IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I L£128 |2.5 ■ 50 "^^ I^H ■^ 1^ |2.2 2.0 LUl L25|U|,.6 ^ 6" ► Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14SS0 (716) 872-4303 £: \ LV '***-. % ^^% O' O'^ t/j >, CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/iCIViH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Nota* tachniquas at bibliographiquas The Institute hat attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibiiographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D D D D D D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagte Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur^ et/ou peiliculAe I I Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes g6ographiques en couleur Coloured ink (I.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ ReliA avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serr6e peut causer de I'ombre ou dc la distortion le long de la marge intirieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es lors d'une restauration apparaissant dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont pas M film^es. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl^mentaires; L'institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6X6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont paut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^thode normale de filmage sont indiquAs ci-dessous. to I I Coloured pages/ D Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagies Pages restored and/oi Pages restaur^es et/ou pellicul^es Pages discoloured, stained or foxe« Pages d^colories, tacheties ou piquAes I — I Pages damaged/ I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ [T^ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages detached/ Pages d^tachtos QShowthrough/ Transparence I I Quality of print varies/ Quality in^gale de I'impression Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel supplimentaira Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been ref limed to ensure the best possible image/ ^es pages totalement ou partieilement 'jbscurcies par un feuiilet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 filmies A nouveau de fapon A obtenir la meilleure image possible. Th po of filr Ori bei th( sio ott fin sio or Th( shi Tir wh Ma dit ant bat rigl raq This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film6 au taux de rMuction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X J 12X 16X aox 24X 28X 32X laire B details lues du It modifier iger una a filmaga 1/ u6as Th« copy filmad hara haa baan raproducad thanka to tha ganaroaity of: York University Toronto Scott Library Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara tha baat quality poaaibia conaldaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract apacificationa. Original copiaa in printad papar covara ara filmad beginning with tha front covar and ending on the laat page with a printad or illuatratad imprea- •ion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original "opiea ara filmad beginning on the f irat page with a printed or illuatratad imprea- aion, and ending on the laat page with a printed or illuatratad impraaaion. L'axemplaire filmi fut reproduit grflce A la gtniroaitA da: York University Toronto Scott Library Lea imagaa aulvantaa ont At* reproduitea avac ia piua grand aoin. compta tenu de ia condition at da la netteti de i'exemplaira fiimA, et an conformiti avac lea conditions du contrat da filmaga. Lea axemplairea orlginaux dont la couvarture an papier eat imprimia sont filmte an commandant par la premier plat et en terminant soit par la darnlAre page qui comporta una ampreinte d'impraaaion ou d'iiiuatration, soit par ia second plat, salon la caa. Tous lea autras axemplairea orlginaux aont filmte an comman9ant par ia premiere page qui comporta una ampreinte d'impreaaion ou d'illustration at an terminant par la darniire page qui comporte une telle e;Tiipreinte. The laat recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain tha aymboi ^^> (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the aymboi ▼ (meaning "END"), whichever ap^iiaa. Un dea symbolea suivanta apparattra sur la darnlAre image de cheque microfiche, seion le caa: la symbola -^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole ▼ signifie "FIN". lire Mapa, platea, charta, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratioa. Thoae too large to be entirely included in one expoaura ara filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, aa many frames aa required. The following diagrama illuatrate the method: Lea cartea, pianchea, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre filmAa A dea taux da rMuction diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trOi> grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA. II est film* A partir da I'angia supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite. et de haut en baa. en prenant ia nombre d'imagea nAcaaaaira. Lea diagrammea suivanta illuatrant la mAthodc. ly errata led to }nt ine pelure, apon A 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 i^ii^ilt;i;i^^l&sfe.> ■ '^^ 'f^f* \. 1 ■ '/f^~f\ Vijf ] I'lm V \ A J^ k \\ 1 ,1 1 ^ 1 \ \ ^m \ \ \ \ 'i^K:- V Jf\ T^w fe 5 ~m^ ^ ^^ ■' 1 m| ■1^^ jT'^VA i^ f^_-\ aV !€ \'^p' -5 1 ^ wk- 'c^ \ « ;,'i % tJI ilf r 4 - "'II M 1 > "^WJP w) — ' "^1 _/" i yAl Li0^ i/JJ 1 / ] wr iV^ So/ ^^ H* J '^^f Ji ^i^^^^'^ ^JT^ ^ il« ^TK^'' j^f^Li ZygM, ^' ^ 1 hj 7f / / r m / / i 9\\ \ %s>. ^^Ui " THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL BY ERNEST D. WINTLE, "ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS UNION." Birds observed in the vicinity of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, with annotations as to whether they are " Permanent Residents " or those that are found regularly throughout the year ; *' Winter Visitants," or those that occur only during the winter season, passing north in the spring; ^* Transient Visitants," or those that occur only during migrations in spring ani autumn ; " Summer Residents," or those that are known to breed, but which depart southward before winter ; and " Accidental Visitants," or strag- <-^'>r8 from, remote distncts ; giving thet., relative abundance as to whether they are rare, scarce, common or abundant; data o/ nests and eggs whenfound,and especially noting the species that breed in the City and Mount Royal Park; also data of migratory arrivals and de- partures, and other notes, all of which are dedu^ced from original observations made during tlie past fifteen years.. MONTREAL : W. DRYSDALE & CO. i8q6. L .1^1 I \v:,\\ V 1 ir>K/\ivii ' ! ),; i\t r ^ t'\ PA Entered according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six, by William Drysdalk & Co., in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture at Ottawa. riAKBTTR PRI^T, MONTRBAt. ■ i''IA;i;ii.i yii;;w.ivi|iIi ,% "I \'\V\',\[\\ PREFACE. To write a list of the Birds of a certain district is an easy ma^^er, seemingly, but I have fonnd it necessary to make a special study, for the past fifteen years, of the birds occurring in the vicinity of Mont- real, before attempting to publish a list, which I believe to be a correct one, of the Avifauna of the district of Montreal. The species contained in the list have been ob- served mostly at or near Montreal, but when other- wise, I have given the names of credible observers. Considering the number of species of birds to be found in the neighbourhood of Montreal, it is not an easy matter for an individual observer, with lim- ited time, to come across all of them, as it is neces- sary to be out often on the rivers and lakes, and in the marshes, swamps, fields and woods, in a district like Montreal, to obtain a correct knowledge of the birds occurring therein ; for instance, I have rambled over the same places, at different times and seasons, mmmf _. A IV THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. for several years, before meeting with some of the rarer birds mentioned in the list. The migration of birds, which takes place in the spring to the north, and in the autumn to the south, gives thp observer limited time to notice the species that do not breed in his district, and, in many cases, linger only a few days in the spring of the year before proceeding to their breeding-places, and in the au- tumn to their winter quarters. The district covered by this work is principally the island of Montreal, situated at the confluence of the Ottawa with the St. Lawrence river, thirtj'- two miles long by about ten miles broad at the widest part. It has a considerable belt of woods around the eastern end, and woodlands on the west- ern part, mostly hardwood, with a mixture of ever- green trees. It has also numerous small streams and a few swamps, the land being generally level, with the excef)tion of Mount Royal, which rises northwest at the back of the city, about 760 feet above the level of the river, the upper part being mostly covered with hardwood-trees, with clumps of evergreen-trees en top, and now forming the Mountain Park, of about 464 acres. The city is situate on the south side of the island, fronting on the St. Lawrence river, here about two miles broad, 180 miles southwest of Quebec, 620 miles from the sea, 420 miles north of Ne' v York city, lat. 45° 31' it PREFACE. V K, long. 73° 34' V7. The island of Montreal is bounded on the southwest by Lake St. Louis, nine miles southwest of the city, twenty miles long, with greatest breadth seven miles ; at the west end by Lake of Two Mountains, about twenty-four miles long, and varying from one to six miles in breadth : and on the northwest side by the Riviere des Prai- ries and Iile Jesu.,, the latter being well wooded, similarly as ihe island of Montreal ; length twenty- three miles, and greatest breadth six miles. Other places covered by the list are : Lake St. Peter, be- tween lat. 46° and 46° 8' N., and about 73° W., length thirty-five miles, greatest breadth ten miles, about sixty miles northeast of Montreal. There are many islands in the south part of this lake, and it is surrounded with extensive marshes, swamps and muddy flats, which are well adapted as breed- ing-places for aquatic birds. Ste. Rose, on Isle Jesus, is sixteen and a-half miles northwest of Montreal. The south shore of the St. Lawrence river from Laprairie, seven miles south above, to Sorel, forty-five miles northeast, below Montreal. Chambly, sixteen miles southeast, and Abbottsfbrd, forty miles east-southeast of Montreal. The district of Montreal is the centre of attrac- tion for a large number of ITorth American birds during the migratory periods in the spring and fall, and many species remain here to breed. Ducks. ^Jgjj^ VI 7HE BIRDS OF MONTREAL Bitterns, Rails, Sandpipers, Plover, Grouse, Hawks, Owls, Cuckoos, Kingfisherp, Woodpeckers, Night- hawks, Swifts, Hummingbirds, Flycatchers, Larks, Crows, Blackbirds, Orioles, Finches, Sparrows, Swallows, Waxwings, Shrikes, Vireos, "Warblers, "Wrens, Thrashers, Nuthatchers, Thrushes, and Bluebirds breed on the island of Montreal, and Grebes, Loons, Gulls, Terns, Herons, Gallinules, and Coots breed in the district. The soutli shore of the St. Lawrence river, from Laprairie to St. Lambert and below Longueuil, is a favourite resort for shore birds, while the grassy and marshy islands from Boucherville to Sorel aiford secure cover for aquatic birds to breed in. Isle St. Paul, or Nun's Island, in the St. Lawrence river, between the La- chine rapids and Victoria bridge, is a favourite resort for Owls during the winter months, espe- cially for the Snowy Owl ; the city is also attract- ive to them, as they occasionally visit it. Besides the Owls, flocks of American Pine Grosbeaks, Cedar "Waxwings, Purple Finches, Redpolls, and, in some winters, Bohemian "Waxwings can be seen feeding on the bright red berries of the mountain ash-trees in the city. There is not a complete modern list published of birds occurring in the district of Montreal. There- fore I have written the present one, to be issued so as to be available for public use, and with a view to PREFACE Vll induce others to publish liste of birds occurring in various districts of the Province of Quebec, which would give us a better knowledge of the avifauna of the province, as some species occur and breed in only certain sections of it. " The Canadian Naturalist and Geologist," 1861- 62, published " Articles on the Mammals and Birds " of the District of Montreal, from a portion of an " extended memoir of 163 manuscript pages pre " pared by Prof. A. Hall, M.D., for the Natural " History Society of Montreal, in 1839, and for " which he received the silver medal offered by the " society." The present work is based on that list, but it must be remembered that Dr. Hall's district of Montreal embraced nearly the whole of Lower Canada ; that since that time the topography of the country has been changed through colonization, and consequently the avifauna is not the same now, as many species disappear at the march of civil- ization, while other species follow the wake of the railroad and plough. Two hundred and eight species of birds are described in Dr. Hall's list, but the nomenclature used then is now obsolete, and there are so many additions to be made to a list of birds occurring in the district of Montreal since the time Dr. Hall's was written, that it has become necessary for those who are interested in our birds to have a more modern list, available for reference and future correction. ! vin THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL There are several birds in Dr. Hall's list of which I have no record in this district since his time, and therefore they are omitted in my list, viz.: 1. Dawson* s Falcon (now Hpecies, Hall) — "Falco Dawsonis." I believe this falcon is the Black Gyrfalcon — Falco rusticolus obsoletus (Gmel.). The male and female specimens are still in the museum of the Natural History Society of Montreal. There is a photographic illustration of the female in " Our Birds of Prey," by Henry G. Vennor, Montreal, 1876. 2. Small Pewee — " Muscipeta querula." 3. Par/cman^s Wren — "Troglotides Parkmanni." The specimen mentioned in Dr. Hall's list as having been shot in the vicinity of the city of Montreal in the spring of 1861 is still in the mu- seum of the Natural History Society of Montreal. 4. Night Hawk (Mexican species) — " Caprimulgus Americanus." 6. Little Grebe — "Podiceps minor." 6. Common Gull or Mew — " Larus canus." *7. Silvery Gull — " Larus fuscus." 8. Barnacle Goose — " Anser leucopsis." 9. Brant or Brent Goose — " Anser bernicia." ■ -Vw ■' '. M ■4' '4. ; »^-.«>V'iS "iir^:^^ i i 4) •c s :3 e O b e ■a 2 PREFACE. IX The late J. W. Skelton, Esq., said that he could remember the time M^hen this species used to occur in large numbers on the common at Laprairie, and Mr. Craig remembers the time when it was not uncommon here during the migratory periods, but the late Dr. Hall gives it as rare, and says he never met with a specimen of this bird, and has never seen but one example of it here. Since then, this district has become more densely populated and cultivated, which has likely caused this species to cease visiting us during their migrations. 10. Wild or Whistling Swan — " Cygnus ferus." The specimen mentioned In Dr. Hall's list as having been killed opposite Longueuil is still in the museum of the Natural History Society of Montreal. " A sportsman shooting on Lake St. Francis says " he saw a sight he never saw before in all the "thirty years he has been shooting on the lake, " namely, five wild swans, but they kept a respect- " ful distance." {Montreal Star, Nov. 10, 1890.) Lake St. Francis is formed by an expansion of the River St. Lawrence, thirty-five miles southwest of Montreal. Length twenty- eight miles, by two miles broad. 11. Harlequin Duck — " Anas histrionica." 12. Labrador Duck — " Anas Labradorica " ; " Fu- ligula .Labradorica," Anderson ; " Camptoloemus Labradorus," Gmel., Gray, Baird. msmamm THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. There is only one record of the Labrador Duck occurring in the District of Montreal, and given in Dr. Hall's list — an adult male specimen, shot in the bay of Laprairie, in the spring of 1862, by a habitant, which was purchased by the late James Thomson, Esq., of this city. There is also a young male of the Labrador Duck, in immature plumage, and evi- dently mounted from a dry skin, in the museum of the Natural History Society of Montreal, but there is not any record of where this specimen was ob- tained by the museum. This species is believed to be now extinct. The illustrations of this species are from drawings, by Mr. J. H. Ross, of the two specimens mentioned. 13. Green-rumped Tatler — " Totanus chloropy- gius." Other birds in Dr. Hall's list hav^. been identified since by scientific ornithologists as follows : Names in Dr. Hall's List. 1. Booted Hawk, Rough-legged Falcon. (Falco lagopus.) 2. Black Hawk. (Falco Sancti Johannis.) 3. Mcculloch's or The Canada Buzzard. (Buteo insignatus.) 4. Bonaparte's Gnatcatcher. (Setophaga ruticilla.) 5. Purple Grackle. (Quiscalus versicolor.) 6. Common Blackbird. (Quiscalus baritus.) } } I Identified since as American Rough-legged Hawk(Archibuteo lago- pus Sancti-Johannis.) Sam,e species. Swainson's Hawk. (Buteo Swainsoni.) melanistic. Canadian Warbler. (Sylvan ia Canadensis. Young, Bronzed Grackle. (Quiscalus quiscula aeneus.) Young Male Labrador Duck, in Natural History Society Museum, Montreal. 4 ■*H PREFACE. XI 1 t: Created Grebe. (Podiceps cristatus.) I Holboell's Grebe. (Colymbus holboellii.) Young. Saw-whet Owl. (Nyctala acadlca.) Young. 8. Dalhousie's Owl. ^ (Surnia Dalhousie.) 9. Kirtlanda Owl. (Surnia Kirtlandii ; Nyctala Kirtlandica, Hog., Cassin.) The names of the foregoing birds are given ex- actly as printed in Dr. Hall's list. The following species in the present list are not mentioned in Dr.. Hall's " Birds of the District of Montreal." These accessions are gratifying evi- dence of the progress of our knowledge of the birds occurring here since the time that Dr. Hall's list was published, there being no fewer than sixty-five additions to be made, including a few species which should occur here as being within their geograph- ical range : 1. Western Grebe. (.^chmorphorus occidentalis.) 2. Dovekie. (Alle alle.) 3. Great Black-backed Gull. (Larus marinus.) 4. Ming-billed Gull. (L. delawarensis.) 5. Bonaparte's Ghill. (L. Philadelphia.) 6. Caspian Tern. (Sterna tschegrava.) 7. Stormy Petrel. (Procellaria pelagica.) 8. Gannet. (Sula bassana.) 9. Cormorant. (Phalacrocoi-ax carbo.) 10. Canvas-back. (Aythya valUsneria.) 11. Lesser Scaup Duck. (A. affinis.) 12. Barrow's Golden-eye. (Glaucionetta islandica.) 1 Specimen still in the museum of the Natural History Society of Montreal. Xll THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. 13. American Eider. 14. American Scoter. 15. Ruddy Duck. 10. American White-fronted Goose. 17. A merican Egret. 18. Oreen Heron. 19. Florida GaUinule. 20. European Woodcock. 21. Purple Sandpiper. 22. >r/ti.ib- chick.) (Hell-diver.) " Transient Visitant," common. A few probably breed here. I saw a considerable number of this species in the spring of the year, some years ago, in Lake St. Louit^, near the Isles de la Paix, below Beauharnois. Suborder Cepphi. — Loons. Family Urinatoridce. — Loons. Genus Urinator. Ouvier. 6. Loon. U. imber. (Gunn.) (Great Northern Diver.) "Transient Visitant," common. A few may breed here, as they occasionally are seen on our lakes during the summer months. 6. Red-throated Loon. J. lumme. (Gunn.) (Red- throated Diver.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. Adult birds in summer plumage rare. Most of the specimens shot 2 miHMi 4 THE UlUDS OF MOM'IiKM.. hero liavo beon in tho wintor plumage, or youDg birds in inmuiture plumugo. Family Alcidtv, Auks, Murres, etc. Subfamily AUince. Genus Alle. Link. 7. Dovchk. A. alle. (Linn.) (Sea Dove.) " Accidental Visitant," rare. Mr. Chas. E. Craig, taxidennist, Montreal, stuiFed a specimen of this species which was killed by sticks thrown at it, BIX or seven winters ago, in the rapids at the head of ChamV)ly basin, where the water is never frozen over. It is now in the collection of Mr. F. X. Dul)uc, G*' this city. Order Longipennes. Long-winged Swimmers. Family Laridoe. — Gulls and Terns. Subfamily Larinm. Genus Bissa. Leach. 8. Kittiwake. R. tridactyla. (Linn.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. A specimen of this gull was shot, the latter end of October, 1891, at Lake St. Peter, by Mr. F. X. Dubuc, and was stuffed for him by Mr. Craig, taxidermist. LIST. GeniH IjortiH. LiniiaMiH. 9. Glancoua (inlL (BiirgoiimstiT.) L. gliiucuH. Briiiin. "Tmnsioiit Vieitatit," Hcurce. 10 Great Blnak-hnc/ied Gall. L. miirimiH. Linn. " Transient Visitant," rare. 11. Americon Hernng Gall. (Herring Gull.) L. argentatus HmitliHonianus. Cones. "Transient Visitant," eoninion. A few may breed here, as [ saw a pair of large gulls on Lake of Two Mountains, near Oka, July 11, 1890, whieh I considered to be of this species ; \ also saw one there on July 17, 1891, and observed three or four white and dark-colored gulls on Lake St. Louis, August 21, 1891. I noticed this gull was plentiful at Lake St. Peter from October 21 to November 1, and I saw about a dozen gulls in white and dark- coloured plumage, which I believe were this species, iiying around and alighting on the river in front of the city, December 11, 1891. Spring arrival, April 13 to 27. I saw several between the 24th and 30th of April, 1893, at Lake of two Mountains, and I am told that they remain about the lake through- out the summer months, and likely breed there. 12. Riiaj-hilled Gall. L. delawarensis. Ord. " Transient Visitant," scarce. This gull resembles ■r~"- 6 THE BIRDS QF MONTREAL. the preceding one, and probably is commoner than we know of at present, as we have few chances of handling gulls here, owing to their generally keep- ing out of range of the gun, reminding us in that respect of the cautious Crow. 13. Laughing Gull. (Black-headed Gull.) L. atri- cilla. Linn. " Transient Visitant," rare. An immature speci- men was shot October 24, 1888, at Lake St. Louis, and was stuffed by the late Mr. Caulfield, taxi- dermist. There is always open water in Lake St. Louis throughout the winter months, and therefore it appears likely that some aquatic birds will be found wintering there, but I have not heard of any doing so. 14. Bonaparte's Gull. (Sea Pigeon.) L. Philadel- phia. Ord. " Transient Visitant," common. These small irulls are oftener shot here than the large ones, as they are not so wary. I have observed them in the autumn along the Laprairie shore ; and they have been seen in large flocks at Boucherville islands, in the spring of the year, by Mr. Paul Kuetzi ng, formerly a taxi- dermist here. » m % LIST. Subfamily Stermnm. — Terns. Genus Sterna. Linnteus. Subgenus " Thalasseus." Kaup. 15. Caspian Tern. S. tscbegrava. Lepech. " Transient Visitant," rare. Mr. Craig saw a mounted specimen of this tern, belonging to one Gervais, a blacksmith, corner Vitro and St. Charles Borrommee street, Montreal. It was shot in the fall of 1890 at St. Lambert. Another beautiful specimen of this species was shot in the last week of July, 1891, at Contrecoeur, by Mr. Normandin, insurance agent, of this city, and it was stuffed for him by Mr. Craig. It is likely that this tern breeds here, as, according to " Ridgway's Manual of Xorth American Birds," it breeds in isolated and widely separated localities throughout its range. 16. Common Tern. (Sea Swallow.) S. hirundo. Linn. " Summer Rasident," scarce. Breeds at Lake St. Peter. I have observed them flitting over the marshes of this lake, and at Ste. Rose, when I have been out duck-shooting in the autumn 17. Arctic Tern. S. parodist«a. Briinn. " Transient Visitant," scarce. This species re- sembles the preceding one very closely. Mr. Craig found some tern's eggs, several j^ears ago, on a rock 8 THE BIRDS OF MONT HEAL. in the St. Lawrence river above Xnn's Island, which probably belonged to this species ; but the place has become too public for them to breed there now. Genus Hyd rochelidon. Boie, 18. American Black Tern. H. nigra surinamensis. (Gmel.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. This tern may breed on the boggy marshes of our lakes. The terns are such swift-flj'ing birds that there is not much chance of observing them closely. Solitary birds of this species occasionally are seen skimming out over the water along the shores of our lakes and rivers, by sportsmen when out duck-shooting, in the autumn. Mr. James Currie, of Montreal, says this tern breeds in large numbers regularly every year, in June and July, in a marsh at the head of Lake St. Francis, near SummerstoAvn, Ontario. He kindly had photographs of the marsh and locality taken for me, and these show the marsh to be a considerable distance out from the main shore. Mr. Currie visited the marsh August 19, 1893, l)ut the terns had left it at that date. He visited the marsh again on the 2nd of July, 1894, and found the terns breeding there, and kindly shot two adult speci- mens for me, which, when dissected, proved to be two females. No eggs were found, so I presume the young were fledged at this date. LIST. 9 Order Tubinares. — Tube-nosed Swimmers. Family Procellariidce — Petrels. Subfamily Procellanince. — Petrels. Genus Procellaria. Linufeus. 19. Storm Petrel (Mother Carey's Chicken.) P. pelagica, Linn. " Accidental Visitant," rare. An example of this species was caught alive, five or six years ago, at Longueuil wharf, and was stuffed by Mr. Craig for Mr. Clark, of the Canadian Pacific Railway. This bird is common at sea, off' the Gulf of St. Law- rence. Order Steganopodes. — Totipalmate Swimmers. Family Sididoe. — Gannets. Genus Sala. Brisson. Subgenus " D^'^sporus." 20. Gannet. (Solon Goose.) S. bassana. (Linn.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. I saw one exposed for sale, a few years ago, in St. Ann's market, which was said to have been shot down the river below Boucherville ; and early in the morning in the autumn, some years ago, I flushed an adult ^annet off a small island at Ste. Rose, and was told •MNP 10 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. by a resident of the place that this bird is a regular visitant there in the autumn. A young bird in the dusky plumage was shot the latter end of October, 1891, at Lake St. Peter, by Mr. F. X. Dubuc, and was stuffed for him by Mr. Craig. Tamil V Phalacrocoracidoo. — Cormorants. Genus Phalacrocomx. Brisson. Subgenus " Phalacrocorax." 