115.★ Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch.—Not seen on the upper river at all and at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, only after I left. Young reports that beginning August 18, he noted one to five daily to September 7. He observes that they were feeding on the seeds of the black birch. One specimen, Camp 11, August 18. Listed by Farley as common at Red Deer though Horsbrough gives only individual records.
116.★ Loxia curvirostra. American Crossbill.—One specimen taken at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, July 21. It is a juvenile with clear skull but with the red beginning to replace the yellow plumage. About the face and throat is a powder deposit similar to that on a Jasper Park bird that was feeding upon woolly aphides suggesting that this bird was subsisting upon a similar diet. Farley regards it as common all winter, and I infer regular, but “never noted after May.”
117. Leucosticte tephrocotis. Rosy Finch.—Farley says,—“I have seen the Leucosticte in November around the coal mines in the Red Deer valley where you go under the C. P. R. bridge. They were the tamest birds I ever saw and I suppose had just blown down from the tops of the mountains.” He later informed me that he sent a specimen to W. E. Saunders, London, Ont., who pronounced it Gray-crowned L. t. tephrocotis.
118. Acanthis linaria. Redpoll.—Both Horsbrough and Farley report Redpolls in winter. The former identifies them as A. l. linaria and the latter says he “cannot say that he has been sure of more than one kind,” he thinks, “the smaller one.”
119.★ Astragalinus tristis. American Goldfinch.—Seen in limited numbers all along the river. At Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, Young reports large flocks feeding on the seeds of the wild sunflower Helianthis petiolaris in early September. One specimen from Camp 1 and four from Camp 11. All these birds are of a slightly deeper and richer yellow than eastern ones. The difference, however, is very little and only appreciable when numbers are massed together. I do not think that individual specimens can be recognized. In size there are more large birds in the western series, but the extremes in size, east and west, exhibit little, if any, difference. Under such circumstances I cannot see that it is worth while recognizing the Pale Goldfinch, pallidus in these specimens. Horsbrough refers his specimen to “A. t. tristis. Pale Goldfinch” (sic). With this conflict between scientific and vernacular terminology, it is left to surmise which he intends.
120.★ Spinus pinus. Pine Siskin.—A small flock seen at Camp 3. One at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, August 15 and 22. Specimens, Camp 3 and 11. Given as winter visitor by both Horsbrough and Farley.
121.★ Calcarius lapponicus. Lapland Longspur.—Seen at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, between September 10 and 15. Specimens, September, 13 and 15. Farley gives many April dates for both Red Deer and Camrose.
122.★ Calcarius ornatus. Chestnut-collared Longspur.—One seen, July 26 at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, becoming fairly common September 10 to 13 then no more until the 20th when two were noted. Specimens Camp 11, July 26 and September 13. Farley reports them very common in May and in autumn but does not remember them in summer.
123.★ Poœcetes gramineus. Vesper Sparrow.—Rare along the river valley but common whenever we visited the upper levels. Young reports it common up on the prairie and along the creek beds at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek. Nine specimens from Camps 1, 6, 8 and 11. They are obviously referable to P. g. confinis.
124.★ Passerculus sandwichensis. Savannah Sparrow.—Quite common in the more cultivated sections but scarce or absent over much of the river valley. At Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, very scarce at first, only two seen in August, but began to be numerous late in September. 13 specimens, Camps 1 and 11. Two types of coloration are exhibited in these specimens. Those from Camp 1 are all yellow eyebrowed birds, while amongst those from Camp 11 occur yellow and white eyebrows. Until a detailed study is made of Canadian Savannah Sparrows I do not care to make subspecific determination. P. s. alaudinus is the generally accepted form in Canada west of Ontario.