686 Mr. C. B. Horsbrugh : Ornithological Notes 



Colaptes auratus luteus. Northern Flicker or Golden- 

 winged Woodpecker. 



I noticed a specimen feeding on an ant-heap on April 21, 

 and after this date they became quite common. Through- 

 out the nesting- season I found many borings for nest-holes. 

 They seem to migrate early in the autumn. 



Tyrannus tyrannus. Kingbird. 



I observed a pair near Alix on April 4. Eggs were 

 found on June 10 near Alix by a friend, and on the village 

 lake I found a nest with four eggs and two others with 

 well-fledged young. This species is a common summer 

 resident. 



Corvns brachyrhynchus hesperis. Western Crow. 



This was almost the only bird observed during our run 

 from Halifax to Calgary, flying about singly or in small 

 flocks, generally close to the towns and villages en route. 



It is one of the commonest birds in this locality and is 

 most destructive to game. I noticed many nests of ducks 

 and other birds destroyed by crows. Several nests were 

 observed placed in low bushes about six or eight feet from 

 the ground. I found three crows' nests on May 21 close to 

 Alix, all containing five eggs highly incubated. The birds 

 were very tame, and fiercely mobbed me until I shot three. 



Pica pica hudsonia. Magpie. 



I observed a pair of Magpies close to the house on 

 September 12, and another pair on October 20 in the same 

 locality. 



Molothrus ater ater. Cowbird. 



At Alix a few of these birds arrived on April 17, where 

 they are common summer visitants. A friend found an egg 

 in the nest of a Clay-coloured Sparrow with three of the 

 rightful owner's, near Alix on June 10, and I found two 

 eggs in a Song-Sparrow's nest, which held five of the latter's, 

 in the same locality on June 14. 



