66 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Atlantic seaboard, aud usually appearing on their vernal mi- 

 gration about the last week of April. 



?: T. awmsmiii, Gab., Olive-backed Thrush.— Not com- 

 mon. 



4. I 1 . musUUnm, Gm., Wood Thrush.— Bather rare on the 

 Coast, but met with occasionally in the interior, espeei: 



the wild forest. At Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Mr. William 

 Wiuton has procured nest and eggs. 



5. Mimas earolinensi* (L.), Sr., Cat Bird. — More common 

 in the interior than on the sea coast. Arrives from the South 

 about the end of May. 



6. Bialia siatts, (L.) Hald., Blue Bird.— Rare. 



7. Regulus calendula (L.), Licht., Ruby -crowned Kinglet — 

 Not uncommon. 



8. R. sairapa, Licht., Gold-crested Kinglet. — Common 

 throughout the year. 



fj. Parus atricapillus L., Black-capped Chickadee. — Very 

 common, especially in the spruce woods in winter, where they 

 1 always seen in small flocks, ami sometimes aecom- 

 ii i by a few gold-crests, busily searching among the trunks 

 and branches lor insects. This is truly a bird of winter, and, 

 small though it be, the coldest blast winch blows or the heavi- 

 est storm which rages through the forest fails to stay its daily 

 progress in search of food. Often and often, when traversing 

 the deep woods in midwinter, overtaken by a blinding snow- 

 storm, have I encountered a 'flock of these busy little birds 

 and stayed awhile tn watch their motions. How they man- 

 aged to hold on to the branches and carefully reach every 

 nook and cranny while the lury of the gale bent the stalwart 

 stems Idie willow wands, was always a mystery to me. Yet 

 they never flinched from their posts, but field their ground 

 and flitted from tree to tree, sounding their wild and plaintive 

 notes in perfect harmony with the wind dirge, thai Nature 

 sang. 



10. P. hw i . Hudson's Bay Tit— Bather com' 



mou, and frequently observed with the gold-crests and com- 

 mon chickadees. 



If. Sitta earoUnensis, Gm., White-bellied Nuthatch. — Oom- 

 mon during some winters, but rare in others. 



12. A 7 . Canadensis, L., Red-bellied Nuthatch. —Common, es- 

 pecially during the winter months. 



13. S. pusilla. Lath., Brown-headed Nuthatch. — Very rare. 



14. Certhia, familiaris, L., Brown Creeper. — Common 

 throughout the year. 



15. Anorthura troglodytes (L. ), Cs., Winter Wren.— Al- 

 though a rare bird, il is known to breed in the province. 



l(i. EremopliOa abpestma i Forst), Boie, Shore Lark.— Very 

 common in winter, mure particularly on the coast. They 

 generally arrive from the north about the beginning of No- 

 vember, and frequent the low grass lands contiguous to the 

 shore in flocks, where thev love to search anion e the half- 

 rotted kelp for food. In t lie month of February, wmch isour 

 coldest and most inclement month, Ihave shot specimens and 

 found them to be very fat, so that they must find plenty of 

 food of some kind to keep them in such good condition. 



17, An.lhus 'ud'/vManuxiGm.). Licht,'; Titlark.— Common. 



IS. MnioMUa Wtrta (L. ), V, Black and White Creeper— 

 This interesting little bird is often met with in company with 

 some of the early warblers in the groves of young hardwoods 

 by tbe side of lake or stream. It is a perfect creeper in habit, 

 surveying the holes of the trees for insects in the way pecu- 

 liar to the race. 



19. Parma amerfeana (L.), Bp., Blue Yellow-backed 

 Warbler. — This cannot be considered a common species, al- 

 though in inland districts where the country is clothed with 

 a vigorous growth of rock maple and beech, its pleasant note 

 is often heard in earlv summer. 



20. Helminthopkaga rufumpilla (Wils.), Bd., Nashville 

 Warbler. — Rarely seen. 



