6704 



Birds. 



gracklcs. They were in perpetual motion, all singing together, if their 

 monotonous notes might be styled a song ; but in the solitary wood 

 it had a pleasing effect. They frequent the marshes, and, like the 

 redwinged starling, roost, 1 believe, among the reeds, having observed 

 them assembling in great numbers of an evening in such localities. 



Bluebird {Sylvia stalls). March 20th. Observed one of these 

 beautiful but common birds, so like the redbreast in figure. 



Snowbird (Fringilla nivalis). March 29th. Observed one of these 

 common little birds, its black and white plumage making it re- 

 markable. 



Robin (Tardus migralorius). March 29th. Observed the first 

 robin. On the 21st of April saw one picking up shavings in a 

 garden. This is the first bird that I have noticed preparing its nest ; 

 for although the season has been an unusually mild one, the weather 

 has been rather cold for some days. On the 23rd found the robin's 

 nest in the forked branch of a leafless willow, at about eight or nine 

 feet from the ground. It is composed externally of coarse grass, 

 intermixed with a few shavings, and has in its unfinished state a 

 rough lining of clay. The shavings being placed near the bottom, 

 the nest must have been almost wholly constructed between the 

 morning of the 21st and noon of the 23rd. 



Black Hawk (Falco niger). March 30th. Saw what I believe to 

 have been one of these handsome birds, perched on the top of a lofty 

 tree on the border of a marsh, but failed in my endeavours to get a 

 shot at it. 



Pewee Flycatcher (Muscicapa nunciolo). March 10th. Saw two 

 or three on the banks of a stream, in a very sheltered situation ; 

 secured one specimen. On the 17th of April observed several at 

 the entrance of the Ridean Canal. They were taking flies from off 

 the surface of the water ; and I also noticed that they occasionally 

 dropped on it for a second or two with expanded wings. After cap- 

 turing a fly, they would turn to a branch overhanging the water. 



Canada Goose (Anas canadensis). March 31st. When about a 

 mile from the town, saw nine geese, flying very low in a north-easterly 

 direction. I subsequently heard that they had been seen on the lake, 

 but none were killed. 



Goldfinch or Yellowbird (Fringilla tristis). April 1st. Observed 

 the first. April 6th. Procured two specimens, both males, one in 

 perfect adult plumage. 



Black and White Creeper (Carthia maculata). April 1st. Shot 

 one of those rather rare birds ; on the 18th of May procured another. 



