70 



JONJES — ON RARER BIRDS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 



Aet. YIII. Ox so:jie or the Ealee Bircs of Nova Scotia. 

 By J. Matthew Jokes, F. L. S. 



{Read April 13, 18G8.) 



Although instinct may be considered the primary cause 

 of the periodical rr.lgrations of birds, yet the occmTence of 

 severe gales of ^vind at the time of such migrations, has the 

 •effect of moving the migrants to localities, in some cases, far 

 distant from tiir-se intended to i)c visited. Migratory b-iids are 

 naturally led to visit northern latitudes in spring, for the 

 double purpose of procuring suitable breedirig-placcs, and the 

 proper kind of fo(;d to nourish their yoimg ere they arrive at an 

 iige when more snbstantial substances can be taken by them ; 

 while tlic'r journey south in autunm is a matter of positive 

 necessity, frjni the eritire absence of insect life, and food of 

 nearly all descriptions, while Avintcr reigns with its accustomed 

 severity over tnc more riorLhern portkjns of our western 

 hemi sphere . 



j-Nova Scotia being situate on tiio north-eastern extremity of 

 Amenca, and joir.ed !)y a mere nccic of land to the main, 

 appears to be a favourite point f:>r birds to pass over on their 

 course to and from their usual breeding haunts, in the secluded 

 interior of Labrador; aiid so punctual are they in their move- 

 ments each sea.son, that unless some unusual change of weather 

 takes place abont the time, tiicy arrive at their casual haunts in 

 Kpva Scotia, ahnost to ■ a day. The Wild Goose {Anfier 

 Canadensis) an.d Golden Pk)ver [CiiO radrhis marmoraius), are 

 two instances of the kind. The iV rmcr, which is the common 

 wild goose of America, r.uikes lis appearance in Nova Scotia 

 generally about the first week in ?.[arch, p;issing in large flocks 

 at a great height in the air, in a northerly direction. They 

 descend when a iavourable restir.g place attracts their attention, 

 but soon pass onwards on their northern voj-age. I am in- 

 formed that some of these birds do not leave the island of 

 Prince Edward, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a little to the 

 i]orth of Nova Scotia, until about the first week in June ; but I 

 ijnagine this occurrence takes place onh^ when the previous 

 winter has been long protracted, arid the accumulated ice in the 

 Gulf gives warning to the birds that the far narth is not tit for 



