142 



THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATURALIST. 



correspondents send us a description of the 

 nest; the month of its completion; the 

 locality and tree in which it was built ? From 

 seeing the young so early in Labrador, we 

 think that the eggs must have been laid in 

 March or April, when the land was deeply 

 covered with snow. The stomachs of the 

 young birds shot at Watchshesho were filled 

 with a species of swamp cranberry. 



Have any of our correspondents discovered 

 a Canadian nesting-place of the Wild Pigeon 

 (Ectopistes migratoria) of late years? 



The Northern form of Sharp-tailed Grouse 

 (Pedicecetes phasianelhis) occurs in the valley 

 of St. John, Upper Saguenay in winter. Has 

 its nest been found in Canada ? 



The Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus rupestris) 

 is also occasionally found in winter. The 

 species evidently nests on the north coast of 

 the Lower St. Lawrence. We would be 

 pleased to hear from Oologists regarding the 

 summer locality of this bird. 



The Red-breasted Snipe (Macrorhampus 

 griseus) is occasionally shot in the Province 

 of Quebec, while on its western flight in 

 spring. Has its nest been found in Ontario? 



Jack Snipe (Tringa maculata) are some- 

 times abundant in swamps about the 20th of 

 May. Who discovered its nest and determined 

 its eggs in Canada ? 



The Solitary Saudpiper (Rhyacophilus soli- 

 tarius) is also seen about the end of May, near 

 creeks on the margin of forests. Has any 

 person found its nest in Ontario? 



Did any Oologist discover the Field Plover, 

 commonly known as Bartram's Plover (Acti- 

 turus Bartramius) breeding in Canada ? 



The Yellow Rail (Porzana Novaboracensis). 

 This pretty little game-looking Rail breeds in 

 our northern swamps, as they have beer, shot 

 on snipe grounds behind Quebec in Autumn. 

 They pass over the latitude of the latter city, 

 probably north of the Laurentian mountains. 

 Can any of our correspondents send us infor- 

 mation as to its nest location, its form and 

 material of construction ; whether the habits 

 of the species are similar to the other Rails ? 

 Any portion of its summer history would be 

 of interest. — C. 



MONTREAL BRANCH, ENTOMOLOGICAL 

 SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



The ninth annual meeting of this society 

 was held on the 16th May, at the residence of 

 the President, H. H. Lyman, Esq. A very 

 favorable report was presented for the past 

 year, and the society congratulated on its 



success and the interest taken by the members 

 in this important branch of Natural Science. 

 Eight meetings were held during the year, 

 (there being a vacation in summer), at which 

 six original papers were read, and many 

 valuable observations placed on record with 

 regard to our Montreal insect fauna. The 

 titles of the papers are as follows : " Notes 

 on some species of Hymenoptera occurring 

 at Montreal." " On Instinct in insects." 

 " The Pickled Fruit Fly, Drosopkila ampe- 

 lophila, Loew." " On the Genera Hepialus 

 and Sthenopis in Canada." " Notes on the 

 Callimorphas in the Boston Museums, as 

 compared with Montreal species." " List of 

 Lepidoptera collected in 1881, by Dr. Bell, 

 of the Geological Survey. A valuable dona- 

 tion of books, from the Society in London, 

 Ontario was also thankfully acknowledged. 



The following gentlemen were elected to 

 office for the ensuing year: H. H Lyman, 

 M.A., President, W. Couper, Vice-President, 

 G. J. Bowles, Secretary and Treasurer, F. B. 

 Caulfield, J. G. Jack and E. D. Wintle, 

 Members of Council. 



The members had the pleasure of examin- 

 ing the celebrated work of Boisduval and 

 Leconte on the Diurn^e of America, and also 

 the beautifully executed works of Professor 

 Townend Glover, of Washington, U.S. on the 

 Hemiptera, and on Cotton worm insects. 

 The latter books are profusely illustrated with 

 etched plates, and the reading matter is 

 lithographed from the Professors manuscript 

 in fac-simile. All of these works are, we 

 believe, unique in Montreal. 



The prospects of the coming season's 

 collecting were also discussed, as well as the 

 various entomological problems at present 

 engaging the attention of the society, and the 

 members separated with pleasant anticipations 

 of the summer expeditions in pursuit of their 

 " untaxed and undisputed game," by fielc 

 ami flood, over the mountain slopes, 

 through the leafy woods, and gaining at one 

 time three important things, — health, recrea 

 tion, and some insight into the mysteries anc 

 beauties of nature. 



PETRIFIED NEST AND EGGS. 



While examining the collection of Dr. 

 Woolverton of this city, I was shown a pet- 

 rified bird's nest, containing two eggs, whicl: 

 was found in a cave near Woodstock, Ont. ; 

 several years ago. It seemed to be formed of 

 sticks, which outside were placed longitudin- 



