chiefly of tamarac (larch) with a few of white spruce.
The inside is of down, feathers, hair, fur and strips of the inner
bark of willow felted together.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Two sets of eggs, one of three and the other of four, both
taken at Rigolet, Hamilton Inlet, Labrador, March 2c;th 1804 bv
Mr. A. P. Low. ' -^
485. Oregon Jay.
Pcrisomts obscitriis (Ridgw.) Sharpe. 1877.
An abundant resident throughout the province. {Fannin)
Common resident on mountains above Chillivvack, B.C. {Brooks.)
382 GEOLOGICAL SURVICY OF CANADA.
In May, 1887, this species was found breeding on the summit of
^ount Kiskine, Salt Spring Island, Gulf of Georgia, B.C.
{Macoiin.) An abundant resident throii!;ii -i.t r'.'tish Columbia.
(Fannin.) This species is not nuniPi'^-us ( ;> Vancouver Island
anc| may be said to be rare in summer on the coast. {RItoads.)
485<r. Gray Canada Jay.
Perisoreits obscnrus griscus Rmow. 1899.
British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. (Rithwu).) lliis
species was common on the mountain sides at Chilliwack Lake,
B.C., in July, igoi. Only one specimen taken. {Spreadborough.)
MUSEUM SPECIMEN.
One ; taken at Chilliwack Lakr. B.C., July 20th, 1901, by Mr.
W. Spreadborough.
CLXXI. CORVUS LiNNvi-:us. 1758.
486rt. Northern Raven.
Corvus corax principalis Ridgw. 1887.
One specimen taken at Peary's headquarters. West Greenland ;
a fine specimen taken at McCormick's Bay, West Greenland by
the Relief Expedition. {Witmer Stone) Breeds more in south than
in north Greenland, and also observed on the east coast ; several
pairs have been seen on Melville Island ; a specimen from Beechey
Island is in the Barrow collection. {Arct.Man) Locally common
in northeastern Labrador ; especially so at Port Man\ ers. {Bigc-
loiv.) Abundant throut,aout the whole of Labrador ; breeds at
Fort Chimo; nearly fledged )'oung seen in nest May i8th.
{Packard.) Not common in the interior of Labrador but found
in pairs throughout the country. {Spreadborough.) One specimen
shot and others seen at PortBurwell, Hudson Strait ; breeds from
Norway House to Fort Churchill. {Dr. R. Bell) A common
resident in southern Greenland. {Hagerup.) Common through-
out the year in Newfoundland. {Reeks.) Common along the
Humber River, Newfoundland, 1899. {Louis H. Porter.) A few
remain all the year at Cape Prince of Wales, Hudson Strait, but the
the greater number go south in September. {Payne.) A common
resident in Nova Scotia. {Doivns.) Not common in winter in
Cumberland Co., N.S. ; a pair seen at Shulee and another pair at
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 383
Partridge Island, near Parrsboro. (C. H. Morrdl.) A common
resi(l«Mit breeding in cliffs along the shore near Sydney. Cape
Breton Islantl. incubation begun April 22nd, 1901. (C. R. Harte.)
Common resident. King's Co.. N.S. They often kill very young
Iambs. (//. Tufts) A rather rare resident in New Brunswick.
(Cliamberlain) Occ;i ionally seen at INIagaree, Cape Breton
Island. N.S., in July. 1898. {Macoim.) Breeds on the Magdalen
Islands. {Bishop.) Rather generally distributed in the Gulf of
St. Lawrence but nowhere abundant. (Bretvster.) One specimen
shot at Lake Mistassini. in northern Quebec May 30th. 1885.
(/. M. MacoHu) Taken at Beauport, a rare permanent resident
in Quebec. {Dionne.) A rare winter resident ; occasional!) \ isits
the city river ice-dump. {IVintle.) Rare visitant to the north of
Ottawa; occasionally seen near the city. {Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) A common bird on the Magdalen Islands, breeding in
the rocks and occasionally in the larger spruce trees. Rare in the
cultivated parts of Ontario. I have seen a pair flying at a great
height near Combermere, Renfrew Co.. in the month of January.
{Rev. C.J. Young.) A common resident in Parry Sound district ;
rarer in Muskoka. (/ H. Fleming.) I met with one or more of
these birds daily during a three week's trip to Whitney, near
Algonquin Park, Ont., in the fall of iSgS. {J.Hughes-Samuel.)
Very rare along the large marshes in the London district. {W. E.
Saunders) We saw several between Robinson Portage and Pine
Lake, Keewatin, June 28th, and while descending Hill River. July
8th. noticed a pair flying about the face of a high clay bank.
Except for one specimen seen at Fort Churchill, July 30th, we
did not again note the species. (Prebles.)
Occasionally observed on the International Boundary Lat.
49°, but no specimens were taken. {Coues.) A tolerably comm )n
winter visitant; probably nesting in the northern lands. {Thonip-
son-Setott.) This well-known bird abounds in the Northwest Ter-
ritories and visits the remotest islands of the Arctic Sea.
{Richardson.) North on the Mackenzie River to Arctic coast ;
abundant. {Ross.) 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 shores of the
Arctic Sea. {Macfarlane.) Everywhere throughout the entire
territory of Alaska, including the shores of the Arctic Ocean and
Behring Sea and the various islan s of the latter, this bird is a
well known resident, (AV/w/.) This species is .1 resident
384
GEOLOGICAL SUKVKY OF CANAUA.
thri)u>,'h()ut the whole of Alask.i. In the vicinity of St. Mich.ul
it is a resident in summer. {Tiit-ncr.) A resident throuj^hout
the ])r()vince, ehieny northward and coastwise ; rarer than
formerly. {Fannin.) Resident. (?) Not common at (Jhilliwack.
The ravens found on the summit of the Coast Ranffe, descendin}.!
to the valley in winter, art- much lar^jer than tlu' commoner sin-
lUJtns^ and have a different voice. 1 have no doubt they hcloiij,' to
the larger sub-species. 1 shot a female during the winter that was
much larger than a male of the other form ; a common winter
resilient in the Cariboo district, H.C.; tolerably common in winter
at Lake Okanapfan, H.(.'. {Ihooks.) One spi-cimen was seen at
Indian Ifeail, Assa., in May, 1S92 ; others were seen at Mediciiu."
Hat in the spriuj^ of 1894 ; apparently very rare in the Rocky
Mountains ; only one seen at Hanff in the summer of iSgi ; unl)'
a pair seen at Revelstoke, on the Columbia River, in May, iScjo ;
a few were seen at l)cer Park, Lower Arrow Lake, and others
at Robson on the Columbia River, in June of that year ; ob-
served at Trail, .Sheep Creek and Coryell, near tin- International
Boundary, B.C., in the summer of 1902 ; occasionally seen near
Chilliwack in the summer of 1901 ; \v\y abund-int on many parts
of Vancouver Island, but chiefly at Como.x and Nanaimo in June
and July; they must breed in the neij4hbourhood ; a few also
were seen at Barclay Sound, on the west coast of the islar.d.
{Sprendboroiig/i .) The call of this species was heard and we were
told by Mr. McLean that a species of raven was not uncommon
at the Grand Rapids of the Saskatchewan. {Nntling.) A per-
manent resident on the Saskatchewan, but very scarce, and only
seen in winter in the great woods or about them. (Coiilh'aii.x.)
Very abundant between Athabasca Landing ami Lesser Sla\e
River ; an occasional specimen was seen on the Clearwater
River, and they were not rare on Methye Portage ; common
between Methye Lake and Isle a la Crosse; flocking with crows
on Buffalo Lake. (/. M. Macoun.) Ravens were abundant in the
Coast Range ; rare in the Bonaparte valle\', at Lake la Hache.
and at Vernon, B.C.; but at Nelson, B.C., they became abundant
again. {Rlioads.) I saw a pair of ravens at Cape Blossom, Kotze-
bue Sound, Alaska, August ist, 189S, and several were seen along
the lower course of the Kowak later in the month. An abundant
and well known scavenger. It congregates about the streets of
Sitka and along the beaches with as much familiarity as the black
vulture does in the south. I did not learn of its breeding any-
»
.
CATAI.OCiUK OH CANAniAN niHDS. 385
where about Sitkii. {(inniull.) Wry alniiulant on (Jiuin Char-
lotU' Islands, H.C. Only niodtratt-ly coninion in Cook's InU-t,
Alaska. {Os_^oo<i.) Of all the birds \vv met with the raven
occurred most rej^ularly. It was noted from Wrannell, up the
Lynn Canal, over the White Pass, and down the whole length of
the Yukon, ifiis/iop.)
Hrkkdinc Norrcs.-I have a set of si.\ v^^^ that were takin at
I'eel's River, Mackenzie Delta, on /Xpril 27th, 1900. The nest
was a larfje structure of sticks and weids lined with animal fur,
and built on to]) of a spruce tree. {W.Raine.)
MUSUUM SPECIMENS.
Three!; one- taken in Quebec by Mr. Trudeau ; one at I'etrie
Island. Out., by Mr. Coursolle, ;ind oni' at kevt;lstoke, ii.C, by
Mr. VV. .Spreadborouph.