21. Cormorant. P. carbo. (Linn.) • " Transient Visitant,'' scarce. Mr. Kuetzing has seen cormorants in the spring of the year near Jones' island, in Lake of Two Mountains, and Mr. Jules F. D. Bailly, taxidermist here, has stuffed cormorants which were shot at Lake St. Peter, one of which was shot in the summer (July ?) of 1891, and this specimen, which I have examined, evi- denth' is a young bird in the light-coloured plumage, with fourteen tail feathers, showing it to be the young of this species, as " P. dilophus " has only twelve tail feathers." 22. Double-crested Cormorant. P. dilophus. (Sw. and Rich.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. A young bird of this species was shot October 30, 1892, near Jones' island, in Lake of Two Mountains, by a hunter LIST. 11 named Urgele Pariuette, of St. Andrews, P. Q. I saw this specimen, and Paquette said it was tl»e first of the kind he had shot on the lake. It had onl}' twelve tail feathers, showing it to be of this species. While out duck-shooting with him Nov. 1, 1893, at the same place, we secured another specimen of this cormorant, a very dark plumaged bird, which I consider to be an adult. Order Anseres. — Lamellirostral Swimmers. Family Anatkke. — Ducks, Geese and Swans. Subfamily 3Iergince. — Mergan sers. Genus 3Ierganser. Brisson. 23. American Mergavser. (Goosander ; Sawl)ill ; Fish-duck.; M. americanus. (Cass.) " Transient Visitant," common. This duck gen- erally is found singly, but occasionally a few flock together, when they offer a tempting shot to the sportsmen on account of their large size and liandsome appearance ; otherwise, they are not hunted for the. markets, as they are considered too fishy for the table. Observed in our markets April 24, and at Lake St. Peter November 1. I saw two April 28, 1893, at Lake of Two Mountains, and several between October 25 and November 4, 1893, at the same place. THE BIRDS OF MONTREA L. 24. Bed-breasted Merganser. (Sliell-drako ; Saw- bill ; Fish-duek.) M. serrator. (Linn.) "Transient Visitant," common. This is the species which sometimes proves so troublesome to tluck-shooters when shooting over decoys, as two or three of these ducks occasionally will alight on the water just out of range of gunshot and appear to be acting as sentinels, or as a warninsr to other kinds of duck to give tlie decoys a wide berth. But this fact is well known to experienced sportsmen, and a few shots are wasted on such occasions to scare them away, as they are not wanted for the table by those who know them. It is likely that the mergansers and scoters are responsible for the bad taste of the people who say they don't care for wild duck, as they find them too iishy or strong- tasting. Observed in our markets April 23, and at Lake St. Peter November 1. I saw a male speci- men April 28, 1893, at Lake of Two Mountains. Genus Lophndi/tes. Reichenback. 25. Hooded Merganser. (Saw-bill ; Fish-duck.) L. cucullatus. (Linn.) "Transient Visitant," scarce. The mergansers are not sought after by market-hunters, as the ^ are considered too iishy for the table, but this beautiful little duck, with its erect crest, is not allowed by sportsmen to escape without a shot, as it makes a LIST. 13 liloasiiio" trophy of a duck-shooting trip, Ohsorved ill our markets May 1, and at Lake St. Peter Xo- veniber 1. Mr. Urgolo I'aquette, of St. Andrews, hunter, says this duck l)reeds at Jones' islaiul, in Lake of Two Mountains. I shot an iiiiinature specimen there November 3, 1892, and from Sep- tember 1 to 4, 1893, I shot two young birds of tliis species at the same pUice. Subtamilv Anatina:. — Kiver Ducks. Genus Anas. Linnreus. Subgenus " Anas." 26. Mallard. (Green-head.) A. boschas. Linn. " Transient Visitant," rare. Tliis fine duck is occasionally shot here in the autumn, but generally only solitary individuals are met with on our upper lakes. It is oftener met with on the Richelieu river. The large numbers of this duck exposed for sale in our markets are imported from Chicago. 27. Black Duck. A. obscura. Gmel. " Summer Resident," common. More abundant during the migrator}' periods, and remains with us until frozen out. The black duck is much sought after by market-hunters, as it commands a good price on account of the delicacy of its flesh ; but this unfortunately induces many pot-hunters to 14 THE BIRDS OF MO. \r REAL. shoot them at night, on their feediiig-groundH among tlie marrtlies, thereby rendering them still more wary, and making it difficult for the sportsman to obtain legitimate sport in bagging this duek. In the spring of the year the}' are ruthlessly killed in large numbers in the open water, for the markets, and conse(piently the bulk of those which escape the slaughter are driven out of the lnniage, wliioli I sliot Juno 8, 1889, bo- low Lon^ueuil, and saw anotbor ono at tbo sanio timo. Tbose protty littlo duckH aftbrd [doasant s[>()rt during tbo niontb of Soptonibor in tbo inarsbos and crooks, and sportsmon ap[»rooiato tboni ft)r tbis and tbo dolioaoy of tboir ilosb. Witbout tbo ([uality ot good oating, tboro would bo no pleasure in sbooting tboni. Gonui- Spatula. Tioio. 32. Shoveller. (Spoon-bill ; Fronob Toal.) S. oly- poata. (Linn.) " Transiont Visitant," soaroo. Observed in tbo markets April 24, 1891. Mr. Craig bas reooivod tbis species in tbe montb of June to stutt, and it probably would breed liere if not disturbed. I saw u (luck at tbe moutb of tbe creek at Laprairio Juno 1, 1889, wbicli appeared to me to be of tbis species. If more plentiful, tbe sbovollor would be a valuable adjunct to tbe table, as its flesb is very good eating. Genus Dafila. Stepbens. Subgenus " Dartila." 33. Pintail. (Sprigtail; Gray-duck.) D. acuta. (Linn.) " Transient Visitant," scarce, I saw one April LIST. 17 20, 1800, ill the crook at Lupniirio, mid u small flock of tlio young (gruy-diick) of thin spooios, in Octobor, 1890, flying uj) and down tho sanio crook. The largo niinihorH of this duck oxponod for sale in our unirkotH aro imported from Chicago. I saw a flock of flftoon October 1, 1802, feeding in tho water around tlio Bouchervillc inlands, but they were too wild to approach within gun-shot. Genus Aix. Boie. Subgenus " Aix." 34. Wood Duc/i. (Summer Duck.) A. sponsa. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," common. Observed in the market April 30 and April 24, 1891. Not many breed here, but they are more jilentiful during the migratory periods, and those shot in the autumn are mostly young birds. This beautiful duck affords good sport up some of our wooded crooks and in marshes. The beauty of tho male bird's plumage increases the sportsman's pleasure when baggiui): them. Besides this, tlieir flesh is verv delicate, and excellent eating. I shot about twenty September 1, 1892, at Jones' island, in Lake of Two Mountains, all of which api»oared to be the young of the year. I saw a small flock flying out of a marsh near the same place, November 1, 1893 ; this is a late date in tho fall for this duck to be hero. IH 77/ A" //////M- OF MOSrUEAL. GoMUrt Al/(fn/(l. Bdio. Sul)«ifomirt "• Aytliyji." 35. Jictl/irad. ( Ainoricaii I*o<'liar(l.) A. amoricaiui. " TransiiMit Visitant," oorumoii. TITih fine duck occ'iirrt ill lari!;c' Hooks (hiring the autunin migration on our upiuT hikos, hut is scarco at Lake St. IVter. It affords ('a[>ital sjiort, as it decoys well, and, when alighting near the decoys, a flock generally hunches together, so tliat a (U)iihle t^hot results in a large hag tor s[»ortsiiien, some of whom consider them hetter eating than the hlack duck and e([ually as good as the canvas-hack. Mr. Iniilis savs tliese (hu'ks were i>lentit'ul (hiring tlie fall of 1892 on Lake St. Louis, and continued so till the month of Deeemher, wlieii thev moved oft' in a direct line for Lake Cham})lain. During the daytime the redheads were noticed hv an oKl hunter of Lake St. Louisa to leave the lake and fly nortli, and to return again in the afternoon, and he liad not seen this luck at the lake for the [tast six years. Subgenus " Aristonetta." l^aird. 3(5. C colory. Tlu'.v an' tlit- niont ('X|ti'MHivi' ducks in our iimrla'ts, bi-iii^ iiniiorti'd t'lom wcHtcni points, mid Ht»l«l licrc at S2.50 to iBT.GO per i»air. Sul)gt'iiUH " Fiiliu'iila." Stt'[»lK'iis. 37. Ainoncdii Scdif/i-Dur/:. (Groator Black-licud ; niiu'-ltill.) A. iiiarila iioarctica. Stcjii, *' Transii'iit Visitant," comnioii. More pli-iitifiil in tlio tall of tlic year from October till XovciuIht, AvlicM tlicy flock toi!;ctlicr in immense numbers, tormin«^ rafts miles long on our lakes, but bv tbe middle of November tbe bulk bave departed soutb. Observed in tbe s[tring in our markets A[)ril 13 and April 17 to 24, 1801. On July 1, 18i>eared to me to be of tbis species. Flocks of tliis duck remain in, tbe spring of tbe year till tbe middle of May on tlie Lake of Two .Nfountains. I sliot a beautiful adult male specimen at tbe lake April 28, 1893. 38. Lesser Sontp Dur/,: (Tjesser Black-bead ; Blue- bill.) A. aflinis. (F.yt.) "Transient Visitant," common. Not so abun- dant as tbe preceding s[)ecie8. It resembles tbe former duck, and botb are good eating, and are sobl in our markets in large numbers as blue-bills. Observed in spring in < ir nuirkets April 12. idl' 20 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. 39. Rivg-neched Duck. (Black-head ; Pond Blue- bill.) A. collaris. (Doiiov.) " Transient Visitant," rare. The large numbers of this duck which are some seasons exposed for sale in our markets are imported from Chicago. Occasionally a solitary duck of this species is met with inside our marshes early in the autumn. It is a finer eating duck than the preceding two. Observed in spring in our market April 25, and I considered that it had been shot in this district. m Genus Glaucionetta. Stejneger. 40. American Golden-eye. (Whistler; Whistle- wing ; Golden-eye.) G. clangula americana. (Bonap.) " Transient Visitant," common. When the ice moves down the river ir the spring of the year large numbers of this duck congregate together in the St. Lawrence river, between Laprairie and the Victoria bridge, and in the fall of the year they again appear plentiful in our lakes. They are not sought after by market-hunters, as they are not held in very high esteem for the table, although not bad eating. The sportsman, when shooting over decoys, is often annoyed by this species alighting outside the decoys just as a flock of de- sirable ducks are coming, being very quick to LIST. 21 notice anything wrong with the decoj's, or move- ment in the blind ; tlie only chanee the sports- man gets on these occasions is to hear the whist- ling of the golden-eye's wings, as the ducks fly off out of gunshot range, which otherwise would have resulted in the flock alighting near the decoys. I think it likely that a few breed here. Mr. Archi- bald Inglis and myself shot a young duck or female o'' this species on the 9th of September, 1891, up the creek at Laprairie. I noticed two males and two females of this duck February 21, 1891, in a butcher's shop here, but on enquiry found they had been shot above Cornwall, Ontario. Observed in our markets March 26 to April 26, and supposed to have been shot in this district. It is possible that a few may winter here in localities where the water is never all frozen over, such as in the vicin- ity of rapids or strong currents. I saw several between April 24 and 30, 1893, at Lake of Two Mountains. I have often noticed a considerable difference in sizes of the golden-eye duck, both in the spring and fall of the year, but more especially in the spring of the year, when I have seen the smaller size in separate flocks, apparently all females 1 / the plumage. 41. Barrow's Golden-eye. G. islandica. (Gmel.) " Transient Visitant," rare. This species resem- l>les its congener the preceding duck, Init has the fli KM 22 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. loral white spot larger and crescent shaped, instead of oval, on the American golden-eye ; the females of hoth species are similar in size and plnmage, and it is difficult to identify one from the other. A nest witli eggs was taken hy Mr. 0. C. Beattie at Mis- sisquoi Bay, Lake Champlain, and the male, which was shot near the nest, was identitied by the late Mr. Wm. Couper, taxidermist, Montreal. This occurrence was recorded in " The Canadian Sport- man and Naturalist," Montreal, and also mentioned in " Canadian Birds," by M. Chamberlain, 1887. In the early part of June, 1882, Mr. Beattie and myself crossed over Missisquoi bay from Phillipsburg, P.Q., to the islands on the south side in the State of Ver- mont, where he took the eggs. He pointed out the tree to me that containei:;onnM Ardctta. Gray. 53. Least Biftarn. B. oxilis. (Gmel.) "TmiiHiont Vij^itant," rare. TIhh little bittern l»r()bably in more plentit'ul bere tbaii we are led to believe, as, owiii^ to ItH retiring babit in tbe iiiarsbes, it is seldom come acrons. It possibly may breed here. A few liave been sbot on the BoiK'berville islands, and a beautiful adult specimen was sbot ill May, 1800, at Lake St. L(v,iis, and was stuffed by Mr. Oraig. Subfamily Ardeina'. — Herons and Egrets. Genus Ardea. Linnieus. Subgenus "Ai'dea." 54. Great Blue Heron. (Heron.) A. berodias. Linn. "Transient Visitant," common. The young birds are plentiful during the months of August, Septem- ber, and October, but the adult birds in spring are scarce, and evidently not breeding here. Mr. Craig found a fully develoi)ed yigg in this species which was shot about the middle of April, 1890, at Tem- pleton near Ottawa, the Qgg was placed under a sit- ting fowl, but in a few days it was broken by the hen, whether intentionally or not is unknown. I .^aw two or three between April 24 and 30, 1893, at Lake of Two Mountains. msm^m^mmm I, I ST. 31 '11 (> 10 y 10 n s SubgonuH "TTorod'as."' lioic. 55. Amerirdi) E(ji'e(. A. ogrotta. Gmel. " Traiisiont Vinitant," raro. Tliis largo and haiul- 8ome l)ir(l is a very couHiaououH object with its wliite plninago. It appears to bo only a casual autumn visitant in this district. A pair of them were observed in the fall of 1880 at Boauharnois, one of which was shot, and received by \rr. Craig to be stuffed ; it is now in the collection of Mr. Dnbuc. Another ex:;mple of this egret was shot in the summer of IS'.M at Isle-aux-Xoix (Craig) an island in the Richelieu river near Stottsvillo, and about 40 miles southeast of Montreal. Subgenus " Butoridos." TJlyth. 56. Green Heron. A. virescons. Linn. "St'mnior Resident," scarce. AVhen out shoot- ing with .\[r. McLea Walbank, September 1 1887, at Caughnawaga, wo s.iw young herons perched on top of the low bushes of a small island there, and moved adult herons out of the surrounding marshes which evidently were of this species, and probably had bred in the vicinity ; but we failed to get a shot at them, as the wal >r was too shallow to allow us to approach them near enough with our boat. An 32 THE lilliDS OF MoyritFM. adult rt[>i'('imc'ii wan shot .Nfay 24, IHiM), at LacoUu, al)()iit 44 iiiiloH Hoiitlujant of Moiitroal, and was Htutlud by the lato Mi\ CaulHcld. GonuH NijUcomx. Stoidions. Subgc'iiiis " Nytic'orax." 57. lihtck-cminned Niifhl Ilemn. (Qnawk.) X. nyctic'orax nuiviuH. Bodd. a 8mnmor Rosidoiit," eoimnou. Sonio years aijo there was a heronry of tliis si»eeie8 on Nun's Ishind, buildini; their nests in the trees, but tliev were so niueh harrassed by "gunners" that they have eoni- pletely forsaken the phiee now ; but I tliink a few still breed on the islands above at the Laehine rai>ids, where they are luore inaccessible. An adult specimen was shot at dusk on April 19, 1890, up the creek at Laprairie, by Mr. Geo. S. Cleghorn. The harsh cry, " quawk," made by this species is often lieard at nightfall by sportsmen and others, when the night-herons sally forth trom their rest- ing places during the daytime to feed in the still- ness of night. This night-feeding Imbit accounts for their not often beinjr seen in the davtime. The adult night-heron is a handsome bird, and rpiite a number are shot and taken to the taxidermists to be stuffed. ^simammmm^m mimsmmmmmimmm LIST. \\-\ Order pALUDiroL.T:. — Cninort, Rails aii[ont- real, and ii largo numhor were shot ai: the same time by others (Craig), and evidently not many are lett to hreed here. Ono was shot in the last week ot October, 1801, at Lake St. Peter, and ono October 7, 1893, on Isle-aux-Xoix by Mr. Denne. Genus Porzana. Vieillot. Subgenus " Porzana." 59. Soni. (Carolina Rail.) P. Carolina. (Linn. I " Summer Resident," common. Breeds in most of our marshes and swamps, and migrates south at the first hard frosts in the autumn. I found two nests of this species in the marshy Longueuil flats, June 8, 1889. one of wliicli contained three fresh I !l 34 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. eggs, and the other one twelve agg^^^ incubated. Mr. W. W. Dunlop and myself shot about thirty of these rails in one day in the early part of Septem- ber some yt\rs ago at Ste. Rose. The rails afford pleasant sport W'^h a light gun, and, although small, they are very good eating. One was shot October 7, 1898, on Isle-aux-Xoix, by Mr. Denne. Subgenus " Coturnicops." Bonaparte. QO. Yelloir Rail. P. noveboracensis. (Gmol.) "Tn'T'sient Visitant," rare. I believe a few ex- amples of this species have been shot in the marshes between Sorel and Boucherville, and it is possible a few may breed there; but on account of the rail's retiring habits in the marshes this species is seldom met with. Subfamily GallinuUnce — .Gallinules. GiMius Gall' lula. Brisson. 61. Florida Gallimde. Marsh-hen ; Mud-hen.) G. galetea. (Licht.) "Summer Resident," common. More plentiful in our marshes iu autumn. I saw one in the last week of October, 1891, at Lake St. Peter. I shot a specimen September 3, 1893, at Lake of Two Mountains, the only one I saw at the time. LIST. 35 Subfamily Fulicince. — Coots. Genus Falica. Liniifeus. 62. American Coot. (Coot.) F. americana. (Gmel.) " Summer Resident," scarce. I have occasionally shot them in the autumn at Lake St. Peter, where probably a few breed in the extensive marshes around the lake. I shot a line specimen April 28, 1893, in a swamp at Lake of Two Mountains, and heard another one at the same time making a most dismal noise in the evening till dark. Order LimicoUe. — Shore Birds. Family Phalaropodid(e. — Phalaropes. Genus Phalaropus. Brisson. Subgenus " Phalaropus." 63. Northern Phalarope. (Red-necked Phalarope.) P. lobatus. (Linn.) " Transient Visitant," rare. This little aquatic bird resembles somewhat the sandpipers when seen flying, and it is rather surprising to see them alight on the water like ducks. Mr. Kuetzing has seen them exposed for sale in our markets in the month of September. 4 36 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. Family Scolopacidce. — Snipe, Sandpipers, etc. Subfamily Scolopacince. — "Woodcock and Snipe. Genus Scolopax. Linnaeus. 64. European Woodcock. S. rusticola. Linn. " Accidental Visitant," rare. The record of this species occurring here was published in the " Cana- dian Sportman and Naturalist," Montreal. The specimen was shot on the 11th of November, 1882, at Chambly by a French-Canadian, and was secured by Mr. Brock Willett who sent it to the late Mr. "Wm. Cowper to be stuffed. I believe this is the third record only of this species taken in North Ameriv'^a. Genus Philohela. Gray. 65. American Woodcock. (Cock ; Timber-doodle.) P. minor. (Gmel.) " Summer Resident," scarce. Breeds at Chambly, St. Hubert, L'Acadie, Berthier, Sorel, and in other suitable localities, but they are more plentiful dur- ing the autumn migration. I flushed one June 19, 1881, on Jones' Island, in Lake of Two Mountains, and another one. May 24, 1882, in the Ilochelaga woods, and I have shot them at Chambly, L'Acadie, and between Lake St. Peter and Berthier. This gamy bird is much sought after and prized by sportsmen ; but unfortunately it has greatly dimin- ished in number from what it used to be in former years here, probably caused by the destruc- ! LIST. 87 tion of their feeding grounds for cultivation. Accord- ingly, small bags are the rule now after a cock- shooting trip. In mild seasons the woodcocks re- main with us until late in the month of Novem- ber, but, should their feeding grounds be frozen for two consecutive days they, suddenly depart south and will not return till the spring. A live wood- cock was picked up in the city on Beaver Hall hill, December 16, 1880, which evidently had struck against a telegraph wire in the way of its flight ; it was kept alive for some time in a cage, and was ex- hibited in Hall's restaurant on St. James street. An account of this remarkable occurrence was published in the " Can.idian Sportsman and Naturalist" at the time. I do not think many sportsmen have shot woodcock when a depth of over half a foot of snow covered the ground, and the bush was loaded down with snow also. But such an experience happened to Mr. David Denne and myself on the 9th of Octo- ber, 1888, at L'Acadie, when the heaviest snowfall ever known in the early autumn in this district oc- curred on this date, but to our surprise we came across the cock in the snow and succeeded in bagging several under the greatest difliculties, owing to the large masses of snow which fell oft the branches on us and our guns, as we passed through the covers. The late Mr. David AVing, who was with us, remarked to me that my friend must be a hunter to find " cock " in such a snowfixU. The * 38 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. woodcock is so much esteemed on the table that it commands a price of $1 to $1.50 a couple in our markets. I heard the whistling noise made by the woodc^v^K with its wings at night, April 28, 1893, along the banks of the North River at St. Andrews, P.Q. Genus GalUnago. Leach. QQ. Wilson's Snipe. (Snipe.) G. delicata. (Ord.) " Transient Visitant," common. More plentiful in the autumn, when they afford capital sport, and are much appreciated by sportsmen. I saw several A.pril 30, 1882, in a small swampy bush near Bou- gie's corner, on the Back River road, and flushed one May 22, 1881, on the low islands below St. Vincent de Paul. I shot several October 31, 1889, in the marsh on the river side near the mouth of the creek at Laprairie, and saw one and heard others April 19, 1890, up the same creek. I think i*: likely that a few breed along Belle Riviere, county c f Two Mountains, about 33 miles northwest of Montreal, as Mr. Oswald, whose farm is on that river, has ob- served snipe there during the breeding season. If the season happens to be a mild one, the snipe are found here till late in the month of November, when they appear to be larger than those shot earlier in the autumn, and the sportsman bags them with greater pleasure. This delicious bird is sold in our markets at $2.75 to $3 per dozen, or 60 cents a couple. I ■I : 1 LIST. 39 Genus Macrorhamphus. Leach. Siibgeiiiis " Macrorhamphus." 67. Dowitcher. (Red-breasted Snipe ; Gray-back Snipe.) M. griseus. (Gmel.) "Transient Visitant," scarce. Occurs in small flocks along the Richelieu river near St. Johns, but it is rare nearer Montreal, on the St. Lawrence river. Mr. Craig has received spring specimens of this ^ird from St. Johns to stuff. Subfamily Tnngince. Genus Tringa. Linn?eus. Subgenus " Tringa." 68. Knot. (Red-breasted Sandpiper ; Robin Snipe.) T. canutus. Linn "Transient Visitant," scarce. This large sand- piper is an irregular visitant during the migratory periods. Mr. Kuetzing has observed them in the autumn in our markets, but they are rare in spring. Subgenus " Arquatella." Baird. 69. Purple Sandpiper. T. maritima. Brliini. "Transient Visitant," scarce. Mr. Kuetzing noticed this species in October, 1884, in our markets, and the late Mr. George Costen, of Thos. Costen & Co., gunsmiths, some years ago, shot several out of a flock on the south side of Nun's Island. 40 THE lilRDS OF MOyTHEAL. ^: I Subgenus " Actodromas." Kaup. 70. Pectoral Sandpiper. (Jack Snipe ; Grass Plover.) T. maculata. Vieill. " Transient Visitant," common. This sandpiper is plentiful here during the autumn till about the midale of October ; and in the month of September they are found in flocks, but do not appear here in the spring of the year. Late in the month of Octo- ber the " Jack Snipe" is met with singly in the grassy swales, and, rising snipe-like on the wing, tempts the sportsman to fire a shot at him when hunting after the real snipe. At other times this sandpiper is so tame that he can almost be poked with the muzzle of a gun before flying away, and often will run on a few feet in front of anyone for some time, without evincing fear. They are very good eating, like all of the sandpipers, but the sportsman has no pleasure in shooting them on ac- count of their tameness. I shot one October 19, 1889, at Laprairio, but the bulk migrate south be- fore this date in October. 71. Wliite-rionped Sandpiper. T. fuscicollis. Vieill. " Transient Visitant," common. I have observed small flocks of this species along the river shore, between Laprairie and St. Lambert, during the month of October, and saw sixteen of them killed with a double shot fired into a flock of twenty-one. LIST. 41 October 1, 1887, at Laprairic. I shot one on the 19th October at the same i)lace, and have neen them there as late as the 26th of the same month in 1889. 72. BainVs Sandpiper. T. bairdii. Cones. " Transient Visitant," rare. I have only met with one example of this species, which I shot Sep- tember 17, 1892, along the river shore, between Laprairie and St. Laml)ert. This specimen was in company with a small flock of semipalmated sand- pipers, and the skin is now in my collection. It resembles tlie latter species closely, but is much larger. 73. Least Sandpiper. T. minutilla. Vieill. " Transient Visitant," common. This little sand- piper is plentiful along our river shores during the months of September and October in flocks, but is scarce in the spring of the year. I shot a female specimen June 1, 1889, at Laprairie, but the ovaries showed no signs of the bird breeding. I have seen this species here as late as the 20th of October. Subgenus " Pelidna." Cuvier. 74. Bed-backed Sandpiper. (Dunlin ; Black-heart Plover.) T. alpina pacifica. (Coues.) " Transient Visitant," common. Mr. Kuetzing has observed this species plentiful in the months of October and i^ovember near the river shore, from 42 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL, \ Laprairie to Longueuil, but it is scarce in the spring of the year. Genus Ereunetes. Illiger. 75. Seiiiipalmated Sandpiper. E. pusillus. (Linn.) "Transient Visitant," common. I have noticed this small sandpiper, which resembles the least sand- piper, in small flocks in the autumn along the river shore at Laprairie, and Mr. Denne and myself shot quite a number there, September 17, 1892. Genus Calkhis. Cuvier. 