all 
396 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
more helpless offspring ; and pays him, as avarice and cruelty ought 
always to be paid, with mortification and disappointment.” 
In a great number of eggs in my collection, from many 
different localities, some specimens are nearly pure-white, 
while others are smeared with some blotches or confluent 
dabs of yellowish: whether these are stains caused by 
moisture or dirt, | am ignorant; but they are permanent, 
for I cannot remove them by water or alcohol. I judge they 
are stains from the earth or decayed vegetation on which 
they were laid. Their form is pyriform; and their average 
length about 1.20 inch, and greatest width 1 inch. 
NOTES. 
I continue Mr. Couper’s notes, made at Quebec, Lower 
Canada : — 
ECTOPISTES MIGRATORIUS. — The Passenger Pigeon is not so common 
in this portion of Lower as in Upper Canada, where they breed in large 
numbers. They are found breeding in the eastern townships of Lower 
Canada; but I have not ascertained that they breed in this district or north 
of it. JI remember at one time finding a nest of this pigeon in the woods 
north of Toronto: it contained a single young one. I believe there are 
many instances of its breeding in solitary pairs, something like the Wood 
Pigeon of Europe. 
ZENAIDURA CAROLINENSIS. — The Carolina Dove has never been noticed 
in Lower Canada. It occurs occasionally in the woods north of the city of 
Toronto, where, I believe, it breeds. 
TETRAO CANADENSIS. — This species is very common from October to 
February. They are in prime condition during the last month. It breeds 
on both sides of the St. Lawrence, but more common on the south. During 
the above months, there are generally six males to one female exhibited 
on our markets. The inhabitants inform me that females are very scarce 
during winter. This is a parodox to me, when I know that both male and 
female feed on the same tree. What is also astonishing, the nest and eggs 
of this bird are as hard to discover in spring as the female is in winter. I 
have offered to purchase every nest of this species brought to me; but, 
strange to say, I have not been fortunate in seeing one yet. 
BONASA UMBELLUS,— Common. Breeds. I have repeatedly found the 
nest of this species 
