396 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



more helpless offspring ; and pays him, as avarice and cruelty ought 

 always to be paid, with mortification and disappointment." 



In a great number of eggs in my collection, from many 

 different localities, some specimens are nearly pure-white, 

 while others are smeared with some blotches or confluent 

 dabs of yellowish: whether these are stains caused by 

 moisture or dirt, I am ignorant; -but they are permanent, 

 for I cannot remove them by water or alcohol. I judge they 

 are stains from the earth or decayed vegetation on which 

 they were laid. Their form is pyriform ; and their average 

 length about 1.20 inch, and greatest width 1 inch. 



NOTES. 



I continue Mr. Couper's notes, made at Quebec, Lower 

 Canada : 



ECTOPISTES MIGRATOBIUS. The Passenger Pigeon is not so common 

 in this portion of Lower as in Upper Canada, where they breed in large 

 numbers. They are found breeding in the eastern townships of Lower 

 Canada ; but I have not ascertained that they breed in this district or north 

 of it. I remember at one time finding a nest of this pigeon in the woods 

 north of Toronto : it contained a single young one. I believe there are 

 many instances of its breeding in solitary pairs, something like the Wood 

 Pigeon of Europe. 



ZENAIDURA CAROLINENSIS. The Carolina Dove has never been noticed 

 in Lower Canada. It occurs occasionally in the woods north of the city of 

 Toronto, where, I believe, it breeds. 



TETRAO CANADENSIS. This species is very common from October to 

 February. They are in prime condition during the last month. It breeds 

 on both sides of the St. Lawrence, but more common on the south. During 

 the above months, there are generally six males to one female exhibited 

 on our markets. The inhabitants inform me that females are very scarce 

 during winter. This is a parodox to me, when I know that both male and 

 female feed on the same tree. What is also astonishing, the nest and eggs 

 of this bird are as hard to discover in spring as the female is in winter. I 

 have offered to purchase every nest of this species brought to me; but, 

 strange to say, I have not been fortunate in seeing one yet. 



BONASA UMBELLUS. Common. Breeds. I have repeatedly found the 

 nest of this species 