21. Dendrmca (estiva (Gm.), Bd., Summer Warbler. — This 

 familiar little bird is extremely common everywhere, coming 

 to our very doors to search among the leaves of tbe trees and 

 shrubs for insects, of which it must consume immense quanti- 

 ties while feeding its young. 



32. I), virens (Gm.), lid.. Black-throated Green Warbler. — 

 Common ; usually found in groves of spruce and pine. 



23. D. cwrulescens (L.), Bd., Black-throated Blue Warbler. 

 — Very rare. 



24. (?) D cmrulea (Wils.), Bd., Cerulean Warbler.— Coues 

 gives '" 5n\ S." as a habitat of this species, but I have never 

 heard of its caplme in the province. 



25. D. coronaia (\j.), Qfc, Yellow-rumped Warbler. — One 

 of our commonest summer visitants. His the first of its race 

 to visit us in spring, and the sound of its woll-kn.nyn notes, 

 from the depths ot the spruce grove, s is pleasant indeed to 

 lnm who looks forward anxiously for the first sure sign of 



28) 1). blacibarnm (Gm.), Bd., Blackburuian Warbler.— 

 This bird must be considered rare in the province, especially 

 on the sea. coast, Mr. Andrew Downs fias observed it in the 

 hardwood hills about Grand Lake, 



27. l>. striata. (Forst.), Bit, Black-poll Wwbler.— The only 

 specimen I have had an opportunity of examining was one 

 (male) shot by Mi. Thomas Fgan, taxidermist, Halifax, the 

 last week of May, 187(5. 



28. /'. casta am (Wils.), Bd., Bay-breasted Warbler— Not 

 common. 



29. D. penmyhaiiica (L.), Bd., Chestnut-sided Warbler.— 

 Very common. 



30. D. maculosa (Gm.), Bd., Black-and-yellow Warbler.— 

 Abundant. 



31. D. tigrina (Gm,), Bd., Cape May Warbler.— Very rare; 

 Only a few specimens have been obtained. 



32. D palmarum (Gin.), Bd., Yellow Red-poll Warbler.— 

 Not common. 



33. Seiurus auracapittus (L,), Sw., Gold-crowned Thrush.— 

 To observe the habits of this shy and solitary bird the recesses 

 of the forest must be visited, where, seated for awhile on 

 some mossy bank which overhangs a purling brook o'er- 

 shadowed by tbe sombre, foliage of the hemlock spruce, its 

 I iluintive note will soon fall upon the ear, and the modest 

 plumage of the bird itself will be observed as it flits slowly 

 among the lower branches of the neighboring trees. Its curi- 

 ous ovi ■ ] " ', always built upon the ground, is rarely 

 found ; but one m the collection of Mr. Downs, which hep'ro- 



>n the shores of Bedford Basin some years ago, formed 

 externally ot dead leaves, is an extremely pretty object, 



31. 8. wmboracemU (Om.i, Nutt., Water Thrush.— Com- 

 mon. 



35, S. Ircd.micianus (V.).Bp., Large-billed AVater Thrush.— 

 Common More frequently seen at the close of summer when 

 on its migration South. 



36. Qeothfypis trichas (L.), Cab., Maryland Yellow-throat.— 

 Very common. 



37 Philadelphia (Wils.),Bd., Mourning Warbler.— Kate. 

 botes pu-sillus ( Wils.), B.p, Green 'Black-capped 

 ling Warbler.— Not uncommon. 



39. M Canadensis (L.), And., Canadian Fly-catchinu War- 

 bler.— Common. 



40. Betophaga ruticilla (L.), Sw., Redstart.— About the first 

 week in May this gaily plumaged little bird is observed fiittintr 

 from tree to tree in the spruce and birch copses. It seems to 

 prefer the vicinity of the settlements, and frequently builds 

 its nest near dwellings. 



41. Pyranga rubra V L.), V., Scarlet Tanager.— Very rare, 

 but Mr. Egan has received both male and female for preserva- 

 tion. 



[To be continued. \ 



THE HABITS AND BREEDING OF THE 

 SEA LION IN CAPTIVITY. 