Parts of four sets of effj^s. One perfect set of fi\'e cf^f^s taken
in the G.isperau.x valley, N.S , on M.irch 22nd, igo2. The nest
was in a larfjc hemlock tree about 50 feet from the grounil. It
w;is composed of sticks and lined with wool and coarse grass
stems, .md seemed to have been lon^ in occupation, as it had
been ri^paired year after year. Two of the other eggs were taken
in Nova Scotia, and the other five at Artillery Lake, northeast of
Great Slavt' Lake, by Mr. h';iirchild.
48K. American Crow.
Corvus aincricdiius A u n . 1 N 3 4 .
Rare in Labrador ; only found in southern portions ; Stearns
reports it from Kskimo River ; Verrill records it as common on
Anticosti ; not known to breed in Labrador. {Packard.) A com-
mon migrant in Newfoundland. ^Rccks^ A common resident in
Nova Scotia {Dozvns.) Common .ill winter in Cumberland Co.,
N..S. (6'. //. Mornll.) Common around the shores of Cape l^reton
Island, 1898; also on the shores of Prince Edward Island, 1888.
{Mncotin.) A common resident at Sydney, Cape Hreton Island.
Eggs taken April 15th, 1901. (C. R. Haytc.) Exceeding abun-
dant throughout the year. King's Co., N.S. (//. 7>(//.y.) Nowhere
have I ever seen crows more abundant antl so tame as on Prince
Edward Island. (Diuig/it.) An abundant summer resident in New
Brunswick. (^Chamberlain.) Local in the Restigouche valley.
N.H. {Brittain & Cox.) Abundant and breeding on all the Mag-
ss
386
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
dalcii Islands. (Bishop.) Very common along the shon^s of the
islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, migrating on the approach of
winter. {Bntostcr.) A common summer resident in Quebec.
{Dionne.) Plentiful in Argenteuil Co., Que., up to loth December,
a few seen in January, and abundant by the last of February.
(D'Urdan.) A rare permanent resident but a common summer
one at Scotch Lake, York Co., N.H. {W. H. Moore.) An abun-
dant permanent resident at Montreal, not so often seen during
the winter months but sometimes appearing in large flocks at
Cote St. Paul alongside the railway tracks. (JVi/ii/e.) A common
species on Hudson Bay. {Br. R. Bell) Very abundant in the
Ottawa district in summer but scarce in winter. {Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) This bird has become very common in eastern Ontario
in recent years. On Wolfe Island it has become a pest, destroy-
ing many eggs v.i the smaller birds, and taking young chickens
and other birds. I saw a field last October (1900) literally covered
with crows ; they were as numerous as blackbirds. A few remain
along the St. Lawrence all winter, and I have seen them in the
coklest weather. {Rev. C.J. Young.) Abundant about the settle-
ments in the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. {J. H. Fleming.)
Rather scarce in Algonquin Park, only a few pairs breeding.
(Sprcadboroiigh) During the cold weather of February, 1895, 'i'
Toronto these birds seemed to suffer severely from the elements
combined with the scarcit)' of food ; many becoming so e.xhausted
as to only be able to fly short distances. (/. Hughes-Samuel.)
A few were seen about Lake Winnipeg and Norway Mouse, Kee-
watin, and a small number noted nearly every day between
Norway House and York Factory. They were common at York
Factory, and a few were seen at P"ort Churchill, and one 50 miles
south of Cape Plskimo. {Predles.)
According to niv observation, crows are not very common in the
region under consideration (Lat.49°), though I saw a good many
along the Mouse (Souris) Ri\'er. The species occurs, however,
along the whole Missouri River. A nest containing five eggs, with
the female parent, was secured on Quaking Ash River, June ;26th,
1874. {Cones.) A common summer resident throughout Mani-
toba. {Thompson-Seton.) This crow is seen in the interior of the
Northwest Territories in summer only and does not go beyond
Lat. 55° nor approach within five or six hundred miles of Hudson
Hay. {Riehardsoii.) North on the Mackenzie River to Lat. 61 ;
abundant. {Ross.) On the 10th May, 1865, an P-squimaux snared
1^
"
1^
"
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
3S7
the parent bird on a nest which was built on th(; top of a tall
spruce in the lower Anderson River ; another was taken near Fort
Anderson on 5th May, icS66. {Mac/arlane.) This species arrived
at Indian Head, Assa., before April ist, 1892, as they were
numerous at that date ; they were building nests by the 27th and
on May 6th I found a nest with five eggs, which was in a willow
tree; the nest was made of sticks lined with dried grass; this
species was fountl in pairs nearly all over Assiniboia in 1895
wherever there was wood, but none were seen in Alberta until we
reached VVaterton Lake at the base of the Rocky Mountains ;
common at Crane Lake, Medicine Hat, Cypress Hills, Moose Jaw,
and around Old Wives' Lake and Creek, also at Wood Mountain ;
not seen in the Rocky Mountains at Banff in 1891 ; rather rare
along the Columbia River flats at Revelstoke ; heard them at Pass
Creek. Columbia River, B.C., June, 1890; May 8th, 1894, e.xamined
a number of nests at Medicine Hat, Assa., but only found one egg;
a few were breeding at Crane Lake, June 12th ; found a nest with
four young ones; at the east end of Cypress Hills a few
pairs were breeding the last week in June. {Spreadborougli)
Abundant and surprisingly tame at the Grantl Rapids of the
Saskatchewan ; young crows make themselves at home on the
houses and in the door-yards at Grand Rapids.. {Nutting) This
bird is our first harbinger of spring. As soon as the snow begins
to melt and jhow the ground, they arrive, by twos, by threes, by
fours, and then in greater numbers, filling the air with their cries.
They mate very early and begin to build their nests long before
the leaves begin to appear. {Coiibeatix) Very numerous at
Buffalo Lake, near Methye Portage, Lat. 56^' and at Isle a
la Crosse, feeding on dead fish ; a few Sjpecimens between
Red Deer River and Athabasca Landing, about a dozen in all.
(/. M. Macoun.) Common summer resident east of Coast Range.
B.C. [Fannin.)
Breeding Notes.— The bulk of the crows, which are migrants,
begin to arrive here about the 1st of March and commence build-
ing nests in April. One nest examined on April 30th, 1882, con-
tained six eggs incubated, and another one, May 24th, 1882, con-
tained younglings, and a nest. May nth, 1889, 'lacl four eggs in-
cubated. They breed in Mount Royal Park and all over the island
of Montreal. The bulk of the crows in this district migrate south
before the month of December. {U'uitlc.) On June 6th, 1884,
38S
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
at Binscarth on the upper Assiniboiiie, I fouiul a crow's nest in a
bluff of poplar trees. It was in a crotch of a large popla.-, about
S feet from the ground, and was one of the most beautiful speci-
mens of bird architecture I ever <txamined, excluding, of course,
all pensile nests. It was a large structure of sticks, twigs and
bark strips, with a very deep cavity linetl with fine fibres and
beautifully finished off with a coating of cow's hair. It contained
four eggs. {Thompson-Seton.) This species frequently nests in
firs and spruces near Ottawa. Its nests are built of sticks and
twigs, lined with moss, strips of bark and fine grass. Eggs, four
to six; green, spotted with blackish-brown. {G. R. IVhitc.) Nest
taken on June 2nd, 1895, ^ "1''^ up the west fork of Old Wives'
Creek, contained four fresh eggs. The base of the nest was of
coarse sticks and the inside was lined with the inner bark of ash-
leaved maple, in which tree it was built. Other nests were taken in
thickets of willow and other brush in many parts of the prairie.
{Macotm) March 2nd, 1902, a crow was seen to be carrying
nesting material at Fredericton; even at that time migration had
hardly begun, this being a bird that had remained in that icinity
all winter. I have found a full set of crow's eggs April 21st. At
one time a nest was found and both birds were sitting on the eggs.
The cavity of the nest was much larger than ordinarily. Think-
ing when seeing both birds fly from the nest it might be two
females laying in one nest, I climbed and found that the nest
contained five nearly incubated eggs. A nest was found here
containing ten eggs. {\V. H. Moore.)
MUSEUM SPl'XIMENS.
TweKe; one an albino, taken near Port Hope, Ont.; two taken
at Ottawa by G. R. White ; two taken at Ottawa by F. A. Saun-
ders ; three taken at Indian Head, Assa., two at Medicine Hat,
Assa., one at Edmonton, Alta., and one at Kamloops, B.C., all b\'
Mr. Spreadborough.
Five sets of eggs ; one set of fi*. :> taken in Clarke's bush, Glou-
cester, near Ottawa, by W. A. D. Lees ; one set of six eggs from
.Sturgeon Island, Lake Winnipeg, June 1st, 1889 ! one set of three
eggs at Medicine Lodge, south of Wood Mountain, A^sa., June
14th, 1895 ; ""^ set of five eggs taken at Medicine Hat, Assa.,
Ma\' 14th, 1894 ; another set of four eggs taken at Er':nonton.
Alta., ?ilay 21st, 1897, 'i" by ]\Ir. Spreatlborough.
#)«
«1>
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS, 3S9
48i», Northwest Crow.
Co>viis caiirinns Baikd. 1858.
Bischoff obtained numerous specimens of this little-known bird
at Sitka. Dr. Bean also found it abundant at Sitka. (Nelson.)
Common on the small islands in the bay at Sitka, Alaska, es-
pecially on St. Lazaria Island, where the young and eggs of the
sea birds constituted its staple articles of food. {Gnn/uil.) Com-
mon ; found breeding at Mount Lehman and at Ashcroft, B.C.
