98 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist. 



[Vol. XXXV. 



son). Two young wolves were held in cap 

 tivity at the Catholic Mission, at Fort 

 Albany'. A large grey animal accompany- 

 ing two jet black ones appeared on the 

 shore of Albany River about 12 miles above 

 the Forks, Sept. 4th. The grey one ap- 

 peared to be a wolf, the other two may have 

 been Indian dogs, but pure black dogs are 

 rare. 



Northern C^iipmunk, Eutaniias quadri- 

 vittatus horealis (Allen). Common from 

 mouth of Pagwachuan River to English 

 River post, August 5th to 9th. 



Hudson Bay Squirrel, Scmrus hudsoni- 

 cus hudsonicus (Erxleben). Common a- 

 long whole route. 



Muskrat, Ondatra zihethica (Linnaeus). 

 Remains abandoned by Red-tailed Hawk 

 (sp.?), as we approached, about 10 miles 

 above Forks on Albany River, Sept. 3rd. 

 One seen on the Kenogami River, Sept. 6th. 



Northern Hare, Lepus americanus ame- 

 ricanvs Erxleben. Conspicuous by their 

 absence. Some signs seen. 



Moose, Alces americanus Jardine. Tracks 

 commons along Pagwachuan River. 



A calf passed close to our camp in the ear- 

 ly morning on the Kenogami River a few 

 miles below the mouth of the Pagwachuan 

 River, August 5th. Saw a cow on Keno- 

 gami River about 15 miles below English 

 River post, August 11th. 



Virginia Deer, Odocoileus americanus 

 horealis Miller. One reported shot on 

 Pagwachuan River late in July. Indians 

 had deer meat at Fishing Creek Island, 

 August 17th. 



Batrachians. 



American Toad, Bufo lentiginosus. Com- 

 mon along Kenogami and Albany Rivers 

 as far as Fort Albany, August 6th to 31st. 



Fish. 



Lake Sturgeon, Acipenser ruhicundus. 

 Five taken in one net at mouth of C/iipie 

 River, August 14th. Reported very com- 

 mon here. 



Sucker, Moxostoma, sp. ? Two taken in 

 our net at mouth of Chipie River, August 

 14th. These are the commonest fish along 

 the rivers traversed. 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



An Aquatic Habit of the Pigeons. 



For a terrestrial bird to exhibit any 

 aquatic habit, even though rarely, would 

 seem to be of interest and perhaps may have 

 an obscure significance. 



Some twelve years ago, I think it was, 

 on a very warm summer day, I was canoe- 

 ing on Lake Ontario near Toronto Bay. 

 About three domestic pigeons {Columba 

 livia, var. ?) circled once near me, lit grace- 

 fully on the calm surface of the lake, 

 remained there for a few seconds during 

 which time I believe t^iey drank, and then 

 rose easily and flew away toward the city. 



Never having seen or heard of such a 

 performance by pigeons, I was surprised 

 to the point of incredulity. Mr. C. W. 

 Nash was told of the incident and recol- 

 lected seeing pigeons light on Ashbridge's 

 Bay on one occasion. He believed at first 

 that they had lit on floating weeds, but he 

 decided later that the water was deep at 

 tjlie point in question. 



Mr. R. L. Strothers reported to Mr. Nash 

 that he had shot at an unknown bird as 

 it rose from his trout-pond where it had 

 alighted to drink, and was much surprised 

 to find that he had killed a Carrier Pigeon, 

 one of the races of the domestic pigeon. 



Harting' mentions that Wood Pigeons 

 {Columha palumhus) and domestic pigeons 

 have t^iis habit, and as he is one of the few 

 observers who mention it the item is worth 

 quoting. 



"In very hot weather Wood 

 (as well as house pigeons) may 

 alighting occasionally on the s'u 

 water to drink, and after a few 



flying off again (Field, June 

 July 3, 1875)." 



So far as I am aware most wr 

 the Passenger Pigeon (Ecfopisies 

 torius) make no reference to this 



Pigeons 

 be seen 

 rface of 

 seconds 

 26 and 



iters on 

 migra- 

 species 



1 Harting. Handbook of British Birds, p. 124. 



