354 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 



C. In cutting up a partly decayed birch tree a few days 

 ago, I found it bored with long cylindrical passages, in seve- 

 ral of which I found white flat grubs, with large brown 

 heads, and six feet ; in one I found a Buprestis alive, a dark 

 brown species with lighter marks. The larvee probably 

 belonged to this species. 



F. I should not think that our little Certhia can cap- 

 ture such insects as these, its bill not being at all calculated 

 for boring ; these constitute the appropriate prey of the 

 Woodpeckers, whose sharp, steel-like bill tears away the 

 wood, and digs into their hidden recesses ; the bird perceiv- 

 ing, by unfailing instinct, the direction in which they lie 

 concealed. 



C. I have lately seen the Winter Gnat ( Trichocera 

 Hiemalis), with pretty plumose antennae, playing in the 

 windows of our house. 



F. Yonder is a flock of Snow Buntings (Emberiza 

 Nivalis) in their white winter plumage. They are not un- 

 common, though in some winters I do not recollect having 

 seen any : they fly in flocks, and often flit about the or- 

 chards and barn-yards : when a flock of them is perched on 

 a tree, their bright plumage in the sun presents a very beau- 

 tiful appearance, looking like a number of silver ornaments 

 sparkling among the boughs : they also show to advantage 

 in flight, seen against a black, clouded sky, full of snow and 

 storm ; at which time they are very active. They are rest- 

 less birds, never long in a place, and when one moves, all 

 follow. In Newfoundland, they are rather common. 



C. Yesterday, a flock of Yellow-birds (Fringilla Tris- 

 tis) was hopping about the barnyard and house at intervals 

 all day, picking up oats, and seeds of grass and weeds. 



F. I have seen several flocks in the woods, and about 

 the borders, lately, flitting from tree to tree, and twittering 