{Streator) Chiefly west of Coast Range ; very abundant on the
the coast; resident. {Fannin.) Common resident at Chilliwack,
B.C. (Brooks.) Very abundant from Chilliwack to Hunting-
ton, B.C., in 1901 ; a most abundant species on Vancouver
Island, living the whole year along the coasts of the island and
breeding in small spruce and Douglas fir trees ; in May, 1887, a
colony bred in small spruce on Comox spit. There may be two
forms of this western species, but I have never been able to satis-
factorily separate them. {Sprendboroiigh) On the west coast
crows are abundant. In the interior of British Columbia they are
found in diminished numbers. Their habits and voices are essen-
tially the same. (Rhonds.) I have two sets of four eggs each
that were taken on Vancouver Island, May 12th, i88g, by Mr.
Fannin. {W.Raine.) Not common on Queen Charlotte Islands.
A flock of about thirty was seen several times near the head of
Cum she wa Inlet. (Osgood.)
.MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Twelve ; four taken at Agassiz, five at Chilli a-ack, B.C., and
three at Victoria, Vancouver Island, by Mr. Spreadborough.
One set of four eggs taken on the sand spit at Comox, V.I.,
May 3rd, 1887, by Rev. G. W. Taylor.
CLXXII. NUCIPRAGA Bkisson. 1760.
49 1 Clarke's Nutcracker.
Nncifraga coluinbiana (Wils.) Aud. 1834.
Since the capture of a single Sitkan speci.uen, taken in August
by Bischoff, no Alaskan record of this bird has been matle.
(Nelson.) British Columbia. (Lord.) Abundant .summer resid-
ent throughout the coniferous forests of the interior. (Sireaior.)
A common resident east of the Coast Range; west, but very
11
390
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
!'
rarely, to Vancouver Island ; abundant in the pine belts along
tile Similkameen and along the Cariboo road above Clinton.
{Fa/niin.) Resident in the mountains ; rarely descending to the
valley. {Brooks.) This species was rather common at Banff,
Rocky Mountains, in 1891, and breeding in the mountains ;
common in the Crow's Nest Pass in August, 1897 ; i" the summer
of 1S05, when the Canadian Pacific Railway was being built
through the Rocky and Selkirk mountains, this bird was very
common around the camps and apparently living on their refuse.
{MacoHit) Early in the spring of 1890 this species was quite com-
mon at Revelstoke, B.C., but soon retired to the mountains; they
were common at Deer Park, Lower Arrow LaKe, Columbia River,
B.C., on June 4th, 1890, when fully fledged young were shot; at
Robson, B.C., they were abundant on the mountain sides later in
the month; observed on all the mountains between Trail and Cas-
cade, B.C., near the International Boundary, in the summer of
1902; in May and June, 1889, this species was far from uncommon
at Spe. ice's Bridge and up the Nicola valley where they seemed to
be breeding; observed a few in the mountains at Chilliwack Lake,
B.C., in July, 1901. {Spreadborough.) Common during the winter
of 1897-98 at Lake Okanagan, B.C., but entirely absent the next
winter; many remained to breed in 1898, and they also bred in
1897; they lay in February. {Brooks.) This species extends
from the summit of the Coast Range to the summit of the Rocky
Mountains, in British Columbia, in summer. Rare at Clinton and
Lac la Hache, Ixit wintering wherever found. The Indians de-
clare they breed in February and again in July. {Rhoads.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
P'ight; three taken at Deer Park, Columbia River; three at
Cascade, on the International Boundary, B.C., and two along the
Nicola River at Spence's Bridge, B.C.; all by Mr. Spreadborough.
CLXXIII. CYANOCEPHALUS Bonaparte. 1842.
402. Finon Jay.
Cyanoceplialus cyanocepJialiis (Wied.) Stejn, 1884.
Rocky Mountains, west to the Cascade Range; and from British
America south to California. {A. 0. U. Check-list:) We have no
records of this bird. It will likely be found in the country about
Lake Okanagan, B.C.
0<
/u
catalogue of canadian birds. 39i
Family XLI. STURNID^ Starlings.
CLXXIV. STURNUS Linn^;us. 175S.
403. Starling.
Stiir/iiis vulgaris Linn. 1758.
A single specimen sent by Holbcell to Copenhagen. {Arct,
Man)
Family XLII. ICTERID.ffi. Blackbirds, Okiolks, .^c.
CLXXV. DOLICHONYX Swainson. 1827.
494. Bobolink.
Dolidionyx oryzivorus (Linn.) Swains. 1827.
Summer resident on Cape Bretdn Island ; but rare. {Dwiglii.)
Common in summer ; breeds in all the marshes in Nova Scotia.
{DozvHs.) One seen at North Sydney, Cape Bre*:on Island, May
24th, 1901; common on the meadows at Amherst, N.S. {C. R.
Harte) Abundant in summer along the Cornwallis valley, N.S.
{H. Tufts.) A common summer resident in New Brunswick.
{Chamberlain.) An abundant summer resident in suitable places at
Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B. (li .H. Moore.) A common summer
resident in Quebec. {Dionnc.) An abundant summer resident
around Montreal. {IVmdc.)
A common summer resident at Ottawa ; breeds on the Ex-
perimental Farm. {Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) One of the
species that is finding its way northward. It is only a new
arrival in the Muskoka and Parry Sound districts. I saw n
female at Emsdale in May, 1899 ; she was seen later in the sum-
mer with a male and a brood of young. Mr. Tavernier saw the
first one at Beaumaris in August, 1897, and reported them as lu-
cre ising in 1898 {J. H. Fleming.) In spite of the slaughter of
these birds in the rice fields it is yet common in the London
district ; it is more rare in the Bruce peninsula, and a few were
noted on Manitoulin Island in 1880. {W. E. Saimiers.)
At Pembina in June, bobolinks '.^ere breeding in large numbers
( the open prairie adjoining 'It Red River. The ground near
t'^e river has a meadowy ch?.i act;;'. , which seems exactly to suit
them, an.! they were evidently perfectly at home. On Lat. 49'
i traced the species westward to the Pocky ^Mountains, where it
392
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
was not uncommon in August about Chief Mountain Lake.
{Cones.) A very common species tiirougliout tiie prairie portions
of Manitoba. {Thontpson-Scto?i .) Quite common at Indian Head
in eastern Assiniboia, in the fall of 1891, as well as in May of the
next year ; west of that it must be rare as only a few specimens
were noted at the east end of the Cypress Hills in June, 1894 ;
none were seen in 1895 until Lee's Creek was reached in southern
Alberta. {Spreadborough.) Uncommon and seen just now only
about Duck Lake and Carlton between the forks of the Sas-
katchewan. {Coubeaiix.) This bird reaches its northern limit
about Lat. 54° and does not seem to go very far north of the Sas-
katchewan. {Richardsoti.) Rare at Chilliwack, B.C.; occasional
both east and west of Coast Range. {Btooks.)
Breeding Notes. — Nest near stone quarry at Ottawa, Out.,
built on the ground, composed of grass and lined with fine grass,
l^ggs four, bluish white spotted with dark chocolate. {G. R.
White) Very common about Kingston, Ont. Breeds abundantly
on Wolfe. Simcoe and Amherst islands, as well as on the main
shore. Is a late bi-eeder; I have found eggs as late as July ist,
but these, of course, would be a second laying. After the
middle of August none are seen. {Rev. C. J. Yoimg.) Breeds
commonly in Manitoba where I have found several nests contain-
ing five eggs each. {W.Raine.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Twenty-three ; three taken at Ottawa, two by F. A. Saunders
and one by Prof. Macoun; one taken at London, Ont., by Mr. W. E.
Saunders ; fourteen taken at Indian Head, Assa., in the autumn
of 1 891 and spring of 1892, most of them young of the year, and
two in the Cypress Hills, Assa., all by Mr. Spreadborough ;
another specimen was taken at Battle River, Alta , by Mr
Dowling in July, 1886.
One set of six eggs taken at Wolfville, N.S., by Mr. H. Tufts
June 14th, 1894, nest on the ground in tall grass.
CLXXVI. MOLOT.HRUS Swain.son. 1831.
4f>5. Cowbird.
Molotlirus ater (Bonn.) Gray. 1870.
