188 PROCEEDINGS OP THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



42. Purple Finch arrived. — On February 17, I observed a 

 flock of Purple Finches (Carpoclacus purpureus), the first of the 

 season. — Geo. E. Atkinson. 



43. Note on winter birds. — The following have been received 

 by Mr. Cross since last meeting : 



One Snowy Owl (N'yctea nyctea), shot at Port Hope on Febru- 

 ary 16. 



One male Black-backed Gull {La/rus marinus), shot on Lake 

 Ontario ; length, 2 ft. 7 in. ; wing, 20 ; tarsus, 3^ ; middle toe, 3^ 

 inches ; extent, 4 ft. 7 in. ; weight, 4 1 lbs. 



One Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) a male, from Weston, 

 on February 7. 



Four Snowbirds (Plectrophenax nivalis), from West Toronto on 

 Febniary 8. 



On the 8th of February also I saw a flock of thirty snowbirds 

 on the sandbar. — James R. Thurston. 



44. Albino Robin. — Last summer I was shown a white Pobin 

 {Merula migratoria) that had been shot in North Toronto by Mr. P. 

 Nurse. — Geo. E. Atkinson. 



(Sixth Meeting, March 5, 1889). 



45. Saw-whet and other early birds. — A little Saw-whet 



Owl {Nyctala acadica), was brought into the store from west of the 

 Humber, it was found lying dead but stUl grasping a mouse, its latest 

 victim, in its claws. It was in good condition and no cause could be 

 assigned for its death. 



46. A Screech Owl {Megascops asio) was received on February 

 27 ; like the majority of specimens taken in this region, it was in the 

 gray phase of plumage. 



47. Purple Finches {C. purpureus) were noted in the Queen's 

 Park on March 3. — James R. Thurston. 



48. Red Crossbills at Toronto. — I observed a flock of these 

 birds in the Queen's Park on March 3. — ^Hubert H. Brown. 



