280 



The winter birds were first notice! 0:1 the following dates : 



August 15 — Chrysoniitris pinus, Pine Finch. 

 October 20 — Plectrophanes nivialis, Snow Bunting. 

 Nov'br 8 — Pinkola enuclentor, Pine Grosbeak (one). 

 " 29 — ^Egiothus linaria, Common Redpoll. 



W. L. SCOTT. 



GEO. R WHITK 

 Hth January, 1885. 



REPORT OF THE ZOOLOGICAL BRANCH. 



To the Council of the Ottawa Field Natnralisls Club : 



In making up the report of the proceedings and researches of thia 

 branch during the past season, the same fact presents itself, which was 

 alluded to in our previous report, viz : What is left for us to report 

 when the various sub-branches of zoology have been so ably dealt with 

 by their respective leaders 1 But it affords us much pleasure to state 

 that the appeal made by us last year for members of the Club to note 

 down any interesting facts, has been partially responded to, and it is to 

 such notes that this report mainly owes its appearance. We again 

 request that all observations of any interest whatever be recorded this 

 year for further iise. 



Whilst the various branches of animil life, birds, insects, molluscs, 

 ttc, have occupied the attention of the Club, very little notice has been 

 paid to mammals. We had hoped to b3 able to prepare, as an appendix 

 to this report, a complete list of the mammals m3t with in this vicinity, 

 but as several data are not verified, we have deemed it more expedi- 

 ent to delay till next year this list, which we then hope to lay before 

 you verified and as complete as possible. 



The remark in our president's inaugural address that it would 

 astonish an ordinaiy observer, as well as many of our members, if they 

 only knew the close proximity of many mammals in their daily walks^ 

 which are invisible from vai'ious causes is quite correct. One of the 

 chief of these is the fact that many are nocturnal in their habits, and 

 lie concealed by day, whilst the passer by their retreat little dream* 

 of their nearness. How many of us, during our rambles, ever saw a 



