188 ANATID^i. 



Though the quantity of birds is so immense that no 

 amount of fair shooting will ever seriously affect it, yet 

 the systematic destruction and removal of the eggs which 

 the last Report of the "Montreal Game Protection 

 Club" states has been carried on annually in the spring 

 in a wholesale way, especially about lakes St. Francis 

 and St. Peter, and the marshes adjacent, must in 

 time do incalculable injury. The public protests of this 

 body and of the Natural History Society will probably 

 put a stop to the continuance of these practices, as well 

 as to shooting in the spring months, so that the wild- 

 fowl of Canada may be for many years to come pre- 

 served from the general destruction which otherwise 

 threatens them. 



Several of the genera and species here enumerated 

 will be recognised as being also either permanent in- 

 habitants of, or winter visitors to Great Britain ; and 

 others as being common to different parts of Europe ; 

 but many of the most beautiful and highly esteemed are 

 peculiar to North America. 



The first among the numerous host, from its size, 

 importance and great beauty, is the Trumpeter Swan 

 (Cygnus buccinator), known also as the " Hunter's Swan," 

 which is peculiar to North America, and is a magnificent 

 bird, in size exceeding the European Hooper. Wilson 

 says it breeds as far south as latitude 61, but prin- 



