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EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 



Through the courtesy of Mr. Basil W. Martin, we have received the 

 ■ Fifth Report of the Department of Agriculture of the Province of British 

 Columbia,' 1895-96. Much of interest to the zoologist is found under the 

 heading " Noxious Animals and Animal Pests." At present there appear 

 to be the following sums paid as blood-money : — Panthers (Puma), Felis 

 concohr, 7£ dollars; Wolves, Canis occidentalis, 2 dollars; Coyotes, Cants 

 latrans, 1 dollar. From enquiries made by the Department it seems to be 

 the unanimous opinion that the price put upon the heads of Coyotes should 

 be raised. " In point of fact, instead of their numbers being diminished, 

 they are increasing to an alarming extent, rendering sheep-rearing in the 

 upper country out of the question ; calves, pigs, and fowls are also carried 

 off in numbers." Wolves, though troublesome in places, are neither so 

 numerous nor so bold as Coyotes. Panthers are still numerous about the 

 settlements on Vancouver Island, where their depredations on sheep and 

 pigs are severely felt. On the mainland Panthers are comparatively 

 scarce, a few under the name of mountain lions being in the Smilkameen. 

 None are found on Hornby Island, and this absence probably applies to all 

 the Gulf Islands. Wild horses continue to be a source of great loss to the 

 cattle men of the upper country, on account of the damage they do to the 

 ranges. It is greatly to be feared that, owing partly to the depredations of 

 these useless beasts, the ranges of the Upper Fraser were left so bare at 

 the beginning of winter that a great loss will occur amongst the cattle of 

 that section. " Licences to shoot unbranded stallions may be issued by 

 the Government Agent of the district, upon such terms and conditions as 

 such Government Agent may indorse upon such licence." 



We read that a great influx of Owls, principally Dusky Horned Owls, 

 Bubo virginianus saturatus, to the settled districts of the islands and Lower 

 Fraser occurred last winter (1895). This curious migration was considered 

 due to the excessively and unusually early cold weather in November, which 

 it is believed drove these birds out of their haunts to the northward. The 

 presence of such a number of Owls was undeniably a source of great loss 

 to poultry keepers. Not only fowls, but rabbits, game, and even cats, fell 

 a prey to their rapacity. " It is quite possible that on an occasion of this 

 kind the harm done was much greater than any good the Owls may have 

 performed." The introduced Pheasants, Phasanius torquatus, have been 

 very numerous on Vancouver Island and on some of the Gulf Islands, and 



