196 The Ottawa Naturalist. (February 



him, I noticed at once a most beautitul, and, to me, extraordinary 

 rainbow, if one may use that name for a bow higfh in the heavens 

 on a day when no rain had fallen. The bow was 25 or 30 deg^rees 

 in diameter and was almost exactly overhead, lying- perhaps 5 de- 

 grees north-west from the zenith, and there it hung-, like a crown, 

 over the earth — a complete circle, with every part brilliant and 

 perfect. None of our party had ever heard of such a bow before, 

 but reports have been made since then of similar phenonema 

 having been seen in former years. It would be of much interest 

 to know the causes of such an unusual occurrence, and any par- 

 ticulars as to locality and meteorological conditions attending its 

 appearance. 



W. E. S. 



The killing of small birds by boys and young men has for 

 some years been attracting the attention of bird-lovers, but it has 

 seemed impossible to prevent or even restrict the slaughter ot the 

 little songsters, especially during the migratory season when they 

 are most numerous. Cheap rifles and shotguns are responsible 

 for much of the destruction as they are now in the hands of ten 

 boys where one possessed them a few years ago. The members 

 of the Club and all who are interested in preserving the birds and 

 their young will learn with pleasure that, acting on repiesenta- 

 tions made to him by a committee of the Club, the Hon. Frank 

 Latchford has offered to appoint a special oflficer next spring 

 whose duty it will be to see that the law is enforced. He will lay 

 all informations and make the necessary prosecutions, but will in 

 some degree be at the service of the Club's members in tha ney 

 will be free to direct him to the districts in which the law is being 

 broken. It is hoped that the services of this officer, aided 

 by the activity of some of the Club's members, will do much 

 to stop the killing of small birds and the destruction of their eggs, 

 a scarcely less reprehensible pursuit. 



,^^SS.: 





