S8 DOWNS-— ON LAND BIRDS OP NOVA SCOTIA. 



6. L. torulosa, internodes equalling the nodes == (Conferva fluvlatilis 



nodosa Fucum jemulans, Sea Horse-tail-like Conferva, Dill. Hist,, 

 Muse. tab. vii. fig. 48. Conferva torulosa, Both.^ M'ohr., Dillw.^ 

 &c. Lemania incurvata, Bory.) Recorded as occurring in 

 mountain streams near Ludlow, Salop (^Dillenius), Anglesea 

 {Rev. H. Davies); also in France, Gei'many, Kentucky, tjnited 

 States {Dr. Short in Ha.rvey, Nereis). 



7. /*• usneoides ==* (Conferva usneoides, Wallr.) Saxony. 



■8. L. variegata == (Hippuris fluviatilis petraea nuda Virginiensis, 

 Pluk.) Belleville, Canada West (tA Macoun.) United States, 

 Pennsylvania? (Muhlenberg). 



Probably L^jluv, «• stihtilis, and L. torulosa, /*' usneoides, may be 

 found, on investigation, to be well-marked species. The various 

 forms deserve a careful examination, and I would beg to direct the 

 attention of British botanists to the subject* 



Art. V. Ox the Laxd Birds of Nova Scotia* 

 By a. Downs. 



{Read Jan. 9, 1865.] 



To the casual visiter, Nova Scotia would appear to be ver^*- 

 deficient in bird life, and to a certain extent this condition is appa- 

 rent even to the settler, for in certain seasons of the year and 

 in winter, the interior districts seem altogether deserted by 

 members of the feathered tribe. The lumberer will tell you that 

 his monotonous life in the woods at the latter season, is rarely 

 cheered by the presence of birds, and save and except the peeping 

 cry of the black cap, and Hudson's Bay tit, and the brown 

 creeper, with an occasional harsh note from the Canada jay, or a 

 *'chip" from the red sqmrrel, no sound beside the creaking 

 branches of the maple, or the melancholy sough of the pine, is 

 heard to break the death-like silence which reigns around. An 

 English settler will not fail to notice the difference wliich exists 

 between the scarcity of birds around his country house here and in 

 the old country. Here a few blue birds or titmice are the only 

 specimens seen about dwelHngs, while in England flocks of vocifer" 

 ous sparrows are feeding in the yard, and many a black bird^, 

 thrush, hedge-sparrow, and green linnet, haunt the garden and 

 orchard, taking their toll from the gooseberry and currant bushes. 



