Birds. 



6707 



inch 1-tenth in diameter ; second, 1 inch 6-tenths, by 1 inch 



2- tenths; third, 1 inch 5* tenths, by 1 inch 1-tenth in diameter; 

 fourth, 1 inch 5-tenths, by 1 inch 1-tenth. On the 13th of May 

 found another crow's nest in a moderate-sized fir, at about forty feet 

 from the ground. It was very imperfectly concealed, and contained 

 four half-fledged birds, apparently about ten days old. 



Field Sparrow (Fringilla ptisilla). April 26th. Found a small 

 nest in a stunted bush near the ground; it contained four eggs. Saw 

 the bird leaving the nest, and believe it belonged to this species. 



Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis). April 28th. Procured 

 a splendid old male, by far the largest that I saw during my stay in 

 Canada ; it measured 36 inches in length, by 60j inches in extent of 

 wings; wing, from flexure, 15j inches; bill, along the ridge, 3 inches 

 4-tenths; lower mandible, from plumes, 3 inches; bill, from gape, 

 4 inches 9-tenths; upper mandible exceeds the lower by 1-tenth of 

 an inch ; mouth, 1 inch 4-tenths wide ; diameter of eye, 4^-tenths ; 

 tarsus 3 inches 7-tenths ; middle toe, 4 inches 4-tenths, claw 6j-tenths ; 

 inner toe, 3 inches 8-tenths, claw 5j-tenths; outer toe, 5 inches, claw 

 4j-tenths ; back toe, 8-tenths of an inch, claw 3-tenths ; tarsus, 



3- tenths of an inch wide, 1 inch 1-tenth deep ; tail, 3 inches long ; 

 black band or collar, lj inches wide; depth of bill, 1 inch 2-tenths; 

 nostril, J an inch in length ; circumference of head, 10 inches ; 

 round the body, beneath the wings 18J inches, over the wings 

 21|- inches ; circumference of the neck, 7j inches ; length of thigh, 

 8j inches ; humerus or arm, 8j inches; weight, llj tbs. Wilson 

 remarks (vol. iii. p. 259), " the best and largest has been described for 

 this work ; weight, 8j tbs. ; length, 34 inches ; extent of wings, 54 

 inches," proving my specimen to be a gigantic one. Macgillivray, in 

 describing the northern diver, says the male is 31 inches in length, 

 and 49 inches in extent of wings. Both Wilson and Montagu seem 

 to agree in thinking that the size of the European specimens has 

 been exaggerated. I have no doubt, notwithstanding all that may 

 have been advanced to the contrary, of their being one and the same 

 species. On the 19th of May I observed three of these divers on the 

 Lake (Ontario). 



Purple Martin {Hirundo purpurea). April 30th. Saw two of these 

 beautiful birds. Though not a rare species, they are by no means com- 

 mon in the neighbourhood of Kingston ; so that I failed in obtaining spe- 

 cimens in the autumn ; but I occasionally observed them in the town, 

 frequenting the houses near the Lake, but never fell in with any in the 

 country; so almost despaired of getting specimens. But this spring 



