20 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April 



Wood Duck — j^ Lv sJ)onsa (Linn) 



A pair were observed by Mr. White near Duck Island on 

 the 26th 



Cooper's Hawk — Accipito- Cooperi (Bonap) 



A male was seen bv JVIr. White on the 27th. 

 Tree Sparrow — Spizella tnonticola (Gmel) 



Seen by Mr. Macoun at the Experimental Farm on the 

 28th. 

 Wood Pevvee — Coutopus virens (Linn.) 



Seen by Dr. Fletcher on the 28th. 

 Phoebe — Sayornis Phoebe (Lath.) 



Seen by Miss Harmcr on the 29th. 



Mr. W. E. Saunders, London, Ont , in a letter to Dr. 

 Fletcher gives the following dates on which he first recorded the 

 arrival of some of the birds at London. These are very interest- 

 ing for comparison with our Ottawa dates : 



Robin, 8th of March ; Meadow Lark, 9th ; Bluebird, 9th ; 

 Kildeer Plover, loth ; Bronzed Grackle, loth ; Song Sparrow, 

 lOth ; Red-winged Blackbird, loth ; Tree Sparrow loth ; Red- 

 tailed Hawk, nth ; Junco, i ith ; Flicker, 17th ; Kingfisher, i8th, 



Mr. Saunders says :- "Birds are not exceptionally early here, 

 this spring ; but just about the average or, even a little late. 

 Flowers however are early. Snowdrops were in bloom a week 

 ago, Crocuses and Eranthis about 17th, Erigenia in my garden 

 on 19th. 



With regard to the dates of arrival of the birds, doubtless 

 most of those noted on loth, could have been seen a day or two 

 previously. I have often noted that my own opportunity, 

 rather than the presence of the birds marks their recorded 

 arrival here. To obtain really reliable records of arrivals, one 

 should have begun for this year on March 5th, and each day 

 walked lo or 20 miles along the railroad. He would then be 

 prepared to hear the birds if they were here. As it is, one 

 chances to hear a Bluebird on March 9th, and records it as the 

 first, whereas if he had been walking a few miles away on the 

 7th, he might have seen a little company of them." 



