Vol. XXI 

 1904 



I A. K. Fisher, In Memoriam : Hiomas Mcllvjiaith. 



Those who are acquainted with the subject will see that it is 

 necessarily incomplete ; but it will be easy to add the names of 

 such species as may yet be found. In order that the Hst may be 

 strictly local, no species has been mentioned which has not been 

 found within six miles of the city limits." 



The list included 202 species, which speaks well for his ornitho- 

 logical activity during the four years prior to its appearance. 

 Many of the annotations are of interest from the standpoint of dis- 

 tribution and abundance forty years ago. Under the capture of 

 Lanius ludovicianus he says : " Two individuals shot in April, i860. 

 Not observed prior to that date." In a footnote he makes the 

 following statement : " It is possible that this may prove to be the 

 Collyrio excubitoroides of Baird, as, according to that author, L. 

 ludovicianus is found only in the South Atlantic and Gulf States ; 

 while C. excubitoroides has been gradually advancing from the west, 

 and might be expected to occur about this time. Without compar- 

 ing specimens, it is difficult to distinguish between the two." 



It is of interest to note that the only trinomial appearing in the 

 list (in the case of the Lesser Scaup Duck) is written in the recent 

 approved style, without the interpolation of var., comma, or Greek 

 letter. In the 'Canadian Journal' for January (pp. 6-18) and 

 March, 1861 (pp. 129-138), appeared 'Notes on the Birds 

 observed near Hamilton, C. W.' In these notes Mr. Mcllwraith 

 gives a most entertaining account of the birds found in the vicinity 

 of his home, treated in groups and prefaced by remarks on Wilson, 

 Audubon and the recent ornithological activity in the United 

 States. 



The following extract relating to Grebes is of interest at the pres- 

 ent time : " In some parts of the European continent the skin of 

 the Grebe is much prized as trimming for ladies' dresses ; and in 

 olden time, when the fowling piece was a less perfect instrument 

 than at present, considerable difficulty was found in supplying the 

 demand, as the Grebe being a most expert diver, disappeared at 

 the first flash of the gun, and was under water ere the shot could 

 reach it. Since the invention of the percussion cap, however, they 

 are more readily killed, and were any of our Hamilton ladies desir- 

 ous of having a dozen or two of Grebes skins for trimming, I have 

 no doubt the birds would be forthcoming. At present there 



