94 THE KEPORT OF THE No. 36 



The Fox (Vulpes pennsylvanicus) is still common in the hill country. 

 Travelling in the train on one occasion I saw, through the car window, a fox 

 hunting for mice and ground birds in the meadows below. The animal paused, 

 lifted up its head, and with the utmost nonchalance watched the train go by. 



Among other wild animals that frequently, or occasionally visit our mount- 

 ainous districts, are the Bear (Ursus americanus), the Lynx {Lynx canadensis), 

 the Eaccoon {Procyon lotor), the Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatus), the Hare 

 (Lepus americanus). 



A hunter told of seeing tracks of a Sable (Mustela americana) on Pound Top, 

 the highest of the Sutton peaks. 



BiKDS. 



Of birds that are seen on our hills many are summer visitors. These mostly 

 arrive about the 10th or 15th of May. I saw, season after season, in the maple 

 woods near the frontier that handsome bird the Scarlet Tanager {Piranga 

 erytliromela, Vieill), and his modestly attired mate. The notes of the male some- 

 what resemble those of the robin. 



The Pose-breasted Grosbeak (Hahia ludoviciana, Linn.) was another fine 

 bird that now and then adorned the fields and woods. 



Welcome to every one was the dear little Bluebird {Sialia sialis slalis, Linn.) 

 which came to cheer us with its sweet notes, and to render its services to the 

 husbandman and fruit grower. 



Wilson thus sings in its praise : 



" He flits through the orchard, he visits each tree, 



The red-fl)Owering peach, and the apple's sweet blossoms; 

 He snaps up destroyers wherever they be, 



And seizes the caitiffs that lurk in their bosoms; 

 He drags the vile grub from the corn it devours. 



The worms from the webs where they riot and welter; 

 His songs and his services freely are ours. 



And all that he asks is in summer a shelter." 



One day, approaching a stump about six feet high, I disturbed a female of 

 this species. She had a nest in a hole near the top of the stump and in it were 

 five bluish eggs. 



The American Goldfinch (Astragalinus tristis, Linn.) is another welcome 

 visitor. I found a nest of this species in a bush "hj the road-side, on one of my 

 early excursions on Mount Eoyal. It was beautifully formed, compact, and lined 

 with down. In it were five white eggs tinged with blue. 



When we lived at South Quebec, my wife purchased a young canary from a 

 cottager at Hadlow. The woman said to her, " Here is a little bird I should like 

 to give you. I bought it when it was a fledgling from a boy who had robbed a 

 nest; and it has been brought up with the canary. The birds would be lonesome 

 apart." My wife took it; it was a goldfinch and a great pet it has proved. In the 

 spring it assumed its lovely golden dress — the toga virilis of its kind. This it 

 puts off in its September moult. 



When we moved to Hull the two birds were put in one cage which was 

 wrapped in a shawl. When uncovered it was found that the goldfinch had been 

 injured in one eye. It lost the sight of it. Then the other eye was affected, and 

 it became totally blind. It seems to have become quite reconciled to its lot. 



It is interesting to mark the tokens of perfect confidence it has in its mistress. 

 It hears her voice; and it calls to her for its morning greeting. It comes to the 



