88 THE BIOLOGICAL REVIEW. 



Of the seven Toronto birds, six have the sex determined, 

 four being males and two females. 



That they bred here is evident from the fact that they 

 were captured this year, on the following dates: May 26, 

 July 16, August 16, 17 and 24, and those taken on the two 

 latter dates are evidently young birds. 



A peculiar habit of these birds, as noted by Mr. Pickering 

 and Mr. Jacobs, is their stupidity or tameness; several allowed 

 so near an approach, that they were killed with paddles. 



Mr. J. F. Menge has also noted this habit in Florida, as on 

 one occasion, when he had found their nest, he held one of the 

 old birds in his hand; it showed no signs of flight, and its mate 

 was within two or three feet of him ; when he " let the old bird 

 go she hopped back on her nest as though she were accustomed 

 to being handled. "* 



This habit has not been observed in the common bird 

 Ardetta exilis. 



The stomach dissections of three specimens show that the 

 food consists of small bass and perch, from one half to one inch 

 in length; and in one stomach, there was found the larva of a 

 large dragon fly. 



There is much to be learned regarding the status and life 

 history of this strange bird, and it would be interesting to hear 

 what the leading authorities have to say on the matter, since 

 so many additional specimens have been secured at Toronto. 



As the seven Toronto specimens represent more than half 

 the number known to have been taken, a comparison of them 

 might be of interest to the readers of the Review, especially 

 as they are a representative group, consisting of two adult 

 males, two females, two young males, and an adult, of which 

 the sex is undetermined. I have succeeded in bringing together, 

 for the purpose of comparison, all of these with the exception 

 of one in the Canadian Institute. 



I must here thank Messrs. J. H. Ames, J. H. Fleming, J. R. 

 Thurston and Charles Pickering, for their kindness in loaning 

 me the specimens they possess. 



* Auk VIII., 1891, p. 309. 



