96 



The Ottawa Naturalist. 



[August 



its curious mouse-like shaped nest, and mentioning that although 

 this nest is difficult to find yet it was often discovered by the 

 female cow-bird, and used as a means for the rearing of her 

 young at the expense of the rightful tenants; the Redstart; 

 the Wood Thrush, and Wilson's Thrush. 



In speaking of the insects, Mr. Gibson mentioned the in- 

 terest now taken in Mosquitoes owing to the important part 

 they play in the spread of malaria, 37ellow fever, and other 

 diseases. He spoke of some of the early butterflies, which had 

 been noticed for the first time, namely, the Large Yellow Tiger 

 Swallow-Tail ; the Clouded Sulphur; the Northern Dusky-Wing, 

 and the Spring-blue. Bumble-bees, he also said, were particu- 

 larly abundant, remarking that in the spring of 1907 there were 

 very few specimens on account of the severe open winter of 

 1906-7, which killed them. Bumble-bees are very valuable in- 

 sects on account of the good work they do in fertilizing red 

 clover. He showed specimens of the cocoons of the Hickory 

 Halisidota Tussock-Moth. These insects were enormously abun- 

 dant in August and September of last year, and much anxiety 

 was caused in Eastern Canada by the caterpillars attacking fruit 

 and other trees. Other insects collected during the afternoon 

 were exhibited by Mr. Gibson, and questions were answered in 

 regard to them. 



An interesting find of the afternoon was a specimen of the 

 Grass Snake, a species which is not over common in the vicinity 

 of Ottawa. A. H. 



BIRD MIGRATION, 1907. 



OBSERVATIONS MADE ON SABLE ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA. 

 BY JAMES BOUTEILLER. 



NAME OF SPECIES. AVHEN FIRST 



SEEN 



Redpoll Jan. 20. . . 



Nuthatch " 20... 



Saw-whet Owl Feb. 21... 



American Robin March 1 . . . 



American Crow , 



vSlate-coloured Junco April 



White-throated Sparrow 



Canada Goose 



AmerJ-^an Robins 



Belted Kingfisher 



Fox Sparrow 



Terns 



Greater Yellowlegs 



NUMBER 

 SEEN 



One. 



24 " 



1 Sever'i.l. 



1 



S Two. 



1 L Several. 



14 One. 



14 Several. 



26 A few. 



28 One. 



-m 



