152 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March 







were found breeding among some maples near Oak Bluff, fourteen 

 miles south-west of Winnipeg, Man., in 1917. A second couple have 

 nested near Treesbank for some years past, and a third breeding pair 

 were observed near Stockton. At Souris, Man., which borders the 

 prairie country, no less than seven pairs were inhabitants of the village. 

 Observations made around their nesting grounds indicates that the 

 species is less pugnacious than its better known ally the Kingbird. It 

 is also less conspicuous on account of its habit of resting more among 

 the trees instead of on top of them. Both species breed in very similar 

 situations and have been found inhabiting the trees at opposite ends 

 of gardens. Naturally birds with homes so close together and natures 

 not too amiable, are apt to resent each other's presence, hence there is 

 a perpetual squabble which seems to be especially fostered by the 

 Kingbird. Many combats take place in consequence, which as a rule 

 are decided in favour of the Kingbird, unless this species attempts to 

 invade the other's home, when the tables are turned. 



The Arkansas Kingbird, like its rival, is somewhat noisy, but its 

 notes constitute more of a continuous twitter without any of the loud 

 harsher cries of defiance so characteristic of the Kingbird. There is 

 every reason to suspect that a better knowledge of the species will 

 show that it breeds in the shelter belts of many gardens - within the 

 province, as it seems to prefer the haunts of man to those strictly 

 natural. 



The Black-throated Blue Warbler in Manitoba. 

 The writer recorded this species (Dendroica caerulescens) from 

 Aweme in The Ottawa Naturalist some years ago, but the record 

 was questioned in Macoun's List of Canadian Birds. This Warbler is 

 among the easiest to identify on account of its unusual markings, 

 which makes it difficult to confuse with any other. The observing of 

 an old male on September 13, 1917, at close range should be sufficient 

 to establish the bird's right to a place on our lists. Both examples 

 were met with in the same woodlot at Aweme, Man. 



NOTE. 



It is perhaps characteristic of the west that the first Museum to 

 obtain from the post-office department the. right to have its bulletin 

 mailed to soldiers by the simple means of affixing a one-cent stamp to 

 the cover, should have been the Chicago Art Institute. The idea is an 

 excellent one. Some of our museum bulletins are much more interest- 

 ing to the average reader than others, yet there are few that would not 

 have an interest for a soldier from the town in which it was published. 

 It is to be hoped that the example of Chicago will soon be followed by 

 other museums. 



