58 Eifrig, Winter Birds of New Ontario. [~j^ k 



gone into the woods, I might have encountered, if luck had favored 

 me, the two Three-toed and the Pileated Woodpeckers, the Canada 

 Ruffed and Spruce Grouse (Bonasa umbellus togata et Canachites 

 canadensis), possibly also the Sharp-tailed Grouse (Pedioscetes 

 ph-asianellus) , and the Hawk and Great Gray Owls. It must 

 be admitted that the winter bird-life of New Ontario is not a very 

 conspicuous one. 



Great Horned Owl versus Porcupine. — In December, 1907, a 

 Bubo virginianus was brought to me, which had been shot on the 

 19th at Inlet, Labelle Co., Quebec, 50 miles northeast of Ottawa. 

 It proved to be a remarkable specimen from the fact that it bore 

 palpable evidence of having had an encounter with a porcupine, 

 shortly before it was shot. It was liberally sprinkled over with 

 quills, especially on the sole of the right foot — the quills having 

 penetrated even that horny skin — under the right wing, on the 

 breast, neck, and even two in the left eye-lid. Some of the quills 

 had pierced the thick, solid muscles of the breast, lying against the 

 sternum. Fifty-six quills and parts of quills were extracted from 

 the skin and flesh, and about ten left in. How did this owl come to 

 tackle such an undesirable antagonist or prey ? The probability 

 is, that the owl was foraging for food, and, being very hungry — 

 probably a not uncommon experience for them in these northern 

 woods — swooped down on the first moving object that even re- 

 motely appeared like legitimate prey, and, in her eagerness and 

 possibly by reason of darkness in the woods, did not find out her 

 mistake until she had reached forward with one claw and gotten 

 that full of spines, simultaneously receiving also a slap from the 

 tail of the porcupine, that lodged the rest of the little barbed spears 

 in her anatomy. 



Most of the hawks and owls received here in winter have empty 

 stomachs, showing that hunger must be a frequent, if disagreeable 

 experience with them. At such times the gall seems to discharge 

 more copiously into the stomach, as it and the intestines are in such 

 cases very green. Probably a way nature adopts to somewhat 

 relieve the pain of hunger. 



There is an old established breeding colony of Black-crowned 

 Night Herons (Nyctieorax nyctieorax ncevius) on Kettle Island near 



