Notes on Land and Sea Birds. 411 



ARTICLE XXXII.— Notes on Land and Sea Birds observed 

 around Quebec. By J. M. Le Moine. 



(Presented to the Natural History Society.) 



The plan followed by G. W. Allan, Esq., of Toronto, and 

 W. S. M. D'Urban, Esq., of Montreal, of noting down seriatim 

 the habits of land birds, observed in the vicinity of those respec- 

 tive cities in 1853 and in 1856-7, seems well calculated to throw 

 additional light on the Canadian Fauna, yet so imperfectly 

 known, 



I intend briefly to notice the birds which are common to the 

 Quebec, as well as to the Montreal District, together with some 

 other facts connected with the natural history of the country 

 generally. 



Surnia nyctea, the Snowy Owl, and Syrnium nebulosum, the 

 Barred Owl. — Both very common in the country parts of this 

 district. In March, their hooting is very familiar to those en- 

 gaged in maple sugar making on the slopes of the mountains. 

 The burning of old leather in the sugar hut — is sure to call forth 

 the snowy owl's most dismal notes, especially after nightfall. 



Corythus JEnucleator, Pine Grosbeak. — Plentiful in the winter 

 season, when they live on the berries of the mountain ash. 



Turdus miyratorius, Linn., Robin. — Abundant in the month 

 of May all round Quebec ; nowhere, however, have I seen them 

 in such numbers as in Gaspe, some years back. At the time I 

 allude to, they were shot by dozens at Point St. Peter, Gaspe, in 

 May and June, under the flakes, where they were attracted by 

 the fish maggots which fell from the spruce boughs where the 

 codfish were drying. In July they took to the woods to build. 



On the 2nd January, 1858, whilst driving, in company with 

 a friend, past Woodfield, near Quebec, the country seat of the 

 late James Gibb, I noticed a very fine male robin on a pine tree. 

 Robins, to a certainty, do not winter in this district. Whence 

 came the interesting stranger, has ever to me been a subject of 

 speculation and fruitless enquiry. Still I was too close to mis- 

 take an old friend. The Canada Robin, Bob-o-link, and Wood- 

 thrush, are, in my opinion, our best songsters. Several of our 

 land-birds have exquisitely rich plumage, such as the scarlet bird, 

 "le roi des oiseaux," to be found in the depths of the forest; the 

 Indigo bird, common on the mountains and behind Montreal ; the 

 Pivart, all three old inhabitants of the country, as appears on 

 reference to the description of Canada birds written in 1663, by 



