Our Winter Birds. 147 



ing the migrations. In 1879 a balsam poplar on 

 Cadieux street, badly infested by the larvsc of Xyleutes 

 robinia and Saptra moesta, was frequently visited by 

 one of these birds, who would hammer away busily 

 for quite a length of time, the scattered chips and 

 fragments of bark at the foot of the tree bearing wit- 

 ness to the energy with which he worked. 

 Dryobates pubescens — Downy woodpecker. Resident 

 throughout the year ; generally keeps in the shelter 

 of the woods in winter. 



* Picoides Arcticus — Arctic three-toed woodpecker. 



* Picoides Americanus — American three-toed woodpecker. 



A few examples of both these species occur here in 

 November, but, I think, do not remain during the 

 winter. 



* Otocoris alpestris — Horned lark. This species arrives 



from the north in the fall, and examples may perhaps 

 winter with us, as it is found very late in autumn 

 and early in spring, but the greater number pass 

 farther to the south. Their breeding grounds are 

 about the shores of Hudson's Bay, Labrador and 

 Newfoundland. The horned lark that breeds here is 

 the prairie form (Otocoris alpestris praticola), a west- 

 ern race that has extended its range eastward, 

 occurring now from the western edge of the plains to 

 Montreal. Mclllwraith believes that it first appeared 

 at Hamilton about the year 1868. I cannot ascertain 

 the date of its first appearance at Montreal, but it 

 appears not to have been noticed until recent years. 

 It loiters with us until late in the fall, and individuals 

 may winter, as it occurs in February, nesting as soon 

 as the ground is bare of snow. 

 Cyanocitta cristata — Blue jay. Common until late in the 

 fall, and a few remain during the winter. Mr. Gor- 

 don, of St. Jerome, told me that a small flock of 

 these birds frequented his farmyard during tho 

 winter of 1887-88, and, not being disturbed, became 

 quite tame, feeding along with the poultry. 



