Notes on Land Birds. 13^ 



Canadian Naturalist and Geologist, a few remarks on the Land 

 Birds observed by me, in my ornithological rambles in the im- 

 mediate neighbourhood of Montreal, from November 1st to March 

 31st, and which I hope may not be found altogether uninteresting, 



I have mentioned three species, viz: the Hobin, Snow bird and 

 American Shrike, which can hardly be considered as winter 

 residents her^', but are noticed because stragglers remained for 

 some time after the cold weather had set in. The to'al number 

 of species which wintered round Montreal exclusive of these three,, 

 is 15. The number mentioned as wintering in the neighbourhood 

 of Toronto in a paper by G. W. Allan,. Esq., published in the- 

 " Canadian Journal," for March 1853, is 24. Of thiese the follow- 

 ing twelve, viz : Bald Eagle, Pigeon Hawk, Great Horned Owly 

 Little Horned Owl, Gold&ich, Tree Sparrow, Common Crossbill, 

 Canada Jay, Red Bellied Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker, Quail, 

 Canada Grouse, were not observed by me near Montreal duiing 

 the winter months. Two species which wintered here, viz : Hawk 

 Owl and Brown-cree]per, are not mentioned as occurring about 

 Toronto. Observations extending over several years would 

 doubtless add considerably to the number of species which pass 

 the winter in the neighbourhood of MontreaL 



In the following notes I have adhered to the nomenclature and 

 arrangement adopted in Audubon's Synopsis of the Birds of 

 North America. 



Surnia funerea — Gmel. — Hawk OwL I met with one of this- 

 owl November I9th, 1856. It was sitting in a tree in an open field 

 by the side of the Mile-End Road, and though the sun was shining 

 brightly, did not appear to be at all inconvenienced by the bright 

 light. It was shy and restless, frequently changing its place, and 

 often dropping down from the tree to the ground and flying up 

 again. It flew ofl^ before I could get within ^hot and cro.-^sed the 

 road in front of me. Not wishing to lose a chance, I fired, but 

 without success, being too far off,. Before I could reload, it 

 again crossed the road and pitched in a tree near were I first saw 

 it, and after some trouble I obtained a shot and wounded iU 

 Although much hurt in its wing and body it flew across a field 

 before I could secure it. I placed my gun upon it as it lay on 

 the gound and it remained quite motionless till I attempted tO' 

 kill it when it fought fiercely and struck its claws into my hand. 

 Its flight was low and had great resemblance to that of a Hawk,, 

 for which I at first mistook it. Its stomach contained the fur of 



