I goo] Macoun — Ornithology. 21 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



Bird Notes. 

 By W. T. Macoun. 



Spring is the best time to begin a study of our birds. Almost 

 every day for several weeks there are new arrivals to help main- 

 tain one's enthusiasm once it has been aroused. There are few 

 species of birds in Canada, compared with the number of insects 

 and plants, and they are so readily recognized after a little study 

 that it is surprising more people do not know a greater number of 

 them. Will not some of the younger members of the society 

 begin a study of our birds this spring ? They will find themselves 

 well repaid. 



Few birds were noted last winter, and the Pine Grosbeaks 

 which often come in great numbers were seen but rarely. Birds 

 were again late in criming this spring, though net quite so late as 

 last year. The following list has been compiled from notes made 

 by various observers this spring. As a rule, when a bird is ob- 

 served several days after the first record, the date is not published 

 as it would make the list too cumbersome. 



1899. 



Nov. 2 — White-winged Crossbill, Loxia lencopt'era. Flock of a dozen. 

 Miss Harmer. On Nov. i6th, Mr. C. Guillet saw seven feeding 

 on alder seeds near Patterson's creek, three of which were males. 

 He saw two more on Dec. 4th. 



Jan. 9 — Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter velox. One seen by Mr. Geo. 



R. White. 

 18- -Pine Grosbeak, Pinicola enncleator. F'lock of a dozen eating 



tamafac buds. Dr. James Fletcher. A flock of six was seen by 



Mr. Geo. R. White on March 9th. There are no other records 



of this bird. 

 Peb. 4 -Saw-whet Owl, Nyctala acadica. One seen by Mr. W'hite, and 



one found dead in ashed in Jannary by Mr. J. A. Guignard. 

 II — Prairie-horned I. ark, Otocoris alpestris praticola. Two seen by 



A. B. Rowan-Legg near Hurdman's Bridgs. Seen by Dr, 



Fletcher at the Experimental Farm on Feb. 14th. Numerous 



after that date. 



12 — American Crow, Conms americanus. Mr. Geo. R. White. 

 Crows could be seen from time to time at the Experimental Farm 

 all winter, but this is the first definite record. Mr, While j-ays 

 the migration occurred on March 17th. 



