81 



flesh as well as in the pocket. In coaipensation there are other species 

 which furnish us with food and raiment, and many which are o'ojects of 

 exquisite grace and beauty. 



W. HAGUE HARRINGTON, 

 J. B. TYRRELL, 



Leaders, Entomological Branch 1882-83. 

 IGth March, 1883. 



REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGICAL AND OOLOGIOAL 

 BRANCH FOR THE SEASON OF 1882. 



To the Council of the Ottawa Field- Nattiralists^ Club : 



The leaders have much pleasure in reporting that during the past 

 year a number of members of the Club have taken an active part in 

 the local development of Ornithology and Oology, and that some impor- 

 tant work has been done. 



In order to facilitate work, sub-excui'sions were held periodically 

 during the collecting season, to various localities in the vicinity of the 

 city. On two of them, held on the 24th May and 19th July respec- 

 tively, the nesting place of a colony of great blue herons (Ardea hero- 

 dias, L.), was visited. This heroniy (which is known to have existed 

 for many years, having been visited by the Ottawa Natural History 

 Society in 1868), is situated on the north bank of the Ottawa River, 

 about half way between McCaul's Bay and the village of Thurso, and 

 is distant about 25 miles from the city. It is located in the centre of a 

 thick swamp, which, on the occasion of our first visit, was so deeply 

 submerged as to bar all ingress. On the 19th July, however, the water 

 was but knee deep. After proceeding about half a mile into the swamp, 

 our attention was arrested by a peculiar sound, which we at first thought 

 must proceed from some distant saw-mill, or steamer on the river. As 

 we advanced, however, the sound resolved itself into most extraordinary 

 noises, some of which strongly resembled the barking or yelping of dogs 

 or foxes. On penetrating still deeper into the swamp, we discovered 

 that the noises proceeded from immense numbers of herons, some 

 perched on the branches of the trees, some sitting on their nests, and 



