16 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist. 



[Vol. XXXV. 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Mr. Arthur Gibson — An Appreciation. 



With the last number of the Canadian 

 Field-Nattralist. Mr. Arthur Gibson, 

 who has been the editor since 1910, 

 ceased to fill that position, his increasing 

 official duties having made it necessary 

 for him to sencl in his- resignation. 



Seldom has an editor of a periodical 

 which depends for its success on voluntary 

 contributions, and has but slender means 

 of support, served so long and faithfully 

 and satisfactorily as has Mr. Gibson. His 

 work must surely have been a labour of 

 love or he could not have continued to edit 

 the Naturalist for all these years. Only 

 those in close touch with the work of the 

 OttaAva Field Naturalists' Club and its 

 organ know the tact and skill necessary to 

 obtain matter for the Naturalist, and the 

 popularity of Mr. Gibson among the con- 

 tributors and the members of the Ottawa 

 Field Naturalists' Club is a sufficient 

 tribute to the manner in which he conduct- 

 ed the editorial work. Mr. Gibson by his 

 many personal contributions also showed 

 himself to be deeply interested in the suc- 

 cess of the Naturalist, as often in a per- 

 iodical of this kind the extra matter which 

 the editor contributes from his own pen 

 assures the publication of a satisfactory 

 number. 



Beginning with Volume XXXII, the 

 Ottawa Naturalist, which had been pub- 

 lished since 1887, was issued in the larger 

 and more attractive form in which it ap- 

 pears to-day and the title changed to the 

 Canadian Fidd-Natu: alist to give it a 

 wider field. This larger edition meant an 

 increase in the editor's work, whicli Mr. 

 Gibson cheerfully assumed. 



We feel that all members of the Ottawa 

 Field Naturalists' Club and subscribers to 

 the Cnnadian Fidd-Natwidist must deei)ly 

 regret the resignation of Mr. (iibson as 

 editor, but at the same time appreciate liis 

 many years of unselfish devotion, and, in 

 releasing him from his duties as editor, 

 wish him mudi success as Dominion Ento- 

 mologist.— W. T. M. 



The Spruce Dkimmer. — In spite of the 

 fact that the Canada Grouse, or Spruce 

 Partridge, has for many years enjoyed 

 continuous protection, its numbers appear 



to be slowly diminishing. In view of the 

 characteristic stupidity of the species, this 

 is not surprising. It is now seldom found 

 except in the more remote woods and 

 swamps. Here on a fine morning or even- 

 ing in the autumn the moose hunter listen- 

 ing for antlered game may often be dis- 

 tracted by repeated flutterings as if a 

 large flock of birds were feeding in some 

 neai'by grove. If he takes the trouble to 

 investigate he is probably surprised to find 

 that all the fuss is made by one bird, a 

 spruce drummer (Spruce Partridge) who 

 is ardently engaged in his exercise, or pas- 

 time, of drumming. He no doubt goes 

 through this performance for the same 

 reasons that the cock crows, or the cock 

 robin sings. It is an assurance to his 

 mate and a challenge to his rivals. The 

 methods of this performance, however, 

 seem further to justify the name of "fool 

 hen" b^' which his species is sometimes 

 known. His favorite location at such a 

 time is between two trees standing apait 

 some twenty or thirty feet, and with their 

 lower branches large and horizontal. 

 Perched on one of these branches he pit- 

 ches downward, pausing midway to beat 

 and flutter his wings, and ascends to a 

 branch of the opposite tree. After a short 

 interval this manoeuvre is repeated and so 

 continued by the hour, swinging back and 

 forth from tree to tree, the time between 

 each swing being as exact as if measured 

 by a watcli. If such an ideal situation is 

 not at luiud the fact does not prevent the 

 "foci heir" from giving vent to his ex- 

 uberance. Selecting a small open space 

 among the bushes, he takes liis stand in 

 the centre and like a jack in the box pops 

 up a few feet in the air and giving his 

 triumjihant flutter drops again to earth. 

 This method lacks the grace of the former, 

 and when thus engaged the bird .seems to 

 justly merit the title of "Fool Hen". The 

 sound produced by the drumming of the 

 Canada Grouse can in no-wise compare 

 with that of the ruffed grouse ; it has 

 neither the roll nor the volume. It is in 

 fact little more than a flutter, .such as 

 might be made by birds forcing tiieir way 

 through thick branches after buds or ber- 

 ries. Cidike the Ruffed Grouse, however. 



