Januaiy, 1921] 



Tin: Canadian Fielu-Nati kalist. 



11 



composed of Mrs. Douglas Mcintosh, 

 Misses Kirk, M. Bain, X. Bai)i, Hyndnian, 

 I. Clemens, Aish, M. Armstron{,^ E. Suther- 

 land, G. Rogers (Victoria), R. Stewart, 



(Victoria), Thvne, and Messrs. J. David- 

 son, J. Lyall, F. Perry, McXair, Kirk, J. 

 D. Turnhull, J.' W. Turnbull, Wickson 

 (Victoria), D. Nelson, R. R. Earle. 



BIRD NOTES BY THE WAY IN THE MARITIME PROVINCES. 



By Hoyes Lloyd. 



From March to October 1919 I spent 

 about three months in the Maritime Prov- 

 inces of Canada. There were three dif- 

 ferent trips as follows : March IG — May 7 ; 

 July 15 — August 10; and October; the 

 last of which may be neglected here. 



Those Canadians who do not know the 

 Maritime Provinces have not seen one of 

 the loveliest parts of their country. 

 Although occupied Avith other things, 

 ever}' opportunity was taken to study the 

 birds of this territory' which was new to 

 me. Dependence upon field glasses instead 

 of specimens for identification of some 

 birds seen was unsatisfactory, and should 

 anyone care to question this species or 

 that, I must advise him to go where the 

 spruces fringe the roadside, where the 

 muddy tidal flats shine in the summer 

 sunshine, and see for himself. 



Leaving Ottawa on March 14th, the only 

 common birds to be seen from the train 

 were CroAvs and a single straggling flock 

 of Horned Larks. The Crows were already 

 common in Quebec and New Brunswick 

 along the Intercolonial Railway on the 

 15th. At Dalhousie Junction, an early 

 Grackle was seen on the top of a pine. The 

 icy expanse of Chaleur Bay Avith its pat- 

 ches of open blue sea gave little promise 

 of Spring, but there Avas the Grackle in 

 defiance of Winter. 



On March 16th I Avalked across the 

 frozen St. John River from Fredericton, 

 New Brunswick, reaching the point where 

 a small stream tloAvs into the St. John. A 

 flock of 18 SnoAv Buntings Avere found and 

 many of them Avere singing in chorus. They 

 had chosen a large elm for this rather un- 

 usual performance and all perched in the 

 branches to enjoy or participate in it. This 

 tree was evidently used solely for this 

 vocal performance by the flock, for they 

 flcAv off but returned shortly and resumed 

 their singing. 



The song was canary-like, interru})ted 



Avith twitters as in the Goldfinch and Avith 

 the regular Avhirring flight note of the 

 SnoAv Bunting. It Avas sAveet and bub- 

 bling, being particularly attractiA'e in a 

 season Avhen .songs are scarce. 



The historic Boardman Collection of 

 birds* is Avell cared for in the University 

 of NcAv BrunsAvick. I'nfortunately the 

 labels in this collection give only the names 

 of the species and the number in Baird's 

 check list. I examined the stands of a fcAv 

 of the mounted birds in a search for the 

 usual data, but Avithout success. Many of 

 the mounted birds are croAvded into large 

 cases so that all but the outside birds are 

 indistinguishable, and the cases do not 

 open readily. For this reason it Avas im- 

 possible to study the collection carefully, 

 as this could not be done Avithout taking 

 considerable time and putting the Uni- 

 A'ersitA' authorities to a great deal of trou- 

 ble. 



On the 19th of March, after tAA'o days" 

 rain Avhich turned the snoAv-laden coun- 

 tryside into a A'erital)le mora.ss of snoAv. 

 slu.sh, and Avater, a short Avalk along the 

 river road at Fredericton Avas taken in 

 search of early migrants. Half a dozen 

 Pine Siskins Avere found, and on the 29th 

 others Avere noticed at McGivney Junction. 



On that day I left Fredericton for 

 Moncton. Tlie ice had just left the Nash- 

 Avaak River, althougli it still lield in the 

 SAvollen St. John. The American Golden- 

 eyes had not been sIoav to take advantage 

 of the open Avater and made pretty groups 

 as they sAvam along the icy edges of the 

 XashAvaak. Several large flocks of Grack- 

 les Avere travelling nortli up the river val- 

 ley and I believe one Song SparroAv Avas 

 seen. 



East of McGivney Junction a Red-tailed 

 HaAvk (?) Avas coursing over the open 

 barrens. At Moncton there Avas a dual 

 attraction in the Petitcodiac River, the 

 numerous Gulls and the bore. Avhich stop- 



