^''^i^lO^"] EiFRiG, Rare Winter Birds at Ottawa. 57 



there, so noiseless are they. Beside rowan berries, they are also 

 fond of eating old apples, sumac berries, buds of maple, larch and 

 pine trees, and this year, because they stayed so long, they finally 

 turned to the litter of the rowan berries, which they had earlier 

 discarded. The first flocks arrived here November 5, and the last 

 wei'e seen ^larch 21. A flock of these birds on some evergreen trees, 

 especially if there are some bright males among them, is, when the 

 sun shines brightly, a pretty sight, such as I had on March 8 on the 

 Experimental Farm. The stomachs of six sent to Washington 

 contained seeds of Rubus, conifers, Vaccinium, ash, and buds of 

 several trees, in varying proportions in the different stomachs. 



In still greater numbers than the Pine Grosbeaks were present 

 the lively little Redpolls (Acanthi s linaria). Although they are 

 also very erratic in their comings and goings, they may always be 

 expected here with some regularity each fall and spring, even if 

 in vaiying numbers and of varying length of stay. So there were 

 many flocks here in the fall (1908), when the Loxia leucoptera also 

 were here. Then they disappeared for a A\hile to reappear about 

 January 24. Each day for a while added fresh flocks to their num- 

 bers until they were very plentiful all over the city and the out- 

 skirts. Often they would be seen in the company of English Si)ar- 

 ro^vs in vacant lots and waste places busily picking off the seeds 

 from tall weeds that were protruding from the snow; at other times 

 they were with the Pine Grosbeaks on and below the trees, eating 

 the debris of the rowan berries. From about April 10 large flocks 

 were roaming about the outskirts of the city, sometimes in such 

 numbers that over quite an area every branch and twig on every 

 tree and bush held one or more of them. A strange excitement 

 seems to take hold of them; they will then sometimes nearly alight 

 on one's head, like a flock that whirled about me on April 15. 

 Mr. Bedard, the rifle-range keeper, during three -ueeks about this 

 time daily saw large flocks, some of which he estimated at 2000 

 birds. And many of these flocks flew in a sonthcrhj direction ! The 

 last ones seen here left us on May 9. At times they are very tame, 

 allowing close approach, at others, very shy. Sometimes they 

 whirl about like Snow Buntings, but usually their manner of flight 

 and their notes are identical with those of the Goldfinch. They are 

 very fond of the seed of the various species of birch, where some 