I N the early part of June, 1877, I went, sent by the Zoo- 

 ■*■ logical Society of Cincinnati, to Chicago to receive .some 

 black sea lions (Hialophits gillespiei) which had arrived there 

 from the southern coast of California. On my arrival I found 

 that the female bad calved on the previous night, there- 

 fore thought il best to lie over for a day in order that the 

 young might acquire a little extra strength to bear the fatigue 

 of the railway journey to Cincinnati. They all arrived in lb 

 Garden in fine condition, but had to be kept in their shipping 

 crates for the Drat few days, until an old beaver pond could 

 be arranged as temporary quarters for them, while the large 

 basin intended for their permanent home could be built. 

 During this time, on account of a heavy freshet in the Ohio 

 River, the water in the pond became quite muddy, which 

 affected them so much that they were unable to retain thsir 

 food, invariably vomiting up their fish some one or two 

 hours after feeding. By giving small doses of Rochelle salts 

 for a few days, all recovered, but the calf died from a violent 

 attack of cholera infantum, caused no doubt by its mother's 

 milk being affected by the muddy water. 



A short time before the calf was taken sick my attention 

 was attracted to the peculiar appearance of the mother on 

 emerging from the water after taking her customary bath. 

 Slje was completely covered with a whitish oleagenous sub- 

 stance, about the consistency of semi fluid lard, which seemed 

 to ooze out all over her. As soon as she got into the crate 

 with the young one, she commenced rolling, so that in a short 

 time the young one and the inside of the crate were complete- 

 ly covered with it. The calf seemed to enjoy it hugely, and 

 rolled about until his coat glistened as if he had just left the 

 hands of a first-class tonsorial artist. It instantly struck me 

 that his mother had been preparing him for the water, and I 

 immediately tested the matter by taking him out and placing 

 him on the edge of the pond, when in a few moments he be- 

 gan to paddle about in tbe water, something he bad never lie- 

 fore attempted, although he had beeu almost daily placed in 

 the same position. 



As soon as the large basin was completed, and they were 

 transfered to it, 1 had a fine opportunity of observing the 

 tyrannical attentions of the male toward the female during 

 rutting season. He constantly swam back and forth along 

 the partition, which separated him from another male, fre- 

 quently endeavoring to get through, splintering aud tearing 

 the rails with his powerful canine 'teeth. If the female at- 

 tempted to approach the division she was immediately forcibly 

 driven back, when he would redouble his efforts to get 

 through, barking and roaring as if beside himself with rage. 

 This would be kept up until late at. night, when the female 

 was allowed to go into the house situated in the centre of the 

 basin, when he would follow and place himself immediately 

 in tie doorway so as to prevent her egress. He never seemed 

 to sleep soundly, as he invariably kept up a series of grunts 

 aud muffled roars, as if he were fighting his battles over 

 again in his sleep. 1 would frequently annoy him by stealing 

 up softly and then suddenly scraping the gravel with my foot, 

 when he would instantly start up, plunge into the basin, 

 swim rapidly back and forth, barking with all his might, 

 until he was satisfied there was no interloper about, whet) he 

 would sullenly return to his post and gradually drop off again 

 into his troubled sleep. Frequently at night the two males 

 would climb to the roof of the house, and in their efforts to 

 get at each other through the partition, would raise such a 

 din that persons living at quite a distance from the Garden 

 would frequently ask me the cause of the uproar. 



At the end of some two months there was a change, when 

 the female commenced playing and coquetting with the male, 

 frequently pinching him so sharply as to make him snarl with 

 pain, and if he seemed to be much out of humor she would 

 soothe him by swimming up and giving him a good old-fash- 

 ioned conjugal kiss. Finally they quieted down to the hum- 

 drum of regular wedded life, and eariy in October I noticed 

 that the female was suffering from a violent catarrh, which 

 gradually disappeared, followed by a dry cough, particularly 

 at night. It was in March when 1 first thought she showed 

 signs oi pregnancy, and in May, from her appearance when 

 out of the water, I became convinced of it. On June 25 the 

 young one was born, making the period of gestation as nearly 

 as I could judge about ten months, and it was some days be- 

 fore the mother would allow me to handle it, and when I did 

 suec i in i doing it was always at the risk of getting a nip, 

 BS he (I It i E tainly the most, ill-tempered, snarling little brute 

 with which a dry nurse could be vexed. I soon found out. 

