SO'G NOVA SCOTIAN ZOOLOGY — PIERS. 



I wish to thank Messrs. Purcell and Egan, taxidermists of 

 Halifax, for information regarding birds they have mounted, 

 and for the liberty they have given me of inspecting their 

 collections. To others, also, especially Mr. James McKinlay, of 

 Pictou, N. S., I am much indebted for particulars relative to 

 rare specimens. 



Mammals. 



Black Rat (Mus rattus). One of these animals was killed 

 by a cat in Mr. S. Dawson's country house, Pictou, in October, 

 1887. It is now preserved in the museum of the Academy. The 

 species is very rare in Nova Scotia, and Dr. J. Bernard Gilpin, 

 at the time he prepared his papers on the mammalia of the pro- 

 vince*, knew of only four instances of its occurrence. One 

 specimen was mounted by Mr. A. Downs, two others were pro- 

 cured by himself, and the fourth was given to him by Mr. J. R. 

 Willis. It has also been observed on the Pacific sea-board, but 

 nowhere has it penetrated far into the interior. 



Birds. 



Holbcell's Grebe (Colymhus holboelii). A male was shot 

 near Halifax, on 9th April, 1891. Another in full breeding- 

 plumage was killed on 25th April, 1894. Both were mounted 

 by Mr. Thomas J. Egan, of Halifax. In the spring, about five 

 years ago, the same gentleman obtained a specimen of the im- 

 mature bird — the only one he has ever noted. At this age, the 

 species for many years was erroneously described by naturalists 

 as the "Crested Grebe," owing to its resemblance to the British 

 bird of that name. 



Horned Grebe (Colymhus auriius). Mr. Downs only knew 

 of one instance of this bird having been taken in Nova Scotia. 

 It may be as well to record that the specimen which he referred 

 to, was one which had been set-up many years ago by Mr. Egan. 

 Since then, the latter taxidermist purchased two, male and 

 female, in full spring plumage, which were shot together at 

 Lawrencetown, Halifax County, on ITtli or 18th April, 1894. 

 They" were brought to Halifax on 21st April. Another, a male, 



* Trans. N. S. Inst. Nat. Sc, vol. II., pt. iv., p. 12. 



