355 



llEPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGICAL BRANCH FOR THE 



YEAR 1885-86. 



To the Council of the Ottaioa Field-Naturalists Club : 



Although we cannot make as brilliant a showing in the present 

 report as we did in that for last year, yet much valuable work has been 

 accomplished, especially in the noting of the times of arrival and depar- 

 ture of an increased number of species. Only four new species have 

 been added to our local list, as against nine added last year ; still this 

 may be taken to bear witness rather to the thoroughness of the work 

 during former years than to any lack of it during the year just past. 

 Yet, there must, unquestionably, remain a large number of species still 

 undiscovered, the presence of which it must be the duty of local 

 Ornithologists in coming seasons to detect and recorJ. 



The following are the four newly ]-ecorded species above referred 

 to. The numbers refer to the new A. O. XJ. Check List, from whicli 

 the nomenclature is taken : 



47. Larus marinus. Great Black-Backed Gull. One individual 

 of this gull was seen on May 2nd, 1885, near Kettle Island, on the 

 Ottawa, in company with ten or twelve herring gulls. 



70. Sterna hirundo. Common Tern. A male bird of this species 

 was shot near the St. Louis Dam on June 29th, 1885. 



238. Tringa maritima. Purple Sandpiper. Shot on the bank of 

 the Rideau River on October 29th, 1885, by Mr. W. Forbes. 



646. lielviinthopldla celata. Orange-Crowned Warbler. A male 

 bird of this warbler was obtained near the eastern end of the city on 

 September 2Tth, 1885, by Master Ted. White. 



The following arc among the more important captures made during 

 the year : 



GO. Larus pliiladelplua. Bonaparte's Gull. Specimens of this 

 gull were obtained on June 9th and September 17th, 1885. 



135. Anas strepera. Gad wall. A female of this species, rare with 

 us, was shot on the Ottawa, from a small flock, October 29th. 



202. Nijcticorax nycticorax ncevius. Black-crowned Night Heron. 

 A specimen obtained on Octuber 2nd. 



239. Tringa macidata. Pectoral Sandpiper. Sejitember 20th. 