 that there was but One way of handling him with impunity, 

 and that was by suddenly catching him just back of the flip- 

 pers and quickly lifting him clear of the door, when he would 

 snap and struggle for a few moments and then quietly give 

 up. I frequently took him out of the house for the purpose 

 of showing him to friends, and for the first three or four 

 weeks he never made the slightest attempt to get into the 

 water, although J invariably placed him on the lip outside of 

 the door and loosed my hold in order that he could be fully 

 seen. During this period the mother was let out for a bath 

 twice daily, and after she had played about as long as she 

 wished Bhe woultl swim up to the closed door, rear up on the 

 sill and bellow until she was allowed to get in to her calf. 

 Invariably in the morning, so soon as I would start across the 

 bridge in "order to turn her out, the male would swim up to 

 the door and await her appearance, always exacting his morn- 

 iDg kiss before he would allow her to plunge into the water. 

 Aftci -playing with her for a few minutes he. would com- 

 mence sentry duty, back and forth along the partition, occa- 

 sionally making fierce rushes if the other approached too near 

 to it. , . 



In the meanwhile, as the young one , never showed the 

 slightest inclination to go into the water, in spite of frequent 

 opportunities to do so, I began to watch for a second appear- 



ance of the oleaginous matter. During the fifth week after 

 birth, on going into the house, one morning, I found marks of 

 grease in every direction, and the youngster shone as if he had 

 just emerged from an oil tank. Taking a bucket, I filled il 

 with water, placed it in his way, and he immediately stuck 

 his head to the bottom of it. Fearing an accident, a 

 in the basin only reached within about a foot of the top of the 

 hp surrounding the house, I had the carpenter construct a 

 small, shallow, wooden tank inside the larger one.with a slop- 

 ing platform leading into it. So soon as the door was opened 

 connecting with it he followed his mother, and in a short time 

 was having high jinks Bwimming and diving to Ms full bent. 

 When he tired he would quietly rest in the water with his 

 head lying across his mother's neck, or he would scramble up 

 on the platform, stretch himself, have a short nap, and then 

 commence bis play again. So soon as I thought he had gamed 

 sufficient strength the small tank was removed, and he was 

 allowed the run of the larger one, when his wonderful swim- 

 ming powers came info full play. I have frequently semi him 

 dash off with such yelgdty that the water would part and tly 

 from each side of his n ok with a fairly hissing son, , 

 he would dive, and then suddenly make a Sua 



ion-like leaps with such rapidity that I could easily 



lie to capture 

 of amusing 

 were always 



3k, aud play- 



imagine with what little dif 



the swiftest of fish. One of the fa 



himself was by tating a ch | 



kept in the basin— out on the lip, lyii 



ing with it with front flippers and m. 



an infant would act with a common rattle. At first he was 

 rather shy of the old male, hut gradually took the greatest 

 delight in swimming about with, and trying to induce him to 

 join in a game of romps; but the old fellow was proof against 

 all his wiles, and always good naturedly endeavored to get 

 rid of him. 



I noticed that the female's cough disappeared immediately 

 after the birth of the young one ; but about the middle of 

 Augusl both her appetit'eand'actious became variable, some days 

 feeding and seeming lively as usual, on others she would 

 either take but little or entirely refuse her food. She gradu- 

 ally grew worse until September 8, when, on going to the 

 basin in the morning, I missel her, and found the male busily 

 engaged in divingjust at one particular spot. He finally suc- 

 ceeded in bringing the body to the surface, and when the 

 keeper attempted to remove it he repeatedly charged, and It 

 was only by great care and watchfulness that, they avoided 

 being bitten. On dissection it was found that !>• 

 that scourge of all zoological collections, was the cause of her 

 death. . 



