14 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April 



writer has been so early as the present one, and the following 

 dates seem worth putting on record for future reference. 



The Horned Lark, which generally may be looked for in the 

 middle of February, was this year three weeks behind time. 

 Every other record, however, is far in advance of the usual date 

 at Ottawa. Leaving my house on the morning of March 15, a 

 lovely warm day, I first noticed a pair of English Sparrows carry- 

 ing straws to their nest. On a mountain ash tree Pine Grosbeaks 

 and Cedar Waxwings were seen eating the berries. Bohemian 

 Waxwings were looked for but none were observed. On the road 

 to th Experimental Farm, flocks of Pine Siskins and Chickadees 

 were busy in the cedars as though to add their testimony to that 

 of the last named and to remind us that winter was not yet gone. 

 In contradiction to this idea. Song Sparrows were on this day 

 heard for the first time not a single bird, but several singing 

 their joyous song from the topmost branches of the alders in a 

 piece of swamp land. Robins appeared in numbers also on this 

 day, although single birds had been seen several days earlier. As 

 the Experimental Farm was reached, numerous Crows, some of 

 which had wintered in Dow's swamp, were noisily proclaiming 

 that spring was actually here, and the modest little song of the 

 Horned Larks echoed the good news. Later in the day Red- 

 winged Blackbirds were seen among the rushes on the banks of 

 the Rideau canal. The next record was of the Cowbird on 

 March 22, Bronzed Crackles came in flocks on the 23rd, the 

 Bluebird on the 24th, and the Slate-colored Junco on March 27. 

 As a rule the Song Sparrow is the first arrival and may be 



expected about March 28. 



" Frogs" were heard whistling vociferously at the very early 

 date of March 25. 



The first flowers of the year were Snowdrops on March 26, 

 in sheltered spots, Crocusses on March 29 in similiar places, and 

 Siberian Squills on 31st. The Silver Maple, usually our first wild 

 plant to blossom, had fully expanded flowers on March 30, but 

 Mr. W. J. Wilson observed some blossoms on his record James 

 street tree on the 26th ; my earliest previous record was April 2 

 in 1898 On March 30 also Hepaticas in bloom were collected at 

 Hull, and on March 31 the swam Alders had some catkins fully 

 expanded. 



'" J J. F. 



