A 2 McKinlay, Field Notes from Pictou County, N. S. [January 



hungry birds, and they may be seen here diligently probing for a 

 dinner. 



Pictou, owing to its geographical position, lies within the line 

 of bird migration, and is annually visited by many of the aquatic 

 species. 



The earliest to arrive here during the vernal migration is the 

 Canada Goose, and even if the weather has been stormy the advance 

 guard usually put in an appearance during the first week in 

 March, followed by a large flock some ten days later. Should south- 

 erly winds prevail, other large flocks appear, moving at a much 

 greater altitude than did the first comers. About the Sth or ioth 

 of April the bulk have reached here. From this point northward 

 their movements seem to be much influenced by the weather, and 

 often after leaving here and encountering ice and head winds they 

 have returned. About the 20th of April the main portion are 

 usually away, though a few stragglers are met as late as the 

 middle of May. Those which tarry longest with us often pair 

 before proceeding northward. 



In the autumn, should the temperature suddenly lower and cold 

 north winds prevail, the first comers — small parties, mainly 

 young birds — are seen as early as the first week in September, 

 and their appearance is considered a sign of an early winter, 

 though this does not always prove correct. The largest flights 

 pass us from the first to the middle of October. A large number 

 generally withdraw to some favorite feeding ground in a well 

 screened cove, and feasting on nutritious sub-marine plants, reach 

 the extraordinary weight of eighteen pounds. Many of these 

 stay until the waters are on the point of freezing, and occasionally 

 some which have tarried for the last possible mouthful have been 

 seen as late as Christmas, hurrying southward at a great height. 



The Brants arrive here in the spring, later than the Geese, and 

 remain a month longer. On their first arrival they are in very 

 poor condition and do not appear to recruit much before the mid- 

 dle of May, after which their obesity increases perceptibly, and 

 by the first of June they attain their highest state of edible per- 

 fection. 



For a few days previous to their starting northward they visit 

 the seashore and sand-beaches where they can obtain small 

 quartz pebbles, locallv termed 'ballast,' and then, congregating at 

 one central rendezvous, they await for a southerly breeze, when, 