Apparently not noticed in Nova .Scotia. A r;ue summer resi-
dent in New Brunswick. {CJia})tbcyLvii.\ Taken at Beauporl ;
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
393
not a common summer resident in Quebec. {IHonne.) A common
summer resident around Montreal ; breeds in many small bird's
nests ; I have observed a nest of the yellow warbler rebuilt on top
of the first nest which contained the ejjgs of a cowbird. {IVifitic )
A common summer resident at Ottawa, Ont., laying in many
small bird's nests. {Ottawa Naturaiist,Vo\.V .) Very abundant
in Ontario, arriving in April and staying until October. It con-
gregates in small flocks through the summer. I have seen its eggs
in May, June and July; in the latter month usually in the nest of the
song sparrow, or wood pewee. I have seen this bird in the winter
in company with English sparrows. In December, 1889, I saw two
at Lansdowne, Ont. ; one of these remained with a flock of
sparrows all the winter. This was the same winter I observed
red-headed wood-peckers, the weather being unusually mild, and
there being only two weeks of sleighing along the St. Lawrence
all that winter. {Rev. C.J. Young.) I firstsaw thisbirdat P:msdale,
Muskoka District, May 26th. 1899 ; about a dozen of both sexes ;
Mr. Kay gives 1889 as the year of their first appearance at
Gravenhurst ; Mr. Tavernier reported them as common at Beau-
maris on April 22nd, 189S. (/. H. Fleming) Common all over
western Ontario. {W. E. Saunders.) I have nowhere found the
cowbird more abundant than it is in summer throughout the region
surveyed by the commission. Even were the birds not seen
ample evidence of their presence in numbers would be found in
the alien eggs with which a majority of the smaller birds of the
country were pestered. Scarcely any species, from the least
flycatcher and the clay-coloured bunting up to the towhee and
kingbird, escapes the infliction. {Cones.) An abundant summer
resident throughout the whole prairie region. {Thomp-on-Scton:)
l*:xtremely common throughout the whole of Assii.iboia and
ilropping their eggs in all kinds of small birds' nests in the sum-
mer of 1894. In 1895, the prairie was traversed in a westerly
direction for 500 miles; in all this distance it was a common
object around our camps ; this species is rare in the mountains,
only two males were taken at Canmore, Rocky Mountains, in
1891; but it was common at Edmonton, Alberta, and southward in
the foothills to the Crow's Nest Pass; two specimens reached
Revelstoke in company with a yellow-headed blackbird on May
25th, 1890, and later in June a number of males were S( -n along
the beach at Deer Park, Arrow Lake. Columbia River, B.C. ;
observed one specimen at Muck's ranch, Chilliwack River B.(
394
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
August I8th, iQGi. {Spreadborough) Abundant summer resident
and breeds throughout the region between the forks of the Sas-
katchewan in company with the blackbird. {Coubcaux) Two
pairs seen at Fort McMurray, at the forks of the Clearwater and
Athabasca rivers in Lat. 56° 30'. {J-M.Macoun) From Van-
couver Island to Okanagan, B.C. {Fannin.) Tolerablv common
east of, and a straggler west of, the Coast Range. {Brooks ) This
bird arrives in the northwest with the blackbirds and ranees to
Lat. 60'^. {Richardson.) ^
Their nesting habits are such that almost every small bird be-
comes a foster parent for them except the tvrant flvcatcher, which
far from being the aggressive bird he is supposed 'to be is onlv a
successful defender.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Thirteen specimens ; two taken at Ottawa, Ont., in June, 1S88
by Prof. Macoun ; two taken at Ottawa in 1890 and l89i,and one
at London, Ont., in 1885 by F. A. Saunders ; two at Medicine
Hat, Assa., in May, 1894, two at Indian Head, Assa., in May,
1892, two at Canmore, Rocky Mountains, in Mav, 1891, and one'
at Revelstoke, B.C., in May, 1890, all by Mr. Spreadborough
CLXXVII. XANTHOCEPHALUS
497. Yellow-headed Blackbird.
Bonaparte. 1850.
Xaiiihocep/urlus xa?ithocep/ialns {Eo^AV.) Jordan. 1884.
One specimen obtained at Nevertalik, Greenland, September
and, 1820. {Arct. Man.) Taken at Godbout, Quebec, in September,
1878. {Dion/ic.) This species has been taken at Toronto a number
of times in company with the red-winged blackbird by Mr. VVm
Loane. The specimen I examined was taken by that gentleman.
{rJiompson-Scto,, in The Auk, Vol. II., 335.) The specimen above
mentioned is now in the possession of Mr. J. H. Fleming, of
Toronto.
In the breeding season the yellow-headed blackbird gathers in
colonies in some marshy spot. At Pembina it was breeding in
the prairie sloughs with the black terns and red-wings. {Cones:)
A common summer resident of the deeper sloughs of the prairie
region ; more plentiful to the southward in Manitoba. {Thomp-
son-Seto/i.) This bird is very numerous in the Northwest Terri-
tories and ranges as far north as Lat. 58°, but was not seen east
CATALOGUH OV CANADIAN BIRDS.
395
ncr resident
of the Sas-
■^//.r.) Two
irwater aiiri
From Van-
tly common
f-ooks.) This
1 ranges to
all bird be-
cher, which
le is only a
June, 1888,
31, and one
: Medicine
I., in AIa>',
I, and one
rough.
1850.
I. 1884.
September
September,
) a number
' Mr. VVm
gentleman,
nen above
cming, of
gathers in
eeding in
. {Cones.)
:he prairie
( TJiomp-
'^est Terri-
seen east
of Lake Winnipeg. {Rirhnrdsoii.) I once observed this bird at
Fort Simpson, on the Mackenzie River, Lat. 62". {Ross.) This
is a common species at Indian Head and Crane Lake and
in many other parts of eastern Assiniboia ; rather common at
Kdmonton in northern Alberta, where it bred in small commun-
ities in 1897. It was common in 1895 between Moosejaw and Old
Wives' Lakes. This species requires even a wetter country than
the red-wi, g for nesting in, as its nests are always in reeds or tall
grass. It was common in June, 1895, at 12-Mile Lake, near Wood
Mountain, building numerous nests in the dry reeds {'Jj/fi/ia /aii-
folia) and rushes {Scirpus lactistris). There were no eggs, yet on
the same date in 1894, at Crane Lake, there were young in many
nests and it was difficult to get unhatched eggs. The cause of the
absence of eggs was evident by the lateness of the season, as on
June 7th we had an all-day snow-storm. A few were seen at Wood
Mountain Post ; the last specimens were noted about 50 miles
west of that point. Later, three specimens were noted at Spur
Creek, north of Milk River and a few in its valley at Kennedy's
Crossing; only one specimen seen and shot on May 25th, 1890,
at Revelstoke, B.C. {Spreadborough.)
Abundant at Chemawawin, near the Grand Rapids of the Sas-
katchewan, breeding in a slough. {Nutting) Scarce between the
iorks of the Saskatchewan, though frequently seen in company
with the red-wings; breeding in the region. {Conbeaux.) A rare
summer resident on the mainland east of the Coast Range. I
have taken it abo\ e Clinton on the Cariboo Road, B.C. {Fannin.)
A young male was shot at Vernon, B.C. Mr. D. McKinley reports
them as occasionally visiting the cattle corrals at Lac la Hache.
{Rhoads.) I have two records of this species for Chilliwack, B.C.
{Brooks.)
Breeding Notes.— In one of the sloughs, where I spent most
of the day wading about, sometimes up to my waist, and in some
spots considerably deeper, a large number of nests were found,
mostly containing nestlings, but a few with eggs. This was the last
week of June. The nests were built much like those of the long-
billed marsh wren, as far as the situation goes, being fixed to a
tuft of reeds or bunch of tall rank marsh-grass, some stems of
which pass through the substance. They were placed at varying
elevations, but always far enough above the water to be out of
danger of inundation. The nest is a light, dry, rustling structure,
12
396
GEOLOGICAL SURVKY OK CANADA.
swayine; with the motion of the reed to which it is affixed, built
of the same materials as those which support it. which are woven
and plaited together ; no mud is used, nor is there any special
lining; -he brim is thick and somewhat folded over, like theseani
of a garment; but I never saw a nest, among the many examined,
which was arched over, as stated by some authors. The diameter
outside is f.ve or six inches, and the depth nearly as much. From
three to six eggs or young birds were found in different nests ;
the former measure about an inch and an eighth in length by
three-fourths of an inch in breadth. The ground-colour is gray-
ish-green; this is thickly spotted with different shades of reddish-
brown, sometimes so profusely that the ground colour is obscured,
especially at the larger end. (Cones.) At Crane Lake, Assa..
there was a large colony of these birds which were nesting in a
marsh where the water was almost three feet deep. I found that
this depth of water round the edge of a reedy pond kept out
foxes and coyotes, and here ducks of various kinds, black terns
and coots nested in great numbers. All the nests taken by me
were slight structures and always fastened to leaves or stems of
cat-tail, {Typha latifolia). Eggs or young in nest were from three
to five, never six. (Maroun.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Four ; one procured by Dr. A. R. C. Selvvyn, in Manitoba in
1S85 ; two taken at Indian Head, Assa., in May, 1892, by W.
Spreadborough; and one at Grizzly Bear Coulee, Alta., June, 1886,
by Mr. Dowling.
Four sets of eggs, ranging from three to five, taken at Crane
Lake, Assa., on June 8th, 1894. There were many other nests
containing young or partly incubated eggs.
CLXXVIIL AGELAIUS Vieillot. .816.
4.>8. Red-Winged Blackbird.
Agelaius phoeniccus phceniceus (Linn.) Ridgw. igoi.