76. Sanderling. C. arenaria. (Linn.) " Transient Visitant," common. I shot a male specimen May 24, 1888, at Laprairie, and saw one there, June 1, 1889 ; also one on the 7th of October in a pasture field at St. Luke. Genus Limosa. Brisson. 77. Marbled Godwit. L. fedoa. (Linn.) " Transient Visitant," rare. The late Mr. Caul field stuffed a fine specimen of this bird, which was shot at Lake St. Peter in the spring of the year. 78. Hudsonian Godwit. L. heemastica. (Linn.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. Mr. Kuetzing has noticed this godwit in the months of September and October in our markets, and Mr. Archibald .' ill LIST. 48 Inglis 8liot a solitary one September 2, 1890, on Laprairie common. Genus Totanus. Bechstein. Subgenus "Totanus." 79. Greater Yellow-legs. (Yellow-legs ; Greater Tattler; Stone Snipe.) T. melanoleueus. (Gmel.) "Transient Visitant," common. Tbe large yel- low-legs occur here singly and in small Hocks in the autumn, but are scarce in the spring of the year. They sometimes prove tough birds to shoot, and I know on several occasions many shots have been lired at them without bringing them down, al- though within range and the sportsmen not bad shots I saw three or four of this species along the river shore, between Laprairie and St. Lambert, May 19, 1892. 80. Yellow-legs. (Lesser Tattler; Yellow-shanks.) T. flavipes. (Gmel.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. I shot a male specimen of this species June 1, 1889, at Laprairie. Subgenus " Helodromas." Ivaup. 81. Solitary Sandpiper. T. solitarius. (Wils.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. I have frequently seen one or two birds of this species from the 24tli Il ii 44 TUE BIRDS OF MO.V'r ./^AL. to 28tli ^fay in the higli wet fiohin at Ilocholaga, and it is vory likely that they would breed here if not shot oft". I shot three September 17 and one September 27, 1890, on the Boucherville islands. Genus Bartmmia. Lesson. 82. Bnrtrnmian Sandpiper. (Field Tlover) B. longioanda. (Hechst.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. AVhilc out looking for golden plover in the month of October, 1889, in some pasture fields at St. Luke, I saw two birds there which I considered at the time to be of this species, but they were so wild I could not get within gun-shot of them. Mr. Inglis has also ob- served these birds in tlie same district, and never could get near enough to them to secure a speci- men, but ^Ir. Lucien Huot has shot them near St. Johns. Genus Tr\pigites. Cabanis. 83. Bujf-breasfed Saiulpiper. T. subruficollis. (Vieill.) ''Transient Visitant," scarce. Mr. Kuetzing has observed this species during tlie month of May at Longueuil. Genus Actitis. Boie. 84. Spottexl Saiulpiper. (Sandlark.) A. macularia. (Lhni.) "■ Summer Resident," abundant. Breeds on the Island of Montreal and on the surrounding islands. ^1 ■^ / LIST. 45 J found them })roeding in niimbiTs Juno 8, 1890, on the Longuouil flats, and pickod up several of tlieir eggs on that date quite frenh, and Mr. Inglis found them breeding tlicre on June 13, 1891, plentifully and found fifteen ^^^^., hut incubated. I have ob- served this sandpiper here from April 2G to Sep- tember 17. Subfamily Numenlnce. Genus Numemiis. Brisson. 85. Lo)\g-hlUed Curlew. N". lougirostris. Wils. " Transient Visitant," rare. Occasionally ex- posed for sale in our markets the latter end of August and in the month of September, a few were shot in this district at that time of the year in 1893, and were exposed for sale in our markets. 86. Hudsonian Curlew. N. hudsonicus. Lath. " Transient Visitant," scarce. Sometimes exposed for sale in our markets the latter end of August and in September, a few were shot in this district at that time of the year in 1893, and were exposed for sale in our markets. 87. Eskimo Curlew. N. borealis. (Forst.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. The curlews are only casual visitants here and are occasionally shot in the autumn at Lake St. Peter by the market- 46 THE HIHDS OF Mi)STHEAL. hiiiitorrt tlierc, mid oxportinl for wiilo in our marketrt. I have never mot with the curlevvH here myself. A fewbirdn of tliin Hpeeies were sliot in tliis district the hitter end of August and in Se[)tend3er 1893, and were exposed tor sale in our markets. Family Charadriida:. — Plovers. Genus Charadrlus. Linineus. Subgenus " Scjuatarola." Cuvier. 88. Blach-bellicd Plover. (Bull-head ; Gray Plover.) C. squatarola. Linn. " Transient Visitant," common. I bagged about a dozen of these tine birds early in the month of November some years ago on Yamaska common ; one was shot October 26, 1880, on the Laprairie shore, and Mr. Denne and myself saw two Novem- ber 1, 1890, at the mouth of the creek at Laprairie in which vicinity they are generally found in the autumn until frozen out. I only know of one speci- men obtained here in full plumage which was shot in the spring many years ago below Longueuil by Mr. Kuetzing. This species and the golden plover evidently do not pass this way during their north- ern migration in the spring of the year. Subgenus " Charadrius." 89. American Golden Plover. (Golden Plover.) C. dominicus. MUll. " Transient Visitant," common. This plover ar- t\ LIST. 47 '■tf rivos lioro in largo tlockrt nboiit tlio end of AiigiiHt, ju)(l tlio bulk niigratr Hoiitli by tlio middle of Sep- tc'Tiiber, but a tow roinain witb u« during tbo iiioiitb ot Octobor ; mont of tliis Hpociow wbicb aro sbot horo early in tlio Hoanon luivo blackinb i>atobos on tlio undorpartrt, wbilo tbo lato birds are wbitisb below, more or Iohh nbadod witb gray. Tbis [dovor is conwidorod very good eating, and tboy afford fair Hport during tbo afternoon fligbtrt wbon tbey fre- (pient pasture fields to feed at nigbt, and again in tbo early morning before tboy resort to tbe water side to rest for some bourn during tbe day time. Tliey aro sold in our markets at p\ to ^4 per dozo:;. Genus jEijialitis. Boie. 90. Kt'Udeer. A. vocifora, (Linn.) " Summer Resident," common. Tbis plover would breed plentifully bore if not sbot off in tbo spring of tbe year. I sbot a pair for specimens July 1, 1884, at Sto. Rose, and s-iw several May 24, 1888, on Laprairie common, also sbot one April 19, 1890, on tbo river sbore at Laprairie. Some years ago tbey were found breeding at Lacbine, and I saw several in the montb of June at Rigaud. Ob- served bore from April 19 to September 1. Subgenus " ^Egialitis. Boie. 91. Seniipalni'tted PloDsr. (Ring- neck Plover.) ^E. semipalmata. Bonap. "Transient Visitant," common. Scarce spring 48 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. I migrant, but plentiful in small flocks in autumn along the river shore from St. Lambert to Laprairie. I shot one October 20, 188S, at Laprairie and ob- served one or two there June 1, 1889, and shot one of two seen on the Longueuil shore June 8, 1889. This specimen is a female, and when dissected proved not to be breeding at the time. Family Aphrizidce. — Surf Birds and Turnstones. Genus Arenaria. Brisson. 92. Tarnstone. A. interpres. (Linn.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. Mr. Kuetzing has observed this species in the months of May and September on the river shore below Longueuil, md the late Mr. Caul field said he saw one a few days before, August 17, 1891, on the con.raon at Point St. Charles. Order Galling. — Gallinaceous Birds. Suborder Phasiain — Pheasants, etc. Family Tetraonidce. — Grouse, Partridges and Quails. Subfamily 7Wmo/?z?ioE.— Grouse. Genus Dendragapus. Elliot. Subgenus " Canachites." Stejn. 93. Canada Grouse. (Spruce Partridfjo ; Spotted Grouse.) D. canadensis. (Linn.) " Permanent Resident," rare. I have never met LIST. 49 with this grouse near Montreal, and very few are exposed for sale in our markets, but it is said to be common at Lake Megantic, about 160 miles east of Montreal. Mr. Kuetzing said it used to be plenti- ful on tlie island of Montreal, but has for a number of years past disappeared v ith the spruce off the island. They are not considered as good eating as the Kuifed Grouse, but are sold in our markets at 50 cents a brace. Mr. Craig, taxidermist, does not remember ever having seen this grouse on the island of Montreal. Genus Bonasa. Stephens. 94. Canadian Ruffed Grouse. (Birch Partridge ; Rutted Grouse ; Partridge.) B. umbellus togata. (Linn.) "Permanent Resident," common. The "part- ridge," as it is commonly called here, is scarce on the island of Montreal now, disappearing as the woods are cut down for cultivation or buildings, but a few still can be found in our woodlands, and there are a few always on our mountain park, where they are protected from gunners, but not from foxes, and were it not for the latter this fine bird would become plentiful, as tlie breeding birds would not be destroyed on their nests if the foxes were killed off. Sportsmen who are fond of tramping through the woods can have good sport with the grouse. 50 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. providing they are satisfied witli bagging only a few, as they are diflScult game birds to shoot on the wing, when, suddenly arising with a whirr, close by, and off like a shot, but when treed and seen they appear then very stupid birds, and arc easily shot down. I shot six during the fall of 1889, three on the spur of Mount Royal and the others on Isle Jesus. A few of such birds will give the sportsman many days of delightful rambles through the woods before he succeeds in bagging them. They are fine eating birds, and are exposed for sale in our markets in large numbers at 60 cents to 80 cents a brace. Genus Lagopus. Brisson. 96. Willon: Ptanniga)}. (White Grouse.) L. Lago- pus. (Linn.) "Transient Visitant," rare. This species is only a casual visitant here in the tall of the year. Mr. A. C. McKeand saw two flocks of this ptarmigan, of about twenty and thirty, J)ecember 12, 1889, fl^'ing south over the wharf at Longueuil ; the sec- ond flock was flying only about thirty yards above the wharf. They are said to be plentiful and resi- dent on the Laurentian range of mountains to the north of us. Occasionally large numbers, in the months of December and January, are exposed for sale in our markets at 60 cents a brace. Tliey are IS LIST. 51 shipped from Lake St. John, north of Quebec city. A large shipment of ptarmigan for Montreal was seized by the Quebec Fish nnd Game Protection Club (" Montreal Daily Witnt /' March 12, 1888.) Order Columb.e. — Pigeo is. Family Columhulm. — Pigeons or 3oves. Subfamily Columhimv. — Piget ns. Genus Edopistes. Swainson. 00. Passenger PigeotK (Wild Pigeon.) E. migra- torius. (Linn.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. This pigeon is an "'.'regular visitant here now, but some of our oldest residents can remember the time when the wild pigeon occurred here in countless numbers. For some reason, probably through the clearing of our woodlands, the passenger pigeon has not been seen here in large numbers for many years past. Two were shot the latter end of August, 1883, at Cham- bly, and one was shot September 15, 1885, on the spur of Mount Royal ; also, two were shot at the latter place by myself, one, September 10, 1886, and the other one September I, 1888, both of which are now in my collection of bird's skins. Mr. C. W. Johnso:), of Lachine, says he shot fifteen Avild ]>igeons in the woods, four miles north of that place, 6 52 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. on the 9th of December, 1888. The specimens which I shot appear to be a female and young male bird. I saw a female or immature passenger pigeon in the trees on Mount Royal Park June 4, 1891. The adult wild pigeons which were occasionally to be seen exposed for sale in our markets at |3 per dozen are said to have been received from Chicago. Subfamily Zenaidinm. — Doves. Genus Zenaidura. Bonaparte. 97. Mourning Dove. (Carolina Dove.) Z. mac- roura. (Linn.) "Transient Visitant," rare. This dove is a casual visitant here. One was shot in November, 1890, on Isle Ronde, in the River St. Lawrence, opposite Montreal, by Mr. C. A. Thompson, of the Bank of Montreal, and it was stuffed for him by Mr. Craig. Many years ago one A^as shot in the woods on Isle Jesus, and is mentioned in Dr. Hall's list. Order Raptores. — Birds of Piey. Suborder Falcones. — Vultures, Falcons, Hawks, Buzzards, Eagles, Kites, Harriers, etc. Family Falconidce.— Yultures, Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, etc. LIST. 53 Subfamily Accipitt'ince. — Kites, Buzzards, Hawks, Goshawks, Eagles, etc. Genus Circus. Lacep^de. 98. M(U'sh Haii'k. (Hen Harrier.) C. lindsonius. (Linn.) "Summer Resident," common. More plentiful in the autumn until October 15. I saw one October 31, 1889, at Laprairie, and in the spring of the year I came across i.a adult male bird, April 17, 1887, on the ground in Mount Royal Park, near the park ranger's house, and observed another one on the 20th of April of the same year liying over the city towards the same place. Mr. Kuetzing observed a pair of these hawks breeding for a num- ber of years in a swamp below Longueuil. Mr. Denne shot a fine specimen in the rich rusty ochra- ceous plumage September 17, 1892, along the creek at Laprairie, and it is now in my collection of bird skins. Genus Accipiter. Brisson. Subgenus " Accipiter." 99. Sharp-shinned Hawk. A. velox. (Wils.) " Transient Visitant." common. Scarce in the spring of the year, but a few probably breed in the district. I shot two specimens August 28, 1886, on the mountain at C6te St. Antoine, and at the 54 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL I time observed them imitating the call of the American goldfinch, and chasing the latter birds in the trees, evidently with the intention of de- vouring them. This daring little hawk occasion- ally has been shot here during the winter months, but, like most of the hawks, the adult plumaged birds are scarce or seldom shot here. I shot an immature male specimen September 1, 1892, on Jones' island, in Lake of Two Mountains, an0, was found in a tree, one of a clump, near the rail- road track at Outremont, by Mr. G. A. Southey, and was identilied by Mr. W. W. Dunlop. Thir- teen egg'A of this hfiwk were taken, May 2, 1891, by Mr. Day in the Lachine woods, I shot two im- mature >ipwk« of this species Septeml)er 2, 1801, on Islt f -'wu , male and female, and saw several others flj >jg at 'nd at the time. The red-shoul- dered is our most common hawk. I shot an adult male specimen October 22, 1892, at St. Martin's Junction, on Isle Jesus. 104. Swainson^s Hairk. B. swainsoni. Bonap. " Accidental Visitant," rare. A few examples of this large hawk have been shot here. I saw a fine dark specimen which was shot early in the spring of 1894 near Montreal, and was stuffed by Mr. Bailly, taxidermist. The habitat of this species is AV^estern North America, and it is therefore only a casual visitant here. 105. Broad-nHmjed Hawl: (Short-winged Buzzard.) B. latissimus. (Wils.) " Summer Resident," common. More plentiful during the migratory period. I observed three of these hawks, old and young, July 24, 1887, circling around above Mount Royal Park and heard them i, '-Mi ■\V LIST. 67 utteriiig a note very much like that of the covvhird. I also saw a pair in the trees near the same phice on the 4th of .lune of the same year, and prohal)ly they had bred there. I have observed this species liere from March 30 to October 19. Genus Arrhihuteo. Brehm. 106. American Jiough-hfjged IFairL (Booted Hawk ; Black Hawk.) A. lagopus sancti-johaniiis. (Gmel.) " Transient Visitant," common. Ao plentiful during the month of November. .. lia-e not seen any in the spring of the year here. The specimens which I have seen in the fall of the ye.i-r were mostly in the brown plumage, the b] "k variety being scarce here. Genus Aqailu. Brisson. 107. Golden Eagle. A. chrysaetos. (Linn.) " Transient Visitant," rare. Mr. Alfred Griffin, superintendent of the museum of the Natural His- tory Society of Montreal, saw a fine specimen of this eagle in the Bonsecours market in the month of May, 1891, which was sold for one dollar, and evidently was shot near Montreal. Genus Haktidus. Savigny. 108. Bald Eagle. H. leucocephalus. (Linn.) "Transient Visitant," scarce. This eagle is occa- « 58 77/ A" BIRDS OF MUST HEAL. sionally whot on the Island of Montreal late in the fall of the year in immature plumage, the adult bird being scarce here. Mr. Craig has stufted several of late, but all of them were young birds ; one was shot in the fall of the year 1890 at Oontre- cour, 80 miles below Montreal, and another one about Ist May, 1801, at Beauharnois, 88 miles south west of Montreal, on Lake St, Louis Subtamilv Falconhur. Genus Ftdco. Linnjeus. Subgemus " Ilierofaleo." Cuvier. 109. White Gyrfalctw. F. islandus. Brlinn. " Accidental Visitant," rare. Mr. Kuetzingsays he has purchased four examples of this species (?) in the Bonsecours market. I have not heard of any gyrfalcons occurring here in recent years. Subgenus "Rhynchodon." Nitzsch. 110. Dackllaiiik. F. peregrinus anatum. (Bonap.) '• Summer Resident," scarce. While out black duck sliooting in the first week of October, some years ago, on Lake St. l*eter, a duck hawk swooped down on the live decoy ducks, breaking the wing bone of one of them, but the ducks evidently saw the hawk coming, as, suddenly uttering loud quacks in alarm, they dived under the water just in time Inaai LIST. 5l> to Hjivo tlioiiiHelvos from the liuwk, which idissed s(» quickly over them tliat I could not «^ct a shot at this terror of the ducks. The late Mr. Caultield re"-eived a heautit'iil pairot these hawks to stutt for tlie inusoiini of the Natural History Society of Mont- real from ^^r. X. C. Fisk, of Abhottsford, which were shot \[.iy 7, 1890, on Yamuska Mountain, at Abhottsford, about forty miles east ot Montreal. Mr. Fisk said this [uiir of duck hawks had a nest on the western side of the mountain, and he has observed this species there every year for forty years past. He took two eggs of the duck hawk in Ai>ril, 1891, there, from under a rocky ledge ; no material was used for the nest, only a slight liollow scratched out by the hawks under a shelving rock. These eggs were presented to the museum of the Natural History Society of Montreal by Mr. Fisk, and his son kindly gave me a line female specimen of the duck hawk, which he shot about April 18, 1892, on Yamaska Mountain, and it is now in my col- lection of bird's skins ; so that it appears the local- ity is a very attractive one for this species tor a breeding-place, because when a pair of these hawks are 8^\ot there another pair takes their place. Mr. Fisk wrote to me, under date of May 4, 1893, that the hawks were there and had been for some time past, and that he heard them " squeal " to-night for the first time ; and writing again, under date of June 10, 1893, he said his son had shot one of the M CO THK HHiDS OF MOSTItEAL. luiwkn, hut could not ol)taiii the other one. TTe kindly sent nio the one wliot, wliieli wuh a beautiful male upeeinu'n, hut unfortunately hy the time it reached mo it wan too much decomposed to have the skin prcHerved tor my collection. Subgenus "^Ksalon." Kaup. 111, Pigeon Hairh-. F. cohnnharius. Linn. "Transient Visitant," scarce. I have frequently observed this little hawk in the autumn, when out shooting, and on one occasion I saw in the spring of the year at La[)rairie a large tlock of SnowHakes (SnowbirdH) depart very suddenly for pastures new, on the appearance of a pigeon hawk Hying swittly a few feet above the ground towards them. I shot an immature male specimen of this hawk Septem- ber 1, 1802, on Jones' Island, in Lake of Two Mountains. Subgenus " Tinnunculus." Vieill. 112. American Sparroir Hair/:. V. sparverius. Linn. "Summer Resident," scarce. More common in the spring and autumn. I shot a pair of these beautiful little hawks May 10, 1884, at Ilochelaga. I have seen them here April 7 and in the autumn as late as October 12. "5l|fi7Ip'Sp^^«J^i*'F" LIST. 61 Family Bahonichv. — Horned Owls, etc. Genus As'uk Brisson. Subgenus "Asio." 114. American Long-eaved Oirl. A. wilsonianus. (Less.) "Transient Visitant," scarce. Specimens occa- sionally received by our taxidermists to stuff. Mr. Craig took four eggs of this species out of a crow's nest in a fir-tree in the woods at Hochelaga, about twenty-five years ago, and he shot one of the parent i it i yr i in>r i i i vw^ ' "«*'»'?. LIST. 67 they tried to capture this owl on a sunny duy in the open country, us, like the great hornod owl, it is very wary at such times, hut when seen in the city they are very stupid or tame. The cry of the snowy owl is most hoarse and dismal, and has heen well compared to that of a full-grown man calling in distress for assistance. (The Sportsman and Naturalist in Canada, hy Major W. Ross King, 1866.) (4enus Si(nn'a. Dumeril. 125. AmenrciN Hairh Oirl. S. ulula caparoeh (Midi.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. Some years this owl is common in the fall, and numbers have heen shot in the woods on the Island of Montreal. It has been observed here during the winter months. (Caulfield.) I shot a tine specimen October 29, 1893, on Green Island in Lake of Two Mountains. Order Coccyges. — Cuckoos, etc. Suborder Curitli — Cuckoos, etc. Family Caccalidd. — Cuckoos, Anis, etc. Subfamily Coe(\i/(jin(f — American Cuckoos. Gens Corcyzas. Vieillot. 126. Yellow- hilled Cuc/:oo. C. americanus. (I)inn ) " Accidental Visitant," rare. A few examples I) in fj \ ■ I ■i ;M 68 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. of this species have hceii shot on the Island of Montreal (Dunlop, Craig). I am not aware of any occurring here in recent years. 127. Black-billed Cucl:o(>. (Rain-crow.) C. ery- throphthalnius (Wils.) " Summer Resident," common. Breeds in Mount Royal Park. I have found their nests, containing eggs, from June 4 to July 22. Observed here from May 21 to September 5. Their nests are generally built in thorn-bushes, from one to eight feet al>ove the ifronnd, but small cedar trees are favorite build- ir.g sites for them as well. This bird appears to have a remarkable habit of laying fresh eggs while those already laid are being incubated and hatched, as the following record ol' the cuckoos nests found by me will show : July 8. 1^8:}.—:', Egg- " 15, " — 1 Youngling. " 16, " — 1 Egg. " 22, " —2 Eggs June H, 188.>. — I Egg, incubated. •• H, 1^(86. — 3 Eggs and 2 (black) younglings ; two of the eggs incubated and one fresh. " 12, " — 4 Eggs, 2 incubated and 2 incu- bating. " 12, " — o Eggs, 1 incubated and 4 incu- bating. Si i! ?!! u, LIST. 69 a (( u June 4, 1887.— 4 Eggs. 11, " -2 Eggs. 4, 1891.— 2 Eggs. 13, " — Younglings. 27, " — Younglings. 9, 1892.-8 Eggs, 2 fresh and 1 incubating. The naked younglings are l)lack in colour and re- pulsive looking, but they harmonize with the nest, which is a slight structure of dead twigs, with a very shallow cavity, lined with a few dead leaves, tlie nest being very s^mall for the size of the bird and its eggs. The cuckoo seems to prefer solitude, and keeps itself out of sight in thickets, where its harsh notes can be heard sounding like " cow-cow " or " cuckucow " repeated quickly several times. Suborder Alci/ones. — Motmots and Kingfishers. Family Alceditrkhe. — Kingtishers. Genus Ceriile. Boie. Subgenus " Streptocerylc." Bona}). 1"28. Belled Kinr/fiishe)-. (Kingtisher.) C. alcyon. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," common. Breeds in suit- able places on the island of Montival. Two eggs taken May 24, 1H82, out of a burrow in u sandbank at ITochelaga. Obseiwed here from May 8 to Sep- tember 27. I i I 'i- r ii 11 ' !! 70 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. Order Pici. — "Woodpeckers, Wrynecks, etc. Family Picidce. — Woodpeckers. Genus IJri/obates. Boie. 129. Ndiihcrn Hairy Woodpecker. (Hairy Wood- pecker.) D. villosus leucomelas. (IJodd.) " Trannient Visitant," scarce. I sliot two speci- mens of this species Octol)er 24 and 31, 1885, on the spur of Mount Royal, and saw one ]*^ovember 11, 1^85, in the city; also saw one October 17, 1886, in the garden of the Seminary of St. Sulpice, Notre Dame street, and on the spur of Mount Royid the same date ; observed again October 21 and 23 and November 4, 1888. I don't think tliis wood- pecker breeds in the vicinity of Montreal, as I liave oidy seen it here in the months of October and November, and I am inclined to think that it re- turns to its northern breeding grounds early in the year, as I have never come across it in the spring of the year. Tbis subspecies was formerly kjiown as the hairy woodpecker (D. villosus), but has been since separated as a more northern and larger bird than the latter species, which is limited to the Eastern United States as its habitat, while the former onlv extends to the northern border of the United States, which is drawing the line rather close, for I believe they winter south of the Cana- dian line. LIST. 71 130. Doirny Wooilpecker. D. pubosctMis, (Linn.) " Permanent Resident," common. Breeds in Mount Royal Park. This small woodpecker is scarce during the winter months, hut plentiful in the spring of the year, when the hulk which have migrated in the fall of the year are returning from the south to their northern breeding places. Genus Fiooides. Lacepede. 131. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. (Blaek-backed AVoodpecker.) P. arcticus. (Swains.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. Mr. A. C Mc- Keand shot a female specimen of this species No- vember 4, 1888, in the woods near St. Martin's Junction, on Isle Jesus, and I shot one October 25, in the woods back of the creek at Laprairie. In the latter end of the month of October I found this woodpecker common at Casselman, Ontario, about 90 miles west of Montreal. 132. American Three-toed Woodpecker. (Banded- backed Woodpecker.) P. americanus. (Brehm.) " Transient Visitant," rare. The preceding species and this one, together with the Northern hairy woodpecker, appear to occur here usually in the months of October and Noveiuber, and prob- ably pass the winter season to the south of Mont- : I I I. 'i M II I 1 ! I I ! 72 THE HI Hits OF MnsriiKAL. roal, returning nortli in the spring l)y a more west- erly or easterly route, an I have never met with them here in the spring ot the year. Genus SphympicHS. Bainl. 1 33. Yellinr-heMied Sapsucker. ( Yellow-hellicd Woocl- peeker. S. varius. