200 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



has been in business. I can say much the same myself, for this year 

 already 1 have liad six fine specimens more than all put together that 

 I have had in the previous years I have been in Toronto. 



134. A flock of Short-eared Owls. — A. flock of over fifty of 



this species (Asio accipitrinus) was seen on the sand-bar of Ash- 

 bridge Bay, December 5. Seven specimens were killed at three 

 shots and brought to me. 



135. Razor-billed Auk at Toronto. — The capture of this 



species {Alca torda), on Toronto Bay on December 10, is one of the 

 most interesting bird events of this fall. The specimen answers exactly 

 to the description in Ridgway's " Manual," except that it has the white 

 line from the eye to the base of the culmen, and this should be absent 

 at this season. The following ax-e the measurements : — length, 1 Cl- 

 inches ; extent, 25| ; wing, 7| ; tail, 3J ; tarsus, Ix^g- ; culmen, 1| ; 

 depth of bill, |. Back, black ; secondaries, tipped with white : 

 under parts, pure white ; space behind the eye, dusky white. 



136. Snowy Owls. — This species {Nyctea nyctea) is very plenti- 

 ful this year, eighteen having been brought to me already. I have 

 been struck by the fact, not generally known I believe, that this bii-d 

 has "horns " or " ears." I have paid particular attention to this fact 

 this season, and find that tlie feathers of the horns are fully one-eighth 

 of an inch longer than the surrounding feathers, and very much 

 darker in colouring or spots. I find them in every specimen I ex- 

 amine, though tliey may easily escape notice in a dried skin. Three 

 of my specimens were collected on Toronto Island on December 10, 

 and all were from the neighborhood of Toronto city. 



137. General notes. — The following have been received at the 

 store since last meeting : — Lophodytes cucullatus, male, Toronto, 

 November 9 : Bubo virginianus, Davisville, November 22 ; another, 

 Harrietsville, December 5 ; Nyctala acadica, Todmorden, December 

 10 ; Falco cohtmbarius, male, Ashbridge Bay, December 6 ; a pair 

 of Ceophloeus pileatus, male and female from Haliburton, November 

 29 ; Ficoides arcticus, from Parry Sound, December 2 ; Pinicola 

 enucleator, Wells' Hill, Toronto, December 3 ; Lanlus borealis, 

 Toi'onto, December 10, remarkable for the dull faded brown of its 

 plumage. — Wm. Cross. 



138. White-breasted Nuthatch, wintering at Toronto. 