A very rare summer resident in Nova Scotia. {Downs) A rare
species in Kings Co., N.S. (//. Tufts) One pair at Cove Head
Mill, Prince Edward Island, 5th July, 1888. {Macoun.) A common
summer resident in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain.) A rare
summer resident at Scotch Lake. York Co., but abundant at Grand '
Lake and at Bindon, Carleton Co., N.B. {W. H. Moore) Taken
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
397
at Charlesbourc ; rare summer resident in Quebec. {Dionne ) An
abundant resiu. t ,n the district of Montreal; observed from
April i2th to November 1st. {Wintle.) Cummon in Argent.uil
Co., Que. ; very >mnion in the marshes alonp the Ottawa River,
Ont. {D'l ban.) A common residon- the district around Ot-
tawa. {OUa:vaNaturaiist,Vo\N.) Verycommon everywhere I have
been in Ontario. ^Rev. C.J. Yotmg.) Common in marshy districts
along large rivers in the districts of Parry Sound and Muskoka. (/
H. Fleming.) A few pairs wen sting in the marsh along the Mada-
waska River below Cache Lake, also a few at Source Lake, Algon-
quin Park.June, iqoo. {Spreadborough) Thisspecies was only noticed
at lembina and was not nearly so common as Brewer's blackbird
nor ti, yellow-headed one. The country was not suited for them
(6w/r.v.) An abundant summer resident i ' mitoba, frequenting
the borders of willow-edged swamps. {Thotnpson-Seton ) This is
an abundant species in the bushy part of the prairie region ; it is
alwnvs found where there is a marsh bordered by willows in
which It prefers to breed. It was common at Indian Head Assa
Ml 1892; at Medicine Hat, Crane Lake and Cypress Fills in 1894'
in 1895 >t was abundant at Moos.> Jaw and Old Wives' Creek in
eastern Assiniboia ; southward they were breeding at the forks of
that creek; also in a marsh at 30-Mile Lake and at 12-Mile Lake •
after this they became scarcer and only a few were seen at Wood
Mountain at the police post and at Medicine Lodge 16 miles
south. After this none were seen for 50 miles to the west as the
country was without water. A few were seen along Frenchman's
Rive- and at East End Post and in the marsi s of the creeks flow-
ing south out of the Cypress Hills ; a few were observed in the
Milk River valley, above Kennedy's crossing. It is common in
northern Alberta and was quite common at Edmonton in 1897
{Spreadborough.) Common in the Red River valley and abundant
about the marshes below Robinson Portage, where two speci-
mens were collected June 27th, 1901. A number was seen near
Oxford House, Keevvatin, July 4th. in the marsh between
Oxford and Back lakes. {Prebles:) Common at the Grand
Rapids of the Saskatchewan. {Nutting) Common summer
resident between the forks of the Saskatchewan, frequenting the
willows and poplar-edged sloughs and marshes where it breeds
in numbers. {Coubeaux) Common at Methve Portage, Lat. 56"
30' in the spring; very common at the discharge of Methye
Lake in July, 1888 ; not seen elsewhere. (/ M. Macoun.) This
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%°
398
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
species reaches the Sasjcatchewan about the beginning of May
and does not pass beyond Lat. 57°. It associates itself with the
other blackbirds and does great injury to sprouting grain.
(Richardson.) North to P'ort Simpson, on the Mackenzie River ;
common. (Ross.)
Breeding Notes.— June nth, 1882 : Went in the morning with
two brothers to the lake in the sand-hills east of De Winton; saw
there large numbers of marsh terns and various kinds of black-
birds. I was unable, from the depth of the water, to reach the
place where the terns seemed to be nesting, but found the nest of
the red-winged blackbird in a few twigs that projected about a
foot above the water, here three feet deep, and some ten feet
from the shore. I saw the female leave the nest, so that the
identification is good. The male did not put in an appearance at
all. The nest is very deep, neat and strong; it is suspended from
about a dozen upright twigs and is built much like that of a Bal-
timore oriole, but entirely of grass. The eggs, four in number,
were all fresh; one was i by |J, pale blue, and scrawled over with
most curious hieroglyphics in brown-black ink; the others were
similar. (Thompsoii-Seton) Builds in bushes and low trees
around Ottawa, Ont. Its nest is composed of coarse, fibrous
material, strips of rushes and marsh grass ; lined with fine grass.
Eggs, four to six. Pale blue, dotted, blotched and scrawled with
blackish-brown. {G.R.White.) Breeding abundantly in all pools
"hroughout eastern Assiniboia, but becoming scarcer to the west.
They always bred in communities. At Brandon, Man., nests
were found in willows {Salix longifolia) and at Crane Lake the
same species was nesting in Scripus lacustris or bullrushes. In 1895
the same species was breeding in a thick growth of snowberry
{Symphoricarpus occidentalis) on dry ground, at the forks of Old
Wives' Creek, Assa. Nest of leaves and stems of grasses, lined
with the dried stems of Eleocharis palustris. At 12-Mile Lake,
near Wood Mountain, Assa., they were nesting in cat-tails, and
at Sucker Creek, south of the Cypress Hills in an old growth of
Carex aristata. {Macoun.) On June i8th, 1892, at Indian Head,
Assa., I waded out into a large slough that had a lot of rushes,
{Scirpus lacustris) grov/ingin it near the middle. In a few minutes I
saw ten nests. Three of them had young, half-grown, and others
young just hatched. Two nests with four eggs each I took. This
was at 9 a.m., and at 8 p.m. I prepared to blow the eggs. On
[
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
399
opening the box I found one bird hatched out and one just com-
ing from the shell. Both chicks were lively and seemed quite
strong. {Spreadboraugh.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Nine ; three taken at Ottawa, in May, 1888, by Prof. Macoun ;
two at Ottawa, in October, 1890, and one at London, Ont., by
W. E. Saunders; tjvo others in Toronto by Mr. S. Herring; one
at Fort Churchill, Hudson Bay, by Dr. R. Bell.
One set of five eggs, taken on Cherry Island, Lake Winnipeg,
June 15th, 1889.
498A. Northwestern Red-wing.
Agelaius phcetdceus caiirinus Ri dgway. i 90 i .
This species was first taken in the marshes near Agassiz, B.C.,
May lOth, 1889, ^ few pairs were breeding at that time ; abundant
in the marshes at Chilliwack, B.C., in the summer of 1901.
{Spreadboraugh) Taken at Chilliwack, B.C., in 1891 and identified
by Mr. W. Brewster ; a few of these birds remain throughout the
winter at Lake Okanagan, B.C. {Brooks.) Chiefly west of the
Coast Range ; breeds on Vancouver Island ; common. {Fanmn.)
One female shot in the marsh at Comox, April 30th, 1887. Rather
common around Copeland's Lake, Salt Spring Island, Gulf of
Georgia, May 9th, 1887, also in a marsh near Cedar Hill, Vancou-
ver Island. (Macouti.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Eight; five taken at Chilliwack, B.C., in May, 1901, and two at
Agassiz, B.C., in 1889 by Mr. Spreadborough ; one taken at the
mouth of Eraser River in September, 1884, by Mr. John Fannin.
Seven eggs taken on Vancouver Island by Rev. G. W. Taylor.
498(?. Thick -billed Redwing.
Agelaius phoeniceus fortis R i dg vv .
1901.
Breeding range Mackenzie River, Athabasca and other interior
districts of British America. During migrations, the great plains
from eastern base of Rocky Mountains to Manitoba. {Ridgway.)
It is probable the prairie form belongs here and on this
account we place below the specimens we have from the prairies.
400
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Three ; two taken at Indian Head. Assa.. a female in the
^utumn and a male in the spring of 1892, both taken by Mr.Spread-
';rf886.b;MrL^i " ''-''''' co.u.au..,j...
Two sets of eggs ; one of four taken at Skull Creek, near Crane
Lake, Assa., June 8th, 1894, by Prof. Macoun, and another of five
bofoJ.^h ^* Edmonton, Alta., May 27th, 1897. by Mr. Spread-
489e. San Diego Redwing.
Agelaius phteiiiceus neuiralis Ri dgway. i 90 i .
Breeding range north to eastern British Columbia. ( Rid^tvay )
/i?^^ XK- {^""^^'^-C- ^^^^»^) Taken at Vernon. b"x:.
{Khoads) This form was not uncommon at Penticton, south of
Lake Okanagan. B.C.. in April, 1903, and at the mouth of the
b^mlT) ^'^^'^ Shuswap Lake, in August, 1889. {Spread-
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Two males taken at Penticten, B.C., April loth, 1903, by Mr
Spreadborough. ^/ j, v m.
NoTE.-It will be noticed that the ranges of the eastern red-
wing and that of the northern form overlap. Our specimens
taken on the prairie are placed under the latter form When
we have more specimens of the northern bird, we can speak
with more certainty.
LXXIX. STURNELLA Vieillot. 1816.
501. Meadow Lark.
SUirnella magna (Linn.) Swains. 1827.
Very rare in Nova Scotia ; a mere straggler. {Dow^is.) A rare
summer resident in New Brunswick. (C/iamder/aw.) One indi-
vK^tial seen at Scotch Lake, York Co.. N.B., in 1879; none since.
1; ■ '-^ Summer resident but scarce in the district of
Montreal, (m^/e.) A moderately common summer resident at
Ottawa Ont.. breeding on the Experimental Farm. (OUawa
Natnrahst. Vol. V.) Very common in the old settlements of
Ontario ; I used to see a few in the county of Renfrew ; observed
three on Wolfe Island. April 4th. 1901. {Rev. C. J. Yotmg.) Mr. "
I >
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
401
Ir.
Kay puts the first appearance of this species in Muskoka about
1863, and regards it as becoming common at Port Sydney ; it
occurs at Beaumaris. (/. H. Fleming^ Common in the London
district ; a very few winter with us in most years ; not common in
north Bruce and on Manitoulin Island. {V,^. E. Saunders.) Not
very common at Ottawa. Nest on the ground, built of dried
fjrass; lined with finer grass. Eggs four to six. White, speckled
» > with reddish and purplish. {G. R. White.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Three ; one purchased with the Holman collection in 1885 I
one taken near Toronto, Ont., by Mr. Samuel Herring ; one taken
at London, Ont., by Mr. W. E. Saunders.