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," oomnion. More plentiful (luring the spring migration. Breeds sparsely on the Island of Montreal. I found a nest of young birds of this species June 21, 1887, on St. Bruno mountain, in a hole drilled in a live oak tree, only about six feet high in the trunk of the tree above the ground, and another nest of its young July 1, 1.S85, at Calumet, 58 miles west of Montreal. This nest was in a small hole drilled in the trunk of a live elm tree, and about thirty feet high from the base. I shot a variety of this species May 11, 1891, in the woods at Hochelaga. It was a female with the crown a glossy black, instead of being red, as it usually is. This is only the second example in that plumage which I have shot here, and both in the spring of the year. Observed here from April 10 to September 27. Genus Ceophlcen.^ Cabanis. 134. Pileated Woodpecker. (Log Cock ; Woodcock ; Cock of the Woods.) C. pileatus. (Linn.) " Accidental Visitant," rare. The nearest place t ■*i! LIST. 73 to Montreal whcro I have wooii this hir^e wood- pecker waH at Cansohnan, Ontario, abont 90 niilea west of this city, f saw two there Octol)er 26, 1884, and shot one of them, a male bird. I ob- served them for some time cackling loudly and chasing one another around the trunk of a large pine tree. They apjteared to be very tame, and I could easily have shot both, as the shooting of one did not frighten the other away ; but a friend, Mr. Trood, who was on this trip with me, hunting for deer, requested me to let him have a shot, and tired at it on the wing, but did not stop it. and that was the last we saw of this fine woodpecker. Mr. David Denne saw one in Mount Royal Park May 1, 1892, which is the only record I have of the occurrence of this species on the Island of Montreal. I have frefpiently observed them in the fall of the year strung \\\) with ruffed grouse in our markets, and those were [>robably shot around the back settle- ments north of Montreal. Old sportsmen tell me they have hunted over the Island of Montreal for fifty years past, but never met with this species here, although the woods used to be far more extensive than they are now. I saw a male and female specimen December 16, 1892, in the Bonse- cours Market, and purchased the male bird for '2b cents. A few are exposed for sale in our markets every fall, mostly sent here with ruffed grouse from different districts. »» % IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) t ^ /. // ^^ .^ "^W^^./' Photographic Sciences Corporation s ^ V iV \\ ^.>i« 23 WEST Main street WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 74 ?V/A'/.'/Av>.s,,,. ,,,,,. y.^^,^^ I ■ l> li '^ "" ■'"'liiiu'i-iies ■' 1-^5. Ilr.l.h.,,.!,,/ H-, , , " M 'ii-itit,','/:,',- vr . (I^inn.) ' •"• '•■'•Jtlii-oceplmlu.s. '■■Siiinni,.]- K,.si,i,.,,f •• , I sl„. U,e ,.,„„;: ■; , J-f ;; I'-int... Ma, .M, ,88;, ;'^-P--t--utl, as soon ■ ' "'"' "'^"■«''"-" I iMfcr 1 . , dentil nifl " c '"■^ ^P«'i- ..cans r ; ;;"'!• *^'- ^--'t-n,' sav s : '• -^ 'X.?Ie,. „„„•, „„ ' ^ ™'"'""^ - «vil| t,,,„t it '77 -''1 others ^,';»;i'"fM>"ssil,|.Hu.tthl """ f>^' the means of »< ?i j-jjtiT-'iam^ . LIST. 76 drawing out such information, as it is not easy for an individual observer, to meet with all the species of birds, where there are such numbers, as occur in the district of Montreal. Genus Colaptes. Swainson. 137. Flicker. (Golden-winged Woodpecker; High- older.) C. auratus. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," common. Breeds in Mount Royal Park. Observed from April 9 to October 10. I found a nest of this woodpecker June 8, 1882, at Bedford, P.Q., in the trunk of an old beech tree, containing two younglings, live eggs incubated and one Qgg fpiite fresh ; also ar.other nest in the decayed trunk of a beech tree in the woods below Ilochelaga June 3, 18'<8, containing four eggs, and in the same tree two eggs; May 21, 1887, another nest, with one Qgg, in a hole in the dead limb of a a tree on the spur of Mount Royal. The flicker's nests can often be discovered by the (piantity of chips strewn over the ground under the tree, from the hole they have been excavating in it. Order Macruchires. — Goatsuckers, Swifts, etc. Suborder Cdpnmidgi. — Goatsuckers, etc. Family Caprim algidtc. — Goatsuckers. Genus Antrostomus. Gould. 138. Whippoorwill. A. vociferus. (Wils.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. This bird is said .11 ^ If 76 ■ea"l oi- i, o J.rrZ ^ ""! '" ^'"«'- ^ have o»e oecasio,,, May 2-' Z, ^T ""^ ' ""d on through the wood on tL "V '"'*' rambling flushed a hird ott t ^,Z^ "' '''-"" ^•'^'"' ^ the time considered it to "7T' ''""'' »'"' « "■'fort-atelv, I eld not '"^ ''P''"'''"'^' •»"' !'h>"titv eertai , asi? K "";"'='"■'-' " to make its t'-in.heJIleltX"'''*'-'"^ »"''•'«'>'-• ->»d, with the tail Vrl o,rT '""" " ^""•"•"' or patehes like that ot 1 1. '• "'"^ "'"''« t'P^ ■"»'" -ighthawk. "■'"P-poor-will or adult ^, OvirginanrXt;.;'*'''^''"''''"-'^-' ►Summer Residonf " '""''lie of the month of A ' !. ""'• ^""'"t the f«"hle ,„.et.v.r on ,1 e „'^"'' '^' "ighthawke as- h'ave the pre.inet.o h "?' ''""' ">« '""k then ! '? J-'n.ere from MatV: ^ ^ '.ave observed 1 hihpsl,ur,, po T ^ ' '^«l'temher 17. At 'r'--"^heev;;ii:'l';.' ''^'' I noticed large "'"^^ to the surtae. ^fv^:"'>""'°'"-'"^«»'VaIiows, l"-'^<'ipitous roeky wooded T'*'"".' "''^' '*'"«• 'he ^ oodcd s|,„re there, and whereon "orth of ed u speei. I have years ago and on I'anihling Royal I ^8, and at 'Jes, but, rialco its '^ l>ehinfl guttural hite tips or adult LIST. 77 Hawk.) "1 the nt the ^ks as- ' then erved . At large lows, ' the >roon it is likely many of these birds breed. I have often observed this species resting lengthwise and cross- wise on a horizontal limb of a large tree in the middle of Phillips Square, in the city, and I shot a female specimen which was resting lengthwise on a dead limb of a tree on the spur of Mount Royal August 18, 1»88. When resting on branches of trees they generally sit lengthwise, as their feet are not adapted for perching. In the evening till dark, and early morning, the nighthawks feed on the wing with erratic flight, and uttering a harsh note*, occasionally swooping downward, like a meteor fall- ing through the air, at the same time making a loud buzzing sound, which is caused by its wings when about mounting in the air on the upward curve of its flight. I have often seen them flying during the daytime, but on such occasions it is very likely that they have been disturbed in their resting- places, as their habits are nocturnal, being adapted to their footi supply of the numerous moths that fly at dusk. Suborder Cypseli. — Swifts. Family Micropodidce. — Swifts. Subfamily ClKcturincE. — Spine-tailed Swifts. Genus ChMura. Stephens. 140. Chimney Swift. (Chimney Swallow.) C. pela- gica. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," abundant. Breeds in the ii '■^»^m^ -'^^y^^r^' 78 '''^ ^^^^^^'s OF Moxri^ir^U. ^ >"''•-;"■•» Cl„„.,.l,, ,v|, ",^"-^' f '""'"-k of St "^'"•;- '<' ''...e,!, ,„ , ,,,,"""• •'".'-' ti.ne fin' 00(1 1)01- l"'^'<'nu'ts „f fj iiiiif Olio. ()1 H' City th, POOIOH Joj, )S t'l'vod f'l •■^aiuc tin,o as fl '•oosfiiig |)I sn-ith oju April 27 10 'I'jH'ar to 1 <> Soj»t I>re. oni- ■i?^^' '^ CIiu,vh in tl "<>t observe tl ''*'^\ '" o'U' of t|„. , rlid io ^pnno-ofth "iftrcsse eir S () 'ippoar to b ^' ■^t'UI'C'O i,) tj 1 0111 thon Siibord '*^ ''ity thi.^ Juve (losertod th '■ St. And- Is v(. •'•"* usual. «'• (ISim) and tb year. ^''' Truck;} i^ ir '"•''^- TnH;i;^i,,___ '""iniiiii-bird, H ^<^""S 7V,,,/,;/ ""niiiiii.-bird. "'AV. S.ib ilMl|J011,« iJi. i?w>, gc*nn.> ki '11 '/-//; iVocbil u> I'ild '''• col lib /^'/y// n.- Mimii 01 ty i '1 garde, '^''" Hosid (J out. "I'lmlmjl,;,.,/^ ^jj "i?i.) ""'Jwinirbird, ) is. ^■oillliK, '""'•" Mount K n. B rood III tl *^^"' i'ark, but tl 10 loir *^£(^^ LIST. 79 NiMo u'alls Hio swifts ''^V to tli(. '.i^'' around U'k of 8f. ''oostinir. «nv ooi|. ^<"»ftor('(I ^•t'^i w iMi ^'^ Il'JIVOs tilt' ]>!•(.. '1 their t. And- ^';, as / J they tlio lu'ii' iiosts are not often found on account of tlieir diniinu- tivenesH, so that this heautiful little bird is safe from the " egg-hog " or small boy, and can rear its young in safety. On their arrival here in the spring, wild gooseberry, and lilac bushes, are their favorite re- sorts, and later on they frequent chestnut tree blos- soms, wild columbine, and cultivated flowers. This species is the oidy one of about eighteen different hummingbirds classed as North American found in the Dominion of Canada east of the Rockv Moun- tains, ft is not found in British Columbia, but Mr. Fannin's check-list of British Columbia birds gives four other species of hunmiingbirds as occur- ring there. Ooserved from May 11 to August 29. Order J\\sseres. — Perchinij: Birds. Suborder Clamafores. — Songless Perching Birds. Family 7)/ranni(l(f:. — Tyrant Flycatchers. Ctcuus Tj/rannus. Cuvier. 142. Kliujbii'd (Tyrant Flycatcher ; Bee-nuirtin.) T. tyrannus. (Linn ) "■ Summer Resident," common. Breeds in the city and in Mount lloyal Park. I examined a uest of this bird June 80, 1880, which was built in a thorn tree in ^[ount Roval Park. It contained younglings covered with white down Observed from May 14 to August 22. ^?* -.««*(*«: fai'XK; 80 THE HI lilts OF MitSrUKA!., i j ■ i 1 i i t : i i , ) 1 i 1 1 1 ■' ' f • f H. u Goniis Mi/iiirrhii.>. — Cabaiiis. 148. Crt'sted Fbjiei' ((iri'ut-tMvsti'«l Flycatclior.) M". oriiiitus. (Liiiii.) "Suniiiu'rRosidi'nt,"' tominoii. Bivodsin Mount Royal I'ark, iiostini; in hollows of troos. Tiiis laruc rtycatclur has a iK"n1iar habit of phioini; arouixl the i'(li;\' ot its ni'st. the ( ast-ott' skin of a snako, which is }irol>ahly (lont> to jtrotoft its nost from sqiiinvls taking [lossession of the hollow wlieroin tho nost is hiiilt, as, no donht tin* sight of a snake's skin coilcMl ui» wonl.l si-aiv that littU' animal away. I liave shot sjKvinions of this s)»oi'ics, in tlu' months of Mav and Auijnst, and notii'i'd the itlnmam' vorv tine in tliL' lattor month. Ohsorvcd from Mav 8th to Augnst i^8th. Gonn> Sa;/nrms. lionajiarte. 144. Phahe. (IVwoc.) S. PJML'he (Lath.) " Summer Kt'sidont," common. IJreeds in Mount Royal Park. Xcsts with cgii^ found from May nth to June 9th. Observed liere from April 3rd to October 8th. Genus C(jnto/»is. — Cabanis. Subgenus " Nuttallornis.'' Ridgway. 145. OJire-slded Fbjcakher. C. borealis (Swaine.) " Summer Resident," scarce. Breeds in Mount h: -««n»«,K>3<"u 'k %' LfST. 81 Vciltclu>|-.j in Afoiuif 1 1 is lai'o-,. U an»inirooniV(l a spi'cimi'n at the tinu*, 1 liave not phu'od tliat spi'cios in the list. At the time I met with this strange tlycateher, my atti'ntion was attracted to its note which was nnlike any of the others of this irenus ocnirrint; here. 140. rr>nirsFI;/,;itrl,er. E. pusillus traillii. (And.) " Snninier Resident," scarce. Breeds in Mount Koval Park, where I have found their nests with eirgs, troni June llUh to July 30th, lor several years past. This flycatcher is a very shy hird to approach near to, when on its nest duriiijjj the term of laying the eggs, hut will sit close when hatching them. I have always found their nests huilt in a thin thorn hush or light undergrowth wood, from a few inches to ahout two feet ahove the grounti, and generally within sight from a foot-path on the mountain. Ohserved here from Mav •J4th to July 30. I think this species migrates south in the month of Augiist as I never met with it in the autumn. 149. Ltu.sf Fl;/ra!rlur. (Chehec.) K. minimuR. Baird. "Summer Resident,"' scarce. Breeds on the Island of Mfnitreal. I have shot several specimens •d this small Hycatcher in the woods helow Iloohe- f)'K 't plnccMl lU't with i^tracti'd 'tilers uf" (Aii.I.) Mount i>* with proach iujiii^r Mil. I thorn inches orally iitain. think HL'iiist mus. the IR'll.s che- LfST. 88 laga, from the 14th to the 25th of May, but like the preceding one, 1 have not met with it in the autumn, and as the latter end of the month of August is generally cold, it is <[uite likely that these flycatchers depart south before the month of Sep- tember. Suborder Oscives. — Song Birds. Family Alaadkhv. — Larks. (Ttenus Ofocon'.s. Bonaparte. 150. llorned Lark. (Shore Lark.) 0. alpestris. (Linn.) "Transient Visitant," scarce. I shot five speci mens of this species, out of about a dozen found feeding, on the river ice-roads, in front of the city, April 8, 1887; but since that time, I have not met with them, in the spring of the year, and in the autumn, only from October 20 to 26. Until the year 1887, ornithologists here were not aware ot the existence of two species of Horned Larks occur- ring at Montreal, and, of course, this species wat^ (fonsidercd to be the one found breeding here ; but since then we iind the next species " praticola " a summer resident, and "alpestris" a migrant oidy, although [ am inclined to believe that this species did breed on the hichlands above Hochelaga some years ago. Mr. Kuetzing says that, some twenty years past, the Skylark (Alauda arvensis, Linn.) 84 '/■///•; ItlltDS OF MOSTREM. ! ; - ! ill ii ! ; Si ■ t 1 M was Hucct'sstully iiitro«lii«'iMl on tlio Island of Mont- roal, luit wore all shot oft' by pot-huntors. 151. Prnlrie Ihnuul Lorlc. (Slioro Lark.) O. al- ]u'stris i»nit'u'ola. (Honsli.) "Suniiiu'r J{esi«lent," ronunon. This Hpocios is IoiumI i>U'jitit'iil hero during the s|»rin«f months ank. V. pica hudsonicsi. (Sab ) " Accidental Visitant," rare. The habitat ot tliis LIST. 85 O. al- Hpocit'rt IK wostoni North Aniorica, but its occur- roiice ill tliin district, no tar from its rtiiige. is uii- aci'ouiitiil>lo, unlcrtrt they liappoii to he caged birds which have cfcapod. It i« not iiuprobalile that Home Hpecieri of l)irdH, touud out of their liabitat, have been introduced tlirough human aid, un- icnown to the public. However, a magpie was sliot at Chambly canton, twenty miles southeast of Mont- real, about the year 1883 ; and Mr. David Denne saw «)ne some years ago back of Laprairie, and chased it for a considerable distance, as it flew from feiu^e to fence, out of gunshot. This may have been the same bird that was shot at Chambly, as the places are contiguous. Chaml)ly is a noted place for strange birds. Kn " European Wood- cock" was shot there Ncvember 11, 1882. and a few wiiiters after a " Dovekie " was killed in the basin at the rapids Why these three stragglers should visit Chambly is a mystery. Genus Ci/anorilta, Strickland. 153. BltO! Jai/. C. cristata (Linn) " Transient Visitaiit," common. I have observed this jay here in the months of March, May, June, September, October, November and December, and it is likely that a few winter in this district. The specimens I have shot in the autumn were in better plumage than those which I have shot in the spring 80 /•///•; lilRDS OF MOSrUKAL. ii t. i I I !lli ot'tlu' voar. Altlu»Ui;*h tlio Itluc iav is resident with US (luriniT tl.e tjivnter part of the year, I am not aware ot'anv breedinu* hero. (u'Mus Pciusoi'ciis. l^)iiaitarte. lo-l. Ciiihiihi Jill/. (Moose l>inl : AVhiskey .lack.) P. eaiKuk'iisis. (I/nin.) ••Transient Visitant," srarct-. Tliis iav visits us from the n(»rtli in tlu' autumn, hut J liave not met witli thi'in in the sprinu- of tin- year. I saw one or t\v<» (>• toht-r !♦, l^Stl, (»n lsh> Jesus, and shot a >prrinun O.-tohiT '24, ISSO. at St. Kpii>lninie. V.il ; also on*.' Ortohrr '20, lh.«?4. at CasM-lman, Out. Suhfamily C'lrrlnd . — ('vows. Genus Cnri'iis, Linmeus. ^■)i). ?\(irtln rii Ivirnt. (Raven.) ('. eorax [trinei- palis. (Ridu'w ) •• Winter Visitant, ■■ rare. ( )eeasionally visits the eity river iee (hmip. ami s(u;ietinies is exposed for saU' in the l>onseeours market. 150. Amrnr>n> f'mu-. (Crow.) (\ amerieanns. (And) •• Permanent Resi(h'nt.'" ahuiuhint. Xot so often ^een during the winter months, hut souietimes ap- peiirinu- in la,.j^r^. tlorks at Cote St. Paul, alon<.-si.k> .•'I LIST. 87 the railway tracks, here they (loubtlessly are at- tracted l)y the localiry being sheltered on the north- east side by a high bank bounding the highlands above, and after a thaw the corn-stubble fields there are sufKciently exposed for them to feed on the scattered grain left in the autumn. I saw a flock of about fifty crows December 17, 1882, feedhig around the tops of a patch of corn, just i)rotruding above the deep snow, which had been left standing in a sheltered field at Cote des ]!^ieges. The bulk of the crows, which are migrants, begin to arrive Ijere al>out the 1st of March and commence build- ing nests in April. One nest examined April 30, 18;"'2, t'<)ntained six eggs, incubated, and another one, N[ay 24, 1882, contained younglings, and a nest, >[ay 11, 1889, had four eggs, incubated. They breed in Mount Royal Park and all over the Island of Montreal. The bulk of the crows in this district migrate south before the month of Dcoomber Family IderUhv. — Blackbirds, Orioles, etc Subfamily Ictenntr. Oenus Dolicho)))/x. Swainson. 157. BofMtUnk. D. oryzivorus. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," abundant. Breeds in the fields on the Island of Montreal, and prol)ably in Mount Royal Park, in the field near the Park li \ 88 THE lilRDS OF MONTHEA L. ili r I ; 1. '. I • ; Kaiiiror's ivsitU'iice, at< I observed a few there June 25, 1887. I liave observed the bobolink here t'roin May 19 to Sei)tember 9, and on the hitter ditte in 1891 Mr. Inu:lis shot one out of a small tl(H*k alonu; tlie creek at Laprairie. I am under the im|tressioii that I have seen some in the same loealitv till the middle of October, whi^'h is late in the season tor these birds to be here, as the bulk of them de]>art south in the month of August. Those observed in the month of Se}>tember were all in the yellowish fall |»luniai;e, like the female bird in summer {)lum- age, I shot a male specimen June 2, 1888, at Ilochelaga, in ditlerent plumage to the male birds at that time of the year. Hill, bluish slate color; tarsus and toes, brownish ; the underparts from chin to undertail eovi-rts. speckled with black and yel- lowish green ; forehead and crown, blackish, varie- gated with lirown and a small grayish jtafcb in the centre of crown ; the occiput and hind-neck, bufly. shaded with brown : hack streaked with black, brown and gravish-white ; scapulars, irravish-white; wing coverts, brown, edii'cd with i;ravishwhite ; prnnaries and scctindarios of a brownish eolo'*, edgeil with gray; rump, un-ecnish-irrav, hecominu' liirhter on ui.pcr tail coverts ; tail featlu'rs darker, hut edged with ash-gray. This sj»ccimeu did in)t appear to be a young l.ird wiicn I skinned it. Mr. iiidgway does not dcscrilu- the young of the bobolink in his "Manual of Xorth American Uinls," but, strange ^Ata: „;i;r-.c- -. illlllJlllllllll I ; LIST. 89 to say, he does not appear to have seen the young of this species ; neither have I found its nest, nor observed tlie young birds, as l)oth are so well con- cealed in tlie long grass, and after the latter is mowed the bobolinks all appear in the yellowish plumage, and the conspicuous male bird is not noticed again until he returns from the south in the spring of the year ; but those confined in cages here retain the same plumage throughout the year. I shot a male and female specimen May 19, 1892, at St. Lambert, and at the time the female was feed- ing on insects on a thorn-bush, an unusual position to find the female bobolink in, as she invariably remains concealed in the grass in the spring of the year ; but after the breeding season is over the males, females and young bobolinks all fiock together, an«l it is not easy to distinguish one from another. The bulk of the bobolinks in this district dejiart south by the middle of the month of August, after the hay-fields are mowed ; but should the autumn season continue warm, a few still linger on into the month of October and feed on the seeds of the rank herbage along creeks running through meadows. Some years atfo I saw some bobolinks along the creek at Laitrairie on the 9th of October, ami \ believe they continued to frequent the creek until driven south by hard frosts. Since writing the al)ove notes on the bobolink, I received a fieles tlie julult tbnmle in plumage. Genus 3Lih>flinis. Swainson. 158. (''W>//v/. M. liter. (Bodd.) "' Slimmer Resident," common. I have found the eggs of this strange bird deposited iii nests of other species, in ^[ount Royal Park, Fsland of Mon- treal and vicinity from May loth to July 25th, as follows : — May l"i. is^o, :{ o'^^rs in Plin-he's nost, iiiul .'5 ejjRs of tho liitti-r bird. " 2i>, •• 2 c^f^s in Hermit Tlinish. and 2 rjj^is of the latter l)inl. • 1 yomiuliiiji in l'li(i'l)u's ni'st. ' 1 cjT};- in Anicrican Redstart, and 4 ckK'^ <>f tl>e latter bird. ' 1 e^s in Yellow Warbler, and '.\ ineubated epK'* "l^ the latter bird. ' 1 van ill Wilson's Tlirnsli, and 2 ej^ys and 2 youriK- lin^s of the latter bird. " 11, issi, 1 cjrn; j,, fhestnut sidcd Warblcr, and .i ej^gs of tlie latter bird. July !», " 1 cfii? in Sont; Sparrow, and 2 ()x«s of the latter bird. May 27, 1SH2, :U'kks in Slate-eoloured .lunco, a-id 2 ineubated eggs of the latter bird. June 17. " 1 e;:<: in Clu'st nut-sided Warbler, and I egs^s of the latter bird. :i4. " 1 egfi; in Chestnutsiiled Warbler, and I ineubated e>itgcd Blaekhinl. A. phieniceus. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," abuiulant. Breeds on the :U ! ! * i 92 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. Island of Montreal. Immense numbers of these birds flock together in the autumn to feed in the tields, and in the afternoon towards sundown, nuik- erous flocks commence to fly to some favorite swamp to roost for the night, where they keep up an incessant chorus of chatterings till dark. Flocks of Rusty Blackbirds, and Bronzed Grackles .join the Red-winged Blackbirds to roost together, and assist with their numbers to make up these large concourses of birds. Observed here from April 12th to November Ist. Genus SfurneUa. Vioillot. 160. Meadoirlarh. S. magna. (Linn.; " Summer Resident," scarce. Mr. Craig says this species used to breed near the old fort at St. Jolms, P.Q., twenty seven miles southeast of Montreal. Occasionallv they have been shot at River Beau- dette, forty-ihree and a half miles by rail west of Mont; eal, but I do not think they occur on the north side of the River St. Lawrence east of Mont- real. Mr. Denne shot one October 10, 1891, up the creek at Laprairie, the only one seen at the time. This last record shows this species to ocdur within seven miles of Montreal on the south shore of the St. Lawrence river, and it is possible that the meadowlark does visit the island of Montreal, although I have never met with any here. LIST. 93 i G(MiUfi Icterus. Brii^son. Subgeiiuft " Yphantes." Vieillot. 161. Biiltimore Oriole. I. Gtilbiila. (Linn.) " Snmmer Resident," common. Breeds in the city. I found a nest of this bird June 7, IH^O, at Dorval, built in the top of a thin bush, within reach of hand from the ground, and containing live fresh eggs, but as a rule tlieir nests are built here hanging to brandies of large trees, twenty or thirty feet above the ground. I saw this species feeding on the ground, an unusual position to iind the ori- ole in, as they generally confine themselves to the trees a. 1 bushes when feeding. Observed here from May 7 to August 21. Subfamily Quisfaluut'.. Genus Scolecophagus. 8wainson. 162. Mtisti/ Bhu'khird. (Blackbird.) S. carolinus. (Miill.) " Transient Visitant," common. Arrives here in small flocks in the spring of the year, and passes on further north to breed, and returning in the autumii in larger flocks, and then joins the Red-wingod Blackbirds to roost at night. Observed here from April 7 to May 28, and in the autumn from Octo- ber 10 till November 4. a ' : IP • |:| 1 1 t *> 1 ^11^ 1 ■^ f ■ i'i if il ( ilii 1)4 THE ItlliDS OF MOSTREAf.. h Genus Qnlsailus \]( 'Hot. Subgenus '' (iuiMcalus." 16^:5. Bromed Gnic/dc. (Crow Blackbird.) Q. (juis- euUv >eneus. (Ridijw.) "Sumnior RosiiK'ut,'' abumlant. Broedn in the oity. I sbot a male specimen ot'tbis spei'ios Oeto- bor 11, IH'.MI, at St. Laurent s\vaiaj>, out of a anudl floek Hviiiii" over to join tbe Red-winged lilaeknirds at tlie latti'r's roosting-plaee tbere. I was ratber Huiprised to find it in sucli beautiful new pbimage, rielier tban specimens sliot in tbe spring of tine year. Observed bere from Ai)ril 1 to Octcdjor 11, luit tliev remain on bere biter in tlie latter motitb, until (b'iven soutb bv bard frosts. Tbis bird luis a peculiar babit wben Hying of spreading its tail featbers in tbe form of a ])()at, and its larger con- gener of tbe soutb is called tbe Boat-tailed (Jracklo on tliat account. Family Fr'nujiUiilit. — Fincbes, Sparrows, etc. Genus fnccofhraKstes. Brisson. Subgenus " Hesperiidiona." ]k>nui>. 164. Eveiniuj Groshcal'. C. vespertinus. (Coop.) " Winter Visitant," rare. I believe ti.o first rec- ord of tbe occurrence of tbis species bere was during tlie winter montbs of tbe year 1890, wben several LIST. 95 wore olnorved, Jsinusiry 28, in the McGill College grounds, l)y Dr. Harrington, of thin eity, and u male H[»eoinuMi was sliot al»out Fel)ruarv 1, in the city, l)y Mr. Do(M, ganli-nor to J. IT. II. Mcdson, Esq. ; four were obtained February 5, at La{)rairie, by Dr. Hro.srieau, and one ws" secured alive by Mr. E. B. Audette at the same [daec. Two specimens were shot M>»reh U, at Lachine, by Mr. J. H. Harris, out of a Hock of about thirty seen, and was recorded in the " Canadian Record of Science,'' Montreal, .Inlv, 1800, l)v the late Mr. Caultield. At the same tinie, this sjieeies was noticed in Ontario, and in the United States of NEassaehusetts, New York and New Iiamiishire, where they were considered as remarkable visitants. "Forest and Stream" of December 18, 1880, published a note from Morris M. Green, Escj., of the Evening Grosbeak's occur- rence December 11.' 1890, at Ithaca, N.Y. Mr. Chamberlain mentions this species in his list of "Canadian Birds'' as an abundant resident of Brit- ish Columbia east of the Cascades, and a ctunmon winter visitor to Manitoba. Some people say they have seen this species here during past winters, and I am inclined to believe that thev have been irrc- gular visitants to the Province of Quebec in the past, but I do not know of any published rect)rd8 of same. I have not heard of anv having been seen here during the winter of 1801-02, nor since. I! if I ^4 ■i .!■ ,} SL 00 niK HINDS OF MOSruEAL. Gc'iuiM Pinic(da. Vioillot. 1 ♦).■), Anierican Piite GronheoL (Vhw (IroHhoak.) P. t'liucleator cuiuuk'nHirt. ((/iib.) '• Winter Visitant," comnion. The adult ]»ir(i8 in ivtl jiluniait'o aro rather Bcarce eompared with the nnniber of u:rayi^^ll eoloured individualn generally seen in a Hoek of these birds. They often visit the eity in such places where the mountain ash-tresH with berries on are to be found, upon which they feet! with apparent relish. Observed here from October 30 to April 20, and on the latter date, in lrt84, I shot a solitary female specimen here, wliich was a late date in the spring of the year for this species to be still here, but it was apparently strong annll. A. linaria. (Linn.) ""Winter Visitant," abundant. Observed here in flocks from October 25th to April 29th. The latter date is late in the spring of the year to find this species hce, although in 1883, I saw large 'I 1^1 \4 v 98 /'///•; It/ /{Its OF M(isrin:.