60 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist 



[Vol. XXXIV. 



fied by J. H. Fleming. The White-crowned Spar- 

 row, the eastern form, breeding June 18, 1919, near 

 Eastend. It has been previously been reported from 

 the Cypress Hills by A. C. Bent and Wm. 

 Spreadborough apparently breeding but without 

 definite substantiation. The Chipping Sparrow is 

 reported as breeding in the Cypress Hills but is de- 

 clared to be "not common in any part of the prov- 

 ince." The breeding form of the Horned Lark in 

 the Cypress Hills is declared to be the Desert 

 Horned Lark, Otocoris alpestris leucolaema. It is 

 not evident from the context whether Mr. Mitchell 

 regards Mr. Oberholser's Enthemia as a separable 

 race which would be the expected form if it is. 1 he 

 Whip-poor-will was heard near the juncture of the 

 North and South Saskatchewan rivers, about thirty 

 miles east of Prince Albert, on July 15, 1919. This 

 forms the first record for the province and the 

 farthest west for Canada. Whether there is any 

 likelihood that one familiar with the call of the 

 Whip-poor-will of the East could mistake that of 

 the Poor-will, can best be judged by those who are 



acquainted with both. Either species would be 

 important. 



P. 239. An amusing reason for the elimination of 

 the subspecies is reported by J. H. Fleming from the 

 suggestion of the editors of the London Catalogue 

 of British Plants, third edition, who oppose plant 

 splitting on the grounds that it would make the cata- 

 logue unduly bulky and raise the postage on it be- 

 yond the limits of a blue (two penny) stamp. 



P. 240. In a short note we are informed that 

 Mr. Geo. Willet has established himself on Prince 

 of Wales Island, Alaska, for the winter and ex- 

 pects to devote practically his entire time to orni- 

 thology. Prince of Wales Island is on the Pacific 

 Coast just across Dixon Channel from the Queen 

 Charlotte Islands and hence so close to British 

 Columbian waters as to be of great interest to Can- 

 adian ornithologists. Information of this coast is 

 not very complete and there is probably no place 

 on the continent where a winter's work could be 

 put in to better scientific advantage. 



P. A. Taverner. 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



A Canadian National Museum.— The follow- 

 ing is a copy of a resolution passed by the Council 

 of The Ottawa Field-Naturahsts' Club, on March 

 12, 1920. 



"Whereas all important civilized naiions have 

 found it desirable and necessary to establish national 

 museums as storehouses and repositories for historic 

 artistic and scientific treasures, safe from the ravages 

 of time or accident, or the exploitation or caprice 

 of private ownership, and where they will be avail- 

 able for the study or contemplation of the whole 

 nation rather than of the favored few, and 



"Whereas Canada has at this time no such na- 

 tional museum definitely established as sucli, — 



"Be it resolved that the Council of The Ottawa 

 Field-Naturalists' Club recommends that for the pur- 

 pose of the safe-keeping of specimens of national 

 importance, as an aid to and encouragement of 

 Canadian scientists, to act as a general clearing house 

 of scientific endeavors, for the general education of 

 the public and as a monument to Canada's intellec- 

 tual life, the present museum organizations under the 

 Federal Government of Canada be re-established as 

 a Canadian National Museum. And, further, that 

 the Council urge upon Parliament that steps be im- 

 mediately taken to establish such a museum as will 

 worthily and creditably represent the Dominion 

 amongst like institutions of the world. And further, 



that a copy of this resolution be given to the press, 

 and also published in The Canadian Ficld-Nalur- 

 alist." 



"Prairie" Fringed Orchid. Mr. F. Morris. 643 

 Aylmer St., Peterboro, would be glad to hear from 

 any reader of the Naturalist who knows of a 

 station in Ontario for the so-called "Prairie" 

 Fringed Orchid (Habenaria leucophaea). It was 

 found by him on the margin of a mud lake near 

 Smith's Falls some 20 years ago, and in the moist 

 heart of a tamarac swamp near Port Hcipe, 10 years 

 ago, growing in Sphagnum moss with pogonias and 

 cranberry vines close to standing water and cat- 

 tails. It is a tall handsome plant with large creamy 

 white flowers having a three-parted lip of fanlike 

 and fringed divisions and a very long curving 

 spur; the plants stand from 2 to 3!/2 feet high." 



The Province of Quebec Society for the 

 Protection of Birds, Montreal, recently held 

 meetings as follows: — 



Jan. 12. Annual Meeting — Report — Election of 

 Officers. Address: Mr. Napier Smith. 



Feb. 9. The Traditions and Superstitions of 

 Birds and Insects. Speakers, Miss M. Hadrill and 

 Mr. A. F. Winn. 



G. M. Dyer, Hon. Corres. Secy 



i 