One set of four eggs taken at Port Hope, Ont., May 30th, 1899,
by Mr. Meeking. Nest of fine dry grass and placed in a hole
in the ground in a meadow where the grass was several inches
high.
5016. Western Meadow Lark.
Sturitella magna neglecta (AuD.) Allen. 1872.
One specimen of this species was taken by Mr. G. R. White
within the city of Ottawa. The bird was singing on top of an elm
tree when shot.
All the meadow larks observed on the International Boundary
Lat. 49° were this form. They are a common bird of the whole
country, though less numerous as we approach the Rocky Moun-
tains. {Cones.) An abundant summer resident of the prairie
part of Manitoba, breeding freely at all points. {Thompso?t-Seton.)
A number was seen along the Red River between Winnipeg and
West Selkirk, June 14th, 1901. Specimens procured at Winnipeg
have been examined and prove referable to this form. {Prebles.)
This is a characteristic bird of Assiniboiaand Alberta. It is com-
mon everywhere where there is brush or trees, although it always
builds on the prairies, yet it mounts a tree or bush to sing, and
evidently nests in the vicinity; in traverses of over 1,000 miles by
wagon it was constantly found where there was brush. It was
quite common on Lee's Creek and Milk River in southern Alberta.
Only one seen at Edmonton, Alta., in 1897, but they were com-
mon in the foothills south to Crow's Nest Pass. Apparently rare
in the Rocky Mountains, but it is common as far as Morley, in
the Bow River Pass. None observed at Banff in 1891, and only
402
GEOLOGICAr, SURVEY OF CANADA.
one specimen seen at Revelstoke, B.C., in 1890; not uncommon at
Kamloops and southward as well as along the Thompson River
to Spence's Bridge, B.C.; abundant at Agassiz, Chilliwack and
Huntington, B.C., summer of 1901; but in igo2 was common at
Trail and Cascade, on the International Boundary; a common
summer resident on Vancouver Island ; a number winter near
Victoria; tolerably common at Comox, V.I., while I was there in
June, 1893. {Spreadboroiigh.) The prairie lark is a common
summer resident between the forks of the Saskatchewan; breed-
ing thoughout the country. {Conbeaiix.) Abundant in the lower
Fraser valley; a number remain about the stacks and barnyards
at Lake Okanagan, B.C., all winter. (Brooks.) Abundant both
east and west of Coast Range, B.C., winters on Vancouver Island.
{Fannin.) Very rare at Lac la Hache, in all other open situa^
tions abundant from Vancouver Island to the Rocky Mountain
foothills. (R/toads.) I have often found the nests of this
species in Manitoba and Assiniboia. It lays five or six eggs
which average smaller than those of the eastern meadow lark.
{W.Raine.) This beautiful bird arrives on the Saskatchewan
about the beginning of May, but was not seen any further north.
{Richardson.) Abundant in some localities in British Columbia.
{Lord.) Common on the coast of British Columbia where there
are meadows; very abundant in the interior. I was told that this
species only appeared within the last few years. {Streator.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Fifteen; three taken at Indian Head, Assa., in May, 1892; two
at Medicine Hat, Assa., in April, 1894; one at Agassiz, B.C., in May,
1889; five at Chilliwack, B.C., August and September, 1901; two
at Cascade, on the International Boundary, B.C., May, 1902; and
one at Victoria, Vancouver Island, Mav, 1893; all taken by Mr.W.
Spreadborough.
Sixteen eggs, all collectetl on Vancouver Island by Rev. G. W.
Taylor.
506.
CLXXX. ICTERUS Brisson. 1760.
Orchard Oriole.
Icierus spnrius (Linn.) Bonap. 1823.
Three examples of this species were taken in New Brunswick
{Chamberlain?^ Prior to 19th May. 1898, when
bv Mr. Boardman.
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
403
G. W.
I met with a young male, I had only heard of two or three of
this species having been observed as far east as Toronto. On 19th
May, 1900, I met with a pair and took a male of second year ;
and for the following week or two saw one or more almost daily.
On July 5th I located a pair nesting and am pleased to say that
they were not molested. I think this is the first recorded instance
of nesting in this locality ; but I believe an occasional nest is
found near Oakville. I trust to be able to record the arrival of
these birds in increasing numbers each succeeding year.
(/. Hughes-Samuel) Quite common in the three western counties
of Ontario but only occasionally observed near London, and not
reported from farther north. Breeds over its whole range. The
few nests that have been found have been made chiefly of' green
grass which makes their discovery very difficult. {W.E.Saunders.)
One specimen was taken early in June at Pembina, the only
locality where observed. {Coues.)
MUSEUM SPECIMEN.S.
One mounted specimen purchased with the Holman collection.
One set of four eggs taken at Chatham, Ont., June 30th, 1887,
purchased from Mr. W. Raine.
601. Baltimore Oriole.
Icterus ga/du/a (Linn.) Coues. 1880.
Not observed in Nova Scotia. A pair seen on the Charlotte-
town Road, near Brackley Point, Prince Edward Island, loth
July, 1888. (Macouu.) Very rare at St. John, N.B., but said to be
common in other localities. {Chamberlain.) Rare summer resi-
dent at Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B. They are becoming com-
moner every year. Nest in tall elms near Fredericton. {W. H.
Moore.) Common around Fredericton, N.B., in the spring of
1898. {D. Lee Babbit.) A rare summer resident in Quebec.
iDionne) Heard singing at Chain Lake, Montcalm, Argenteuil
Co., Que. {D'Urban.) Common summer resident in the district
of Montreal ; breeds in the city ; observed from May 7th to
to August 2lst. {IVintle.) York Factory, Hudson Bay. {Dr. Ri
Bell.) A common summer resident about Ottawa ; breeds in
large numbers in elm trees in the city and its suburbs. {Ottaiva
Naturalist. Vol. V.) One of the commonest birds around Kingston,
Ont., and apparently increasing. Has reached the county of
404
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
IS
Renfrew, where I have seen it. {Rev. C. J. Young.) Mr. Kay
gives 1887 as the year of its first appearance at Port Sydney,
Muskoka district ; Mr. Tavernier refers to it as becoming increas-
ingly common at Beaumaris. (/. //. Fleming.) A common
summer resident throughout southern Ontario ; but quite rare in
North Bruce, wnere I only observed three specimens in four
weeks. {IV. E.. Saunders.) Abundant at Pembina, the only locality
where it was found on the International Boundary, Lat. 49°; several
nests with eggs in them were taken during the latter part of the
month of June. {Coues.) A common summer resident of open
woodlands in the south and west of Manitoba. {rhompson-Seton.)
One seen flying across Red River about midway between
Winnipeg and West Selkirk, June 14th, 1901. {Prebles.) In
the spring of 1892 many specimens were seen at Indian Head,
.^ssa., and nearly all remained to breed ; others at Medicine Hat,
Assa., in May, 1894 ; and others were taken on Old Wives' Creek,
Assa., in May, 1895. None were observed south or west of the
above point. Arrived at Edmonton, Alta., on May 20th, 1897 ;
later many were seen flying north but a few remained to breed.
They nested in tall poplars over 30 feet from the ground, yet nests
were found in bushes six feet from the ground, {Spreadiorough.)
This handsome bird is a regular and not uncommon visitor between
the forks of the Saskatchewan- ; frequently seen and heard in
the thickets where it hangs its pretty nest. {Coubeaux.) This bird
ranges through the central part of the Northwest Territories up
to Lat. 55°, beyond which it does not seem to go. (Richardson.)
Breeding Notes.— I found a nest of this bird June 7th, 1890,
at Dorval, built in the top of a thin bush, within reach of hand
from the ground, and containing five fres'i eggs, but as a rule
their nests are built here hanging to branches of large trees,
twenty or thirty feet above the ground. I saw this species feeding
on the ground, an unusual position to find the oriole in, as they
generally confine themselves to the trees and bushes when feeding.
{Wintle.) Breeds throughout Manitoba and in Assiniboia as far
west as Crescent Lake. {W.Raim.) Buildsnear the end of along
branch, elm tree preferred at Ottawa. Nest composed of the flax
of silk weed, willow down, wool string, lined with lint, wiry grass
and horse hair; eggs five, white with a faint tinge of blue, spotted,
scrawled and streaked with lilac and brown, mostly towards the
larger end. {G.R. White) On June 25th, i88r, on the north*
bank of the eastern slough, I found a Baltimore oriole's nest ir>
CATALOGUE OK CANADIAN BIRDS.
405
an oak tree, about 10 feet hi^h. This nest was about four inches
deep. It was formed of the outer bark of the Asclepias, and so
thoroughly interwoven and "darned " that the fabric was like a
thick warm felt. It was remarkably strong, too, and with a view
to testing It in this particular I brought it home with the branch
that bore it, and, having hung to it a pail by a band ac.oss the
upper surface, proceeded to add weight. Fifteen pounds were
gradually added without it showing any signs of breaking, but at
the seventeenth the weight slipped to one side, and being thrown
upon but one of the fastenings, broke it. I then procured another
nest, an old one of the same matenal, and tried it successively
with 15, 20, 25. 2; pounds, and still it held together; 29 and 30
were reached without breakage, but at 31 it began to give, and
after a few seconds the weight tore through the fabric, without,
.however, injuring the fastenings at the top. On October 19th
found an old nest of an oriole down by the slough. It was woven
of strips of Asclcpias bark and suspended from four or five twigs
I made a careful test of its strength and found that it bore 15
pounds weight without the least sign of breaking, but an addi
tional two pounds, thrown carelessly on, tore it from its fastenings.