\L. \ I 11 li! H A i)nnil)ers In rlu'inonfli of ^Fay foodin^oii tlu'^Ttunid in tlio woods at Iloeliolupi. Then; Jire sevoral otliiT s|K'oios of RodiMdls, and I Iteliovo somo of tlioni oci'nr hore, hut ho far I have not si-curt'd any of tlioni. (ii'nnj^ Sjtiiiiis. Ivocli, 170. Aiiirro'iin (ii>li/jinr/i. ( V('llo\v-l>ird.) S. tristirt. (Linn.) "SninnuT Rosidont," abundant. Breeds iu Mount Roval Park. Nests found containini' fn-sli oir^s fr(»ni July 22nd to Aui^ust Htli. Observed lu'i'c from April 7tli to Xovi'ndu'r IStb. Tbo hite Mr Caiiifu'ld saw a snial: flock of tbis npccies iVconiln'r lltb, 1890, at Goto St. I'anI, and sliot one of tluin at tlu' time. 171. /'/"' Sl.s/,lii. (l*ino Linnet.) 8. pinus. (Wils.) '' A\^i liter Visitant," eoininon. I observed a lari^e Hock of tbese birds October IStb, 1^85, on Isle.Iesns, feediiiiT in some willows. Mr. Knetzinj; lias found tbis s[)ct'ics sometiiius common in winter, and bas often observed tlieni ber*- in summer, but I bave not seen tbem durinu' tbi' latter season, and I «b) not tbiiik tbey bave been found breeding in tbis district. Genus Plcdrophenn.r. Stejiiei^er. 172. Stiniiflii/,;;. (Snowbird, Snow IJunting.) J*. nivalis. (Linn.) ''Winter Visitant," abundant. Arrives bere f /,/.S7'. 99 ulxnit till' iiiiddK' ot'tlu' moiitli of ( )c',t(»lK'r in lui'^o fi()(l\M. Tln'V Jirc Hi'ldoin sci'ii itiTcliiii^ upon tires but oil (Mil' (u'casioii, Di'ccmlu'r lOtli, 1882. I huw u tiock of iil»oiit Htty ri'Mtintf U|k»ii tlio toiniiost tvvi^rt of a tall troo at Oiitri'inoiit, and to maki' sun- of their idiMitity, I waded tliroii,u;li the de('|i snow- to the tree and shot two out of the tloek. 'IMie snowtlake is a terrestrial hird, and only under ex- ci'lttional einMinistaneert they are found jierchinu; upon trees, and in this instanee the land was cov- ered with deep soft snow which was pral)ly the CHUKC t»f the iloek aliuhtint^ U[)on a Irei' on this occasion. I have ohserved tliesi- hirds here from Oetoher IDtli to April '2V)\h, and on the latter date in 18fl0, I shot a male spei'inien at Iiai)rairie. Laru^e numhers are caui^ht in horse-hair noose snares on the Laprairie shore, sot hy the hal>itaiit>, and are sold in our markets at fifteen to twenty cents per dozen, and are considered very good eating. :l III ^1 11 •m i Genus CnhHirius. Hechstein. l7'i. L(ii>bniii;/.sj)iir. C la[>ponieus. (Linn.) " Winter Viwitant," rare. This species is ocea- nionally found accompanying: the preeediuii" one, and are sometimes exposed for sale in our markets mixed in with a hunch of snowbirds. I Mil i I 1 I' I ;:H * til rill ir I:.- f ' c 100 THE lilRDS OF MO XT HEAL. Genus Pnoccetes. Baircl. 174. Vesper Sparrow. (Grayl)ird, Bay-winged Bunting, Grass Finch.) 1*. graniineus. (Gmel.) "Summer Resident," ecmimon. Breeds on the Island of Montreal. Nests witli eggs found from May 14th to 28th. Observed here from April 7th to October 8th. Genus Aminodrnmiis. Swainson. Subgenus " Passerculus." 175. Savanna Sparrow. (Gray-l>ird.) A. sand- wiehensis savanna. (Wils.) " Summer Resident," abundant. Breeds on the Island of Montreal. Nests with eggs found May 24th. 01)served here from April 7tli to October 1st. (Jenus Zonniriehia. Swainson. 176. White-aroirDeif Sparroir. B. leuoophrys. (Forst.) " Transient Visitant,'' scarce. I sliot a male 8i>ecimen of this species May I'ith, 1888, at Cote St. Antoint', and have o1>scrvcd them there May 12th and loth, and in the autunni, October 4th, 1880, at L' Acadia, RQ. 177. W/>ile-thri>afed Sparrow. (Old Tom Teabody.) B. al])ic..llis. (Gmel) " Sunnner Resiserved here in the s])ring, from April 7 to 28, and in the autumn, from October 25 to JiTovember 7. 179. ('In/>i>huj Sparrnir. S. socialis. (Wils.) " Summer Resident," abundant. Breeds in the citv and in Mount Roval Park. I have found their nests with eggs trom May 21 to July 22, and have observed this sociable little bird here from April 23 to Se}ttend)er 28. 180. Field Sixtrrom. S. pusilla. (Wils.) " Summer Resident," scarce. This small sparrow resembles the preceding one closely, but can be dis- tiniruished from the other spei'ies bv its cinnamon- colourt'(l bill. I have not secured a specimen of tliis bird liere yet, but I believe I have come across them on various occasions, without an op[>ortunity of securing one at the time supposed to have been observed. I 'i -11 :f| t i ! 11 •, ,1, 102 THE BIRDS OF MO X THE A L. Gemis Junco. Waglor. l-^l. SUde-Citlored Jaiico. (Wilson's Siunvbinl.) J. liy emails. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," abundiint. Breeds in Mount Royal Park. I have tound their nests, with Qggf^y from May 17 to June 19, and have ob- served them here from March 29 t<» October 25, and on one occasion I saw two liere December 24, 1882, in a sheltered place on the Cote des Xieges road, and where thev evidentlv intended to winter, as the weather was "crv cold and the land was ■ covered with dee[) snow at the time. In 188") this species appeared to me to have been altoiicther absent here during the spring and summer of that year, as I did not see a single individual of this species during that time, but saw some (October 25. I made enquiries of other observers of our l)irds, as; to whether thev had s<'en anv iuncos here, at the time I noticed the hitter's absence, but none of them could remember having seen anv, and I cannot suggest any cause for this bird's non-a}>pearance till the autumn of that year, as they are regular summer residents here. (:lenus Melitspizo. Baird. 182. Sotic/ Sparririr. (Gray-bird.) M. fasciata (Gmel.) "Summer Resident," abundant. Breeds in the city and in Mount Royal Park. I have found their i\ ^w^^" LTsr. 103 nOHts, witli ogg^, from May 8 to July 28, and ob- served tlieni here from March 24 to October 24. IS;-?. LItifoln's Sparroir. M. liiicobii. (And.) " Trans^ient Visitant," occurs througliout Canada: (Canadian Birds, ^T. Chaniberhiin, 1887.) Accord- ing to ^[r. Cluunl)erlain, this species sliould occur in tliis , and Oc- tober 19, 1888. I shot a specimen of this species ,. '^ ii it ' H'^ 3 I *' 1 hi' 104 THE BINDS OF MOXTBEAL. Oetol)er 5, 1886, at Goto 8t, Antoine, and saw u few more at the time there in some thickets grow- ing: on the mountain side. Genus ILihia. Reiehenhach. 186. R< )8c-h red. sted Grosbeak. II. hidoviciana. (J/nin.) "•Transient Visitant,'' oonmion. I found this beautiful bird i»lentiful May 25, 1885, at St. Uruno, r.Q., 14 miles east of Montreal, where they probably are attracted bv the beech woods on St. Uruno mountain. I shot several male specimens at the time, all in full song, but only saw one female. I visited tlie same place in the month of June, ex- pecting to iind them breeding there, but did not see any of the birds there then, so 1 presume this species go further north or east to breed. Observed them here from May 14 to June 21. I saw a male bird June 21, 1887, in the woods below Hochelaga, and shot two male specimens May 22, 1890, and May 31, 1892, on the spur of Blount Royal. I have not met with this bird here in the autumn, so I in- fer this species returns south by a different route. Genus Passemm. Vieillot. Subgenus "Passerina." Vieillot. 187. liuh'i/i> Biniting. (Indigo-lnrd.) P. cyanea. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," co nmon. Breeds in Mount ' I ■•( : I l.IST. 105 ! i Royal Park. I have found tlicir nests, witli eggs, from June 18 to July 13, and observed them liere from May 11 to August 13. Family Tancujridce. — Tanagers. Genus Piranga. Vieillot. 188. Scarlet Tmuuier. (Red-l>ird.) P. erythrome- las. (Vieil'l ) "Transient Visitant," common. Usually ob- served here from May 20 to 24, but on one occasion I saw a male bird June 17, 1882, in Mount Royal Park. I have not seen this species here in the autumn, and, like the rose-l)reasted grosl)eak, it probably returns south by some other route. I shot a female specimen of this species May 22, 1891, on the spur of Mount Royal. 180. Suinmcr Tdnagcr. (Red-bird) P. rubra. (Liim. "Transient Visitant," rare. Mr. Kuetzing says eight examples of this species have been shot on the Island of Montreal, and he saw another one liere a number of years ago, and 1 l)elieve I saw one May 25, 1885, at St. Bruno, but it disa[»peared so quickly and mysteriously out of sight that I could not find it again. I do not think this species has been observed here in the autumn, so that it would be interesting to know by what route the rose-breasted grosbeak, scarlet tanager and this species return south to their winter quarters. " H ''■11 ■M i i i i b'l Hi lOf) 77/ A niliDS OF MONTIU'LAL. Family Jlintndinidce. — Swallows Gomis Prt)(jn('. \\o\ii. 190. P((r/)le Jfarfln. W «ubis. (Linn.) "Sinnmor Reside it," common. Breeds in the citv. I observed this species June 20, 1886, nest- ing in the eity, in a bird house placed on top of a p(de erected on a shed in rear of St. Joseph Drug Ilall, Xo. 2241 Notre Dame street, where they are said to breed twice a year, in the months of April and June. I have not noticed the purple martin breeding in any other place within the city, but I (hiresay they do breed in other yards where they are encouraged to nest. Observed here from May 2 to \ugust 21. I heard one April 29, 189.3, at St. Andrew's, P.Q., and I saw large numbers of them near Rigaud September 4, 189'^. Genus Petrocheh'tloti. Cabanis. 191. Cll.ff' SiraUoir. (Eave Swallow.) P. lunifrons. (Say.) "Summer Resident," common. Breeds on the Island of Montreal. Observed here in the spring of the year, April 19, and near Rigaud, September 4, 1898. Genus C/ieli(l(»i. Forster. 192. Barn SiraUon:. 0. erythrogaster. (Bodd.) " Sunmier Resident," common. Breeds on the w, 7.757'. 107 IhIuikI of Montreal. (.)l)sorvcMl here from May 10 to AugUHt 20. r Haw half a dozoi) barn swallows AiijL^UHt 20, 1892, pi'i'c'lu'd on tlio telegraph wires near the railway bridge across the ereek at La- prairie, and with them was one indiyidual whieh appeared to bo a elift' swallow, and, wanting- a speci- men of the latter swallow, I shot it, but found it to be a barn swallow, its long tail feathers eut off even with the other tail feathers. Genus Taehijc'nicla. Cabaiiis. 193. Tree SwaHn>r. (White-bellied Swallow.) T. bieolor. (Vieill.) "Summer Resident," abundant. lireeds in the city and in Mount Royal Park. I have found their nests, containing eggs, from May 29 to June 2, and the young birds in nests to July 14. Observed here from April 7 to September 1-5. Genus Clin'cdla. Forster. 194. B((n/,- Stralloir. (Sand Martin.) 0. riparia. (Linn.) "Summer Resident,'' common. A small colony of these birds used to breed in the bank above the high level reservoir in Mount Royal Park, but they deserted that place in 18S5, and another large colony used to breed in the sand pits at iroohelaga, where I have observed them burrowing May 12. i y. ' 1 i-l i 11 TW^-t^^^^'^' ;;f I ! i 10k ////•; n Hi Its or Mo.xr/ihAL. Like rlio r\\{\ swjiliow, this spci-ios apiu'jirs to be (l('st'rtii)u' its old iiostin«i; sites, [»roliaMy caustMl ])y natural ciiant^vs in such phu^cs, or iliroiigh being (listurhc'd. Family Auipelhlir — Wax\vin«rs. etc (lenns Atnjiclix. Limiiens l!i"). BoJiCiiiidH Wii.nrhi(/. A. ^'arniln? AViiiter \'isitant," rar (Linn.) I) iai'ife numbers of tliese birds were observed ln>re ril II, and 1 lu'liovt- I saw one May 2:5, 1801, at Cote St. Aiitoinc, (,:• the mountain side. It was tlviiiy; over towards Goto St. Paul in a straiifht lino, ai\d I watelied it ilyiug till out of si<;iit. I liav'o shot several specimens, mostly in immature plumage, and some which I liavo seen appeared to be youn<;' birds ; but I liave not heard of this species fountl breed iiiL*" here. I shot an adult specimen, in full [dumage, October 2(J, 1888, at Belle Riviere, V.il I have heard this shrike imitatinu; the soiiif of the American robin in the spring of the year. 108. White-nun j)cd Shnhc. (Butclier-bird.) L. ludo- vicianus exoibitorides. (Swains.) "• Summer Resident," common. Breeds within the citv limits. I took a nest of this bird Mav 20, 1883, at Ilochelaga, which was built in a thorn tree, containing one ogg. I visited the same pdace tlie following month, June 3, and found another iiest built by the same species in a thorn bush close to the first, but someone had lodged a big stone in this nest. I also found a nest of this I! '(.n , iiPII , lit I f W WW 1!^ 110 '////•; III UPS lib' M()\TJiJJAL. hikt'k's May 24. IMSS, at Laprairif, Itiiilt in a Itiisli alongsidi' tlic railroatl truck, and saw a uliriko closo to tho lU'st. I toiiml aiiotluT iicst of tliin siirikc May -JO, I Sill, at ir(K'hc'la,u:a, Imilt iti a tliorn two, (•oiitaiiiinii" two »'U'ij;s, iiifuhatcd, and diiuo »l, 1S!>1, Nfr. Iiiii'Iis tomid two tVfsli I'u'ifs of tliis l>ird in what ap[>c'aivd to Ik- an old nest, near tlio saiiio |tlai-o. Family VlnnnitUc. — N'ircos. (iomis VirnK N'icillot. Subi^i'iHis '* \'iivosylva." rMHiap. 190. Iie>l-e>/e, 1891, contained young- lings. I have heard this speeies singing, from its arrival in tlie spring, till Septeml)er 4, and Inive observed it here from May 11 to Oetoher 6. 200. Philadelph'ni Viren. Y. philadelidiieuH. (Cass.) "Transient Visitant." ? I have not met witli this Bpeeies liere yet, hut as Montreal is within its goo- LIST. Ill gnipliicjil raii«::i', I liavo idactMl it in tlu'lint, cxiu'rt- iiig it will Im' touiid orciirriiii? in tliis district. 201. Wiii-hllmj V'nr,> V. trilviis. (Vi»-ill.) ''TraiisiiMit N'iKitant," scarrc. I iiavc mot witli only two s|K'riiiU'Us of this spccii-s, and which I nliot on the Island of Montreal, one May 2"i, 188Herved this species i»aired in the irochelai»;a woods, a>id sliot two si»ecimens there May 20, 1883. I liave not met with anv since that (hite. 20:5. Jihir.l,eaecimen May 3, 1890. Family }[iiii>tHli' 112 77/ A' nUf/fS OF MOM'HKA I.. i^nmt. f saw oiu' Jmio 2o, 1887, in Mount llovul I'ark, anil Hliot a rtodi^aMiiit; July 1, 1885, at Calii- nu>t, r)^ iniloM west «»t' Montreal. 1 also saw a pair antl tir«li»;t'lin«( July 7, 1891, on tho s[)ur of Mount Koyal. OhsiTved lu>ro from May •{ to August 22. Mr. (JritKn, su|K'riiitt>n(li'Mt ot' \\\v nniscuni of tho Natural History Socioty of Montreal, sayn a pair of those warhii'rs lia«l a nest in a crevit'o ov(»r the sido door of tlio mtist'uni on Cathcart stroct aitout twidvo voars airo, anv the late Mr. Cauitit'ld, taxidorniist. Genus Jfeltnhtth'i/il'ilii. Uidu'way. 20,'). Xashrillr W'lrl./n-. \L ruHcapilla. (Wils.) "Transient N'isitant," scarce. 1 Lave ohscrvcil only two exain[>les of this warhler hi're, hoth ot them males, and which 1 shot on the spur of Mount Royal, one May 10, isSt), an;/e-('rotvt>eil Wdrhlr.r. II. eelata. (Say.) "Transicjit Visitant," rare I shot a male speci- men of tiiis warhler May 21. 1890, on the sjiur ot Mount Royal, and it is the onlv (►ne of the kind I have met with here. The skin is in mv collection. asHdlir' LIST. li:J 'I 207. Ti'hucmsm Wni'hliw. If. |M'rt'^i'iii!i. (NVils.) "Tnms'u'iit ViKitimt." ((umiioii. Mr. Ivii»'tzin<: liUH toiiiid th'iH H|KM'i(>s horc in May, uihI coiiinioii tor u wiH'k or two in Hwainpy pliu'cs, ami I liavo shot a few in iKMJgorowrt in the fields at Iloiliolagu, in the month of May. Qenurt (*i>n>sitUihijus. Cnhanis. 208. Varxbi W^irhln: (IJlue Vollow-huckod Wur- Itler. C. aniericanu. (Linn.) "Transient Visitant,"' conimon. I shot a nuilo and two female speoimens of tliis species, tlie male May 17, 18!H), und the fenndes May 22 and 24, 1800, on the spur of Mount Royal, hut did not see uny more after the latter date. G enus Dewl I'oicd. Gr, ^y Suhir renns 1 erissoirlossa. IJaird. 20!». C'l/x' Mn;/ W^irhln: 1). Tigrina. ((imel). "Transient Visitant," scarce. I shot three male specimens of this warhler and saw others, on the spur of Mount Royal, one of which [ shot May 14. and the other two Mav Jl, 18!>0. I also saw ime at the same place May 1!», I8!M, and Mr. Kuetzini;- lias found them here s[)arsely from May 15 and ahout Septemhcr 1. ! iiave not seen any here atter Ml IV 21. I . ij 114 THE lilRDS OF MOSTHEAL. i |iii III : \ H Subgenus " Dendroica."' (Jray. 210. Yelloir Wdrhler. (Summer Wiirbler ; Yellow- bird.) D. aDstiva. (Omel.) " Summer Resident," abundant. Breeds in tlic city and in Mount Koyal Park. I liave found tbeir nests, containing eggs, troni May 29 to July 7, and observed tliis warbler bere from May 7 to Septem- ber 3. A nest of tbis species, witb tbe bird on, June 18, 1892, contained four eggs of a uniipie cbalky appearance, one of tbe eggs being all wbite. 211. BhicL-tJirodtol Bbw Wnrhhr. J), cierulescens. (Gmel.) •'Transient A'isitant,'' common. ()i)served from May 4 to 22, and June 21, 1887, I sliot one on the spur of Mount lloyal, also a male specimen July 1, 1885, at Cabur-^t, so tbat it is likely a few breed near Montreal. In tbe autumn I bave seen tbem here till October 5. 212. Mijiilc Warbler. (Yellow-rumped Warbler.) D. coronata. (Linn.) "Transient Visitant," abundant. Observed bero from May 3 to 19, and from Octol>er 8 to 10. 213. Magnolia Warhler. (Black and Yellow Warb- bler ) D. maculosa. (Omel.) '' Transient Visitant," common. Observed liere LIST. 115 from May 18 to 24, but not met with in the autumn. 214. Chestnut-sided Warbler. I), pennsylvanica. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," common. Breeds in Mount Royal Park. Xests with eggs found from June 5 to 24. Observed here from May 11 to August 18. 2i5. Bay-breasted Warbler. D. castanea. (Wils.) " Transient Visitnnt," scarce. I shot two male specimens on the spur of Mount Royal May 21 and 24, 1890, and another male May 28, 1892, at St, Lambert, in the swampy woods there, but have not met with this species here after the latter date in the spring, nor autumn. Mr. Kuetzing says this warbler breeds on the Island of Montreal, but I have not seen them here during the summer months. Mr. Kuetzing has shot the young of this warbler, and other species of warblers, in the eastern belt of woods on the Island of Montreal in the month of July, and bases his opinion of their breeding here on that account, but I think it is likely that they are birds which have bred further north, and were returning south towards their winter quarters. 216. Black-poll Warbler. D. striata. (Forst.) " Transient Visitant." I consider this species an irregular spring migrant, and have not met with I 'I * if -I ll ll i ;i I i lih V.i- V- '4 •I ^ 1 ' I' I . ti". 116 THE BIBDS OF MONTREAL. them here in the autumn, but May 24, 1883, they were plentiful in the woods at Hochelaga, and I shot a female specimen tliero June 3 the same year. I have not seen any hero since that time, which is rather remarkable, as I have made it a rule to observe the warblers here every spring, but some seasons I have not rambled through the woods where I saw this species in 1888, so that some years they may have occurred here locally without my coming across them. 217. Blackbuniian Warbler. D. blackburnise. (Gmel.) " Transient Visitant," common. I shot a female specimen of this warbler, on the spur of Mount Royal, May 19, 1888, and a male Mj>y 10, 1890. Observed here from May 10 to 24, but not met with in the autumn. J). virens. 218. Black-throated Green Warbler. (Gmel.) " Summer Resident," common spring migrant, but scarce summer resident. I saw one June 18, 1887, in Mount Royal Park, and shot a male and female specimen July 1. 1^85, at Calumet; also ob- served two or three young birds of this species August 27, 1892. in Mount Royal Park. Observed here in spring. May 7, and in the autumn, from Oct(d.ier 4 to 10. Mi IJST. 117 219. Pine Warbler. D. vigorsii. (Aud.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. I have shot speci- mens of this warhler, on the spur of Mount Royal, from September 12 to 26. 220. Yellow Palm Warbler. (YeUow Redpoll.) D. palmarum hypochrysea. (Ridgw.) " Transient Visitant," rare. I shot a male speci- men of this species. May 7, 1891, on the spur of Mount Royal, and this is the only example of this warbler that I have met with, in this district. Genus Seiurus. Swain son. 221. Oven-bird. (Golden-crowned Thrush.) S. auro- capillus. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," common. Breeds in Mount Royal Park. J^ests with eggs found June 5 and 13, and young fledged June 21. Observed here from May 8 to September 15. 222. Water Thrash. S. noveboracensis. (Gmel.) " Summer Resident," scarce. Mr. Kuetzing says he shot this bird in July, 1879, in the woods at Hochelaga, and saw a number in May, 1880. I saw one May 28, 1892, in the swampy woods at St. Lambert. I have not heard of a nest of this species being found here, but it evidently does breed on the Island of Montreal. I 118 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. Ri li Genus Geothlypis. Cabanis. 223. Moiwmng Warbler. G. Philadelphia. (Wils.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. Probably breeds here. I shot a male specimen May 24, 1886, at Outremont, and t)ne was shot in the same place, about the same date in 1885. Another male speci- men was shot May 31, 1888, in the woods at Hocho- laga by Mr. A. C. McKeand. Subgenus " Geothlypis." 224. Maryland Yellow-throat. G. trichas. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," common. Breeds in Mount Royal Park. I came across a pair of these birds in the park June 25, I8S7, and from their apparent anxiety while I was observing them, they evidently had a nest somewhere near the swampy place I was standing in, but as the nest of this bird is a difficult one to discover, I did not find it. Observed here from May 24 to September 13. Genus Sylvania. Nuttall. 226. Wilson^s Warbler. (Black-capped Yellow Warbler.) S. pusilla. (Wils.) " Transient Visitant," scarce. Observed here in the spring only, May 24, but Mr. Kuetzing says he shot a good specimen of this warbler, July 13, on the Island of Montreal, so that a few may breed here. LIST. 119 226. Canadian Warbler. (Canadian Flycatching Warbler. S. canadensis. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," scarce. Observed here from May 20 to September 2. I shot a male specimen of this warbler, May 28, 1891, in the woods at Hochelaga, and I think it likely that a few breed there, although I have not found their nests. J I y Genus Setophaga. SAvainson. 227. America ' Hedstart. (Redstart.) S. ruticilla. (Linn.) "Summer Resident," abundant. Breeds in the city and in Mount Royal Park. ;N"ests, with eggs, found from June 6 to 27. Observed here from May 11 to August 29. Family Motacillidce. — ^vagtails and Pipits. Genus Anthus. Bechsteiii. Subgenus " Anthus." 228. Americaii Pipit. (Titlark.) A. pensilvanicus. (Lath.) "Transient Visitant," common. I shot two specimens out of a small scattered flock in the fields at Hochelaga May 14, 1887, but did not see any more in the spring after that date. Observed here in the autumn from September 17 to Novem- II i I i I Mi i 120 THE lilRDS OF MOXTHEAL. ber 4. T liavo noticed this species in much hirger flocks in the autumn than in the spring of the year, and I consider tliem uncommon here in the spring, as I have only met with tliem on the oc- casion above-mentioned. Family Tro(joldijt(d(£. — Wrens, Thrashers, etc. Sul)tamily Mimiiuc. — Thrashers, etc Genus Galcoscoptes. Cabanis. 229. Catbird. G. carolinensis, (Linn.) " Summer Resident," common. Breeds in the city and in Mount Royal Park. Xests with eggs found from May 20 to July 19, and a nest contain- ing young July 28. Observed here from May 15 to October 19, and on the latter date I heard one singing in some bushes on the common at La- prairie, a rather remarkable incident, considering the season. ii 1 ■ (:. : ' |l i *-■„ Genus Harporhi/nchus. Cabanis. Subgenus " Metliriopterus." Reich. 230. Broim Thrasher. (Brown Thrush.) H. rufus. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," common. Observed liere in the spring of the year, April 30, and a nest found on the spur of Mount Royal, containing three eggs, LIST. 121 May 24, 1890. Mr. Craig rectuved a trosh speci- men of this l)ird to stuit which was tbiuul dead on the 8110W in a iield here in the month of Noveml)er, 1890, and was evidently a l)ehitod individnal, as it was in good condition and showed no marks ot injnry, but probably succumbed to the severity of the weather at the time it was picked up. 1 have not met with this species here in the autumn montlis, and I think it must be an early migrant in the fall of the year. Subfamily Troglodytidfc. Genus Troglodytes. Vieillot. Subgenus " Troglodytes." 231. House Wren. T. acdon. (Vieill.) " Summer Resident," scarce. Mr. Inglis observed wrens feeding their young in his garden on Du- roclier street in tlie summer of 1891, and Mr. Mc- Keand saw a pair of wrens on Sherbrooke street west in the spring of 1890, and which, L presume, were of this species. I have not secured a speci- men of this wren here yet, as I have never met with them in the woods, nor in any place where they could be shot, as they appear to confine them- selves to the gardens within the city, and in close l>roximity to dwelling houses. . i| ihl I j: I; I Dl .1 \ 111 !! 122 Tllh: lilliDS OF MOXTREAL. mi Sultgenus " Anorthura." Ronnie. 232. Wivfer Wren. T. liionialis. (Vioill.) " Transient Visitant,'' common. Observed here in the spring from April 10 to 27, and in the autunui from September 20 to Oetober 17. Genus Cistothonts. Cabanis. Subgenus "Tebnatodytes." Cabania. 233. Long-hilled 3Iarsh WreiK C. pabistris. (Wils.) " Summer Resident," scarce. Tlie htte Mr. Caul- fiekl observed this species May 24 in some reeds around a pond at Cote St. Paul, and Mr. "W. W. Dunlop has seen them on Xun's Island, above the Victoria bridge. I found a jiair nesting in the l)ulrushes and rank herbage at the mouth of the creek at Laprairie. I first observed this pair June 20, 1891, and found a nest in a patch of l)ulrushe8, quite exposed from the water side. It was built of wet reeds, without any lining, and I noticed one of the wrens had something in its bill, and I heard them singing and scolding when approached. I again visited the place July 1 and found the pair of wrens still there. I also found a half-dozen of their nests in the rank grass, near the first one, and all of them within a few yards of one another, but only one of them was lined with soft grass. None of the nests contained any eggs, and as this wren LIST. 123 lias the strange liabit of l)uilding a number of nents. I am inclined to think it is done to baffle some de- atroyer of its nests or eggs. I shot the male wren for a specimen ; but it is a difficult matter to secure them, as they generally keep well concealed in the rushes, and only remain a short time perched near the top of the rushes to watch anyone in the vicin- ity of their nests. Family Certhiidie. — Creeper. Genus Certhia. Linnaeus. 