Vol -™ V ] General Notes. 479 



I noted occasional signs, and also procured a specimen, but their numbers 

 were negligible. Grouse too, were scarce. 



The significance of the whole thing dawned upon me when on November 

 7, the first day after my return to Southern Ontario, I noted several Horned 

 Owls, which was an uncommon occurrence. The day previous a friend had 

 observed three. These birds were lazily perched in the open hardwoods 

 enjoying the sunshine, and quite apparently oblivious to their surroundings. 

 This is contrary to the usual secretive habits of the birds when here. 



Continuously throughout November these owls were frequently ob- 

 served and many were shot for taxidermic purposes. After this month 

 their numbers were reduced but signs of their killing, usually a luckless 

 Cottontail, was noted with greater frequency than is usually the case. 



Personally, the ingress of Goshawks was not noted as exceptional, 

 although greater numbers may have prevailed in other localities. Each 

 fall sees a certain influx of these destructive birds, with their bold propensi- 

 ties for domestic fowl, much to the vexation of most poultry-men. 



To reiterate: The point of interest lies in the fact that the Horned Owls 

 were apparently absent from the north country at the time of my trip 

 October 20-November 6 ; common on my return to Preston, Ont. November 

 7, and apparently so at other points in southern Canada; with their 

 subsequent invasion of the northern States, which I assume immediately 

 followed as indicated by Mr. Brockway's communication to ' The Auk.' — 

 J. Dewey Soper, Preston, Ont. 



Picoides arcticus in Florida. — Through the courtesy of Mr. J. D. 

 Allen, of Mandan, North Dakota, the writer is privileged to record a 

 specimen of the Black-backed, or Arctic, Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides 

 arcticus), which Mr. Allen collected himself on Pablo Creek, northeastern 

 Florida, about March 20, 1875. Pablo Creek enters the St. John River 

 a few miles west of Mayport, and the point at which this Three-toed 

 Woodpecker was taken lies well up toward the source of this stream, which 

 would make it some distance southwest of Mayport, the exact number of 

 miles being now not determinable. The specimen is an adult male in 

 perfect plumage, although by reason of being mounted is now in somewhat 

 dilapidated condition. It has never been out of Mr. Allen's possession, 

 and his recollection of the circumstances of its capture are penectly clear 

 and conclusive. It is an astonishing record for the State of Florida, and 

 ■one that is not likely ever to be duplicated. The occurrence of a far 

 northern species such as this so far south of its normal range naturally 

 invites speculation as to the probable cause of its presence there, but it 

 certainly was not a cage bird. — Harry C. Oberholser, Washington, D. C. 



Early Nesting of the Northern Pileated Woodpecker in Penn- 

 sylvania. — According to the experience of field oologists of Pennsylvania, 

 the right time to find fresh clutches of the Northern Pileated Woodpecker 



