Birds, 



6703 



had not cleared half the distance when I discovered that I was 

 not the only enemy it had to contend with : some crows sallying from 

 the neighbouring wood attacked the poor owl, which was soon driven 

 from its position, and, being sorely harassed in its retreat, endea- 

 voured to avoid its persecutors, who had the advantage in speed, by 

 gradually rising until it had attained a considerable elevation. This 

 order of flight being unsuited to the pursuers, they gradually relaxed 

 their efforts ; and there now remained but one crow in pursuit, which, 

 having momentarily succeeded in gaining the ascendant, made a 

 pounce at the owl, but whether a real attack or a feint the distance 

 prevented my seeing ; but, soon relinquishing the chase, it rejoined 

 its companions, and the persecuted bird was allowed to pursue its 

 course, and was soon lost sight of in the distance. The scene was an 

 exciting one, and I greatly coveted the prize, which I should probably 

 have secured had it not been for the untimely appearance of the 

 crows. 



Migratory Pigeon (Columba migrator ia). March 20th. At about 

 5 p.m. saw a flock of about forty or fifty, flying rather low in a north- 

 easterly direction. Though these are the first I have seen, I am 

 informed that on the morning of the 19th some were observed. On 

 the 21st, between 6 and 7 a.m. (there being a heavy gale from the 

 south-west) a vast number of pigeons passed over the suburbs of the 

 town, their flight low, in consequence of the violence of the wind. 

 Several small flocks were seen during the day, following the same 

 course. I understand that they have made their appearance some 

 weeks earlier than usual, which may be accounted for by the extreme 

 mildness of the season. On the 20th of May, on the passage from 

 Kingston to Toronto, when standing on the deck of the steamer, a 

 little before sunrise, a pigeon, coming from the American side of the 

 lake, passed close over my head, between the fore-mast and the fun- 

 nel. The rapidity of their flight is almost beyond belief : they no 

 sooner appear than they are gone ; and should the unwary gunner be 

 standing at ease, very possibly the pigeons may be a quarter of a mile 

 off before he has his gun to his shoulder. Having shot one in the 

 head, it towered to a considerable height, and then fell dead. Though 

 the length of the adult male is \7\ inches, the body, exclusive of the 

 neck, measures but 4j inches. 



Rusty Grackle (Gracula ferniginea). March 20th. In passing 

 through a wood my attention was attracted by notes somewhat 

 resembling those of the guinea-fowl. Following the direction of the 

 sound, 1 descried, among the branches of a large tree, a flock of 



