18 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



food, in silence, and usually no sound is uttered by them until some 

 member of the company takes wing to reach a more inviting bunch of 

 catkins, and utters his chirrup, as he does so. The Pigeon Falcon 

 (Falco columbarius) seems to be their chief enemy at this time ; one 

 of the species was observed darting after a flock of the Linnets on 

 October 28. — Ernest E. Thompson. 



(Seventeenth Meeting, November 12, 1889). 



120. Purple Sandpiper at Toronto. — A specimen of this 



species (Tringa mcvritima) was brought into my store. It was killed 

 on Toronto Bay, October 30. This makes the second record for 

 Ontario, the other being that in Mcll wraith's Birds of Ontario. 



121. Double-crested Cormorant. — A specimen of Phala- 



crocorax dilophus, shot near Toronto was brought to me October 31. 



122. Oinereus Owl. — A specimen of Syrnium cinereum, reached 

 me from Powassan, Muskoka. Its stomach was distended with 

 Arvicolae. 



123. Winter birds. — The following winter birds have been 

 observed already : — Archlbuteo lagopus sancti-johatinis, October 31, 

 and twice since, both black and buff phases ; Nyctala tenymalmi 

 richardsoni, November 8 ; Nyctea nyctea, November 8, this, like the 

 Great Gray Owl, seems unusually numerous this year ; also taken 

 November 9. Urinator lumme, Larus franklinii, Larus Philadelphia, 

 and Larus delawarensis, taken November 11, at Toronto. — Wm. 

 Cross. 



124. Horned Owl devouring skunk. — The stomach here- 

 with shown is that of a Bubo virgin! anus, and is crammed with the 

 flesh of a skunk, which doubtless to judge from the odor of the 

 feathers was killed by the Owl itself. 



12 ; ). General notes. — On November 8, 1 observed the following 

 species, Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) ; Bluebird, male, (Sialia 

 sialis) ; and White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis). — James 

 Pi. Thurston. 



126. Winter-birds arriving. — On November 8, I shot three 

 Redpolls (Acanthis linaria) in Rosedale, and on the 9th I saw a 



