124 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. | VoL. THE 
A number of observers were of opinion that the birds frequented the 
same localities until the supply of food was exhausted. On the southern 
slopes of the hills north of the city and of the Don ravines, the snow 
soon melted away, and the fallen seeds of Prunus, Cretagus and Fraxinus 
were abundant under the trees, and of course the birds were found 
feeding on the ground. 
The food of this bird in Manitoba is the seeds of the box elder, 
Negundo aceroides, (Nash) the seeds hang on the trees during the winter 
and are picked off by the birds, but although many pistillate trees of this 
species grow on the Don flats and hill sides, which were heavily loaded 
with fruit, the birds were not observed to feed on them, nor did any of 
the dissections reveal the presence of Megundo seeds. 
The range of food as shown by stomach dissections was not large. 
Seeds of Robtnia pseudacacia, Cretagus coccinea, Fraxinus americana, 
Pyrus acuparia, Prunus virginiana, Prunus serotina, Acer saccharinum, 
Hamamelis virginiana, Juntperus communis, Juniperus virginiana, and 
although not shown by dissections, they were observed to feed on seeds 
of apples which were hanging on the trees. The birds freely entered the 
residential parts of the city, and fed on the seeds of the European 
mountain ash, an abundant ornamental tree. They were quite 
unsuspicious and tame, and were unmercifully and wantonly killed 
with clubs, catapults, revolvers, pea-rifles, and many were taken alive 
with a slip-noose attached to the end of a long stick. We have 
collected reliable information of 453 specimens, which were collected 
in and near Toronto, most of which were made into skins or mounted 
by taxidermists and students of ornithology, but the actual number 
killed must have exceeded 1000. 
Several living pairs were collected and kept for some time in cages, 
but they did not pair. At this time, February 17th, 1892, we know 
of but one living specimen, a female, in excellent condition —EDITING 
COMMITTEE. 
Since last date given, no birds have been noticed at Toronto to date 
of going to print. November 25, 1892. 
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