{Thompson- Seton^)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Six ; one taken at Ottawa in May, 1888, by Prof. Macoun ;
three at Toronto, Ont., by Mr. S. Herring ; one" at Indian Head!
and another at Old Wives' Creek, Assa., in 1895, by Mr. Spread-
borough.
One set of six eggs taken at Toronto and purchased from Mr.
VV. Raine. Another set of five eggs taken at Port Hope, Ont., by
N. H. Meeking June ist, 1900. Nest, a purse-shaped structure of
rags, paper, thread and twine hung in the slendt ; branches of an
elm.
^08 Bullock's Oriole.
Icterus Bttllockii {'s^M^%.) Bonap. 1838.
Breeding in considerable numbers in trees in the valley of the
Saskatchewan at Police Point, Medicine Hat, Assa., May, 1894;
not noticed further east; a large colony was found breeding in the
valley of the Thompson at Kamloops, B.C., in June, 1889 ;
rather rare at Spence's Bridge, B.C., in 1889; one spe-
cimen seen at Chilliwack, B.C., May 2Vd, 1901. {Spread-
406
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
borough.) Abuiulant in some parts of British Columbia. {Lord.)
I met with this bird only at Ashcroft, where one specimen was
taken and a few more seen. (Streator.) ICast of Coast Range
only; a rare summer resident; breeds at CAche Creek. {Fannin.)
Rare at Ashcroft and disappearing midway between Ashcroft and
Clinton, on the Bonaparte River; more numerous at Kamloops,
and abundant around Swan Lake, at Vernon, B.C. {Rhoads.)
Abundant east of Coast Range; a few pairs breed west of it at
Chilliwack, B.C. {Brooks.)
MUSEUM SPECIMENS.
Ten; seven taken at Metlicine Hat, Assa., in May, 1894; three
at Kamloops, B.C., in June, 1889, all by Mr. W. Spreadborough.
CLXXXI. SCOLECOPHAGUS Swainson. 183 i.
500. Rusty Blackbird.
Scolecopliagiis cnroUnns {Wu\.\..i Ridgw. 1885.
Common in Labrador; breeds at Fort Chimo, where young just
from the nest were obtained July lOth, 1884. {Packard.) One
pair observed on Moose River, June 2nd, 1896; doubtless breed-
ing; tolerably common in marshes from Richmond Gulf to Un-
gava; seen in flocks in the interior, July 24th. {Spreadborough.)
A regular and common summer migrant in Newfoundland.
(Reeks.) Fairly common along the Humber River, Newfound-
land, 1899. {Louis H. Porter.) Common summer resident in
Nova Scotia. {Downs.) Fairly common from the last of March
till September in Kings Co., N.S. (//. Tufts.) Bayley says it
breeds freely in the alders near Sydney. Cape Breton Isl md.
First seen May 7th, common by June 8th, and remained all sum-
mer. {C. R. Harte.) Occasionally seen at Baddetk and Mar-
garee. Cape Breton Island, N.S. {Macoun.) A flock of twenty
or more, largely young birds, near east point of Prince Edward
Island, was seen July 7th; these were the only ones observed
although I had heard of their occurrence before. {Dwight.)
An irregular summer visitor in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain.)
A common spring and autumn migrant at Scotch Lake, York Co.,
N.B. Have heard recently that this species breeds at Benton,
Carleton Co. {W. H. Moored, Taken at Beauport; a migrant in
spring and autumn in Quebec. {Diontie.) Breeds abundantly in
{Lord.)
CATAI.OGUK OF CANADIAN niRDS.
407
swamps at East roint, Maj,'tlalen Islands, {fiis/top.) Common
and breeding at Lake Mistassini, northern Ouebec. {/. M.
Macoun.) Fort Churchill, Hudson Hay. {Wright.) A common
transient visitant in the Montreal district; arrives in small flocks
in spring and passes further north to breed, returning in autumn
in larger flocks. { Wi?ttlc .) York Factory, Hudson Bav. (Dr. R.
fidl.)
A common springand autumn migrant; it may breed sparingly in
the northern part of the Ottawa district. {Ottawa Nattiralist, Vol.
V.) I found this bird breeding commonly in the Magdalen Islands.
In the month of June the young were hatched and I secured two
sets of eggs from there. In the summer of 1898 I saw one bird
near Lansdowne, Ont., but in the month of October large flocks
arrive from the north. {Rev. C.J. Young.) Assembling in large
flocks in Muskoka and Parry Sound districts; 1 am not aware that
they breed in these districts. (/. H. Fleming.)
Several seen and a female taken near the head of Kchimamish,
Keewatin, where they were undoubtedly breeding. Large flocks
eeen at Fort Churchill. Later, in the season of 1901, they were
found abundant on the return south from York Factory. {Prebles.)
The rusty grackle enters Dakota from the north in September,
and then mixes indiscriminately with Brewer's blackbird; but the
two will not be found together during the breeding season.
{Coues^ An enormously abundant migrant in Manitpba in the
spring and autumn migrations ; a few may breed. {Tliompson-
Seton.) Common at Indian Head in the spring of 1892 ; none
were observed on the prairie in 1894 and 1895 I '" *^he spring of
1897 they were abundant at Edmonton, Alta., and a nest was
taken in a thicket overhanging a pool of water. {Spreadborough.)
Common at Chemawawin, near the Grand Rapids of the Sas-
katchewan. \.\utting.) Arrives in the spring in flocks between
the forks of the Saskatchewan. {Conheaux.) Abundant every-
where between Calgary and Athabasca Landing in northern
Alberta; rare at Fort McMurray in Lat. 56° 30' ; not rare at
Methye Portage; abundant between Methye Lake and Isle a la
Crosse in 1888. {J.M. Macoim) This was a fairly common bird
along the Kowak, Kotzebue Sound, from the delta eastward.
They were seen in small flocks until September 8th, and the fol-
lowing spring returned in flocks. May 22nd, after which they
separated into smaller groups. {Grinnell.) This sombre-coloured
bird is the most northern of the American SturiiidiCy its summer
408
OEOLOGICAI. SURVKY OF CANADA.
range reachinjj to the 68th parallel, or as far north as the woods
extend. It reaches the Saskatchewan about the- end of April,
and is at Great Hear Lake. Lat. 65°, by the 3rd of May,'
generally in pairs. (Ruhardson.) North on the Mackenzie River
to Fort Good Hope; common. {Ross^) This bird is fairly
abundant in the neighbourhood of Fort Anderson, and they were
frequently observed as far as the eastern limits of the forest, as
well as near the " crossing " of the Horton River in about Lat. 69 .
The twenty-five nests discovered were built in trees from five to
eight feet from the ground. {Macfarlane .) This species is a
regular summer resident in northern Alaska wherever trees and
bushes are found, reaching the vicinity of the sea-coast; in
northern Alaska it reaches Lat. 70°. {Nelson.) This bird is one
of the earliest land birds to arrive at St. Michael. It is not
common there and does not breed in the vicinity to my knowl-
edge. {Turner.) Saw two specimens at Log Cabin, in the White
Pass, on June 15th, 1899. Osgood took a specimen near Fort
Yukon, Alaska, and a small flock was seen near St. Michael.
(Bishop.) Two males were shot at Tyonek, Cook's Inlet, Alaska,
in September, 1899. {Osgood.)
Breeding Notes. -Met with at London as a rare migrant in
spring and more common in the fall, but in North Bruce it breeds
sparingly on the inland lakes where I found a nest on June 9th,
1887. The nest was placed in a maple shrub, two feet over the
water and was made of tamarac and other twigs lined with green
grass, with mud between it and the exterior twigs. It contained
three eggs whose spots are more rufous and ground colour more
greenish than those of Brewer's blackbird. {W. E. Saunders.)
Gradually pushing east it has always been rare at Toronto, but
Mr. J. Hughes-Samuel found a pair nesting at Toronto Island in
the spring of 1900. (/. H. Fleming.) A few pairs nest in northern
Assiniboia but most of the birds go further north to nest. It is
often confounded with Brewer's blackbird as the nests and eggs
resemble each other. {W. Raine.) Arrived at Edmonton, Alta..
May 20th, 1897; on June loth found a nest with four young and
one egg. The nest was placed upon a spruce tree which had
fallen a number of years before and was bleached white by the
weather and was hanging horizontally over a small pond, that was
in the heavy timber near the river. The tree was about a foot '
from the water, where the nest was. I also found an old nest
upon a heap of old spruce brush in the same pond. The nest was
CATALOGUK OK CANADIAN BIRO-.
409
River
fairly
made of dry grass. There were no weeds or grass In the pond.
June 13th I saw yoiinir able to fly, these were in a dried-up slough
in the heavy timber. (Spreadboroii^h.)
MUSKUM SPKCIMENS,
Nine ; one taken at Ottawa by Mr. W. T. Macoun in October.
1901 ; two taken at Ottawa in April, 1891, by Mr. I'". A. Saunders'
four taken at Indian Head, Assa.. in April. 1892, and September
l«9i, by Mr. VV. Spreadborough.
One set of five eggs taken at Davidson s I.ake. Hants C0..N.S..
by " Robie " Tufts, June 12, 1901. Nest in a small spruce tree si.x
leet from the ground, made of twigs and lined with fine drv grass
and rootlets.
