164 



The Canadian Pield-Naturalist 



IVOL. XXXVI 



35. Cyanocitta cristata. Blue Jay. Through- 

 out spring and summer the Blue Jays are fairly 

 common, but for the most part silent. In Sep- 

 tember, when the first chilly days come, they be- 

 come more or less abundant in small roving flocks 

 in woods and clearing and are more noisy. 



36. Perisoreus canadeyisis. Canada Jay. In 

 my experience the Canada Jay is not a summer 

 resident about North Bay. Although I spent 

 much of the summer of 1903 and all of 1904 in 

 this vicinity, it was not until late in September, 

 1904, that I actually saw the species. Then while 

 grouse-shooting I came suddenly upon a little 

 flock of them in the thick woods. Although they 

 kept in the higher branches of the trees, the one I 

 secured had a grasshopper in its stomach which 

 had probably been secured in a neighboring grassy 

 clearing. Several were seen during .the winter 

 and occasionally they appeared in the town gar- 

 dens where they seemed quite at home. 



[Corviis corax. American Raven. Although 

 I never positively identified Ravens at North Bay 

 nor had opportunity for directly comparing sus- 

 pected birds with Crows, I saw several times Crow- 

 like birds with an apparently different flight, 

 which croaked hoarsely or grunted instead of 

 cawing clearly.] 



37. Corvus brachyrhynchos. AMERICAN Crow. 

 Tolerably common permanent resident. Seen 

 in flocks in varying numbers all the year, particu- 

 larly in summer on the lake shore where doubtless 

 they are attracted by the refuse thrown upon the 

 beach. 



38. Molothrus ater. CowBlRP. A rather 

 rare summer resident. During the whole season 

 of 1904, I saw only three Cowbirds. I attribute 

 this to the densely wooded nature of the locality, 

 there being but one open pasture field where it 

 would be likely to find cattle, in the proximity of 

 which they are usually seen. 



39. Sturnella magna. Meadowlark. -Very 

 rare summer resident, probably for the same reason 

 that the Horned Lark is rare ^lack of open coun- 

 try. The only actual record I have is that of 

 a specimen in immature plumage collected Sep- 

 tember 21st. I thought I had seen it previously 

 on the 19th. This was in a large field called "The 

 Park". I think the Meadowlark may be found 

 near Azilda on the C.P.R., where there is much 

 more open country and some crops are raised. 



40. Euphagns carolinus. RuSTY Grackle. 

 The Rusty Grackle appears to be a transient 

 visitant. I first met it suddenly in a large flock in 

 September in a rough clearing. They were all in 

 the "rusty" plumage and appeared restless, mov- 

 ing hastily through the clearing. The whole 

 flock kept up a constant babbling chorus which 

 could hardly be called a song. From that date 



on they became more and more common until at 

 length it was no rare thing to meet a flock of fifty 

 or so at any time. 



41. Quiscalus quiscula. Bronzed Grackle. 

 These Crackles are always abundant on the lake 

 shore and by Chippewa Creek where they appear 

 to find plenty of food along the shore. They live 

 chiefly upon refuse and drowned insects sometimes 

 thrown up by the waves in great numbers. Also 

 seen in The Park. As fall approaches they become 

 less common. 



42. Pinicola enucleator. Pine Grosbeak. 

 Very common winter resident. Small flocks of 

 from five to ten might be found almost any day 

 here and there in the woods. They were generally 

 seen near the ground, feeding on berries and buds 

 that showed above the snow. A common food in 

 Manitoba is Wolf-berry, Symphoricarpus occiden- 

 talis. 



43. Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch. 

 Abundant summer resident. To be seen at all 

 times in the summer, especially amongst the 

 deciduous trees. They have a marked preference 

 for Poplars, coming, probably, in search of insects 

 that are attracted by its sweet smell when it is in 

 flower. In May and June they are especially 

 abundant and in full song but as fall approaches 

 they become less noticeable or depart. 



44. Loxiacurvirostra minor. American Cross- 

 bill. A few seen on one occasion during the 

 winter of 1903-4. 



45. Acanthis linaria. Redpoll. Abundant 

 in winter and early spring. Although I have seen 

 large flocks of these little birds in the thickets and 

 on edges of clearings I was never able to distinguish 

 any but the common variety among them. My 

 earliest winter record is the middle of November 

 (1903). 



46. Astragalinus tristis. American Gold- 

 finch. Common summer resident. The Gold- 

 finch is most abundant in May and June, decreases 

 in number as summer advances, but in fall is still 

 tolerably common in loose roving flocks. From 

 May till July they are in full song but as August 

 comes and fall approaches their song is replaced 

 by a plaintive two-note call. I have no record of 

 the Goldfinch in this country in winter but there 

 is no reason why they should not occur as do the 

 Redpolls which they resemble in habits. 



47. Plectrophenax nivalis. Snow Bunting. 

 Found very commonly along the beach in late fall 

 before the heavy snow has fallen. In small 

 companies or a few pairs they run along the frozen 

 sand as shore birds might. Occasionally I have 

 found them in the clearings inland. 



48. Passerculus sandwichensis. SAVANNA 

 Sparrow. Although tolerably common, it is 



