1912] The Ottawa Naturalist. 115 



in the spruce and pine of the Black Hills of South Dakota, may- 

 be cited in illustration. D. frontalis and D. ponderosa attack 

 the living, healthy spruce and pine, and in spite of the resin 

 are able successfully to rear their young within the back. The 

 tunnels and mines thus formed interfere seriously with the flow 

 of sap, and either kill the tree outright or induce an unhealthy 

 condition favourable to the assistance of other borers and 

 fungous diseases. It seems very probable that many destructive 

 forest fires have been fed by trees dying or dead from the attacks 

 of Scolytids. At present D. miirrayanae is destroying Jack Pine 

 in Manitoba; and several species of Dendroctonus are destructive 

 to pine and spruce in British Columbia. D. valens is causing 

 more or less injury at present in pine and spruce in Ontario and 

 Quebec forests. 



The Timber-beetles, by driving their tunnels through the 

 wood in many directions, often render timber unfit for use. 



Hylastinus obscurus breeds in the roots of clover in many 

 parts of the Northeastern States and in Canada, and in some 

 localities proves a serious pest. 



Corthylus punc talis simus occasionally does considerable 

 damage in young sugar-maple plantations. 



Scolytus rugulosits, the fruit bark-beetle, attacks unhealthy 

 fruit trees, and occasionally bores in those apparent lv sound. 



Phlceotribus liminaris frequently attacks peach and cherry. 



Xyleborus dispar sometimes occurs in diseased or weakened 

 apple trees. 



BIRD NOTES, 1912. 



During February and early March three species of ducks 

 were seen in London, Ont., at the forks of the Thames, just 

 opposite Dundas Street bridge. Over this bridge the street 

 cars, waggons and foot passengers were constantly passing. 

 The ducks were apparently attracted to the spot bv a stretch 

 of open water, the severe frosts of last winter having rendered 

 such feeding grounds unusually scarce. 



Feb. 4th A. Merganser about 20, Golden Eve about 10. 

 Feb. 15th A. Merganser 43, Golden Eye 15, Old Squaw 2 

 (1 m. 1 f.). They were seen at intervals till well into March. 



A new record for Middlesex was the Red-breasted Merganser, 

 1 male, Thames River, near Springbank Park, April 27th. 



Observed in Victoria County at or near Sturgeon Lake: 

 Aug. 9th, one Black-bellied Plover; Aug. 16th to 30th, at 

 frequent intervals, Caspian Tern, possibly six at once: they 

 were usually with the A. Herring Gull or Ring-billed Gull. Two 

 specimens were taken, one young and one adult. 



J. F. Calvert, London, Ont. 