234. Brown Cieeper. C. familiaris amerioana. (Bonap.) '' Transient Visitant," common. Observed here from March 27 to May 1 4, and from August 1 to December 11. A few probably breed and winter here. Family Paridte. — Nuthatches and Tits. Subfamily SitHva\ — Nuthatches. Genus Sitta. Linnaeus. 235. White-breasted Nuthatch. (White-bellied Nut- hatch.) S. carolinensis. (Lath.) " Permanent Resident," common spring and fall migrant, but scarce summer and winter resident. Mr. W. W. Dunlop found a nest of this species at Outreraont some years ago. I have generally ob- served this bird here from March 1 to May 9, and }"' 4 It!:!'. ' i \.A' I ::t 1. ' M. if f > 11. A 1 : 1 |; il ■ k k 124 TIIK lilRDS OF MOXTREAL. from SoptoinluT 28 to Novonilter 8, and only once in tho montlirt of July and Dooomhor — Deoomber 24, 1882 and July 4, 1885. I liavo not neon any horo in tlio months of .January, February, Juno and August. 236. Red-breasted Xxihaich. (Rod-belliod Nutbatch.) S. canadonHis. (Linn.) " Transient Visitant/' common. Probably a few breed and winter liere. More plentiful during tlie montb of August. Usually observed bcre from May 7 to 31 and August 13 to Oetober 8. I bave not seen any berc in tbe montbs of January, February, Marcb, April, June, July and Novem- ber, and only onee in December — December 8, 1888 — wben I sbot a solitarv iiulividual wbicb I found witb a company of cbickadees in a tbick cedar wood below Ilocbelaga. Tbe country was snowed up at tbe time, and was about two feet deei) in tbe woods, so I considered tliis bird would bave wintered bere. Subfamily Pum\(B. — Titmice. Genus Parus. Linnauis. Su])genus " Parus." 237. Chickadee. (Black-capped Cbickadee.) P atricapillus. (Linn.) "Winter Visitant," common, from September 17 to April 25. Observed bere iiji' LIST. 125 238. Hwlsonian (^hlohadee. V. IhkIsoii'kmih. (Forst.) "Winter ViHitaiit," rare. M.. Kiictziiig lia." found this species in the Iloeliclaua woods from November 1 to Deeember 7, but I luive not met with it yet. Family ^ylvi'xhe. — Warbh-rs, Kinglets an. Subgenus " PliyllobasiK'Us." Cabanis. 240. Rnhy-croirned Kwylef. (Ruby-crowned AVreii.) R. calendula. (Linn.) "Transient Visitant," common. Observed lu're from Ai»ril 7 to May 14, and from September 20 to October IH. Those ol)served in the months of May and October appeared to l)e mostly young birds witliout tlie scarlet crovvn-i»atcli. T have often heard this species singing 1 ere in the spring of the year in a spiightly manner. r i! ■ ilil H 1 ii 1 ' = i 1 ! ( i i I; , c'i 1 126 i'l'^' lillihS (IF M(K\TliEA L. Subfamily Po/2(jp/«/proac]i tliem near eiiouijch to slioot them witli my cane-gun, so that, I .'ould liavi- positively identified tiiem, hy iiaving specimens in my liands. iSomc good puo[»ie tliink it is cruel, and unnecessary to kill birds for scientific study, but their scnti- mentalism i^eneralK' arises from iiiiiorance of Orni- thology. 24.'). OUre-harked Thrash. T. ustulatus swain>onii. (Cab.) "■Transient Visitant," scarce. T have ohserved only three examples ot this thrush on the Island of Montreal. I shot one specimen October 2, 1886, on the spur of Mount Royal, and saw one in the same locality October 5, 1886, and I shot a fennde specimen May 24, 1800, in the same place. I believe Mr. W. W. Dun lop found a nest witii eggs of this species, a number of years ago, on the ii PI ■ I'll I I 123 THE BIRDS OB' MONTREAL. Island of Montreal. It is likely that a few breed in this district, but I hav^e not noticed this thrush hero in the summer season. 246. Hermit Thrash. T. aonalaschkje. (Cab.) " Summer Resi'^ent," common. Breeds in Mount Royal Park. Observed here from April 12 to October 21. This is the most common thrush here. I found a nest of this thrush built on a grassy bank in a small wood at St. Bruno, containing four eggs incubated, May 24, 1885. Genus Merala. Leach. 247. American B.olin. (Robin.) ^[. migratoria. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," abundant. Breeds in the city and in Mount Royal Park. N^ests with Qgg'!>> found fro\a May IS to July 24. Usually o))served here from March 24 to November 8. I saw a robin December 20, 1886, in the city, on Palace street, flying from tree to tree ; and February 2S, 1892, about a half-dozen were flying around at Cotes des Neiges, and feeding on the berries of the mouiitain ash tree, evidently having passed the winter therewith purple finches, redpolls and cedar waxwings, all of which I observed in the locality at the same date. I have heard the robins singing here from April 14 to August H, and noticed one 5 > I \ is 1 t i J LIST. 120 picking up dirt and dead leaves for nesting material April 20. Genus Sialia. Swainson. 248. Bluebird. S. sialis. (Linn.) " Summer Resident," abundant. Breeds in Mount Royal Park. I^osts with eggs found May 7 and 14. Observed here from March 23 to October 23. I shot one November 17, 1885, on the spur ot Mount Royal, but I think this bird had been wounded sometime before, or had been a cageling, as the base of the tail-feathers were stuck together. The bluebirds appear to be very fond of i ceding on the sumach shrub early in the spring of the year. Genus Passer. Brisson. 249. European House Sparrow. (English Sparrow.) P. domesticus. (Linn.) " Permanent Resident," abundant. Breeds exten- sively in the city, btiilding their nests in dwelling houses, stores, etc., in any place where they can lodge the material for a nesting site ; they also make their nests in vines on buildings and in trees, in fact almost any place where they can get a lodg- ment for their nests. I have found their nests with eggs from April 23 to June 1, and observed them feeding their young in the nest August 1. Also have noticed several albino sparrows at different . . > ' I J ' 'I » 1 I ., 130 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. times in the city. This bird is omitted in the " A. 0. U. Check-list of North American Birds," on account of being an introduced species. In 18K9 the U. S. Department of Agriculture issued a a bulletin of 405 pages, with map, on the English sparrow in North America, especially in its rela- tion to agriculture, wherein it is proved to be more harmful than beneiicial to agriculture. Colonel Rhodes first brought the English sparrow across the Atlantic in the year 1854, and he turned half-a- dozen loose at Quebec. The first colony estab- lished at Quebec was a failure, but the Colonel per- severed, and at last succeeded in wintering thirteen birds about 1871, and since then the sparrow has spread all over the Dominion. — Montreal Gazette, 6th Jane, 1890. (London Free Press.) The organized attack upon the sparrows in this part of the country has had the effect of lessening their number very materially. In North Middle- sex and Lambton, a few weeks ago, many thou- sands of these birds were killed by the inhabitants uniting in a general hunt. In Pennsylvania, it is said, the sparrow is retiring before the advance of the native birds. At a meeting in Pittsburg of the State Ornithological Association, Dr. Thos. L. Hazzard read an interesting report on the bird population of the Allegheny Park. In 1875 the %■' ' LIST. 131 Park Commissioners imported seventy-five KS[)iir- rows from Philadelphia, and took such g(jod care of them that all but three died. The three survi- vors managed to escape from the shelter provided for them, and a return to their natural habits filled them with health and vigor. They began to raise families, and in a few years there were hordes of sparrows, while nearly all other birds were driven out of the parks by their pugnacious enemies. Lately, however, the sparrows seem to be less aggressive than they formerly were. Last spring Dr. ITazzard counted in the parks nine robins, four orioles, several blue birds and song birds. There had been seen in the parks, also, during the summer, a red-headed woodpecker, a downy wood- [)ecker, a fiicker, yellow warblers, and several other representative birds of sweet song and bright plum- age. Anotiier encouraging fact was that Dr. Ilaz- zard had counted this fall in the parka five r(^biiis' nests in gooecios which I obtained are young birds, and, judging by Mr. Brown's remarks in his letter to me on the Toronto specimen, about the smallness of the bills, they were all young birds. '.■■ hiiu V Genus Alca. Linnfeus. 252. Razor-hilled Auk. A. torda. (Linn.) "" Aceidental Visitant," rare. The only record I have of this si)ecies occurring here is of four seen by Mr. T. Leclair, November 10, 1893, on the St. Lawrence river, at St. Lambert, opposite the city of Montreal, one of which he shot and took to Mr. Craig, taxiilermist, to stuff. It is probable that the murres and this species were driven inland so far LIST. 135 through heavy storms, as their hahitat is the coasts of the North Atlantic ocean. Family Icteridre. Genus Xanthoeephalas. Swainson. 253. Yellow-headed Bldikhinl. X. Xanthocephalus. (Bonap.) '•Accidental Visitant," rare. I saw a young male mounted specimen of this bird in the posses- sion of Mr. Crevier, taxidermist, of this city, said to have been shot by him, below Hochelaga, in July, 1894, found in company with a lot of Red- winged Blackbirds at the time, but the only one of its kind observed. Family Anatidie. Genus Somafen'ic. Leach. Subgenus Erionetta. Coues. . 254. Kinij Eider. S. spectabilis. (Linn.) "Accidental Visitant," rare. A pair of these ducks, young male and female, were shot, Octo- ger 9, 1895, by Mr. Draynor, at Trestler Island, Vaudreuil, on the Ottawa River, about 25 miles west of Montreal. Mr. Draynor had them stuffed, and donated them to the museum of the Natural History Society of Montreal. i, .( » !'■ ^tl t J m uM. I Mm ^ r'. ■1 1 H' t l;[ 'f) 'I Tr ^ ' i'5 / i .5 i ;_ :i '1 1 i' ""■ I ^ /I 1 -H: ABRIDGED DES0R1PTI0:N OK THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL SI»KCIALLY GIVEN FOR THP] HURI'OSE OF IDENTI- FICATION FOR PERSONS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEIR GENERAL APPEARANCE. 'II (Measurement of Le»iffh fro)n tip of bill to end of titil feathers. Bit' from bane of upper tKandible to tip.} t ;l 1. Western Grebe Leni^jth about 28 inches. Bill about 3 inches long. Upper parts slaty-black, darkest on head and neck, inner webs ot wing feathers mostly white. Lower parts satiny-white. 2. HolhcelVs Grebe. Length about 19 inches. Bill about 2 inches long. Upper parts blackish-brown, head and neck black, wing feathers ashy-brown and white. Lower parts satiny-white, neck rufous. 1 i I llllir 188 THE lilRDS OF MONTREAL. 3. Honied Grebe. Lengtl) about 14 iiichcH. Bill 1 inch long. Upper parts brownish-black, head gloHsy-black, tnfts ooh- raceous, wing feathers brownish-ash and white. Lower i)arts silky-white, neck and breast rufous. Young of the year : Brownish-ash above and satiny - white below, without tufts. 4. Pied-hilled Grebe. Length about 14 inches. Upper parts brownish, wing feathers ash, and white on the inner webs. Lower parts grayish-white mottled with dusky spots, chin and throat with black patch, breast rusty brown, bill with black band arourd. 5. Loon. Length about 30 inches. Bill 3 inches long. Upper parts glossy -black with white spots in rows, head and neck velvety-green. Lower part neck with white streaks. Young : Without whiti' mark- ings on upper parts, and lower parts all white. 6. Bed-throated Loon. Length al)Out 27 inches. Bill 2^ inches long. Upper parts speckled with white. Lower parts white with a patch or stripe of chestnut down the middle of neck. Young : Without chestnut on neck, lower parts all white. DKSCRIintON. 139 7. Diwekie. Length about 8 inches. LTpucr parts hlack, wing t'eatliors tipped with whiti;. Lowur parts white. 8. KUtiirake. Length about 17 inches. Bill \\ inches long. Upper parts white, mantle pearl-gray, wing lea- thers black ti[»ped with white. Lower parts white. Nit hind foe. Yonvij : With lower part of liind-neck crossed by a black patch, tail tipped with black band. \). Glaucous Gull. Length about 29 inches. Bill about 2J inches long. Tail about 8 inches long. Upper parts white, mantle grayish. Lower parts white. Youn;/ : Upper parts mottled with brownish-gray, lower l)arts grayish-white. 10. (rroif Bl. Tail about 6 inches long, forked. Upper parts pearl- gray and wliite, head and nape black. Lower parts pale laveiuler-gray, feet orange-vermilion. YittiHi/ : Crown blackish and i>;ravisl:-white, back pale pearl gray, bill brownish dusky, ba^ e reddish, feet pale-reddish. 17. Arctic TcriK Length about 10 inches. Bill about 1| inches long. Tail about 11 inches long. Bill and feet carmine. Upjter parts pearl-g'*ay and white, black cup on liead. flower parts laveiuler-gray. 18. Am erica II lilac/,- Tern. Lengtli about 10 inclies. Bill about 1 inch long, brownish-black. Tail about i5| inches long. Upper parts blackish. Lower parts black, with lower tail-coverts white, legs aiul feet reddish-brown, tail slightly forked. Yoamj : Head, neck and lower iii 11:1" 142 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. I 'i M parts white, feathers of l)iick tipped with hrownish, sides phiiiil)oous. 19. Storm Petrel Length ahout 5J inches. Bill ahoat | inch long. Tail about 2| inche« long. Bill and feet black. Upper and lower parts sooty-blackish, upper tail- coverts wliite, tipped with black, 20. Gnu net. Length about 35 inches. Bill 4 inches long. Tail 10 inches long. Legs and feet ]>lackish. Upper and lower parts white, head and neck above buff, longer wing-feathers dusky-brown. Youiuj : Dusky, speckled with white. 2L Cormorant. Length about 37 inches. Bill alxmt 2f inches long, curved. Tail about 7| inches k»ng. Tail feathers, 14. Upper parts, head and neck blue- black, back anper [)arts : Head and neck greenish- black, with lengthened crest, back black and white, black bar across white of wings. Lower parts ricli creamy-white or salmon-colour. Female: Lentcth about 24 inches. Bill about 2 inches long. Upper parts: Head and neck tawny-brown, with pointed crest, other parts grayish. Lower parts butty- wliite. 24. Bed-brea-stol ^lertjanser. Length about 25 inches. Bill about 2| inches long. Ujtper parts : Head dull greenish-black, with long pointed crest. Lower parts : Neck and sides of chest brownish-buff, streaked with Idack, other lower parts white, tinged with salmon-colour. Female: Similar to the female of American Mer- ganser, but smaller. 25. Ifooded Men/anscr. Length about 19 inches. Bill 1| inches. Upper parts : Head (except crest), neck and back black, crest piire white, with black border on rim. Lower parts white. Female and Youmj v/ith crest reddish I i ■J' t 1 " 5 i:i- !;i: 1 f I', s i\ '• i i ^i •' ■ <^~ ^Wi'f. i J{,: W 144 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. I \ ■ ■ Ml j :!! :^ hair-brown, smaller and looser texture than in the male, grayish-brown above and white below. 26. Mallard. Length about 25 inches. Bill about 2^ inches long. 3Iale: Head and neck green, with white ring around neck, chest chestnut. Female : Varied with dusky and ochraceous or buffy. 27. Black Back. Length about 22 inches. Bill about 2| inches long. Sexes alike in plumage, dusky, with butty or ochraceous markings. 28. Gadtrall. 3Ialc: Length about 22 inches. Bill about 2 inches long. Female: Length about 18 inches. Bill about 1| inches long, Male plumage : Head and neck brownish or whitish, speckled with black, crop varied with crescentric bars of white and black, middle wing-feathers chestnut, speculum white, bill bluish-black, legs and feet dcdl orange-yellow, the webs dusk}'. Female plumage : Above brown ish-dusky, below white, no chestnut on wings, or very little. 29. Baldpate. Length about 22 inches. Bill about \\ inches long. Head and upper neck whitish, green on : ')| DESCRIPTION, 145 sides of head. Female : Head and neck dull whit- ish, streaked with dusky. 30. Green-winged Teal, Length about 15 inches. Bill about 1| inches long. Head and upper neck ehestnut-rufous, with patch of bright metallic green f. ^m eye backward. Female: Head, neck and lower Darts brownish- white, spotted with dusky. 31. Blue-winged Teal. Length about 16 inches. Bill about 1| inches long. Head and neck plumbeous, with crescent- shaped patch of white in front of eyes. Lower parts pale chestnut, spotted with black. Female : Brownish-white and buff, spotted with dusky. 32. Shoveller. Length about 21 inches. Bill about 2| inches long, over 1 inch broad at end. Head and neck dull metallic green, breast white, rest of lower parts chestnut. Female: Head and neck brownish-white, streaked with dusky, lower parts similar, spotted with dusky. PI I I I 1 ! i 33. Pintail. Male: Length about 30 inches inches Ion o-. Bill about 2 Middle tail-feathers about 9 inches long. Female : Length about 23 inches. Middle If* 146 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. \l^ f '•' i i iff tail-featliers about 5 inches long. Male with head and upper neck hair-brown, darker on crown, upper halt' of hind neck bhick, with a white stripe on each side, confluent with white of lower parts. Female: Above grayish-dusky, lower parts mostly white. Young, similar to female. 34. WoodDach: Length about 20 inches. Bill about 1| inches long. Head metallic green, purple and violet, with white lines extending backward along crest. Upper parts mostly velvety-black, varied with metallic tints, chest chestnut and purple, marked with white spots. Female: Upper parts grayish- brown, wings richly glossed with metallic tints, lower parts mostly white, chest brownish, spotted with whitish or buff. 35. Redhead. Length about "21 inches. Bill about 2J inches long. Head and upper half of neck chestnut-red, chest black, below white. Female: Grayish-brown, darker above. 36. Canvas-hack. Length about 23 inches. Bill about 2| inches long. Head and neck reddish-brown, blackish on top of head, chest and upper back black, other parts whitish, tinely waved with dusky. Female : rl DESCRIPTION. 147 i Head, neck, oliest and upper back raw umber- brown 37. American Scaup Dad:. Lengtb about 20 inches. Bill about 2 inches long. Head neck and chest black, head with a greenish gloss, bill bluish-white. Female: Head and neck snuff-brown, 'vith white round base of bill. 38. Lesser Scaup P >ck. Length about 16 inches. Bill about IJ inches long. Plumage similar to the American Scaup Duck, but black of head in uiale glossed with pur- plish. 39. Riner neck glossy blue-black, with a crescent-shaped patch of white between bill and eye, other parts similar to American Golden- eye. Female: Similar to same sex of American Golden-eye, but white collar narrower. 42. Bufflc-hcoil. Male: Length about 15 inches. Bill about 1 J^ inches long. Head and upper neck metallic-green, bronze, and violct-pui}»1e, with a large [»atch of white extending from behind the eye to and across tile hind head, other upper parts black, lower parts white. Female: Length about 13 inches. Hill about 1 inch long. Upper i>arts grayish-brown, with whitish spot on side of head, lower parts white, tinged with brownish-gray. 43. Ohl-s(iua>r. Male: Length about 23 inches. Bill about 1 inch long. Upper parts grayish, white and bhuk, ^ -SI 1 1 DESCRIPTION. 149 lower parts black and white, middle tail-feathcra about 8 inches long. Female : Length about 16 inches, without long middle tail-feathers. Upper parts white, dusky on top of head, back dusky- brown, lower parts white, chest grayish. Yoaiuj : Similar to female, but darker. 44. American Elder. Length about 26 inches. Bill about 2 inches long. Adult male with angle on side of forehead broad and rounded, black of head bordered beneath by pale green. Female and Young: Phimage bar- red with dusky and pale fulvous, head and neck streaked with the same. 45. American Scoter. Length about 21 inches. Bill about If inches long. Adult male: Uniform black, bill yellow or orange and l)lack. Female: Above, dusky grayish- l)rown, lower parts paler grayish-brown, bill black- ish. Youmj : Similar to female, but lighter beneath, slightly barred with grayish-brown. 46 White-winged Scoter. Length about 23 inches. Bill about 1| inches long Adult male: Sides of bill orange-red, wing with white speculum, other parts black or brinvnish- black, white patch under and behind eye. Femule : Sooty-grayish, wing with white speculum, no white on head, bill dusky. M i; i ■ ' m 111 m • M 150 r/Z/s lilRDS OF M OS THE A L. 47. ^^iii'f Scoter. Length ul)oiit 22 iiu'hos. liill uboiit li inches loDii'. Adiil W(de : Ahove, deep )>hick, helow, more sooty, wliito }»atch oi. iorohead and on hind-neck, hill reddish, nnirked with large spot of jet-hlack. Feiiinle: Upper parts dnsky, lower parts grayisli- hrown, hill diwky, length ahont 10 inches. Yohih/ : Similar ■ f' male, but side of head with two whitisli patches. 48. Jiuddi/ Duck. Length about 16 ini'hes. Bill about 11 inches long. Adidt male: Above, bright reddisli-chest- nut, top of head black, side of head, below eyes, white, lower parts whitish. Adult fenude and Yiiinhj nude: Above, grayisli-browMi, finely mottled, lower parts wliitish. 49. Greater Snoir Goose. Lengtli about 38 inclies. Bill about 2i inclies long. Adult : White, head often stained with rusty, ]»rimary wing-feathers black. Vouni/ : Grayisli above and white below. i. i 'A ■I' 50. American White-fronted Goose. Length about :]0 inclies. Bill about 2| inches long. Head white and grayish-brown, neck and upper parts grayish-brown, tail-coverts white, lower n - -rf !" DESCRIPTIOX. 151 parts grayish white, spotted with black. Yoiukj : Similar to adult, l)iit fore-part of head dusky, and lower parts without black markings. 51. Canada Goose. Length about 40 inches. Bill about 2| inches long. Upper parts brownish-black, whitish patch on sides of head, tail-coverts white, lower parts brownish-gray, bill and feet black. 52. American Bittern. Length about 30 inches. Bib a' )ut 3 inches long. Plumage ochraceous, vai : 'd ttbove by mot- tling and freckling of reddish-brown and blackish, with a blackish stripe on side of r jck ; lower parts pale buff, striped with brown. 53. Least Bittern, Length about 14- inches. Bill about 2 inches long. Adult }niile : Sides of head and neck ochra- ceous, chestnut on hind-neck, throat and fore-neck whitish, striped with pale buff, middle of wing- feathers buff and rufous, other upper parts glof-sy- black, lower parts huffy. Adult female and Yonntj : Similar to the male, but more Ijrownish, feathers of back in young tipped with buff. 54. Great Blue Heron. Length about 46 inches. Bill about 5 J inches long. Adult : Occiput and sides of crown black, \ ti! ill , :H! f ^V .1 ' ■ 1 > ^ ■ '. jj'. ; i. 1?! ■t ^1 1 ;*"' 152 77/ £: fl//i/>.S OF MONTltEAL. forohead and cotitro of crown white, thiijjliH and ed_ii:o of win^ rut'ouH, above bliiisli-gray, lower partn striped witii blaek and white. Youruj : Top of head dusky, edji^e of wing without distinct einna- nioii -rufous. 65. America}! Eyvet. Li'ugth about 40 inclies. Bill about 4| inches long. Colour wholly pure white, head without crest or plumes, and feathers of lower neck not lengthened. Adult In nuptial plamatje with the scapular plumes reaching far beyond edge of tail. 56. Green Heron. Length about 20 inches. Bill about 2J inches long. Adnlt : Top of head glossy greenish-black, rest of head, with part of neck, rich chestnut, scapular plumes plumbeous, glossed with green, wing-coverts metallic-green, bordered with butt, lower parts grayish. Yoang : Top of head streaked with rusty, sides of head and neck streaked with ochraceous or buff, lower parts whitish, ttriped with dusky, streaks of white on median r«;ws of wing-coverts. 57. .Black-crowned Night Heron. Length about 26 inches. Hill about 8 inches long. Adult: Top of head, back and scapulars glossy greenish-black, the head during breeding DESCRIPTION. 153 HOiirtoii )nminonte«l vvitli Hovonil long, iiiirnjw, wliiti' pI'.iiJicH, I'ill black, and irin rtMldish, other upper parts hluisli-ijfray, lowor parts white, often tinged with delicate crearn-yi^llow. Yoaiuj : Brown- ish, strijK'd longitudinally with white and grayisli- orowii, the (juills with small white spots at tips, *ail-t'eathers plain ash-gray. 58. Vin/t.'iit Had. Length about 10 inches. Bill about 1^ inches long. Above, olive-bn>wnish, striped with black- isli, wing-t'eatliers chestnut-rufous, breast cinnamon, flanks dusky, barred with white. Immature plum- age with lower [uirts mixed with black. 59. aS'o/v/. Length about inches. Bill about J-incli long. Forehead and tlnoat black, top of head olive- brown, with a stripe of black, flanks barred with white and slate-colour, breast plumbeous. Voiouj : Stripe above eye brownish, throat whitish, head, neck and breast light-brownish. 00. Yellow Hail. Length about 7| inches. Bill about J-inch long. Upi»er parts ochraceous, striped with black and barred with white, breast ochraceous, under tail- coverts cinnamon, secondary wing-feathers and under wing-coverts white. • kill i I t ■; ' ii 154 THE HlliDS OF MOXTUh'A/.. i>^ :. >; i ■ ^1 1 ■ i Mi^ t)l. Fforldit (r>i III Hide. LiMi^tli about 14 itu'lies. Hill about 1^ inches loun". Simuner ove rusty- brown, vnri.'t: •ato. Purple Sandpiper Length about 9 inches. Bill about \\ inches long. Su)nmer ddult : Above, dusky, Tiuirkeale grayish-butt". 70. Pectond Sandpiper. Length about 9 inches. Bill about 1^ inches DLSCHIPTION. 157 loiiif. Stuiniicr iididi : Above, l)rowi)i8h-l)uft', stripod with black ; l)elow, cliost butty-gruyish, stivakod witli (hisky ; other parts white. Winter plumage : Simihar, but markings less distinct. Yoinifj : Similar, but markings more rusty and buft'y. 71. W lUte-rumped Sandpiper. Length about 7i inches. Bill about 1 inch long. Upper tail-coverts white. Savnner adulf: Above, bufl'y, streaked with black : below, white, streaked with dusky. Winter pUimaije : Al)ove. brownish- gray, streaked witli dusky ; below, streaks less distinct. Voiin;/ : Above, blackish, marked with r;isty ; below, suffused with huffy. 72. liiilrd's Sandpiper. Length about 7 inches: Bill about 1 inch long. Stiiinncr (idiilt : Above, pale grayish-buff', streaked and spotted with brownish-black ; below, white streaked with dusky. Wintor pbnnai/c: Above, buft\' grayish-brown, with dusky markings ; below, dull white, suffused with dull huffy. Youmi : Above, dull grayish-buff, with dusky streaks ; below, whitish, chest streaked with dusky. 73. Lexst Sandpiper. Length about 6 inches. Bill about ^-inch long. Summer adult : Above, blackish, with rusty ochra- ifill ii 'i i'l II I'' I 158 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. ceous markings ; bolow, white, fore-neck and chest dull brownish-whito, streaked with dusky. Winter plumcu/e: Above, brownish-gray, streaked with dusky ; below, white, chest streaked with grayish. YoiUKj : Similar, but feathers on back with white tips to outer webs. 74. Bed-backed Sandpfper. Length about 8 inches. Bill about IJ inches long. Summer adult: Above, varied with bright rusty-oohraceous ; below, grayish-white, with a black patch on belly. Winter planiaije : above, brownish-gray ; l>elow, white, streaked with grayish. 