'IT. A. Seton, Interesting Records from Toronto. [October 



INTERESTING RECORDS FROM TORONTO, 

 CANADA. 



BY ERNEST E. T. SETON. 



As a result of the examination of numerous small collections 

 in the city of Toronto I am able to make the following more or 

 less extra-limital records. In every case I have examined the 

 bird myself, and though in most instances debarred by sealed cases 

 from taking measurements, etc., I am satisfied that the identifica- 

 tions are correct. Several occurrences of doubtful authenticity 

 are omitted. Some of those given are specially interesting from 

 their showing the tendency of many species to push farther and 

 farther to the north. The nomenclature is that of Coues's 'Key,' 

 first edition. 



I take this opportunity of thanking the gentlemen named below 

 for their courtesy in placing their specimens at my service. 



Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Polioptila coerulea. — A male in 

 full song was taken by myself at Toronto, May 9, 1885. 



Evening Grosbeak. Hesperiphona vespertina. — The 

 Rev. John Doel, of Toronto, showed me a fine female specimen 

 of this rare bird, taken at Toronto on Christmas day, 1854. Mr. 

 Doel observed a flock of five or six feeding on the berries of the 

 mountain ash, on Yonge Street. Two of these he secured, but 

 one was too much mangled to be kept. 



About Christmas, 1870, he observed another small flock but 

 failed to secure any. 



Lapland Longspur. Plectrophanes lapponicus. — Indi- 

 viduals of this species have occurred in company with P. niva- 

 lis almost every winter as far back as the records here extend. 



Yellow-headed Blackbird. Xanthocephalus ictero- 

 cephalus. — This species has been taken a number of times, in 

 company with the Red-winged Blackbird, by Mr. Wm. Loane, 

 who describes it as the Californian Blackbird. The specimen I 

 examined was taken by that gentleman ; it is now in the posses- 

 sion of Mr. Jacobs of Centre Street, Toronto. 



Common Crow. Corvus americanus. — Three albinos of 

 this species were observed in the country east of Toronto, about 

 three years ago. One of these was secured and is now in the 



