26 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. T. 



SEVENTEENTH MEETING. 



Seventeenth Meeting, 8th March, 1890, the President in the chair. 



Donations and Exchanges since last meeting, 59. 



Messrs. R. Dewar and F. W. Barrett were elected members. 



Mr. Ernest E. Thompson read a paper on " Canadian Faunal Lists." 



Mr. Harvey referred to the unusual irruption this year of both kinds 

 of Grosbeaks. He had never heard of the Yellow Grosbeak coming 

 here before. 



Mr. Thompson said this was the first year it had been known in New 

 England. They were never found before in such numbers. They had 

 been found in former years. The best known record is that of Mr. 

 Collins, of Woodstock, in 1854. It was impossible to explain what 

 brought them here in such numbers, unless, as Dr. Brodie had explained 

 it, it was the effect of the frost in the branches of the trees containing the 

 fruit which were broken off and covered with snow. This caused them to 

 seek out other regions. Birds seem to go where they will get food ; the 

 climate is not of so much consideration. The question of food during 

 the winter season is the principal if not the only reason of their migration. 



Mr. Harvey referred to the Baltimore Oriole being found during the 

 summer in the neighborhood of Pelee Island. The summer there was 

 about the same as that of Memphis. The migration of birds to that 

 peninsula from the south-west was very remarkable. It was wonderful 

 to see the immense number in the County of Essex, making the woods 

 brilliant with their plumage. The Baltimore Oriole was common near 

 Toronto, but not so much so as formerly. Speaking of migration, it was 

 still an obscure subject. It was clear that birds did not follow some 

 blind instinct, but were guided by certain circumstances. Some explained 

 it as arising from a traditionary instinct derived from their ancestors. 



EIGHTEENTH MEETING. 



Eighteenth Meeting, 15th March 1890, the President in the chair. 

 Donations and Exchanges since last meeting, 45. 



Prof Ellis was elected Delegate to the next meeting of The Royal 

 Society of Canada. 



