132 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct. 



NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF DURHAM, ONT. 

 By W. E. Saunders, London, Ont. 



The following observations were made during a brief visit 

 at Durham, covering the 20th to the 22nd of June, 1909, during 

 which time I stayed with Mr. William Mountain, who lives two 

 miles south of the village, and from whom I received valuable 

 information regarding some of the species. Interesting memo- 

 randa were also received from Mr. Chris. Firth, who resides 

 about two miles east of Durham, where he has lived for a number 

 of years. 



Durham lies about 28 miles south of the Georgian Bay and 

 about 40 miles east of Lake Huron. The latitude of Durham is 

 about 44-25' , and the elevation is 1,500 feet, or about 900 feet 

 above the lake. The tree growth consists largely of hardwoods, 

 such as maple, elm, oak, and beech, while the conifers are chiefly 

 balsam, cedar, and hemlock. 



From a visit of such short duration it would be impossible 

 to give a list of the birds of the vicinity, so I will limit my notes 

 to those that are deemed of special interest : 



Bob White; formerly rare, but now extinct; the last one 

 was seen about 10 years ago. 



Dove; rare, only one seen. 



Goshawk; prior to 20 years ago this bird bred in the country 

 immediately around Durham, but was not known to do so at 

 present by my informants. 



Black-billed Cuckoo; moderately common, but the Yellow 

 billed has not yet appeared. In 1900 I saw two near Wiarton, 

 but in my previous journeys into the North Bruce Peninsula, it 

 was not observed. 



Red-headed Woodpecker; rare. 



Bob-o-link; rather rare. 



Meadowlark; common. 



Cowbird; rather rare. 



The total number of the various sparrows observed is as 

 follows, arranged in order of abundance: 



Vesper 130 Savannah 21 



Chipping 80 Swamp 18 



Song 75 Junco 18 



Goldfinch 38 Chewink 12 



Indigo 38 Purple Finch 8 



White-throated 36 Rose-breasted Grosbeak. . 4 



Mr. Firth told us that the Chewink had arrived about 1905. 

 but was not observed previously. I saw two of these birds 