75. Semipalmated Sandpiper. Length about (J inches. Bill about |-inch long. Toes webbed. Sxmmer adult Above, grayish- brown ; l)olow, white, streaked with dusky. Win- ter phinuuje : Above, grayish, with darker streaks ; below, whitish. Y<>nn() : Similar to adult, but with little of rusty above, 7t). SditderVnhj. Length about 8 inches. Bill about 1 inch long. Sifi/nner adult : Above, light-rusty, spotted with blackish; I)elow white, pale-rusty and marked with dusky. Wilder pluina;/e: Above, pale ash-gray; below, })ure white. Spritn/ pluiui>(/e: Above, light- g.iayish, marked with black and rust^ ; below, i DESCRIPTION. 150 white, speckled witli dusky on chest. YnHrifi : Al)ove, pale-grayish, spotted with hlack and whit- ish ; helow, white, tinged with dull huft'. 77. Marbled Godwit Length .uhout 18 inches. Bill ahout 4 inches long. Adult: Ahove, pale-cinnamon, harred and spotted with hrownish-dusky, head and neck streaked ; helow, {jarred with dusky. Yoiuxj ; Similar, hut lower parts ochraceous. 78. Hadsoniav Godint. Length ahout 16 inches. Bill ahout 3 inches long. Satiniier pluin(i(jr. : ^Vhove, blackish, varied with huffy ; below, chestimt, barred with dusky. Winter j)liinia(/e: Above, brownish-gray; below, whitish, shaded with hrownish-u-rav r ii(i((/ Al)ove, brownish-gray ; below, grayish-bntly. 70. Greater Yell(»n-le(js. Length about 14 inches. Bill about 2^ inches long. Snitniter adult: Above, varied with hlack- jsli })ale-gray and white ; below, streaked aiul spotted with dusky. Winter pliimaije : Ahove, as]i-i»:rav and white ; helow, with luirrow markintrs of duskv. Younn : Similar, hut darker and more brownish above. 80. Yci:<»r-fe;)S. Length about lOJ inches. Bill ahout Ih inches ' 'I ft: h ^% .'1 160 THE BIRDS OF MONT RE A L. long. P/uniai/c: Similar, iu ull stages, to that of Greater Yellow-legs, but size much smaller. 81. S(d!f/ Sandpiper. Length about 8 inches. l>ill about IJ inches long. Sammer aer i>arts sjiotted with dusky and whitish. Winter adult: Lower parts white, marked with i- n, »i 102 THE BIRDS OF MOSTHEAL. dusky ; upper parts grayish. Yoniig : Similar to winter adult, but upper parts speckled with pale yellowish. 80. jhaencan Gohlen Flover. Length about 11 inches. Bill about 1 inch long. Xo hind toe. Siunmer >ciiiii»il iimtejl Plorri: Tjcngth .It out 7 iiubc-i. Bill about i-imdi long. Webbed bi'tween ba-.- of inner and middle toes. S'lniiiicr iiilnlt : Above, grayish-brown ; lower i»a/'ts white: tbre-part of crown anotted on top witli bbiek ; ])elo\v, ochraeeouH-butt'aud white, s[)otted on edges of feathers witli blackish, [troducing a coarsely imuI irregularly-striped appearance. {>5. WiHoii^ Ffaiiniijnn. Length about 16 inclies. Whifer pliondije : White, the tail black. 8prii)(j phonanc : Male with head and neck ricli chestnut, rest of [ilumage wliite, back inters[)ersed with feathers of brown or rusty, barred with dusky. Stunnier pboHat/e: Afale with hciid, neck and lower parts deep cinnamon-rufous, barred with black, rest of ui)per parts barred >\ith tawnv-brown and black. FeiDnle : Above, barred and s})otted with black and ochraceous or butty, wings ]>artly white; Idwer [larts, ochraceous to butl'y-whitish, barred with black. Yaioi;/ : Above, varied with black and ochraceous-l)utt'; below, ochraceous-butt' and dull-white, barred with black, 96. Passemjer Pi;/ eon. Length about 17 inches. Tail about 8| inches long. Ailidt male: Above, plumbeous and gi'ay- ish-brown or drab ; nape and si(h's of neck glossed witli changeable metallic rechlisb-purple ; below, deep vinaceous-rutous. soft pinkish-vinaceous and DESCRIPTTON. 16') white. Ad alf female : Size less. Above, browiiish- gray ; l>clow, grayirth-ln'owii or drab, motnllic ,i>-lo!S8 on neck Icsh distinct. Yoiiiifj : Similar to female » but f'eatncrs tipped with whitish, producing a mot tied appearance. 9'<. Moarning Dove. Length about 12 inches. Tail about 6 inches long. Adnlt male: Above, light bluish-gray and vinaceous-cinnamot\, sides of neck glossed with changeable met5»,llic-pur[>le, a spot of Llue-black beneath ears ; below, delicate vinaceousand creamy- buff. Adult female : Similar to the male, but head light-drab, and below light-dral) and [)ale-buti:y, metallic gloss on neck less distinct, the black ear- spot smaller and duller. Yoivu/ : Much (biller in colour than adult female, wiHi the tints more brownish, no metallic gloss on neck, or distinct black spot beneath ears. 08. 3Lirsh lliirk. Length about 24 inches. Tail about 10 inches long. Adidt male: Above, light bluish-gray, upper tail-coverts white ; below, light bluish-gray and white, tail with blackish and dusky bands, longer wii\g-featliers, blackish towards tips. Adult female : Above, (bisky-brown, upper tail-coverts white, tail crossed by six or seven bands of blackish ; "facial disk " buif, streaked with dark-brown ; lower parts 'i 't 5 I t 166 THE BIRDS OF MONT HEAL. I (lull-liufty. striped with lirown. Younfi : Above, hiackisli-hrown, stroakod with deep-rusty, upper tail-eovorts white, tini!;ed with ochraceoun, tail erosbcd by tour Itands of hhick ; " faeial dink " dark-hrown, hroadly edged with rulbus ; lower parts rieh rusty-oehraceous, paler posteriorly. 9{>. Shar^hshlitiictl Hawk. Length of male, ahout 11 inches, and of the female, ahout V\ inche; tiduU male: Ahove, hluish-gray ; helow, mixed vinaceous-rufous and white, in transverse spots and bars. Adult female : Similar in colour to the male. Yonnq : Duskv- hrown and rusty ahove ; helow, white, striped and spotted with hrown. 100. Co»i>er's JIatr/:. Length of male, ahout 151 inehes, and female, ahout 19 inehes. Tail ol male ahout 8 inches, ami fcmali' ahout 10 inches long. Similar in phnnage to the Sharp-shinned Ilawk, hut size much larger. 101. American Grtshaw/,-. Lt'ugth of male, ahout 22 inches, tail ahout 10 inches long: temale, ahout 24 inches, tail ahout 12 inches long. Adults : Bluish-gray, top of head black; l)eh)w, white, zig-zagged with shuy-grayish. YoKta) : Above, dusky grayish-brown ; below, whitish, with narrow bhu'kisli stripes, tear-shaped r^$' H\l f ! I Dh'SCIi/PTlOX. 107 on belly, broader iiiul more npot-liko on side^ and flanks. 102. Bed-tailed Haw/,: Lengtb of male, about 21 inches, extent of wini-'s about 51 inehori, tail about 9} inches lontf, \vei,L'"lit about 2h lbs. Female, about 24 inehes l<»ng, extent about 56 inehes, tail ahout 10 inehes long, weight about '^h lbs. Adults; Above, dusky grayish-brt)\vn, tail rufous, with a band of l)laekish near end ; below, white or blaekish, with or with- out rusty on breast. Ynuiuf : Biniilar to adult, but tail grayish-brown, varying to oehraeeous, crossed by about ten bands of blackish, plumage less tawny tban adult. lOH. Red -shouldered Hnvh. Length of male, about 18J inehes, tail .about 9 im-hes long. Female, about 20.V inches long, tail about 10 inches long. Adults: Head, neck and lower 1 tarts rufous or rusty, lessor wingco verts, or shoulders, rusty, tail black, crossed by about six bands tipped with whitish, chest and breast barred or s[)otted with white. YnUDt/ : Head, neck and lower [tarts dull-whitish, streaked with dark- brownish, tail dusky, crossed by bauds of pale grayish- brown. 104. Swainsim's ^laiok. Length of male, about 20 inches, extent about ..i I IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) t ^ // ^/ ^ J^'ii. /. (/. /.A 1.0 I.I 1.25 |3.2 2.5 2.2 1.8 U 11116 iiip28 V <^ /i ^^ ''■> Photographic Sciences Corporation k ^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 4lo 168 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. 49 inches, tail about 8| inches long, weight about 1| lbs. Female, about 21| inches long, extent about 55 inches, tail about 9| inches long, weight about 3 lbs. Adult male. Above, grayish-brown, forehead and throat w^hite, breast plain rufous ; below, buffy-whitish, barred or spotted with brown- ish, tail crossed with about 10 dusky bands. Adult feynale : Similar to the male, but grayish-brown on chest. Melanistic i^hase : Plumage sooty-brown, with various intermediate plumage between the complete melanism and the normal plumage. Young : Above, blackish-brown and ochraceous, tail like adult ; head, neck and below, creamy-buff, streaked and spotted with blackish. 105. Broad-winged Hamk. Length of male, about 14 inches, tail about 7 inches long. Female, about 17 inches, tail about 8 inches long. Adults : Above, dusky-brownish, tail blackish, crossed by about three bands of brownish- gray ; below, l)rownish, varying to rusty, broken by white transverse spotting ; posterior lower parts white, barred or ^jotted with rufous. Young: Tail grayish-brown, crossed by about six bands of dusky ; lower parts dull-white or huffy, streaked with blackish or dusky. 106. American Rough-legged Hawk. Length of male, about 21 inches, tail about 9J DESCRIPTION. 169 inches long. Female, about 23 inches long, tail about 10 inches long. Adults : Above, varied with whitish and dark-brown ; below, white, with stripes of dark-brown and large markings of red- dldh-brown. Melanistic 'phase : Plumage black, with various intermediate plumage between the complete melanism and the normal plumage. Young : Similar to the adult in colours of plumage, 107. Golden Eagle. Length of male, about 32| inches, extent about 7 feet, tail about 14^ inches, and bill about \^ inches long. Female, about 37| inches long, extent about 7 J feet, tail about 15 J inches long, bill about 1| inches long. This species can be distinguished from the Bald Eagle by its legs, which are densely feathered, all round, down to base of toes. Adults : Dark-brown, lanceolate feathers of neck above and feathers of tarsus tawny, tail blackish, clouded or banded with grayish. Young : Similar to adults, but part of tail-feathers whitish from base, feathers on lower parts white beneath surface, and tarsi- feathers paler. 108. Bald Eagle. Length of male, about 32^- inches, extent about 7 feet, tail about 14| inches, and bill about 2 inches leng. Female, about 40 inches long, extent about 8 feet, tail about 15J inches, and bill about 2^ i I ) l ''I i '' 1' ij !l:|; ■mg^mi. ' , - '^ ' "'■'^'' j5<''- %■■>( *W »*(. •*iww»iiir«v,w»*w»o»M^^ 170 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. r inches long. Adults: Head, neck and tail white; rest of plumage varying from dusky grayish-brown to brownish-black. Immature pliimcifje, second or third year : Head and neck blackish, feathers of neck above tipped with pale-brownish, tail blackish, with whitish markings, back grayish-brown and blackish ; below, mixed white and dusky. Young, first year : Whole plumage blackish ; feathers of lower parte white at base, producing a blotched appearance. 109. White Gyrfalcon. Length of male, about 22 inches, tail about 9 inches long. Female, about 24 inches long, tail about 10 inches long. Adults: Plumage mostly white ; upper parts spotted with dusky. Young : Aljove, spotted or striped with dusky, and lower parts striped with same. 110. Duck Hawk. Length of male, about 17 inches, tail about 7 inches long. Feraale, about 19 inches long, tail about 8i inches long. Adults : Above, dark-slaty ; below, creamy-buff. Yoaug : Similar to plumage of adults, but more deeply colo'ii-ed. 111. Pigeon Hawk. Length of male, al)Out 10| inches, tail al)out 5 inches long. Female, about 13 inches long, tail DESCRIPTION. 171 •]■ tail white ; ayisli-brown fe, second or feathers of ail blackish, i-brown and ky. Young, feathers of r a blotched tail about 9 es long, tail mage mostly ky. Young : y, and lower tail about 7 es long, tail , dark-slaty ; to plumage tail about 5 es long, tail about 5J inches long. Adult male : Above, bluish- slate or blackish colour, tail tipped with white, subterminal band black, and about four other bands of black ; below, ochraceous, streaked with brown- ish-black. Adult female and Young : Whitish or huffy l)elow. 112. American Sparrow Hawk. Length of male, about 10 inches, tail about 4| inches long. Female, about 12 inches long, tail about 5 inches long. Adult males : Above, rufous or cinnamon, with or without rufous spot on head, black spots on neck, tail chestnut-rufous, with 8ul)terminal black band, tipped with whitish or rufous, back with or without black bars or spots ; below, varying from white, butty, ochraceous and ruious, with or without black spots. Adult je male : Similar to the male, but not so bright-coloured, tail with bars r+' dnsky, and back barred with dusky. Young males amX females : Similar to adults, but colours more l>lended. 118. Amcrlmn Ospreg. Length about 2 feet, extent about 5| feet, tail about inches long, bill about IJ inches long. Adult male: Above, brown, tail with bands of dusky, head and neck white, marked with dusky ; lower parts white, blotched with brown on chest. Adult female : Similar to male, but chest more 11 %\ 172 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. lis m. i heavily marked with brown. Young : Similar to adults, but feathers al)ove blackish-brown, bordered with white or bufly. 114. Ahierican Lovg-eared Owl. Length about 15 inches, tail about 6 inches long. Ear-tufts conspicuous. Above, mottled with dusky ; lower parts whitish, with irregular dusky bars an.^ streaks. 115. Short-eared Owl. Length about 16 inches, tail about 6 inches long. Ear-tufts rudimentary. Adults: Plumage ochraceous or buffy- whitish, striped with dark- brown. Young: Above, dark sepia-brown, feathers tipped with ochraceous-buff, face brownish-black ; below, dull-buffy, tinged with grayish. 116. Barred Owl. Length about 22 inches, tail about 9 inches long. Above, barred with dark-brown and whitish, also breast, and below striped with brown, face with concentric rings of brown and buffy-whitish, tail crossed by about 7 bands of pale-brown and whitish. Young : Above, barred with brown, buffy and whitish, producing a spotted appearance on back and wings ; lower parts barred with lighter brown. 117. Great Gray Owl. Length about 27| inches, extent about 57 inches, to id 38 h y DESCRIPTION. 173 tail about 12 inches long. Plumage, dark-sooty above, varied by irregular markings ; below, striped with bars on the flanks ; face grayish-white, with concentric rings of dusky. 118. Richard&on^ s Owl. Length about 11 inches, tail a1)out 4| inches long. Above, brown, spotted with white ; below, white, spotted and streaked with brown. Yoiouj : Above, plain brown, wings and tail like adults, face dusky, eyebrows whitish ; lower parts, plain brownish and ochraceous. 119. Saio Whet Owl. Length about 8 inches, tail about 3 inches long. Plumage similar to Richardson's Owl, but with less white on head and neck ; stripes on lower parts pale reddish-brown. Youmj : Above, plain brown, wings and tail like adults, face dusky, eye- brows whitish ; below, brownish and ochraceous. 120. Screech Owl. Length about 10 inches, tail about 3J inches long. Ear-tufts conspicuous. Dichromatic . plum- age of one phase grayish, the other bright rufous, markings of plumage in general having a mottled appearance. Young : Plumage barred, without longitudinal markings. Mil 11! H 1 174 THE lilRDS OF MONTREAL. \v. t IF ill rl! 121. Great Jlonted Otrl. Loiigth of male, iil)oiit 20 inches, extent about 60 iiu'lieH, tail about 8 inches long. Female, about 25 inches long, extent about 56 inches, tail about 9 inches long. Adults : Plumage varied with bufty, tjiwny, or whitish and dusky, part of throat atid middle of chest white. Ear-tufts very conspicuous. YoHng : Plumage ochraceous, barred with dusky. 122. Arctic Honied Old. Above, whitish ; below, pure white, with dark markings. 128. Dushii Horned Oid. Extremely dark-coloured ; the face usually sooty- brownish, mixed with grayiah-white : the plumage usually without excess of ochraceous or tawny — sometimes with none. (Ridgway.) 124. Snowy Owl. Length ot male, about 21| inches, tail about 9 inches long. Female, about 26 inches long, tail about 10 inches long. Ear-tufts rudimentary. Adult male: Plumage pure white, some specimens almost immaculate, but usuallv marked more or less with spots or bars of slaty-brown. Ad alt female: Plumage of ground-colour white; face, fore-neck and middle of breast immaculate ; top of ' j'fii' h DESCRIPTION. 175 head ai)(l hind-neck Hpotted witli (hinky, and other portion H heavily barred witli the Hanie eok)ur. 125. American Hawk Owl. Length about 16J nichcH, tail about 7 iiu'hes long. No ear-tut'tH. Adults: Top of head and hind-neck npotted with wliite and blackish, patches of blackinh on siden of hind-neck and ear-coverts, other upper parts dark-brow!i, heavily spotted with white, upper tail-crverts and tail bar»*ed with white; below, bari'ed with brown. Yoiuuj : Above, dark sepia-brown, the feathers tipped with dull grayish buff ; below, dull-whitirih, shaded across chest with sooty-brownish, other portions barred with brown. 126. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Length about 12 inches, tail about 6 inches, and bill about 1 inch long. Basal half, or more, of lower mandible yellow. Plumage grayish-ltrown above, with a faint bronzy lustre, tail-feathers (ex- cept middle pair) black, tipped with white ; below, white, tinged with puie-ashy. Young : Tail-feathers grayish-dusky, tipped with dull-white. 127. Black-billed Cuckoo. Length about 12 inches, tail about 6^ inches, and bill about 1 inch long. Bill v^ithout any yellow. Adults: Above, bronzy grayish-brown, with an t! Ill I'll fMi ■I t ii 1 If ,ii " lt.i i'l- ' 176 THE niHDS OF MO NT HEAL. olivaceouK cjiHt, tail-t'oathoi'H tipptMl with white, ex- cept middle pair, naked eyolidrf l)riglit-red in life ; below, white, faintly tinged with grayish on hreast and sides. Yon)>(/ ; Above, dnll-brown, with a cop- pery-bronze lustre, luiked eyelids pale-voUowiah in life^ 128. Bdted KinuJisher. Length about 13 inches, tail about 4 inches, and bill about 2 inches long. Adult male : Above, bluish, tail and wings spotted witii white; below, white, with a band of bluish across breast, white encircling neck. Adult female: Similar to the male, but lower markings rufous. Yoiin;/ : Similar to adults, but the male with lower markings tinged with rusty. 129. Northern Hair)/ Woodpecker. Length about lOJ inches, tail about 3f inches, and bill about 1^ inches long. Adult male: Above, black, striped with white, wings spotted with white, occiput red ; below, whitish. Female with- out any red on head, and young with crown red or yellowish, 130. Downy Woodpecker. Length about 6| inches, tail about 2| inches, and bill about |-inch long. Above, black, striped with white, wings spotted with white, and outer tail- feathers barred with black, occiput red. "it ■^itt DESCRIPTION. 177 131. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. Lotigtli about 9 J inclies, tail about 8|^inclieH, and ])ill about IJ inoboH long. Above, black, boad bluisb-bbu'k, malo with yellow patcb on bead ; below, wbite, witb sides and flaiikn barred witb blaekisb. 132. American Three-tf)ed Woodpecker. Lengtb about 9 incbos, tail about 3^^ incbeH, aud bill about l^- iuebes long Above, black, varied witb wbite, or luirrow ])arH of wbite, male witb yellow patcb on crown ; below, wbite, witb black bars on sides and flanks. 133. Yellow-bellied Sapsacker. Lengtb about 8 Indies, tail about 3 incbes, and bill about 1 incb long. Adult male: Above, black, varied witb wbitisb, crown, forehead, chin and throat crimson-red ; below, yellowish, with a black patch on chest. Adult female : Similar to the male, but chin and throat white, and crown some- times glossy-black. Younfj : General colour of plumage, a dull, mottled, brownish tint, without atiy black or red markings. 134. Pileated Woodpecker. Length about 18 inches, extent of wings about 28 inches, tail about 7 inches, and bill about 2^ inches long. Adult ynale : Above, blackish, top of 1 I • ii ?ii.i 178 77/ A' HllihS (iF MONTREAL. :' t. I't hoad, crortt and malar ntripe bright-rod ; bolow, duskv, the Hankn l)arrod with whitish. Adult female : Similar to the malo, but only the crest red. 1:]5. Bcd-lwuhd Woodper/iCr. Longtli about 9 inches, tail about 3J inches long. Adult male : Head, neck and chest crimson, back and wing-coverts glossy blue-black ; lower back and up})er tail-coverts white, and below chest white. Adult female : Similar to the male, but with inner secondary wing-feathers spotted with black, and black collar to crimson of chest more conspicuous. Ynung : Al)ove, grayish, barred with dusky, head, neck and chest brownish-gray, streak- ed with dusky. 136. Bed-bellied Woodpecker. Length about 9| inches, tail about 3J inches, and bill about 1 inch long. Adult male : Whole top of bead and hind-neck bright-red, belly pinkish-red, back and wings banded with black and white. Adult female: Similar to the male, but crown ash- gray. YtnuKj : With colours and markings much duller than in adult, red of head indistinct, and belly often dull-l)ufty. 137. Flicker. Length about 12 inches, tail about 4^ inches, and i;?. DESCRIPTION. 179 l)ill \\ itichcrt long. Above, UrowiiiHli, Imrred with black, rump white, fthut'tn of wing and tail- feathers bright-yellow, occiput with a rod patch ; lower parts vinaceous, with roundish spots of black, chest with a cresentric patch of black. Adalt maleti : With a black malar stripe. 188. Whippoorwill. Length about 9J inches, tail about 6 inches long, bill short and very broad at base, the gape with long bristles. Above, brownisli-gray, streaked and sprinkled with brownish-ldack, three outer tail- feathers with a white patch ; below, mottled, simi- lar in colour to the back ; bar of white on throat. 139. Nighthawk. Lengtli about 9 inches, tail about 4| inches long. Above, mottled with black and gray, varied with ochraceous, white patch on wing- feathers, also on tliroat; males with bar of white on tail, females without white on tail ; below, bufFy, barred with dusky. Young : More finely mottled, and dusky markings less than in adults. 140. Chimney Swift. Length about 5 inches, tail about 2 inches long. Tail-feathers with spinous points. Plumage sooty- 1)rown, with a faint greenish gloss above, colour jtaler on throat. 13 180 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. ♦I'! ■ 141. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Length about 3|^ inches, tail about \\ inches, and l)ill about f-inch long. Adult male: Above, metallic-green, throat with a brilliant metallic gor- get, reflecting ruby-red. Adult female: Throat whitish, three outer tail-feathers tipped with white. Young male : Throat streaked with dusky, feathers of upper parts margined with pale-bufFy. Young female: Similar to yo ting male, but no streaks on throat. 142. Kingbird. Length, about 8| inches, tail about 3| inches, and bill about |-inch long. Adults : Above, blackish, tail tipped with white, middle of crown with a concealed patch of orange-red; lower parts white. Young : Xo coloured patch on crown ; wings, tail and chest tinged with pale-rusty. 143. Crested Flycatcher. Length about 8^ inches, tail abotit 4 inches, and bill about f-inch long. Above, olive, tail rufous ; below, ashy and bright sulphur-yellow. 144. Phjebe. Length about 6| inches, tail about 3^ inches Ion i{. Above, olive-grayish ; below, whitish, tinged with olive-grayish and pale-yellowish. DESCRIPTION. 181 145. Olive-sided Flycatcher. Length about 1\ iiiclh i, tail about 3 inches, and bill about |-inch long. Above, brownish-slate and dusky-blackish, tuft of white on each side of rump ; below, browish-gray, with a white line down the middle. 146. Wood Pewee. Length about 6 inches, tail about 3 inches long. Above, olivaceous-brown, darker on head, tail and wings ; below, whitish, olive-grayish, and tinged with dull-yellowish ; under mandible usually yel- lowish. 147. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Length about 5| inches, tail about 2\ inches long ; lower mandible yellow, legs and feet black. Above, olive-greenish, wing-bands pale olive-yel- lowish ; below, yellow, breast shaded with olive. Young : Plumage duller colour than adulis. 148. TrailVs Flycatcher. Length about 6 inches, tail about 2| inches long ; lower mandible pale, upper mandible and feet black. Above, olivo-brown, wing-bands huffy- whitish ; below, whitish, tinged with yellow, and shaded with olive-gray. 149. Least Flycatcher. Length about 5 inches, tail about 2 J inches long. I Mi :.!' if !l } 182 THE BIJtDS OF MONTREAL. k\% ■i"i 11 '.^ Vl Similar to Traill's Flycatcher, but smaller, and wing-bands grayish white. 150. Horned Lark. Male : Length about 8 inches, tail about 3 inches long ; an erectile, horn-like tuft of lengthened black feathers on each side of occiput. Above, vinaceous-cinnamon, forehead black, with a deep primrose-yellow bar across forehead and extending backward as a superciliary stripe ; below, vinaceous and whitish, throat primrose-yellow, with a black patch across chest. Adult females : Similar to males, but smaller, and plumage duller and more streaked. Young : Above, dusky and light-brown- ish, speckled with white or pale-bufFy ; below, whitish, tinged with pale brownish-buff and marked with dusky. 151. Prairie Horned Lark. Male: Length about 7 J inches, tail about 3 inches long. Similar to the Horned Lark, but plumage paler. Female: Length about 7 inches, and tail about 2f inches long. Young : Like that of the Horned Lark, but plumage darker. 152. American Magpie. Length about 20 inches, tail about 10| inches, and bill about 1\ inches long. General plumage black and white, glossed with metallic greenish- blue, varied with green, violet, bronze and purple. DESCRIPTION. 183 153. Blue Jay. Length about 12 inches, tail about 5| inches, and bill about 1 inch long. Head with conspicuous crest. Adults : Above, purplish-blue ; wings and tail bright cobalt-blue, barred with black and tip- ped with white ; black collar from under the crest to across chest ; below, throat purplish-whitish, breast and sides grayish, other lower parts white. Young : Plumage duller. 154. Canada Jay. Length about 11 1 inches, tail about 6 inches, and bill about 1 inch long. Head without crest. Above, dusky-grayish, lighter on forehead and darker on hind-head ; below, light brownish-gray, pp^cr than back. Young : Sooty-slate, chin, nasal- tufts and lores black. 155. Northern Raven. Length about 26 inches, tail about 10 inches, and bill about 3 inches long. Plumage black, more or less glossy, feathers of throat lanceolate. 156. American Crow. Length about 21 inches, tail about 8 inches, and bill about 2\ inches long. Plumage glossy-black, glos3ed with violet. 