I2 o The Ottawa Naturalist. [September 



EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF THE LATE ROBT. 



ELLIOTT. 



(Continued from Vol XIX p. 178.) 



Aug. 17. At edge of wcod opposite Mossey Cup Island I 

 found in a small rotten stub, nest of flying squirrel ; the female 

 and four young about half grown. Nest five feet from ground 

 in abandoned woodpecker's or blue-bird's hole, filled with fine 

 bark strips. The mother came out, passed to top of stub and 

 descended to foot of nearest tree. While I was examining young 

 she came close to hole but again crawled to the top and passed 

 away as before. 



Aug. 29. Examined stomach of racoon ; killed abcut 10 P.M. 

 in corn patch. Contents 2-3 green corn, 1-3 insects, chiefly black 

 beetles, but some red-legged locusts. In addition there was 

 about 30 white worms, round, thickness of a knitting needle and 

 about 1 1-2 to 2 inches long. Preserved three. Order Rema- 

 tcidea. 



Sept. 1. Fine, cloudless day- Saw alighting on dry, 

 ploughed ground about sixty golden plover. When they rose 

 and circled many times in the air, each time rising higher, they 

 formed an exceedingly beautiful sight, especially when in turning, 

 the sun was reflected in metallic opalescence. 



Sept. 13. Found Botrychium hmarioides,, perhaps var.. 

 obliquum, at Cough's. The Plover Mills Veronica is probably 

 V. agrostis but Gray says it is one to two seeded while this is 

 eight to twelve. 



Nov. 14. At Foster's saw six grouse, one woodcock and one 

 quail. The last named is now quite scarce in this neighborhood. 

 Mr. F. gave me one egg of whippoorwill which he found in leafy 

 woods in June. There was another one which he left. This 

 one has rather small lavender spots upon a white ground. It is 

 somewhat abnormal on account of the spots. 



Dec. 15. The bird shot by Mr. A. Ralph, of sixth concession, 

 Lcndon Township about Nov. 15th last is very probably the blue 

 goose, Chen caendescens (Linn). This is important and must 

 not be overlooked. 



