189 1-92 |. ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT. 89' 



A number of observers were of opinion that the birds frequented the 

 same localities until the supply of food was exhausted. On the southern 

 slopes of the hills north of the city and of the Don ravines, the snow 

 soon melted away, and the fallen seeds of Primus, Crcetagus and Fraxiiius 

 were abundant under the trees, and of course the birds were found 

 feeding on the ground. 



The food of this bird in Manitoba is the seeds of the box elder, 

 Negundo aceroides, (Nash) the seeds hang on the trees during the winter 

 and are picked off by the birds, but although many pistillate trees of this 

 species grow on the Don flats and hill sides, which were heavily loaded 

 with fruit, the birds were not observed to feed on them, nor did any of 

 the dissections reveal the presence of Negundo seeds. 



The range of food as shown by stomach dissections was not large. 



Seeds of Robinia pseudacacia, Crcetagus coccinea, Fraxinus americana, 

 Pyrus acuparia, Primus virginiana, Primus serotina, Acer saccharinum, 

 Hamamelis virginiana, Juniperus communis, Juniperus virginiana, and 

 although not shown by dissections, they were observed to feed on seeds 

 of apples which were hanging on the trees. The birds freely entered the 

 residential parts of the city, and fed on the seeds of the European 

 mountain ash, an abundant ornamental tree. They were quite 

 unsuspicious and tame, and were unmercifully and wantonly killed 

 with clubs, catapults, revolvers, pea-rifles, and many were taken alive 

 with a slip-noose attached to the end of a long stick. We have 

 collected reliable information of 453 specimens, which were collected 

 in and near Toronto, most of which were made into skins or mounted 

 by taxidermists and students of ornithology, but the actual number 

 killed must have exceeded 1000. 



Several living pairs were collected and kept for some time in cages, 

 but they did not pair. At this time, February 17th, 1892, we know 

 of but one living specimen, a female, in excellent condition. — EDITING 

 Committee. 



Since last date given, no birds have been noticed at Toronto to date 

 of going to print. November 25, 1892. 



