188 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



42. Purple Finch arrived. — On February 17, I observed a 

 flock of Purple Finches {Carjwdacris 2^uTpureus), the first of the 

 season. — Geo. E. Atkinson. 



43. Note on winter birds. — Tlie following have been received 

 by Mr. Cross since last meeting : 



One Snowy Owl (Nyctea nyctea), shot at Port Hope on Febru- 

 ary 16. 



One male Black-backed Gull {Larus marinus), shot on Lake 

 Ontario ; length, 2 ft. 7 in. ; wing, 20 ; tarsus, ?>\ ; middle toe, 3^ 

 inches; extent, 4 ft. 7 in. ; weight, 4| lbs. 



One Great Horned Owl (Btibo virginianus) a male, from Weston, 

 on February 7. 



Four Snowbirds (Plectrophenax nivalis), from West Toronto on 

 February 8. 



On the 8th of February also I saw a flock of thirty snowbirds 

 on the sandbar. — James R. Thurston. 



44. Albino Robin. — Last summer I was shown a white Robin 

 {Merula migratoria) that had been shot in North Toronto by Mr. R. 

 Nurse. — Geo. E. Atkinson. 



(Sixth Meeting, March 5, 1889). 



45. Saw- whet and other early birds. — A little Saw-whet 



Owl {Nyctala acadica), was brought into the store from west of the 

 Humber, it was found lying dead but still grasping a mouse, its latest 

 victim, in its claws. It was in good condition and no cause could be 

 assigned for its death. 



46. A Screech Owl (Megascops asio) was received on February 

 27 ; like the majority of specimens taken in this region, it was in the 

 gray phase of plumage. 



47. Purple Pinches (C. purpureus) were noted in the Queen's 

 Park on March 3. — James R. Thurston. 



48. Red Crossbills at Toronto. — I observed a flock of these 

 birds in the Queen's Park on March 3. — Hubert H. Brown. 



