THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATH:.\ LlsT. 





young were being fed entirely upon hee.s, hut 

 I could only discover the bodies of dron 

 malcH ; whether the instinct of these bird 

 prompted them to select the drones in prefer- 

 ence to the workers on account ol their 

 superior fiize and Blower movements, or from 

 a tear of the stings of the hitter, I could not 

 determine. Numbers of Cat-birds have for 

 years past nested in the vicinity of my apiary, 

 but I do not know of any other instance ol 

 these birds feeding upon bees. 



W. W. DUNLOP. 

 Montreal, January 27lh, 1883. 



SPARROW NOTES. 



The well known fact, that the animal and 

 vegetable productions of the old world, when 

 transplanted to America, thrive and multiply, 

 has been further attested by the spread ol the 

 common sparrow of Europe, (J : a-s.ser domesli- 

 cus) over a large part of this continent during 

 the few years which have elapsed since its 

 introduction. Extending on every side from 

 the various cities into which it has been 

 brought, it has spread over the country 

 adjacent, and in time, will, no doubt, be 

 everywhere abundant as far as its Southern 

 limit. How far this will extend is an interest- 

 ing question. Its range in the Old world is 

 extensive from east to west, — from the Atlantic 

 Ocean to Siberia. From north to south it is 

 found all over Europe, but becomes rare in 

 Italy south of Piedmont, and only occasion- 

 ally is seen in the north of Africa. In Asia it 

 extends southwards to the northern parts of 

 India. It has been introduced into the 

 Southern States of America, but, according to 

 a statement in a recent American publication, 

 it will not live in the hottest portions of the 

 south, the excessive heat being fatal to it. How 

 the species can exist in Canada during the 

 excessive cold of winter, is certainly remark- 

 able. And yet this hardy bird not only lives, 

 but contrives to find abundance of food. An 

 exceptionally cold season, however, no doubt 

 destroys a good many individuals. I have 

 seen the bodies of sparrows, picked up dead 

 in the street in very cold weather, which were 

 plump and well fed, and without any injury, 

 so that the cause of death was probably 

 nothing but the intense cold. In such weather 

 they seek shelter as much as possible, and but 

 few are seen on the wing. During several 

 past summers, I have noticed sparrows with 

 plumage different from the general colours of 

 the species. Many of their wing and tail 



feathers were white ; h 'ban 



other--, BO that -one- individual- a; 



be altogether greyish whin'. I an, 



whether the hird in Eu 



albinism, [f not, perhaps the different clin 



conditions it i- exposed to in Canada 

 cause of the • ariation in colour. Ti.' 

 as to the usefulness or otherwise of th( 



in Canada i- -111,' B 



gardeners and tanner- may be benefited by 



them to some extent, as th< 



numerous as to be destructive. I think, 



that between the winter-' cold and tl 



of their feathered enemies, their multiplies) 



to an injurious extent will be prevented (or 



many years. They have, however, been in- 

 troduced and acclimated, and the mischief, it 



it is a mischief, is now done. \\Y (rii-t the 



threatened war of extermination will not i 

 be waged against them for a long time to come. 



II. I 



THE WOOD-THRUSH KS {HYLOCWHLA) 



OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 



Bt M. Chamberlain, St. John, X.B. 



This Province can lay claim to but three 

 members of this sub-genus of the Tar h lee, the 



Tawny, also called " Wilson's Thrush," and 

 " Veery," the Olive-hacked and the Hermit, 

 for the Wood Thrush does nol come BO far 

 north on the Atlantic seaboard, rarely occurr- 

 ing beyond Massachusetts and never reaching 

 the northern limit ol the Allegbanian fauna! 

 area, while its grey-cheeked congener, though 

 probably passing through the country ■ >•- 

 to its breeding ground in the far North, has 

 not as yet been taken within our boundaries. 

 The Hermit and the Olive-hacked are abun- 

 dant throughout the Province and the Tawnv 

 is much too common to he called pare. They 

 USUally reach the vicinity of St. John during 

 the first half of May. the Hermit arriving first, 

 followed within a tew days by the Tawny and 

 in some two weeks by the Olive-hacked. They 

 leave here about the middle ol' September. 

 These species have a general appearance when 

 in the field SO similar that none but e\; 

 can distinguish them, though, upon a c - 

 examination, the characteristics ol each are 

 found to he marked with sufficient distinct] Rfi 



to leave no doubt of their identification. In 

 the field all three have the same outline t'i\ m 

 beak to tail, the same russet coloring above 

 the same dull white breasts, more or less 



