220 The Ottawa Naturalist. [February 



touched, later on it became a little shyer. It would utter a soft 



musical twitter, much like the 'beady" song' of its congener, 

 the cedarbird. 



The snowy owl [Nyctea nyctea) seems again to have given 

 Ottawa a wide berth, whereas further south many are reported. 

 I have seen one only, which had been shot about Nov. 15th near 

 Farrellton. 



Of the rare great grey owl {Scotiaptex cinereum) another 

 inhabitant of the fur countries of the far north, I have seen and 

 heard of four so far this winter, all ot which found their way into 

 the hands of Henry the taxidermist. * 



At the same place I found a specimen of the rare Richardson's 

 owl {Cryptoglaux tengmalimi richardsont) which had been shot 

 here on Nov. 16th. 



The'beautiful evening grosbeak {Coccoth-thraustes vespertinus) 

 has not put in an appearance so far, much as his presence is de- 

 sired. He is one of of the most irregular birds in his movements. 

 He may come at any time in winter, beginning or end, and stay 

 for a day or a month at a place, and then not be seen there again 

 for years, or perhaps come for several years in succession. 



Neither has the comical Canada jay {Perisoreus canadensis,) 

 the clown amongst our northern birds, deigned us worlhy of his 

 visit this winter. Instead he prefers to steal meat from the shanty- 

 kitchens in our northern words. Redpolls {Acanthi's ////aria) and 

 pine siskins [Pi/ins spirvus) may be seen in fovorable localities all 

 winter. They come and go without pretense to any regularity. 



Who can solve the riddle of the coming and going of these 

 birds ? 



THIS YEAR'S AWARD OF THE LVELL MEDAL. 



The many friends of Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, palaeontologist and 

 zoologist to the Geological Survey of Canada and one of its assist- 

 r.nt directors, will be pleased to learn That he has been awarded 

 the " Lyell Medal" by the Geological Society of London. The 

 presentation of this medal is made at a most appropriate time, as 

 Dr. Whiteaves has just completed the fiftieth year of his scientific 

 work. 



