Vol. XlVn ^ r AT J 



jgg^ J General Notes. ^. 1 1 



earlj Avinter. This summer three Murres were observed early in July. 

 One was captured alive by Chas. ISI. Clarke on July 8, but died in a few 

 days, and the others were found dead by Mr. Edwin Beaupre, Jr., and a 

 friend, about a week after this date. All three birds died of starvation, 

 without doubt. 



The Knot {Tringa canutus), reported as very rare in Ontario, visits 

 Kingston from time to time, and on June 2, 1S97, Mr. Edwin Beaupre and 

 I saw several on Amherst Island, one of which was secured. The one 

 shot by Mr. Beaupre was with a large flock of Golden Plovers. 



Mcllwraith in his excellent work, ' Birds of Ontario,' reports the Bar- 

 tramian Sandpiper {Bartramia longicatida') as seldom seen in Ontario. 

 This bird has of late years taken possession of Simcoe Island, Wolfe 

 Island, Amherst Island and many of the fields between Lansdowne and 

 Napanee, a distance of fifty miles, and is found breeding freely. It is not 

 disturbed by the farmers and appears to be steadily increasing in numbers. 



The Black Tern {Hydroc/ielido?i nigra SHri'namens/s), not reported in 

 the east of Ontario, breeds at Kingston and Lansdowne. The Rev. C. J. 

 Young has taken eggs at Lansdowne, and this year I found several pairs 

 breeding in Cataraqui Marsh. Have observed the bird regularly for many 

 years. 



The White-rumped Shrike reported as rare by Mcllwraith in the east of 

 Ontario, is abundant about Kingston, probably owing to the fact that 

 several varieties of thorns are common here. — C K. Clarke, M.D., 

 Kingston, Ontario, Can. 



Rare Birds taken in Toronto and Vicinity. — Ammodramus leconteii. 

 Leconte's Sparrow. — A male specimen was given to me as an Acadian 

 Sharp-tailed Sparrow, taken May 5, 1S97, in Toronto. This is the first 

 one known to have been taken in Ontario. 



Colymbus holboellii. Holbcell's Grebe. — Six specimens have been 

 taken in Toronto between April 26 and May i, three of which are now in 

 my collection. 



Lagopus lagopus. Willow Ptarmigan. — While visiting a taxidermist 

 shop in Toronto my attention was drawn to this specimen, which was 

 taken in Whitby, thirty miles east of Toronto on May 15, 1S97. Having 

 a friend there I wrote to him, and he got for me the particulars about the 

 bird, which is now in my collection. It is in its winter plumage, with 

 the exception of a few brown feathers which are appearing about the head 

 and neck. The tail-feathers have a slight brown tinge. Sex not given. 



Ardetta neoxena. Cory's Least Bittern. — A male was taken in 

 Toronto May 14 by G. Pearce. The plumage shows traces of albinistic 

 markings, as follows : one white feather on the abdomen near the vent, and 

 four white feathers on the inside of each tibia. It is now in my collection. 



The female was taken in the same locality by the same person on 

 June 30, 1897, — a very fine specimen with plumage normal and no 

 traces of albinism. 



