V "'i..h:PI Fleming, Ontario Bird Notes. 225 



ONTARIO BIRD NOTES. 



BY J. II. FLEMING. 



Since my ' Minis of Toronto' was published in "The Auk' ' the 

 manuscript list of Toronto birds written about 1SS5 by Mr. Ernest 

 Seton has been found in the records of the Biological Survey at 

 Washington, and though the annotations are as brief as possible, 

 it is of considerable value. A greater part of the portion dealing 

 with the water birds is based on information supplied by the late 

 Wm. Loan, a professional shooter whose information is known to 

 have been reliable. The list supplies definite records for two 

 species that were in my hypothetical list. 



Since 1906 several species have been found breeding at Toronto 

 that were not known to do so then, and additional records of several 

 rare birds are given in this article, together with other unpublished 

 Ontario records. 



Sula bassana. Gannet. — An immature male freshly killed was 

 found floating in Lake Ontario outside Toronto on December 19, 1908; it 

 was in good condition and had recently swallowed a herring seven inches 

 long; the bird is now in my collection. 



Another immature bird taken near Ottawa on October 14, 1909, has 

 been recorded by Mr. J. M. Macoun,'- and I am informed by Mr. E. G. 

 White that a second specimen was taken at Ottawa about the same time 

 and mounted by Mr. Henry. 



Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. Black Tern. — No breeding 

 records for Toronto till 1906 when Mr. \Y. R. Humphreys took a set of 

 two eggs on May :>() in Asbridge's Marsh. This tern has since become a 

 not uncommon breeder; a pair seen at Toronto Island on July 18, 1911, 

 had downy young, and were not themselves in full plumage, both having 

 a good deal of white on the head and under parts. 



Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. White Pelican. — The only definite 

 Toronto record is from Seton's manuscript list as follows: " Wm. Loan 

 killed one in L862, has seen at least a dozen in all." 



Marila collaris. Uing-necked Duck. — A female taken on Septem- 

 ber 24, 1900, by Mr. O. B. Spanner at Wassy Lake, Coleman Township, 

 Parry Sound District, is in my collection. Ring-necked Ducks are not 



i \uk. moil. pp. 437 453, 1007. pp. 71-89. 

 i Ottawa Naturalist, 1910, p. 192. 



