Birds. 



6375 



Evening grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertina ?), was first observed 

 a week later, but it never was so numerous as the other. Both were 

 generally to be found about maple trees (Acer fraxinifolium), the seeds 

 of which they eat. 



No crossbills have been seen, which I account for by the absence 

 of pine woods. 



Raven (Corvus cor ax). Always to be seen, and so far from being 

 a solitary bird, as it is called in Europe, I made a discovery in its 

 habits, of which I had no idea before. At the beginning of winter I 

 observed that the ravens, which I saw about sunset, no matter where I 

 was, were always flying towards the same point, and I concluded there 

 must be some large trees somewhere in that direction, where a few 

 pairs perhaps roosted. One day, therefore, after having been out with 

 my gun, I made a point of returning to the Fort in the evening, by that 

 quarter; judge my surprise! when among some clumps of young 

 aspen trees, none of which were above twenty-five feet high, or thicker 

 than my arm, on finding one of these clumps literally filled with ravens, 

 which, on my near approach, took wing and commenced flying about 

 in all directions. I judged, by counting a portion, that there were 

 upwards of fifty in that one place, and that no one should hereafter say, 

 " Oh ! they were only a lot of crows," I shot one, which I keep as a 

 specimen. I have been to the same spot on other occasions during 

 the winter, and always found my black friends. It is wonderful with 

 wh at regularity of time they repair to their roosting-place in the evening, 

 and leave again in the morning, by pairs, for their day's hunt ; one 

 pair flies directly over the Fort each morning, and as I sit on watch 

 for the minute-hand of the chronometer to come round to each hour of 

 observation,* they give a croak as they fly over, as a morning salutation 

 I suppose, at any rate I give them the credit for such civility, and 

 looking to see the time, I find it the same within two or three minutes, 

 but gradually earlier and earlier, for the sun, which is their clock, is 

 each day lengthening his course above our horizon. The raven is 

 only known by the name " crow " here. 



Magpie [Corvus Pica). Seen about the whole winter. I have 

 specimens for comparison with the European bird. 



Canada Jay (Garrulus canadensis). Common. 



No species of Sitta seen ; probably on account of the absence of 

 pine woods. 



* Capt. Blaldston holds the post of Magnetic Observer to the Government Ex- 

 ploring Expedition in British North America. 



