Vol l90^ VI ] Eifrig, Winter Birds of New Ontario. 59 



Ottawa. However, birds in the adult plumage are almost never 

 seen, but any number of young in August and September. Mr. E. 

 White broke this monotony by securing two adult males, Sept. 10, 

 1907, in a little swampy woods, near the city limits. 



The appearances of Briinnich's Murre (Uria lomvia) south of 

 their breeding range, are for most localities, when they are seen at 

 all, put down as being of infrequent or at least very irregular occur- 

 rence. Here at Ottawa, however, it may be called a regular event. 

 For quite a number of years past, they have come every November, 

 usually in the second half of the month, e. g., in 1907 the first came 

 Nov. 25 and the last Dec. 8. They usually appear during high 

 easterly winds, coming from the direction of the wind and succumb 

 in numbers to the guns of the habitues of the river, mostly French- 

 Canadians. It is difficult to secure specimens, however, for many 

 are quickly bought up by people desiring to have them mounted as 

 ornaments for their parlors, and the rest are plucked and eaten 

 by the successful hunters. 



Adult males of all three Scoters, Oidemia americana, deglandi and 

 perspicillata, have this fall (1908), in September and October, been 

 taken near Ottawa, which is a very unusual occurrence, especially 

 as regards the first named. One of these was secured by Mr. G. 

 White for his collection, and one of the last was seen by the writer 

 in the hands of a taxidermist, Oct. 28. 



A still greater rarity was secured Nov. 2 by Mr. Bedard, the 

 rifle-range keeper, who on that date took four young King Eiders 

 (Somateria spertabilis). They were in the company of two adult 

 males, which were wary enough to escape. One of them is now 

 in my collection, two in that of the Fisheries Museum, and the 

 fourth in the collection of Mr. E. White. This is the first record 

 for this species from this neighborhood. 



