0746 



Birds, 



three of these elegant little birds among the willows in my garden ; had 

 noticed one on the 6th. It is undoubtedly a true willow wren, though 

 differing somewhat from the European in shape and colour. 



Blue Yellowback Warbler {Sylvia pusilla). May 13th. Shot one 

 of these diminutive birds, a handsome male, measuring 4j inches in 

 length, and 7 inches in extent of wings. 



Blackthroated Blue Warbler (Sylvia canadensis). May 13th. Shot 

 one of these rather rare birds (length 5 inches, extent of wings 6f 

 wing from flexure 2j inches), of which Wilson says, " It is highly 

 probable that they breed in Canada; but the summer residents among 

 the feathered race, on that part of the Continent, are little known or 

 attended to;" "and unless there should arrive an order from Eng- 

 land for a cargo of skins of warblers and flycatchers, sufficient to 

 make them an object worth speculation, we are likely to know as 

 little of them hereafter as at present." Later in the month I saw 

 another that had been sent into Kingston to be stuffed ; so I am 

 inclined to think they breed in the country. 



Baltimore Oriole {Icterus baltimorus). May 13th. Procured one of 

 these handsome but common birds. 



Whitecrowned Bunting {Emberiza leucophrys). May 14th. Saw 

 two of these rare and beautiful birds in a tree in the garden ; suc- 

 ceeded in shooting one, which proved to be the male. 



American Woodcock {Scolopax minor). May 15th. Found two of 

 these diminutive woodcocks in a swampy bit of ground, so closely 

 covered with alders and brushwood that it was a difficult matter to 

 get a shot at them ; but, both being eventually killed, they proved to 

 be males. They were highly prized, for although a common bird 

 they were the first I had seen. The largest measured 11 inches 4- 

 tenths in length, and 17 inches in extent of wings. 



Wood Thrush {Turdns melodus). May 15th. Shot one of these 

 fine songsters. I found it at the edge of a wood, where it might have 

 remained concealed and unobserved among the thick foliage, had it 

 not been betrayed by its song. This is one of the few birds of North 

 America whose song is deserving of the name. Although a handsome 

 bird, the plumage is not so rich as that of the ferruginous thrush. It 

 measures 7j inches in length, and 13 inches in extent of wings. 



Ferruginous Thrush {Turdus rufus). May 18th. When in quest of 

 birds near an extensive marsh and cedar swamp, I saw and heard, for 

 the first time, this large and elegant thrush, which from the clearness 

 of its notes I at first took for the wood thrush ; but in shape, colour 

 and size it differs widely, having a more elongated tail, richer plumage, 

 and greater weight. 



