29 



the latter more frequently in the open fields. I have met with the nest 

 of the broad- winged three times. On each occasion it was built against 

 the trunk of a birch tree, at no very great height, for my eldest boy 

 was able to climb ap to it. The first nest contained eggs oa the 9th 

 May ; the other two not until the 24th. Most persons who have taken 

 an interest in the subject are familiar with the nesting habits of the 

 little sparrow hawk. "With regard to the marsh hawk, it appears early 

 in the spring, hovering over some marsh, but it does not commence to 

 lay its eggs until towards the end of May. I met with the nest twice 

 in the county of Lanark, but am not sure whether it breeds in Ren- 

 frew ; probably it does in suitable places. The first nest I found was 

 simply a little grass scraped together in a marshy place, under a low 

 bush. The second was quite a mass of sticks, (fee, in a somewhat drier 

 spot, and on the 6th of June contained three young ones and two eggs. 

 Of the owls I cannot say much. The only one I have seen is the great 

 horned owl [Bubo Virginianus). It is not common in the woods. I 

 once came across a nest on a stunted tamarac in a large secluded marsh 

 — a most unlikely spot for this bird to breed in — and I have now a 

 living specimen which was reared from this nest nearly three years 

 ago. Though this bird does not know what liberty is, it does not get 

 tame, but constantly exhibits its wild, savage nature. Without going 

 into detail, I may give short particulars of some other birds. The 

 northern shrike is not uncommon in the winter. I have only seen 

 one in the summer, and never saw a nest, to the best of my 

 knowledge, thougli it or its near congener, the white rumped (Lanius 

 excuhitorides) is a not uncommon resident in the adjoining County of 

 Lanark. I have seen its nest four tiaies in thorn-bushes newly built 

 in the month of April. The Canada jay is another resident. This bird 

 is quite plentiful in the fall, but I have seen it in the spiing two or 

 three times in the Opeongo district. The blue jay is of course plen- 

 tiful and breeds. Of the thrushes we have the brown thrush, or 

 thrasher, the hermit thrush, the tawny thrush, and I suppose the olive- 

 backed. The first three of these breed plentifully, the first named 

 sometimes placing its nest on the ground beside a stone. Of allied 

 species the water thrush, and the golden-crowned, or oven bird, are both 



