'92 Natural History of the 



of Diplacanthus striatus, an ichthyolite restricted, like tlie Coc- 

 costeus (a specimen of which occurred in a neighboring nodule,) 

 to the Lower Old Red Sandstone exclusively. If there be any 

 value whatever in palaeontological evidence, this Cromarty lignite 

 must have been deposited in a sea inhabited by the Coccosteus 

 and Diplacanthus. It is demonstrable that, while yet in the re- 

 cent state, a Diplacanthus lay down and died beside it; and the 

 evidence in the case is unequivocally this, that in the oldest por- 

 tion of the oldest terrestrial flora yet known, there occurs the 

 fragment of a tree quite as high in the scale as the stately Nor- 

 folk Island Pine, or the noble cedar of Lebanon." 



J. W. D. 



ARTICLE X. — Notes on the Natural History of the Moun- 

 tain of Montreal, 



1. The Ruffed Grouse [Tetrao Umhellus) breeds upon the 

 mountain. — While taking a walk a few days since, I was some- 

 what surprised to hear distinctly the drumming of a grouse in the 

 wood on the back part of the mountain, overlooking the Ceme- 

 try. I only heard the closing notes, but, being quite familiar with 

 the sounds, was well satisfied that they proceeded from a bird of 

 this species. Turning soon afterwards to cross towards the city, 

 I had ample confirmation of my suspicions. Another grouse 

 had been started on that side by two yonng men who were climib- 

 ing up the hill. The bird alighted within a few yards of the spot 

 where I was standing, but again took wing immediately upon see- 

 ing me. It remained, however, long enough for me to observe 

 that it was a fine large male. It was certainly a different bird 

 from the former, and accordingly there were on that day, at least, 

 two males on the mountain ; and further, as it is quite probable 

 that they have their consorts, no doubt, they will breed there, if 

 not killed by some of the sportsmen who frequent that locality. 



Mentioning the above circumstances afterwards to a friend, he 

 iiiformed me that he believed grouse were always to be found on 

 the mountain. If so, it is a remarkable fact. The habits of this 

 species are not those of an open country bird. The little patch 

 of wood which covers the hill actually extends into the suburbs 

 of the city, and it is not only isolated from the main body of the 

 forest by many miles in width of cultivated land, but it is also 



