The C>piAr[ Sportsman a^d Naturalist. 



No. 5 . 



MONTRKAL, MAY, 1883. 



Vol. III. 



WILLIAM COUPER, Editor. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

 We waul a continuance of original commun- 

 ications relative to Canadian Natural History, 

 and results from the use of the Rod and Gun, 

 which are always welcome ; but it is necess- 

 ary ( that manuscripts should be in our 

 possession before the beginning of each month. 



COOPER'S HAWK. 

 (AccipUer ( 'ooperi) 



An adult female of the above was sent to us 

 by Mr. Woodward, U.S. Vice-Consul at Coati- 

 cook, P.Q. On dissection, a full developed 

 Soft-egg was found in t lie ovarium. It appears 

 that the bird was caught by a man who broughl 

 it to him in a small wire cage. From these 

 facts we may safely record this hawk as 

 nesting in April in the Province of Quebec. 



BROAD- WINGED HAWK. 

 Bui co Pennsylvanicus 

 Mr. Woodward, of Ooaticook, sent us a 

 female of this species lately ; it, also, indi- 

 cated that it laid its eggs in April, and 

 doubtless nests in the Province of Quebec. 

 The egg of this Hawk is sold to collectors, 

 from $1.00 to $1 .25. 



A YOUNG WEASEL. 

 On the 18th instant, a small Weasel was 

 brought to me, which" was caught- while 

 being carried in the mouth of the parent, as a 

 cat is seen to carry its kitten. This fact is 

 new to me, but if may, however, have been 

 noticed by others. The body of this young 

 one is only four inches in length; tail, two 

 inches, and the fur is much finer than in the 

 adult. The dress is in accordance with the 

 idult in summer. — C 



HOW TO LOOK FOR OOCOONS OP OUH 

 LARGE MOTHS. 



There are some beautiful large silk spinning 



moths found in Canada, the caterpilla 

 which feed on various forest and cultivated 



trees. By obtaining cocoons of these moth-, 

 the perfect insects will \<<- procured if the 

 chrysalides are living. About the end of April 

 I collected ten fresh cocoons of probably three 

 species within a space of tour acres on Mount 

 Royal. The most common cocoon is nblongj 

 generally spun within a leaf, and tie 3 

 found attached to twigs aboul a fool or two 

 above the ground. They are coveted with 

 snow in winter, but by careful search they may 

 be easily seen in April or the early part of 

 May. I have found several cocoons ot this 

 species destroyed by mice this winter. It i- 

 called the Polyphemus moth (Telea'polyphi- 

 mus). The most productive localities to find 

 these cocoons are in scattered underbrush 

 partially shaded by large tree-. Another 

 oblong cocoon, that of the most beautiful of 

 our large moths (Actios I nun), is generally 

 found in the spring on the mound under 

 butternut trees. The caterpillar of this moth 

 t'ails to make a linn attachment to the tree. 

 therefore the cocoons drop to the ground with 

 the fall ot the leaf. Although butternut trees 

 are abundant on the Island of Montreal, the 

 hunt moth is uncommon. The next cocoon is 

 a large one, generally found on trees at van, us 

 distances from the ground. It produces the 

 largest of our nocturnal moths (Platysamia 

 cecropia). There is also another almost similar 

 cocoon rarely found in the vicinity of Montreal, 

 which produces an allied form called (Platy- 

 samia Columbia). These specie- are ail worth 

 looking after, as they arc magnificent ins* - 

 and the blending of their colours would charm 

 the eye of any artist or lover ot nature. The 

 last rare one occurring near Montreal is the 

 Prometheus moth (Callosamiu promethea,) 

 whose caterpillar seems to be a good architect, 

 as the cocoon is firmly attached by a strong 

 silken band to the twigs of trees, from widen 

 they are pendant; When they are discovered 

 it will be necessary to climb the tree to pro- 

 cure them. — C. 



