76 JOtfRNAL ANi) PROCEEDINGS 



ORNITHOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SECTION 



BIRDS WINTERING NEAR HAMILTON. 



BY MR. THOMAS m'iLWRAITH. 



The migratory habits of birds is a subject which at all times 

 presents many attractions to those who are fond of out door studies, 

 and in our northern latitude it is especially interesting. In tropical 

 countries the birds do not often change their habitat and are said to 

 attract less notice on account of their perpetual presence. With us 

 the extremes of temperature are so great that with few exceptions all 

 our birds are migratory. Those which are with us during the 

 summer and raise their young in this locality are known as summer 

 residents, but a great number of species spend the season of repro- 

 duction still further north, paying us only a passing visit in spring 

 and fall^ We are accustomed to hear all these called American birds, 

 but it would be more strictly correct to style them Canadian, for 

 Canada is the land of their birth, and they visit the United States 

 only to avoid the severity of winter. Having no particular tie to any 

 locality at that season, many go as far south as the West India 

 Islands, and to a few, South America forms the turning point. 

 There is still another class more boreal in their habits, which spend 

 most of their lives to the north of us, and only occasionally, in 

 winter, come as far south as the latitude of Hamilton, and it is to this 

 class I should hke to direct your attention on the present occasion. 

 These are termed winter visitors ; they are not here every winter, 

 and are sometimes seen only for a few days in a season, but the very 

 uncertainty of their appearance and disappearance makes them 

 objects of greater interest. 



