500 Bird - Lore 



Burton, a member, the following notes made by him: At Oak Bay (suburb of 

 Victoria), while watching an Audubon Warbler this season, in May, I was sur- 

 prised to see an 'imported' Blue Tit fly at the bird I was watching and drive it 

 awav. Its actions made me think it was nesting nearby, and, after a careful 

 search, I was delighted to find its nest in a hole in a dead fir tree. The place 

 chosen for the nesting-site was a bad one for me, as the tree was alongside a 

 heavy-foliaged tree, which made it difficult to watch the birds. I soon discovered, 

 however, that the setting bird was a native Chickadee. I watched the pair of 

 birds every few days until the young had flown, but had no chance to see if 

 they showed any markings of the imported English Blue Tit. It would be 

 interesting to know whether the progeny of these birds will breed in the future. 

 The Dusky Horned Owls have been giving us great trouble here for the last 

 two winters, and it seems they are to be here again this year, for I have already 

 seen one and heard of others. I am told that there is a great scarcity of food 

 up North, so we can expect them here where they will find plenty. In the last 

 two years they have done much damage to game-birds, domestic fowls, and 

 geese. Two cases have come to notice of domestic cats having been seized, one 

 of which was dropped in the sea. 



Purple Martins have been almost entirely driven away by the English 

 Sparrows. Many pairs used to nest in this city, but only two cases are reported 

 this season. With regard to the preservation of game, I might say that a 

 Game Conservation Board has been formed, consisting of: The Curator of the 

 Provincial Museum, ex officio Secretary, the Chief Game Inspector, and three 

 members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Administration 

 of the Act is under the Superintendent of Provincial Police who is, ex officio, 

 the Provincial Game- Warden, and all constables are ex-ofiicio game-wardens. 



Orders-in-Council were passed as follows: Willow Grouse, no open season 

 in Western District (the Coast) ; sheep, no open season south of the main line 

 of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. During 19 18 the two lakes north of Vic- 

 toria, namely Elk and Beaver Lakes, were created a bird sanctuary. And 

 Mount Douglas Park, covering a small hill of that name, was made a game 

 reserve. A. S. Barton reports large flocks of Band- tail Pigeons seen this fall 

 at Salt Spring Island, where they were feeding largely on acorns. — Harold 

 T. Nation, Honorary Secretary. 



Neighborhood Nature Club (Conn.). — Our Club was formed about three 

 years ago, by Miss Martha Banks, of Westport, to interest bird-lovers more 

 deeply in winter feeding and protection and to increase the number of bird- 

 protectors. The Club numbers about 30 and meets monthly for exchange of 

 experiences with birds, for readings, and sometimes, as in May, 19 18, for a 

 delightful treat, such as an early breakfast with one of our Club members, 

 followed by a wonderful walk in the woods where the birds seemed to welcome 

 us by their willingness to sit and be watched for minutes at a time. 



