162 



We take much pleasure in congratulating our esteemed corresponding 

 member for having produced one of ehe very best bulletins ever yet 

 sent out from any of the United States Experiment Stations. The 

 language is plain, the matter is well arranged, and the illustrations are 

 good ; merits which cannot but commend it to agriculturists, the people 

 for whom it is prepared. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



To the Editor of the Ottawa Naturalist : 



Sir, — In answer to the letter of Mr. W. E. Saunders in the 

 Ottawa Naturalist lor August, I beg to say that when I visited the 

 marshes near Kars in 1883, I, unfortunately, was not in a position to 

 secure any specimens of the birds I took to be Short-billed Marsh 

 Wrens (Gistothorus stellaris). As my visit took place seven years ago, 

 my recollection of what occurred is not very distinct, but I remember 

 seeing a large number of what I believed to be Short-billed Marsh 

 Wrens, and getting quite close to a few of them. [ was not, however, 

 familiar with the species, nor was I then aware of its limited range. I 

 had no doubt at the time of the correctness of the identification, but 

 would have made an effort to fuither verify it before placing it on 

 record had it not been for the fact that one of my co leaders in 

 Ornithology, Mr. Geo R. White, reported the capture of a female of 

 the species near the Rideau on the 22nd of June of the same year. 

 (See "Transactions" 1883-4, p. 141). This, I concluded, settled the 

 matter. I have never seen the skin taken by Mr. White, but I pre- 

 ume it must still be in his collection. 



Yours truly, 

 Ottawa, August 5, 1890. W. L. Scott. 



Note. — The above note was sent to me by Mr. Scott immediately 

 after the appearance of Mr. Saunders's letter, but was accidentally mis- 

 laid. The delay, therefore, in its appearance must be attributed to the 

 Editor.— J. F. 



The following interesting letter has been handed to us for publica- 

 tion by Prof. Macoun : 



265 Yonge St., Toronto, Nov. 23rd. 



To the Naturalist of the Geological Survey, Ottawa. 



A few days since, I received for monnting, a very uncommon bird- 

 which proved to be a hybrid between a Pintail Duck and a Mallard- 



