b PROCEEDINGS OP THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



Two Hairy Woodpeckers (Dryobates villosus) shot at Finger-board, 

 north shore of Lake Superior. 



Four Snowbirds (Plectrophenax nivalis) shot near Oakville, Feb- 

 ruary 2, all males. 



Thirteen Snowbirds, shot near Norway, February 2, all males. 



Four Snowbirds shot near north Toronto February 3, all males. 

 The fact is very i - emarkable that not only these, but also a number 

 more that were received about the same time from the North-West, 

 were all males. 



LiOng-eared Owl (Asio wilsonianus). — One specimen taken just 

 west of the Humber River, Toronto. — James R. Thurston. 



36. Birds wintering. — The following birds were observed since 

 last meeting, about January 10, a Tree Sparrow (S. monticola) ; on 

 February 2, large flocks of Shorelarks, Pine Siskins (Spinus ]rinus), 

 Redpolls American Goldfinches (Sjnmis tristis) and Crows. — Ernest 

 E. Thompson. 



37. Pine Siskins still numerous. — While out in company 



with Mr. Williams on January 29, I saw several flocks of Siskins 

 (S]rinus pinus) and secured one specimen. — Jas. A. Varley. 



38. Notes on habits of Nighthawk.— I would like to ask 



if the members have noticed or can explain the peculiar habit the 

 Nighthawk (Chordeiles rirginianus) has of flying silently for four 

 slow steady beats of its wing, then giving five very fast beats after 

 which it utters its scream, and beginning at the slow beats again, it 

 repeats the performance indefinitely and with surprising regularity. — 

 Geo. E. Atkinson. 



39. Bird notes in Toronto Marsh, January 25, 1889.— 



About ten a.m. I reached the marsh, and as the immediate object of 

 my visit was the capture of field mice, I walked across the frozen bog 

 towards the higher reeds 100 yards south of the byres. My atten- 

 tion was almost immediately arrested by the sight of two large dark 

 hawks that were quartering the marsh, and presently down they 

 pounced on something in the reeds. I concluded at once that they 

 were Rough-legged Buzzards (Archibuteolagojms sancti-johannus) and 

 that they were here for the same purpose as myself viz. : the capture 