The young one did not seem to notice the loss of his mother 

 until about tweDty-four hours after her death, win 

 menced to sulk, and obstinately refused to eat, in Bpitsol 

 every effort and stratagem to induce him to do so. He gradu- 

 ally wasted away, and finally died of starvation on 

 16, having viciously attempted to bite me a few bouri I [on 

 his death. The old male grieved so over the loss of his mate 

 that for some lime I was afraid we would lose him also, and 

 at the end ot about six weeks he became so thin that I thought 

 it best to remove him to a small tank in-doors. Since, he has 

 been improving slowly up to within ten days, since when he 

 shows a marked improvement. Fraitk J. Thomcbon. 



Zoological Garden, Cincinnati, Ohio. 



LATEST FROM THE SEAT OF WAR IN 



SPARROWLAND. 

 Bnrroa Fobest and Stiiea3i : 



Arma vir-umgue cano ! Tired as your readers doubt- 

 less are of carnage, I would not harrow their fit 

 lessly ; but as long as the dreadful din of arms and the shout- 

 ing go on, they cannot be indifferent spectators of the gory 

 drama. The latest from the seat of war in Sparrowland is an 

 ambushed attack made on the innocent undersigned in a 

 Bostonese paper, and I am currently supposed to have been 

 knocked down, dragged out, and lei'f a prey to the vultures 

 and all the dogs, while the will of the Beacon street Jove was 

 being accomplished. The article to which I alludi 

 temperate and so nearly courteous— so slightly Bre 1 

 in fact— and wore such a specious air of fair argumei 

 doubted when I beard it attributed to Dr. Brew 

 wrote to him, begging to be informed whether or aol 

 the author of " Conclusive Testimony," that being the title of 

 the screed in question- Hiseurt reply was that he had " no 

 to make." The points are these: The name of the 

 English sparrow appears in a list of sixty t. , 



served to occur it 

 lyn ; an article contributi I 

 nephew, Mr. G. H. Coues, for the 

 as well as for the ability | 

 myself witness. Hence 1 

 testimony" that the English span 



birds. So my anonymous I iai 



syllogistic joy, and a hop, skip an 

 of a newspaper; he has me on the 

 aback seat." But did h 

 tsly 



Naval Hospital , 



ation of my nephew, I made 

 s ! For it is " conclusive 

 ow does not inolea.l, native 

 reasons. Willi a burst ot 

 1 jump, he 



ttow " take 

 clop i' i Heel 1 1. <<\ I,, . ., 

 presented, might have been found 

 on the spot; that those occurring were there in 8p 

 obnoxious sparrows I Did it not occur to him that by parity 

 of reason he. might triumphantly declare that, hawks and owls 

 never molest small birds ? There are a number of these birds 

 of prey in thi I 



The fact is, Mr. Cones had omitted the English sparrow 

 from the list, as hot being I imply referring to 



its presence at the end of his communication, and I, in look- 

 ing over his press-proofs, inserted its in. the list with the rest. 

 Let ns beg further space to propose a conundrum. It. came 

 to me while i was lately examining the noble elms of my 

 native New England, and has haunted me ever since. It may 

 be grouped with the standing questions : " Do quail withhold 

 their scent ?" ''Do snakes swallow their young ?" "Do trout, 

 flop, " etc. It, is this: Whereas, English sparrows were imported 

 to save our trees from insect pests ; and, wherea3, the birds, 

 according to pyrgitomaniacal testimony, do this work 

 thoroughly; why, then, do the deluded Bostonese girdle the 

 trunks of their elms with circular tar-tureens? It is expen- 

 sive, troublesome, useless and nasty Let 

 removed ; give the sparrows a fair chance r 

 let the worms crawl up to be instantly devoured, 



wise these innocent birds, which having imported, we are 



bound to protect, might perish Of hunger. Nev< 

 ill conditioned croakers and obstinate fossils Who say that 

 coal-tar is the only efficacious preventive. Do not let the 

 city foresters any more go at large with scrapers, and other 

 infernal engines of destruction, to kill the wains we need to 

 feed our dear little sparrows with. Bostonese confidence in 

 sparrows is refreshing— it is truly Napoleonic l 



Elliott DoiHft 



