18 



The Ottawa Naturalist 



[Vol. XXXII. 



More than one such invasion has taken place within 

 the last 30 years, and on each occasion there has 

 been a very marked reduction in the number of 

 grouse. This is, cf course, not to be wondered at 

 when we realize that a single Goshawk has been 

 known to practically destroy a flock of 50 sharp- 

 tailed grouse during the wmter. It is noteworthy 

 that these hawks seldom raid poultry yards and in 

 consequence are difficult to enlice within range of a 

 gun, but to those who have had experience, a flock 

 of pigeons have proved to be a useful attraction to 

 lure the Goshawks within range. 



It is quite impossible to touch upon all the ques- 

 tions this publication introduces with which in nearly 

 every case, the reviewer is in full accord. It might 

 seem, perhaps, that undue value is attached to the 

 Marsh Hawk which in Manitoba is rather a fre- 

 quent visitor of poultry runs and moreover, in its 

 juvenile state, when first learning to hunt for itself, 

 destroys many immature grouse. As an adult, how- 

 ever, there is no question of its great value to 

 agriculture. 



It is to the buzzards, however, such as the Red- 

 tail, Swainsons and Rough-legged Hawks that we 

 owe our greatest debt. These are truly Gopher 

 hawks and since they apparently kill more than 

 they can eat it is probable that their value far 

 exceeds the conservative estimate placed upon them 

 by Mr. Taverner even though in the case of Swain- 

 sons Hawk there are instances of poultry and wild 

 birds having been taken. 



As Mr. Taverner remarks, the eagles are rare. 

 They are liable to become still more so owing to the 

 mania for collecting them at every opportunity. So 

 far as their food is concerned, this is made up largely 

 of bush and jack rabbits. 



This bulletin is an excellent one carefully pre- 

 pared and provided with several useful text figures 

 as well as three colored plates showing most of 

 the hawks discussed in different phases of plumage. 

 It should be in the hands of every prairie farmer 

 or sportsman and if carefully read should do much 

 to dispel the prejudices which have been so wide- 

 spread and which have indirectly been a far greater 

 factor in reducing cur crops than is generally 

 supposed. 



N.C. 



Dragonflies (Odonata) of Alberta. By F. 

 C. Whitehouse, with two plates cf illustrations. This 

 pamphlet of 16 pages, published by the Alberta 

 Natural History Society is a valuable contribution 

 to the entomology of the province. 55 species are 

 listed and a brief description of each given. A key 

 to seasonal distribution is included, also a key to 

 the genera. 



Tenth Annual Report of the Quebec 

 Society for the Protection of Plants from 

 Insects and Fungous Diseases, 1917-1918. This 

 report of 92 pages has recently come to hand. It 

 contains a number of papers of value particularly 

 to the horticulturist or agriculturist, such as "The 

 White Pine Blister Rust in Quebec," by Henri 

 Roy; "Warbles and Bots," by A. E. Cameron; 

 "Ants and Aphids," by Father P. Fontanel, etc. 

 The report is published as a supplement to the 

 report of the Quebec Depar tment of Agriculture. 



A. G. 



Ernest Douglas Wintle. 



Ernest Douglas Wintle was born at Gloucester, 

 England, June 29th, 1852, and died at Montreal, 

 Que., July 19, 1917, at the age of 65. 



In a letter from his sister, we learn that "he was 

 always a lover of natural history", and coming to 

 Canada over forty years ago he kept up his interest 

 developing a good field knowledge in natural his- 

 tory subjects generally, but gradually focusing his 

 attention on birds, and after nearly twenty years' 

 close attention to the subject published his "Birds 

 of Montreal" in 1896; a book that is still our only 

 reliable guide to the birds of that region. Previous 

 to this, Mr. Wintle published several articles on 

 Ornithology in the Au}( and other journals, but 



ceased to do actiW^jv^^injhis field after publish- 

 ing his book, though his interest in Ornithology never 

 waned, as is shown by his private correspondence. 

 Mr. Wintle was at one time a member of the Ottawa 

 Field-Naturalists' Club, the Natural History Society 

 of Montreal, the Entomological Society of Ontario, 

 an associate member of the American Ornithologists 

 Union, and one of the advisory council of Bird Lore. 

 Mr. Wintle was buried in Mount Royal Cemetery, 

 Montreal. 



I am indebted to Mr. H. Mousley, of Hatley, 

 Quebec, for permission to use information contained 

 in letters written to him by friends and relations of 

 the late Mr. Wintle. 



J. H. F. 



(The November number of The Ottawa Naturalist was mailed on Dec. 18, 1918.) 



