Taverner and Swales, on Birds of Point Pelee. 147 



than a few days. Asking Gardner about the species later, he said 

 that about that time he noticed considerable flocks of small red birds 

 that he was unacquainted with on the Point. The White-winged 

 Crossbill is a much rarer visitor in this section than its relative the 

 American. See Auk, XXIV, 1907, p. 145. 

 121. Astraf/aUnus tristis. — American Goldfinch. 



Seen without exception every day we have been on the Point. Less 

 common in late fall and early spring than at other times. October 

 29, 1905, but one was noted, though on the 14th and 15th of the same 

 month in 1906, they were common. March 9-10, 1907, we noted sev- 

 eral, and three on the successive days. At all other times it has been 

 common. 



HYPOTHETICAL. 



Spiling piinis. — Pine Siskin. 



March 10, 1907, we saw two or three finches that we were quite 

 certain were Pines, but as we failed to collect them and the light 

 was very poor for glass work, we could not be absolutely certain of 

 our identification. The following June 1st Saunders reported hear- 

 ing two on the inner edge of the woods that fringe the east shore be- 

 yond the crossroad. Mr. Saunders is quite certain of his identifica- 

 tion, and as this was a most peculiar spring, with all the migrations 

 more or less disorganized, we accept even this late record witliout 

 any very great mental reservation. 



INTRODUCED. 



Passer doniesticiis. — House Sparrow. 



Point Pelee is no more free from this "Undesirable citizen" than 

 the adjoining territory. Fortunately for the Point, it is not abun- 

 dant far from towns, but there is always a fair-sized flock to each 

 group of farm buildings. 



122. *Passerina nivalis. — Snowflake. 



Of course the Snowflake is but a winter migrant on the Point. 

 October 29, 1905, we found a few on top of the eastern sand dune 

 along the lake shore the whole length of the Point. They did not oc- 

 cur in large flocks, but in singles and pairs scattered along here and 

 there. Through the winter of 1906-07 Gardner reported large flocks 

 of them on the marshes, but when we arrived there March 9 he told 

 us that he had seen the last about a week previous. 



123. *Po(iecetes gramineus. — Vesper Sparrow. 



Not a uniformly distributed bird, but locally common, more es- 

 pecially late in the fall (October). They are usually common in the 

 weedy corners of the waste flelds near the end of the Point; and 

 here, and in like places, we have always been able to find them on all 

 visits except that of March 9 and 10, 1907, which was, of course, 



