— 473 — 



Each of these orders might comprise in our fauna : 

 I order, 36; II, 18; III, 110; IV, 15; V, 42; VI, 



69. Canada, not embracing all the productions, climate 

 and temperature which the American Union does, 

 cannot be expected to unite all the varieties of birds to 

 be found in the United States. The Canadian Fauna is, 

 nevertheless, very beautiful and varied in its features, 

 including a numerous collection of birds of prey. 

 The web-footed order are also well represented here. 

 The woodpecker family comprises some brilliantly 

 habited individuals ; but the most numerous and varied 

 in plumage are the Perchers or singing birds. The 

 species of birds visiting annually the Province of 

 Quebec do not quite reach 300. Mcllwraith in his list 

 computes the birds of Ontario, at 302 species. Dionne's 

 catalogue of birds for the Province of Quebec limits our 

 avi-fauna to 273 specimens. Chamberlain, in his syste- 

 matic tables of Canadian birds, counts 557 species for 

 the whole Dominion. As to classification and nomencla- 

 ture, amateurs would have to unlearn apparently a deal 

 taught them by old writers. Since Baird brought out, 

 in 1858, his elaborate report, what changes and impro- 

 vements have taken place in the nomenclature and clas- 

 sification of the feathered tribe in America. His serene 

 majesty Aquila Canadensis (1) has had to take a back 



(1) " In most of the older systems it was customary to place 

 the birds of prey first on the list, in consideration of their 

 great size and strength, the noble eagle occupying a place in 

 the foremost ranks. Better acquaintance with these birds 

 shows us that they do not possess the noble qualities attri- 

 buted to them, that they are slovenly and irregular in their 

 habits, often gorging themselves with carrion and remaining 

 for days in a state of dozing stupidity till the calls of hunger 

 again force them in search of things new and old. 



I think it was Professor Lilgeborg, of Upsala, who first 

 advocated the view that the birds entitled to the highest 

 rank should be those which are possessed of the greatest 

 amount of nervous irritability, and have all birdlike peculiar- 

 ities most fully developed. When we consider that these 