6 1 0. Brewer's Blackbird.
Scolecophagiis cyaiwcephalus (VVagi,.) C.mi. 1851,
This is the characteristic blackbird of the whole region along the
International Houndary from Pembina to the Rocky Mountains.
( Cones.) An abundant summer resident in most districts; this spe-
cies gathers in large flocks and commits great depredations in
wheat and oat fields in the autumn. {Thompson- Seto,,.) Com-
mon in the Red River valley between Winnipeg and West
Selkirk, June 14th. 1901. (Preblcs.) Very abundant at Indian
Head, Medicine Hat and Crane Lake, indeed throughout
Assmiboia wherever there was brush this species was breeding
in large numbers. This is the characteristic blackbird of Assini-
boia and Alberta, at least as far north as Edmonton, and abounds
everywhere from the International Boundary northward to
the Saskatchewan ; a few were seen in the spring of 1891 at
Banff, Rocky Mountains, but they do not breed there ; seen at
Revelstoke on the Columbia River, B.C., April 4th, 1890, and later
on, May 3rd, a few more were seen ; they do not breed there ;
in flocks 10 miles south of Kamloops, B.C. ; also common at
Agassiz in May, 1889; common at Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring;
only observed three at Huntington in the fall of 190' ; only one
specimen seen on Vancouver Island, April i6th, 1893, none seen
afterwards. {Spreadborough.) Apparently rather common at the
Grand Rapids of the Saskatchewan. {Nutting.) This species,
the rusty grackle and the bronze grackle arrive together, in flocks!
in spring and afterwards separate and breed in colonies. {Cou-
410
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
beaux.) A few individuals of this species remain at Lake Okana-
gan, B.C., all winter. {Brooks.) Both east and west of the Coast
Range ; common in spring and fall at the mouth of the Fraser,
B.C. ; breeds in the neighbourhood of Clinton. {Fannin.) Breed-
ing in suitable localities, both east and west of the Coast Range
to Vernon, B.C., in the south, and Lac la Hache in the north.
{Rlioads.) North to Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie River. Not
rare. {Ross?) Common in some parts of British Ccjlumbia.
{Lord?) Generally distributed in British Columbia but not com-
mon. (St re a tor.)
Breeding Notes.— On June 8th, 1882, C. T. found a grackle's
nest on the newly harrowed ground in a field not more than 20
vardsfrom a clamp oT willow.^. The eggs, five in number, were
in a slight hollow in the ground, without a single straw or any
pretence at lining. My brother sprang the bird and then called
me. I did not see the bird rise, but a pair of grackles were flying
about and noisily resented ^ur interference, and as no other birds
were near, I feel safe in the identification. The dozen of nests of
this s^cicies which I have examined were all either on the ground
or in low forks or saddled on logs, close to some pond, and were
more or leos composed of mud when elevated. I foun,: half a
dozen nests around a single small lake on the Duck Mountain.
The eggs are in colour between those of the rusty and purple
grackles. {Tkompso?i-Seton.) This species builds a large nest of the
stalks of dried plants, lined on the inside with horse-hair. In size it
averages over six inches across with a cup over three inches and a
depth of at least 1 1^ inches. E:^gs usually five, variously speckled
and spotted. Nests always placed in close thickets and mostly
in small cor^.munities. Nests were taken at Medicine Hat and
Old Wives' Creek, Assa., in thickets of Primus, Cratcegus, Sym-
plioricarpus, -md willows of various kinds.
museum spe':imens.
Sixteen; six taken at Indian Head, Assa.. in September, 1891
one at Old Wives' 'Vreek, Assa., .n Mav, 1895, four at Medicine
Hat, Assa., in May, 1894, four at Agassiz, B.C., in May, 1889, and
one at Cascade, B.C., on the International Boundary, in June, 1902;
all by Mr. Spreadborough.
Fou'' sets of eggs. One of five eggs taken at Medicine
Hat, Assa., June 3rd, 1894, one of five taken at Old vVives
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
411
Creek, Assa., Ma- 30th, 1895, both by Prof. Macoun. Two sets
of eggs, five and six respectively, taken at Edmonton, Alta., May
22nd, 1897, by Mr. W. Spreadborough.
CLXXXII. QUISCALUS Vieillot. 18 16.
5116. Bronzed Grackle.
Quiscalus quiscitla aneus (Ridgw.) Stejn. 1885.
A summer migrant in Newfoundland, but rare. {Reeks.)
Rare in Nova Scotia ; only three specimens seen. {Dowfis.)
Rare in King's Co., N. S.; one observed May 3rd, 1895,
{H. Tufts.) Migrants arrived at Shulee, Cumberland Co., N.
S., March 12th. {C. H. Morrell.) One pair seen at Tracadie,
Prince Edward Island, nth July, 1888. {Macoun) A pair of
these birds in Mr. Earle's possession were the only ones he had
ever seen on Prince Edward Island. {Dwight.) An abundant
summer resident in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain) Very rare
in the Restigouche valley. {Brittain & Cox) A common summer
resident at Scotch Lake, York Co., N.B. {W. H.Moore) Taken
at Beauport; a common summer resident in Quebec. {Dionne.)
An abundant summer resident in the Montreal district; breeds in
the city; observed here from April 1st to October nth. {Wifitle.)
Fort Churchill, Hudson Bay. {Wright) York Factory, Hudson
Bay. {Dr. R. Bell) Several seen near Sea Falls and on the
lower Echimamish, June 24th, 1901 ; common down to Oxford
House, but none seen below. {Prebles)
A common summer resident in the Ottawa district. {Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) A :ommon summer resident, but the flocks
that collect in the fall are not so large as formerly, I notice. I
saw lione on the Magdalen Islands ; arrived on Wolfe Island,
April 2nd, 1901. {Rev. C.J. Young) A common breeding species
in the Muskoka and Parry Sound districts; at Kearney they nest
in old woodpecker holes. (/. H. Fleming) Abundant every-
where along the shores of the lakes in Algonquin Park; young
ones able to fly by June l8th, 1900. {Spreadborough)
Abundant at Pembina where it was breeding in June in the
hollows of trees. Occurred sparingly along the Mouse (Souris)
River in the fall, and during 1874 vvas traced westward to the
Rocky Mountains. {Coues) An abundant summer resident in
Manitoba wherever there is wood and water; it apparently extends
as a straggler northward to Hudson Bay. {Thompson- Seton) A
13
412
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
common summer resident in the wooded parts of Assiniboia,
at Indian Head, where nests were taken June 20th, 1892; one nest
was on the side of a large poplar tree, in a bunch of small twigs
that grew out from the side of it about 10 feet from the ground;
also at Medicine Hat, and nesting in Cypress Hills in 1894;
in May, 1895, "ests were taken in holes in Acer Negundo near the
mouth of Old Wives' Creek, eastern Assiniboia. First seen
at Edmonton, Alta., April 24th, 1897 ; quite common by May
31st ; found a nest in a balsam stub. Nest composed of weeds
lined with grass. Incubation had been going on for about a week;
next found a nest with young lately hatched. {Spreadborough.)
Very abundant at the Grand Rapids of the Saskatchewan.
{Ntitting.) Breeding abundantly between the forks of the Sas-
katchewan. {Coubeajtx.) Breeding abundantly from Winnipeg,
Manitoba, to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta.
{W. Raine.) 1 hose birds arrive on the Saskatchewan about the
beginning of May and soon after pair and commence to breed.
They build their nests like rooks, several in the same tree and
occasionally in the loose sticks of an osprey's nest. {Richardso?i.)
North to Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie River ; rare. {Ross.)
Breeding Notes.— In the neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ont., this
species nests in a tree or bush. Its nest is built of mud ; lined
with grass and rootlets, horse hair and leaves. Eggs five to six,
bluish or greenish with purple veining and clouding with dark-
brown and blackish. {G. R. W.iife.) This species nests in barns
on islands and intervales along the St. John River, N.B.; some-
times there being three and four nests in one barn. They are
usually built on beams or in the angle of a post and brace of the
framework. The eggs number from three to five and are hatched
by May 24th. {Mf. H. Moore.) Numbers were building in holes
of dead ash-leaved maple at Old Wives' Creek, Assa., in May,
1895. One nest was taken on May 30th in a clump of tall choke-
cherries. It was about six feet from the ground and was about eight
inches across and built of the stems of various weeds. The inside
was plastered with earth and afterwards lined with grass stems
and a little horse hair. It was shaped like the nest of Brewer's
blackbird, but smaller. {Macoun.)
museum specimens.
Six ; one taken at Belleville, Ont., in May, 1880, by Prof.
Macoun ; one at London, Ont., by W. E. Saunders ; two at Indian
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.
413
Head, Assa., in April IQ02, one at Old Wives' Creek, As:,a., in
May, 1895, a"d one at Medicine Hat, Assa., in April, 1894, all by
Mr. W. Spreadborough.
Four sets of eggs. One set of nine in nest and one on ground
taken at Manotick, Carleton Co., Ont., June ist, 1899, by Mr. H.
Frechette ; nest in a pine tree about 12 feet from the ground,
made of twigs. A set of six eggs, taken in choke-cherry trees at
Lake Manitoba, June 15th, 1889, by J. B. Tyrrell. One set of five
eggs taken at Ottawa by Dr. James Fletcher. One set of four
eggs taken near Edmonton, Alta. May 31st, 1897, by Mr. W.
Spreadborough.