130 DOWNS ON THE LAND BIRDS OF NOYA SCOTIA. 



saying it is useless to attempt it in the fall. On this point, how- 

 ever, the evidence which I have collected from most local authori- 

 ties on the subject tends to reverse his conlusion ; as it is generally 

 admitted that the very best time for transplanting these trees is in 

 the end of May or beginning of June — just when the young shoots, 

 having broken their capsules, are conspicuous by their new bright- 

 green colour. The plant now seems to be full of energy, and will 

 adapt itself to circumstances in order to continue its efforts more 

 quickly then when partially dormant. Very early in the season is 

 perilous,, as the Fir having so large an amount of evaporating sur- 

 face is more apt to receive injury from the cold drpng Avind of early 

 spring, than deciduous trees. Spruces should be placed in the 

 ground with their long diverging roots as near the surface as possi- 

 ble, merely placing around them the upturned sod. 



Planting by seed is the usual plan for groAving evergreens in 

 the English and Scotch nurseries. The young plants have excel- 

 lent roots, and are much more easily removed. The success of the 

 Fir plants which have come over to this country is very noticeable, 

 and the Norway Spruces on the Common, the Scotch Fii's and 

 Larches in the Cemetery and Horticultural Gardens, are much more 

 forward than any of our indignious transplants. These trees 

 appears to thrive admirably in this country : the English Larch is 

 now everywhere in blossom, (May 7th,) with budding foliage, 

 Avhilst our own species still seems wrapped in its winter sleep ; 

 the leading shoots of last season's growth on the Norway Spruce 

 are nearly a yard in length, A^hen the indigenous transplant rises 

 but a few inches. 



Art. XIII. On the Land Birds or Nova Scotia. By A. 



Downs, Cor. Meinh. Zoul. Sac. of London. 



[Read May 3, 1866.] 



Having in my last paper completed the list of the Birds of 



Nova Scotia as far as the warblers, I now proceed with the wrens, 



ci'cepers, sparroA\s, 8zc ; but as our Institute has an abundance of 



matter for insertion in the next number of Transactions, I will not 



trespass too much by making this paper a lengthy one, but Avill 



reserve my additional remarks for next session, when, if life and 



health be spared me, I hope to complete the a\ hole of the land birds. 



