192 



THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATURALIST. 



Wilmot claims to be charged with the duty ; 

 and if, as he complains through you and the 

 Globe, there is indifference and neglect charge- 

 able against the Canadian Government, and 

 dilatoriness by the Imperial Commission, it 

 must be obvious that the proper way to settle 

 it is with the authority under which he says 

 that he is acting, and certainly not through 

 vague insinuations aimed at " Some one in 

 the Department" on whom the blame of his 

 own anticipated failure may if necessary be 

 conveniently shifted. 



This communication lias been with-held 

 hoping that Mr. Wilmot would correct the 

 miss-statements. Reluctantly and in self 

 defence I now ask you to please do so on my 

 behalf. 



Before parting let me add that I fully 

 endorse what you have said of the value to 

 his country, of such a "live" Commissioner 

 of Fisheries as Prof. Baird, and as heartily do 

 I join with you in wishing that we had his 

 like in Canada, to say nothing of his zealous 

 staff of scientists and other practical workers, 

 all supported by ample means and adequate 

 authority. The United States Government 

 thoroughly appreciates the federal fisheries 

 service; and besides maintaining it on a.liberal 

 footing, has always treated the able and earnest 

 officer at its head in a spirit of justice and 

 generosity, worthy of the great national interest 

 which he seeks to promote, and the vast pro- 

 ductive industry which he labors to develop. 

 Your obedient Servant, 



W. P. Whitciier. 



LIST OF THE BIRDS OF WESTERN 

 ONTARIO. 



CONTINDED FROM PAGE 187. 



126. Asio Americanus ; Long-eared Owl. Un- 

 common. Occasionally several may be seen 

 hunting a field in winter like Harriers. 



127. Asio accipitrinus ; Short-eared Owl. Rare. 

 We have only taken four. 



128. Strix nebulosa ; Barred Owl. Common; 

 breeds. Formerly abundant. 



129. Vlula cinerea ; Cinereous Owl. Two in 

 possession of S, Herring, Toronto, shot near 

 London. Very rare in winter. 



130. Nyctale Acadica; Acadian Owl. Rather 

 rare. Not known to breed. 



131. Scops asio; Mottled Owl. Our most 

 common Owl. Breeds. 



132. Bubo Virginianus ; Great Horned Owl. 

 Common. Breeds very early. 



133. Nyctea Scandiaca; Snowy Owl. Occasi- 

 onally common in winter. More regular along 



the lake-shore, especially Lake St. Claire. 



134. Surnia funerea ; Hawk Owl. Very rare. 

 One bought in the flesh in London, 187 — . [E. 

 W. Sandys.] 



135. Falco peregrinus nsevms ; Duck Hawk. 

 Very rare inland. One taken near London, 187 — . 

 Frequently seen in fall at St. Clair Flats. 



136. JEsalon columbarius ; Pigeon Hawk. 

 Rare ; three or four taken. 



137. Tinnunculus sparverius; Sparrow Hawk. 

 Our most common Hawk. Breeds. 



138. Pandion haliaetus Carolinensis ; Fish 

 Hawk. Rare inland. More common along the 

 lake-shore where it breeds. 



139. Elanoides forficatus ; Swallow-tailed Kite. 

 Some years ago a pair of these bhds stayed all 

 summer about eight. miles North-west of London. 



140. Circus ITudsonius ; Marsh Hawk. Rare 

 inland. Very common along the large marsties, 

 where it breeds. 



141. Accipitcr Cooperi; Cooper's Hawk. Rather 

 common ; breeds. 



142. Accipiter fuscus; Sharp-shinned Hawk. 

 Common in the fall, but only a few breed. Late 

 in September, 1882, large numbers of these 

 hawks were seen on Point Pelee, as many as fifty 

 passing the house in a day. It seems they are 

 equally abundant every year. 



143. Astur atricapillus ; Goshawk. Occurs 

 frequently in winter and regularly at the St. 

 Clair Flats. 



144. Buteo borealis ; Red-tailed Hawk. Com- 

 mon ; breeds. 



145. Buteo lineatus : Red-shouldered Hawk. 

 The most common of our large hawks ; breeds. 



146. Buteo Pennsylvanieus ; Broad-winged 

 Hawk. Sometimes common in flocks during 

 migrations. At other times single individuals 

 are rather rare. 



147. Archibuteo lag opus sancU-johannis; Rough- 

 legged Hawk ; Black Hawk. Common in fall at 

 the St. Clair Flats. 



148. Aquila chrysaetus Canadensis;- Golden 

 Eagle. Very rare. Mr. Sandys reports two — one 

 of Avhich was taken in the winter of '74-5 

 benumbed by cold, and is still alive in captivity. 



149. Haliseetus leucocephalus ; Bald Eagle. 

 Rather rare. A pair breeds regularly on a lake- 

 side farm in Kent, and several pairs on Point 

 Pelee. Seldom seen in the older districts. The 

 pair on the Kent farm live chiefly on fish and 

 muskrats, taking the former from the water them- 

 selves, winter and summer. 



150. Cathartes aura; Turkey Buzzard. Re- 

 ported from various points in the St. Clair 

 marshes. 



151. Uctopistes migraioria ; Pigeon. Formerly 

 abundant. Now rare except in the less settled 

 districts. 



