III. — Notes on Nova Scotian Zoology: No. 3. — By Harry 

 Piers, Assoc. Member A. 0. U., Halifax, N. S. 



(Bead May 14th, 1S94. ) 



Two series of these notes have already appeared in the Trans- 

 actions of the Institute of Science. The present contribution, 

 owing to the scarcity of unusual occurrences relating to other 

 divisions of our zoology, is almost entirely confined to records of 

 new or rare birds recently observed in the province. More than 

 ten species are thus noted which were not mentioned in the late 

 Mr. Andrew Downs's catalogue*, a few of wdiich are also new to 

 the ornithological fauna of the Dominion of Canada. Of course, 

 most of these are stragglers from their regular habitats. 



I have not been able to chronicle any item of great importance 

 regarding the mammals of the province. As a consequence of 

 their non-migratory habits, they are in one way less likely to 

 present novel incidents for record than a class, such as the birds, 

 which is composed of animals able to go at will from one region 

 or country to another. On the other hand, the study of the 

 habits of the former will still repay any labour devoted to it, for 

 owing to their being thus confined as individuals to a limited 

 range, they are more liable to the development of local charac- 

 teristics than most of the latter animals, which are wanderers of 

 cosmopolitan tendencies 



During the summer of 1892, 1 was at King's College, Windsor, 

 Hants County, and thus had an opportunity of studying the 

 natural history of that district, and the relative abundance of 

 various species in the eastern and western parts of the province. 

 One or two observations upon the subject have been inserted in 

 the present paper. The faunal diflferences, however, did not 

 appear to be as great as those relating to the flora of the two 

 districts. 



» " Catalogue of the Birds of Nova Scotia." Trans, N. S. Inst, of Nat. Sc, vol. VII, pp. 142-178 



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