56 



The Ottawa Naturalist 



[Vol. XXXII. 



gopher formula. The next day they were given an 

 unmeasured amount, but all and more than they 

 would eat. The third day, by forced feeding, they 

 were each made to consume 2100 such grains. No 

 ill-effects resulted to either individual. The same 

 grain proved fatal to gophers on the consumption of 

 15 grains. Thus each bird had in one day eaten 

 enough active poison to kill 1 40 gophers without 

 perceptibly harmful results. 



The formula used was: 



Whole wheat 20 lbs. 



Strychnine sulphate Vi oz. 



Molasses 1 pt- 



Though grouse thus seem practically immune to 

 strychnine, we know that many other species of 

 birds are quite susceptible to it. Seed-eating song 

 birds. Mourning Doves, and even geese are readily 

 poisoned by it, and the greatest care should be used 

 in its distribution. Mr. David Lantz, of the U. S. 

 Biological Survey, remarks that clear grain scattered 

 in the vicinity of water does much to attract and 

 keep birds away from poisoned areas. 



It is not necessary, nor at this time, expedient, to 

 use wheat for poisoning purposes. Other grains 

 such as oats, are less attractive to many species of 

 birds, but are quite as effective against gophers. In 

 some of the work of the U.S. Biological Survey in 

 developing control methods against rodents, it was 

 found that where oats were used as a medium for 

 poisoning no Mourning Doves were killed, but on 

 accidental introduction of a small amount of wheat 

 in the mixture, they were poisoned in numbers and 

 dissection showed that they had picked out the wheat 

 while rejecting the other grain. 



The use of a cheaper and less valuable grain for 

 this purpose is also to be recommended for other 

 reasons in these days of food stringency. At all 

 times, however, the poison should be used with dis- 

 cretion and care. Small lots of poisoned grain 

 placed at strategic points, such as near or in the 

 mouths of burrows, is quite if not more effective 

 against gophers than is its use in more wide-spread 

 and wasteful manner, and is more economical in 

 material and valuable domestic and wild life. 



P. A. Taverner. 



Ottawa, Sept. 27, 1918. 



Diving Habit of the Spotted Sandpiper. 

 While on a canoeing trip down the beautiful Res^i- 

 gouche river, in September, Mr. M. B. Dunn and 

 the writer were one morning greatly surprised at the 

 unusual behaviour of a Spotted Sandpiper (Aciltls 

 nmcularia Linn.) Our canoe was gliding noise- 

 lessly down stream in smooth water about two feet 

 d:ep and a Httle sandpiper was skimming over the 



water ahead of us. It was as peaceful a scene as 

 anyone could wish. Suddenly there was a splash 

 and our little friend had submerged headfirst into the 

 water. In hot pursuit was a hungry pigeon hawk 

 (Falco columbarius columbarius) but the dive had 

 saved our comparatively slow-flying little friend. 

 When the sandpiper came up a few feet away from 

 the scene of his hurried dive, the hawk made an- 

 other swoop at him, but once again and without the 

 least hesitation the little bird went headfirst into the 

 water. Twice baulked by an animated breakfast 

 the hawk gave up the chase, and the day was saved 

 for our little friend. 



On the Restigouche these active little hawks are 

 very abundant and undoubtedly exact a heavy toll 

 from the small birds. The Spotted Sandpiper re- 

 mains abundant, however, and seems to owe its safety 

 to the rather unusual habit of diving. 



John D. Tothill. 



E. H. Forbush, State Ornithologist of the Com- 

 monwealth of Massachusetts, is developing a new 

 field of usefulness for his office in the study of bird 

 migration. He gathers current migrational reports 

 from a large list of correspondents and observers 

 throughout New England and adjoining parts of 

 Canada, correlates them and issues mimeographed 

 bulletins to those specially interested. By this means 

 interested investigators have their attention called to 

 passing phenomena while pertinent evidence is fresh 

 in mind and often in time to make additional ob- 

 servations on them while they are still in progress. 

 Bulletin IX, Sept. 16, indicates that there has been 

 a decided decrease in the number of breeding 

 warblers over a large area of New England the 

 past season, certain swamps have been deserted by 

 the Red-winged Blackbirds; Whip-poor-wills have 

 almost disappeared from some localities ; Tanagers 

 decreased locally, and House Wrens considerably 

 reduced in number. It would be interesting to see 

 how far these conditions extend and if possible find 

 some explanation for them. 



This sample of team work organized and directed 

 by the state is a good example to other public in- 

 stitutions and doubtless will produce important 

 results. 



P. A. Taverner. 



Note on the Burrowing Habit of Frogs. 

 In June, 1908, while working in the western part 

 of Kansas, I had the opportunity of observing some 

 habits of the Leopard Frcg. This particular section 

 is in the semi- arid belt and oflen, for three or four 



