262 NOTES ON BIRDS PALMER. 



the claws aud beak of its enemy, and for a time proved by its maneu- 

 vers to be more than a match for the hawk. But at hist, completely 

 exhausted, it fell a i)re3^ ouly to the superior endurance of its captor. 



Pandion haliaeetus carolinensis (Omel.). American Osprey. 



But few seen ; one off Cai)e Race, Newfoundland, eight miles from 

 land. Several pairs at the Miugan River, and several in George's Bay^ 

 off Cape Breton Island. 



Ceryle alcyou (Liim.). Belted Kiugfisher. 



Quite common at the Magdalen Islands ; only seen elsewhere at the 

 mouth of the Mingau Eiver. 



Colaptes auratus (Linn.). Flicker. 



A single bird of this species seen near St. John's was the only wood- 

 pecker met with. 



Empidonas flaviventris (Baird). Yellow-bellied Flycatcber. 



Two specimens were collected near St. John's, July 19th, in clearings 

 in the woods where evidently they were breeding. No other flycatch- 

 ers were found, though diligently looked for. 



Otocoris alpestris (Liun.;. Horned Lark. 



Found only at Penguin Islands and Canada Bay. At the former 

 place (a low, flat, grassy island) several old birds were seen, who, dur- 

 ing our visit, perched on the bowlders that surround the island, and 

 two young birds, which were evidently bred at the island, were col- 

 lected. At Canada Bay a few old birds were found at the Cloud Hills, 

 at an elevation of nearly 1,000 feet. 



Corvus corax uobilis (Ridgw.). Northern Raven. 



By no means abundant; quite a number were seen in Canada and 

 Black bays and flying on the Straits of Causo, generally in flocks of 

 five or six. At the former places they would visit the shore at low tide 

 to feed upon the dead and dying capelin, which were left in abundance 

 on the beaches. Every attempt to get near the wary birds proved futile, 

 but at Black Bay one at least owed its safety only to the exasperating 

 abundance of that intolerable nuisance, the black fly. 



Corvus americanus (And.). American Crow. 



Common at the Magdalen and Mingan Islands; several were also seen 

 near St. John's. At Miugan we were told that ravens were abundant 

 there; none were seen, though crows were quite common; evidently 

 no distinction is made, and to the natives they are all ravens. 



