1911] The Ottawa Naturalist. 121 



year after year, but there is practically no increase in the always 

 scanty number of individuals. In truth, orchids seem to have 

 specialized too far or in the wrong direction. The marvellous 

 apparatus they have developed to ensure cross-fertilization 

 is only moderately successful. It was long ago noticed that a 

 large proportion of their flowers did not set seed, the appro- 

 priate insects having failed to visit them. And of the seeds that do 

 come to maturity only an infinitesimal percentage ever take root 

 and grow. They are an aristocratic but decadent family, that 

 in the struggle for supremacy, have been left far behind by the 

 pushing Ox-eye Daisy and the parvenu Viper's Bugloss. Rut 

 while we deplore the apparent lack of vitality and consequent 

 scarcity of these always interesting and often very beautiful 

 plants, we may perhaps find some consolation in the reflection 

 that at any rate none of them will ever be held up to public 

 execration in the Agricultural Department's book of "Farm 

 Weeds." 



NOTES. 



The Cardinal (Cardinal-is cardinalis, Licht.) at Ottawa. 

 A fine adult male cardinal was noticed by Col. Wm. P. Anderson, 

 in his garden at 64 Cooper St., on June 22nd, and in his own 

 and neighboring gardens for two or three days afterwards. It 

 was in company with the common robin and was apparently a 

 wild bird. It fed upon green rowan berries and the green seeds 

 of the lilac. The cardinal has been collected at several places 

 in western Ontario and two have been taken as far east as 

 Toronto. The bird seen by Col. Anderson may have escaped 

 from a cage, but it is not improbable that this individual came 

 north with other birds during the spring migration as it is not 

 rare in New York State up to lat. 40. 



J. M. Macoun. 



A Family of Sharp-shinned Hawks. During past seasons 

 many nests of eggs of Accipiter velox have been located, but no 

 sets of six have come under investigation. On August 6th, 

 while passing through some evergreen woods, I was attracted by 

 the cries of a Sharp-shinned Hawk. After a close scrutiny of 

 the spruce trees the nest was located in the top of one of them and 

 at first glance it could be seen that it was occupied, as the rim 

 was clogged with excrement and feathers. A nearer approach 

 revealed the tenants peering anxiously through the evergreen 

 boughs. When about an arm's length from the nest a formid- 



