I 899] 265 



REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGICAL BRANCH OF 



THE OTTAWA FIELD NATURALISTS' 



CLUB FOR 1898. 



As most, or in fact nearly all, of the results of the work of the 

 Ornithological Branch have appeared in The Naturalisi during the 

 past year, it is only necessary here to give a brief resume of what has 

 been done. 



Birds arrived early last spring, the Honaed Lark, which was seen in 

 1897 for the first time on the 22nd of FebriJary, being noted in 1898 

 on the 17th. The Song Sparrow was seen on the iSih of March in 

 1887, and .n the nth in 1898. The Robin on the 12nd of March in 

 1897, and on the 15th in 1898. From these few dates it will be 

 observed that the birds came about one week earlier this year than in 



1897. 



All those who had opportunities for taking ihe dates of the arrivals 

 ot birds kindly sent them to the ornithological editor and by consulting 

 ti e lists which appeared in the April, May, June, July and August 

 numbers ol The Naturalist it will be found that several members of 

 the Club have continued to show an interest in ornithology and have done 

 their part in bringing this branch of science before the public. 



In all, 123 species of birds were recorded this year, which is seven 

 more than in 1887, when 116 species were noted. 



Two new birds were added this year having been taken by Mr F. 

 A. Saunders. On the 17th of June he shot a specimen of the Short- 

 billed Marsh Wren in the Mer Bleue, and on the 24th he saw the Grass- 

 hopper Sparrow near Hull and again near the Experimental Farm on 

 26th and 27th, one specimen being shot on the 28th ; the Grasshopper 

 Sparrow was not taken previously nearer than the St. Clair Flats. 



One albino bird and one semi-albino were taken this year. The 

 first was an albion Cliff Swallow taken by Mr. Geo. R. White, a descrip- 

 tion of which appears in The Naturalist for January 1899. The 

 second was^a semi-albino Song Sparrow taken by Mr. C. H. Young on 

 the 26th of March, 1898, a description of which appears in the May 

 number for 1898. 



Notes have been briefly furnished during the year by persons liv- 

 ing in different parts of Canada, among whom may be mentioned Mr. 

 Wm. E. Saunders, London, Ont., Mr. Allan Brooks, Vernon, B.C., Mr. 

 Harold Tufts, Wolfville, N.S , and Mr. L J. Boughner, Long Island, 

 Lake Erie. 



An interesting observation this winter was made by Mr. C. H. 

 Young, who noted a Robin on the 2nd of January. One of the legs of 

 this bird wasstiflFand apjiarently useless, but it could fiy quite readily. 

 No grossbeaks had been noted up to February 4th 1899. Birds have 

 been very scarce this winter. 



W. T. Macoun, I 



A. G. Kingston, > Leaders. 



Gertrude Harmer, ) 