157. Bobolink. Length about 7 inches, tail about 2| inches long. '\ 'I'' ; i i i I*! ill •111 SI • h 1 ? ( M '.. \ ■ ' ^A- 184 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. Tail-feathers pointed at tips. Adult male in spring : General colour black, hind-neck bufF; scapulars, rump and upper tail-coverts whitish-buffy. Fall plumage similar to female. Adult female : General colour ochraceeus, streaked with dusky, buffy stripe on head. 158. Cowhird. Length about 8 inches, tail about 3 inches long ; female smaller. Adult males : Plumage glossy-black, with greenish and purplish reflections ; head, neck and chest brownish. Adult fr males : Plumage plain brownish-gray, paler on throat. Young : Upper parts dull brownish-gray and buffy ; below, light- bufty, streaked with brownish-gray. 159. Bed-winged Blackbird. Male: Length about 9 J inches, tail about 3f inches, and bill a])out 1 inch long. Female : Length about 8 inches, tail about 3 inches long. Adult males: Plumage black, with lesser wing-coverts bright-red, and the middle coverts bufl:y-whitish ; in urinter, feathers with rusty terminal borders. Adult females : Above, streaked with dusky ; be- low, striped with dusky and whitish. Young : Similar to females, but markings more suffused and of a buft'v shade. N^g 162. JRustjj Blackbird. Length about 9 inches, tail about 4 inches long. Adult male in summer: Glossy-black, with a faint bluish and bluish-green gloss ; in winter, with rut-ty- i)rown above, and butty below. Adult female in summer: Plumage dusky brownish-slate, without ih DESCRIPTION. 185 160. Meadowlark. Male: Length about 10 J inches, bill about IJ inches long. Female: Length about 9 J inches, bill about \\ inches long, tail long and sharp- pointed. Adults: Above, brownish, with black markings ; below, throat and breast bright-yellow, with a black crescent on chest. Young : Plumage much duller, with black crescent on chest not con- spicuous. .1 <>i S , ) 161. Baltimore Oriole. Length about 7J inches, tail about 3 inches long. Adult male: Above, black, except lesser and mid- dle coverts of wings and part of tail-feathers ; neck and middle line of chest black ; rest of plumage rich cadmium-orange, varying to intense orange- red. Adult female: Above, ochraceous-orange, with blackish markings, the wings dusky, with two whitish bands ; below, dull orange. Young : Simi- lar to adult female, but suffused with brownish above and colours more blended. 1 1 y 1 IP I 186 THE UIRDS OF MONTREAL. |.>; g1()«jf! ; in winter^ with much rusty above, and huffy markings helow. Young: Similar to plumage of winter female, but duller and more uniform. 163. Bronze Grac/de. Male : Length about 13 inchcH, tail about 5J inches, and bill about IJ inches long. Tail feathers graduated. Female: Length about 11|^ inches, tail about 5 inches long. Plumage of back and lower parts bronze, with metallic tints of steel-blue, violet and purple on neck, wings and tail purplish ; fe males with colours duller. 164. Evening Grosbeak. Length about 8 inches, tail about 3 inches long, bill very thick. Aduli male: Crown blackish, bor- dered by a yellcw patch ; neck and back deep- olivaceous ; scapulars, rump and lower parts yel- low ; wings, tail and upper tail-coverts black ; ter- tials dull- white. Adult female: Head brownish- gray ; other parts lighter grayish, tinged with olive-yellow ; inner primaries with a whitish patch at base; a dusky streak along each side of the throat. Youmj : Similar to adult female, but more brownish and colours duller ; bill l)rownish instead of yellowish -green. 165. American Piue Grosbeak, Length al>out 8| inches, tail about 4 inches long. ->J ■■ i ■! DESCRIPTION. 187 Adult male: General colour of plumage reddisli- pink and ash-^ray ; feathers above, dusky cen- trally, "ausing a spotted appearance ; wings and tail dusky, wing-feathers tipped with white. Adult female : Plumage dusky and grayish, without any red, but tinted with bright olive-tawny on head and rump. Young : Plumage duller and more blended ; otherwise similar to adult females. 166. Purple Finch. Length about 6 inches, tail about 2| inches long, bill thick. Adult male: General plumage madder- pink, feathers of back streaked with dusky. Adult female: Above, olivaceous and grayish, streaked with darker ; sides of head with two brownish stripes, separated l)y a whitish stripe ; below, dull- white, streaked with dusky, no reddish colour. Youixj : Similar to adult female, but markings of plumage less distinct and duller. 167. American Crossbill. Length about 6 inches, tail obout 2} inches long. Bill crossed at tips. Adult male: Plumage dull- red, with wings and tail dusky. Adult female : without red ; plumage olivaceous, varying to gray- ish, and yellowish. Young ; Grayish or light- olive, streaked with dusky. 168. White-v'inged Crossbill. Length about Q\ inches, tail about 2J inches U i' '\ ■ 1 188 THE HI BUS OF MONTREAL. lone^. Adult male : Purpliwh-red ; wings and tail black, the I'ormer with two wliite hands. Adult female : Above, olivo-greonish or grayish, paler below ; back duller than in male. Yoiimj : Wings and tail like adults, but general plumage pale- olivaceous, streaked with dusk}*. 169. Hedpoll. Length about 4J inches, tail about 2J inches long. Adult male : Above, grayish, streaked with dusky ; top ot* head bright-red ; a dusky spot on throat ; below, whitish, with chest and sides ot breast deep madder-pink. Adult female : Similar to male, but red on crown only. Young : Similar to adult female, but no red on crown or elsewhere. i !-' ' t! I 81 ■■■ 170. American Goldfinch. Length about 5 itiches, tail about 2 inches long. Adult male in summer : Yellow, with forehead, crown, lores, wings and tail black, tail-coverts and tips of wing-feathers white ; in ivinter, similar to adult female, but black, and whitish markings more distinct. Adult female in summer : Above, olive-brownish, wings and tail dusky ; below, gray- ish-white, tinged with yellow ; in winter, general plumage more brownish. Young : Much browner than winter adults, and the plumage suffused with light-cinnamon. l^ESClilPTION. 189 I'^l. Pine Siskin. Length about 5 inches, tail about 2 inches long. Adults: Above, grayish-brown ; below, wliitish, conspicuously streaked with dusky ; tail-feathers and secondary wing-feathers sulphur-yellow at base. Y()U)}0 TUE JJJIWS OF MONT UK A L. ish shade. Adult female in summer : Similar to \vintor mulo, but black murklr, ore restrieted and ln'oken ; in un)itei\ sxmWar to rtummer plunuigo, but browuer, dud markings indistinct. Yohiu] : Above, tawny-bufFy, streaked with black ; below, pale-bufty', streaked with blackish. 174. Vesper Sparrow. Length about 6 inches, tail about 2J inches long. Adults: Above, brownish, streaked with dusky, outer tail-feathers partly white, lesser wing-coverts rusty ; below, whitish, streaked on sides of throat and across chest with dark-brown. Young: Simi- lar to adults, but markings less defined. 175. Savanna Sparrou. Length about 5 inches, tail about 2 inches long. Above, brownish, streaked with blackish, super- ciliary stripe yellow ; below, whitish, streaked with blackish. 17(J White-crowned Sparrow. Length about 7 inches, tail about 3 inches long. Top of head browniah-black, divided by a median stripe of white ; back ashy, streaked with brown- ish ; below, throat whitish, chest ashy, sides and flanks grayish-brown. Immature: With markings more brownish, and bufly. DESCRIPTION. 191 177. White-fhroated Sparroir. Length about 7 incliOH, tail iil)out 8 indies long. Top of head with a narrow grayisli-white median and two broader black lateral stripes ; superciliary Htripe yellow ; back brownish, streaked with black- ish ; throat white, and chest ash-gray. Immdtiire : Markings more brownish, and superciliary stripe not so yellowish. Yoaixj : Markings duller, chest streaked with dusky. 178. Tree Sparroiu. Length about 6 inches, tail about 2:f inches long ; lower mandible yellow. Aloure(l Jutien. Length about inches, tail about 2J inches long; bill pinkish-white. Plumage slate-gray, darker on head and chest ; belly and outer tail- feathers white ; plumage of female tinged with brownish. Younu : With plumage streaked above and below. 182. S(>ve. Length about 10 inches, tail about 4J inches long. I>ill strongly hooked and toothed. Adults: Above, pale ash-gray and whitish, sides of head, wings i\u(\ tail black, with white markings : below, white, with breast undulated with grayish. Young .- Above, grayish-brown, wings and tail duller black, wing-feathers with browiiish-buffy markings, or ti[n»ed with [lale-rusty ; below, brownish-white, waved with dusky-grayish, or grayish-brown, with darker undulations. ! ;r •;'!'i DESCBIPTIOiV. 197 198. White-rum ped Shrike. Length about 8J inches, tail about 4 inches long. Similar to the Northern Shrike, but bill smaller, upper tail-coverts whitish, scapulars more white ; below, white, with or without slight wavy mark- ings. 199. Red-eyed Vireo. Length about 6 inches, tail about 3 inches long. Above, olive-greenish, sides of head with a dusky streak ; below, whitish, sides tinged with grayish- olive. 200. Philadelphia Vireo. Length about 5 inches, tail about 2 inches long. Above grayish olive-green, superciliary stripe whit- ish ; below, pale sulphur-yellow, chin and belly white. 201. Warhlimj Vireo. Length about 5| inches, tail about 2| inches long. Adult : Above, olive-grayish, top of head clearer grayish, whitish streak over eye, sides t)f head and neck with pale grayish-bufly : l)elo\v, whitish, tinged with olive-yellowish. Yoiii);/ : Above, pale grayish-buff and huffy-grayish : below, Avhite, with under tail-coverts pale-yellow. 202. llow-throdted Vireo. Length about 5| inches, tail about 2J inches \ (t •il i ,1 i I 1 . ': I. ; m \«/i \-H 198 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. long Above, olive-green and ash-gray, wings with two white bands, loral streak and orbital ring yellow ; below, yellow, with posterior under parts white. 203. Blue-headed Vireo. Length about 5 J inches, tail about 2 J inches long. Above, olive-green, head and neck plura- beoiis-gray, cheeks and sides of neck grayish ; be- low, throat white, sides and flanks tinged with olive-green and yellow. Young : Above, grayish- brown ; below, bufty-white. 204. Black ami White Warhler. Length about 5 inclies, tail about 2 inches long. Adult male: Above, black, striped with white ; be- low, white, striped with black, throat with black markings sometimes nearly uniform ; two outer tail-feathers with white spots. Young male : Plum- age like adult male, but without streaks on throat. Adult female : Colours duller, and tinged with brownish below. 205. Nashville M'^arhler. Length about 4J inches, tail about 2 inches long. With or ^vithout chestnut crown-patch. Above, yellowish olive-green ; below, gamboge-yellow. Female : Whitish on belly and flanks. Young : Greenish-olive above, wing-feathers tipped with I. r DESCRIPTION. 199 pale olive-buffy ; below, light-olive and pale bufFy- yellow. 206. Orange-crowned WarhUr. Length about 5 inches, tail about 2 inches long. With or without concealed orange-rufous crown- patch. Above, dull olive-green ; below, pale-yel- low, indistinctly streaked with olivaceous. 207. Tennessee Warbler. Length about 4| inches, tail about 2 inches long. Adult male in spring : Above, ash-gray on head and neck, and other parts olive-green ; below, white, tinged with ash-gray. Adult female in. spring : Simihir to male, but gray markings above tinged with olive-green ; and below, the white stained with olive-yellowish. Young in autumn: Above, olive-green ; below, strongly tinged with olive- yellow or greenish sulphur-yellow. 208. Parula Warbler. Length about 4> inches, tail about If inches long. Adult male : Above, bluish-gray, back with a triangular patch of bright olive green, two white bands on wing; below, yellow, chest tinged with orange-brown. Adult female : Similar to the male, but colours paler. Young in autumn : Above, tinged with olive-green ; below, yellow paler. ,1 I !l 'I I f HI Hi 200 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. Yolouj : _Al)()vo, dull-grayisli and olive ; below, liglit-grayisli, <'liin tinged with yellow. 209. Cape May Warbler. Length al)out ') inches, tail about 2 inches long. Adiilf male: Top of head blackish, sides of head and neck gamboge-yellow, ear-coverts rusty, black line from bill to behind eye, back olive-greenish, white patch on wings, rump gamboge yellow, large Avhite patch on tail-feathers ; below, gamboge-yel- low, streaked with black ; in aufanin, plumage more grayish and olive. Adult female : Above, grayish-olive, brighter on rump, white on wings and tail restricted; below, yellowish, streaked with dusky. 210. Yellnn: Warhler. Length about 5 inches, tail about 2 inches long. Adult male,'-!: Above, bright yellowish olive-green ; below, gamboge-yellow, streaked with chestnut- red. Adult female : Plumage duller, streaks on lower parts indistinct, if any, but usually none. YouiKj : Similar to adult female, but duller-coloured, more o;ravish above, and sometimes dull-whitish below. 211. niar-k-f/n'oatcd Blue Warhler. Length about 5 inches, tail aliout 2 inches long. Adult male : Above, dark dull-blue; l^elow, black. DESCRIPTION. •201 i 1 I] with white from iiiichlle of breiiHt to tail, outer tail- feathern and base of quills in wings spotted with wliite. Adult female : Above, plain dull-olive, tinged with blue; below, plain pale greenish-buli'. YotUKj : Above, dull-brown, superciliary stripe of dull yellowish-white, sides of head in male blackish, and dull grayish-brown in female ; below, yellow- ish-white, tinged with brownish ; white on wings and tail more restricted in females and young. 212. Myrtle Wn rider. Length about 5| inches, tail about 2^ inches long. Adult male : Crown, rump and sides of breast with a yellow patch ; l)ack, bluish-gray, streaked with black ; wing with two white bands ; blackish on sides of head, and with white streaks ; below white, chest and sides streaked with black, sometimes more or less confluent. Adult fotnale: General ap[>earance similar to male, but markings and yellow patches indistinct, upper and lower yarts washed with umber-brown. Youruj : Yellow only on rump sometimes ; plumage streaked ^^ itli dusky and grayish-white. 21 ;J. 3rai/itolla Warbler. Length al)out 4| inches, tail about 2 inches long. Adult male: Top of head bluish-gray, with lighter border; lores and ear-coverts black ; l)ack black or mixed with yellowish olive-green ; wings black. I I' : I »; i i 11 li ■ -ill 202 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. with u white patch ; lower parts gamboge-yellow, striped with black. Adult female : Similar to male, but colours duller, back olive-green, wings with two white bands ; narrower streaks on lower parts. Autumnal plumage : Above, olive, grayish on head and greenish on back ; below, pale-grayish on throat, and chest without streaks. You)a/ : Above, dull-brownish, wings with two yellowish-white bands ; l)elow, brownish and pale sulphur-yellow, streaked with dusky. 214. Chestnut-shied Warhler. Length about 5 inches, tail about 2 inches long. Adult male: Top of head yellow, borderecl with black ; back olive-yellowish, striped with black and light olive-grayish ; lores and patch on cheeks black ; ear-coverts, sides of neck and lower parts white ; a stripe of rich chestnut along sides. Adult female: Similar to male, but colours duller, upper parts more olive-green, and chestnut on sides more restricted. Youmj in autuam : Above, bright olive- green, wing-bands tipped with sulphur-yellow, orbital ring white, sides of head to flanks plain ash-gray, and median lower parts white. 215. Bay- breasted Warlder. Length about 5^ inches, tail about 2| inches long. Adult male: Top of head chestnut, bordered with black ; back streaked with black and grayish ; II DESCIilPTlOX. 203 sides of head blsickisli, und of neck butl'; below, ehestimt and light-buff. Adult female : Above, olive, streaked with Idaek ; below, bufty, tinged with rusty. Y<)H))(/ male in autnmv : Above, olive- green and grayish, streaked with black; beh)W, l»ale-buiiy, tinged with olive, and rusty. Y(iH)a/ female: Similar to male, but streaks and rusty tinge indistinct, if any such markings. 216. Blarh-pull Warbler. Length about 5J inches, tail about 2^ inches long. Adalt male: Top of head glossy-black ; back with black and grayish-white streaks ; sides of head white ; below, white, streaked with black. All a If frill ale : Above, olive-grayish, streaked with black ; below, whitish, streaked with dusky. Young in a at am n : Above, olive green, streaked with black ; below, olive-yellowish, under tail-coverts white. 217. Blachbarnian Warbler. Length about 5J inches, tail about 2 inches long. Ailalt male : Above, black, with a central spot of yellow on crown, back streaked with grayish and whitish, tail-feathers and wings with large white markings ; below, cadmium-orange, darker on throat and chest ; rest of lower parts yellowish- white ; sides streaked with black. Adult female : Similar to male, but grayish-brown, streaked with 4i i r~ i If If.- 204 77/ fc' ni/iI>S OF MONTREAL. dusky, oraiigo \ni\v\\ and postorior lower parts wliite. Vniinif in anfunni : Mulo, darker above tlian adult t'emale, and wini^s with two white haiuls, posterior lower ]>arts pale-yellow; tbmale, browner above, eolours paler and duller. 21 fi. Bfii(l,-fhroate(l Green Warhler. Lenijth about 5 inehes, tail about 2 inches long. Ad nil male: Above, olive-green ; sides of head gambogt'-yellow, with an olivaceous streak through eye: throat and ehest blaek. Adult female : Similar to nuile, but black nnirkings with yellowish-white tijis to feathers ; throat and ehest yellowish-white. y*ianarts less distinct, and feathers of upper parts tipjted with fulvous, pro- du cing a spo tted a[>j)earance, 22:5. Moil r»'' in/ Wurhhr. L, but more browuiHh, tliroat and dit'Ht more yi'llowisb. 225. 3I(ir)/llinna(/e : Above, ])rowner than in summer; lower parts duller ])utt'y, with broader streaks on breast. 22l>. Catbird. Length about 8| inches, tail about 4 inches long. Plumage plumbeous-slate, paler below ; top ot head und tail black, lower tail-coverts chestnut. Young : Himilar to adults, but black .r.i head less distinct. o m • ® 208 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. :% s^; ( IliH 111 J and slightly mottled below; lower tailcoverts ruijitv. 230. Brown Thrasher. Length about 11 inches, tail about 5| inches long. Above, bright tawny-brown, wing-coverts tipi»ed with white ; bill curved, and about 1 inch long ; lower parts bufty-white, spotted and streaked with brownish. 231. House Wren. Lengtli about 4^ inches, tail about 1| inches long. Above, brown, barred on wings and tail with darker colour ; below, whitish, tinged with grayish-brown, and slightly barred with darker colour. 232. Winter Wr>>n. Length about 3^ inches, t;.il about 1^ inches long. Above, dark-brown, barred with dusky ; below, brownish, with lower }>arts barred with blackish and whitish. 233. Lon;/-h;ilev 'M DESCRIPTION. 209 8tift*, and pointed at tip. Above, brownish, streaked with paler colonr ; below, whitish ; bill slender and curved ; wings with a broad band of [tale- rusty, and with other light markings ; superciliary stripe white. 235. White-breasted Nuthatch. Length about 5i inches, tail about 2 inches loiii*-. Above, bluish-gray, crown glossy-black, (dark- grayish in females) ; wings marked with blotches of black ; lower parts whitish, lower tail-coverts spotted with chestnut-rutous. 236. Bed-bi'casial Nat hatch. Length about 4| inches, tail about 2 inches long. vVbove, bluish-gray, crown and nape glossy-black, (dark-grayish in female) ; side of head with a black stripe, and su[>erciliary stripe of white : below, rusty. 237. (Jhkhadce. Length about 5 inches, tail about 2J inches long. Orown and nape black, back olive-grayish, wing and tail feathers edged with whitish; below, white, with chin and throat blackish, and sides tinged with b.vAvnish. 238. Iladsonian Chickadee. Length about 5 inches, tail about 2J inches long. IH h ,1 I ! I i'"- \n 210 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. ',ii ^m 111 I m h Above, ashy-brown, top of head hair-brown ; be- low, Avhitish, throat sooty blackish, sides dull-rusty. 2o9. Golden- crowned Kinglet. Length about 3 J inches, tail about Ij inches long. Adult male : Above, pla'u olive-green ; crown-patch rich cadmium-orange, bordered with yellow and black ; below, yellowish-white. Adult female: Similar to male, but crown-patch entirely yellow. Young : Similar to adults, but without black markings on head, and without crown-patch. 240. Ruhg-crowned Kinglet. Length about 4 inches, tail about 2 inehes long. Above, grayish-olive, ciown-patch scarlet-vermil- liou ; below, whitish. Young : Similar, but without coloured crown-patch. 241. Blae-gray Gnatcatcher. Jymgth about 5 inches, tail about 2 inches long. Above, grayish-blue, deeper on top of head ; below, white, and pale asli-gray. 242. Wood Thrush. Length about 7| inches, tail about 3 inches long. Adults: Above, tawny-olive ; below, white, marked with roundish spots of dusky. 243. Wilson's Thrush. Length about 7 inches, tail about 3 inches long. i * ill:! M '-> DESCRIPTION. 211 Adults : Above light ta\viiy-l)rown ; below, white ; chest bnffy, marked with small spots or streaks of brownish, sides brownish or grayish. 244. Gray-eheehed Thriish. Length about 7i inches, tail about 3 inches long'. Adults : Above, olive-brown, sides of head grayish ; below, white, with chest pale-butty-white, marked with large triangular spots of dusky. 245. Olive-hacked Thrush. Length about 7 inches, tail about R inches long. Above, olivaceous ; below, white, chest yellowish- buffy, marked with large triangular dusky spots. 246. Ifenmt Thrash. Lengtli about 6J inches, tail about 3 inches long. Adults: Above, olive-brownish, shading into rufous on rump and tail ; below, white, shaded with olive on sides ; sides of head, neck and breast tinged with butt'; throat and breast marked with dusky spots. 247. Americau Bohin. Length about 9| inches, tail about 4| inches long. Adults: Above, slaty; head, neck, wings and tail blackish ; outer pair of tail-feathers tipped with white ; below, reddish-brown ; throat white,, 15 '•I n i !: \V: •"",' r..- «-^WBte»w, 212 THE BIRDS OF MONT HEAL. l< i ■\ ■ :!, If! with black streaks ; vei)t and under tail-eoverts white ; bill yellow, tipped with black. 248. Blmhinl Length about 6 inches, tail about 2.f inches long. Adult male : Above, blue; below, breast and sides cinnamon- rufous, belly white. Adult fe)ii ale : Above, grayish and blue; orbital ring whitish; below, breast and sides dull cinnamon, throat with dusky streaks. You)i;j : Above, brownish-gray, streaked with whitish ; wings and tail bluish ; below, fea- tlu'rs of breast and sides bordered with browuisli : orbital rinu* whitish. 240. Europeau Hdnse Sparnnr. lutroduced species ; description not necessary. 250. Blac/,- Gnillcmnf. Length about 18 inches, bill about 1| im-hcs long. Suuiincr adults: Colour black, with white on wings ; under wing-coverts white. Wilder iduuuuje : AVliite, varied with black. Youiaj Similar to win- ter pluniag , but lower parts indistinctly barred with dusky. 251. Briiiniich's Jfurre. Length al)out U3 inches, bill about 1| inches long. Above, plumage dusky ; below, white ; wings with secondaries tipped with whiter ; top rf head .il'M.V DESCRIPTION 213 and hind-neck sooty-black. Sminier plamcuje : Sides of head and neck, chin, throat and fore-neck velvety snnfF-brown. 252. Itazor-hilled Auk. Length abont 16^ inches, tail about ^ inches, and bill about IJ inches long ; bill thick, curved and grooved. Above, plumjige black ; below, white ; wings with secondsu'ies tipped Avith n'hite. Sam- mer plumar/e: Pjirt of head and neck v^elvot}' suuft- brown ; white line from bill to ey -. bill black, crossed by a white bar *¥'niter adnlt . Under por- tion of head and below wiiite ; bill without l)asal lamina ; otherwise same as in summer. Yoao(j : Plumage like winter adult, but bill without the white bar and grooves, and smaller. 253. Yelloic-hcftdcd Blackbird. Length about 11 inches, tail ab; iit 4f inches long. Adult nidle: Head, neck and chest yellow? wing-coverts white, rest of plumage black. Adult female: Brownish-dusky, throat and chest yellowisli and white. Yonn;/ male: Plumage similar to t'emale, but deeper coloured. 254. King Eider. Length about 26 inches. Adult male: Top ot head bluish-gray, base of tipper man(Ul)le enlarged into a broad lobe, a V-shaped mark of black on 1 i *'il 1 m! * 1 ■A m If I , . ! M 214 THE HINDS OF MOSTtiEAL. throat. Females m\(\ Young: Plumage barred with dusky and pale lulvous, liead and neck streaked with same. in" ■I- ■:: INDBX. A. No. Auk, Razor billed 252 '* American Widgeon " 29 •' American Teal " 30 " American Pochard " 35 " Acadian Owl" 119 B. Bittern, American 32 " Least oJi Bobolink 157 Blackbird, Red-winged 139 Rusty 1(52 *' Yellow-headed. Bunting, Indigo. Bluebird * Burgomaster " "Black-headed Gull".... " Blue-bill " " Black-head " " Butter-ball " " Black-heart Plover " "Bull-head" ". " Birch P irtridge" " Booted Hawk " " Black riawk " " Black-backed Woodpecker " 131 " Banded-backed Woodpecker " 132 " Bee martin " W- "Blackbird" 162 2.33 187 248 9 13 37 ;i8 39 42 74 8H 94 100 10(5 l(\ ; t M5 ' 'I ; II ' ii s 216 77/ a; lilRDS OF MONTUKAL. B. No. H ly- winged Biintinx" 174 Butcher-bird " 197 " 198 Black and Wlilti' Creeper' 204 Blue Yi'I low-backed Warbler " 2()8 Black and Yellow Warbler " 21H Black-capped Yellow Warbler " 225 Brown Thrush " 2:W Black-capped Chicadee " 237 Cormorant 21 " Double crested 22 Coot, American 62 Curlew, Long-billed H5 " Hudsonian H6 Eskimo 87 Cuckoo, Yellow-billed 126 Black " 127 Crow, American 156 Cowbird 158 Crossbill, American 167 White-winged 1(« Catbird 229 Creeper, Brown 234 Chickadee 237 Hudsonian 238 " Cowheen " 43 " Carolina Rail " 59 " Coot " 62 "Cock" 65 "Carolina Dove" 97 " Cinereous Owl " 117 " Cock of the VV^oods " 134 " Chimney Swallow " 140 " Chel)ec " 149 " Crow •• 156 " Crow Blackbird " Utt " Cedar-l)ird " 196 INDhW. 217 C. No. " Clierry-bird " U)(l ** Ciimuliau FlyeutchiiiK Warbler" 22(» I). Dovekie Duck, Mulliird " I*ia'k (riUlsVllll " Haldpiite " Shoveller " Pintail '• Wood Redhead " Caiivas-hack " Ajnerican Seanp " Les-er Scaup King-necked " American tJolden-eye " liirrow's " " Hullle-head ' Old-squaw " Ruddy Dowitchcr Dove, Mourning " Dab-chick " " Deaf-duck" Dunlin" 7 27 2S 2U :« :w ;n :« ;iO 'M :w 40 41 42 43 4S (J7 5)7 4 45 4(5 47 74 E. Eider, Anu'rican . 44 " King 254 Kgret " 55 Kagle, Golden 107 " Bald 108 "Eider-duck" 44 "Eavc Swallow" 191 " English Sparrow " 249 i n \\ Ik ''I ■ II I •218 Tllh' UllihS OF M(h\TJih'AL l'\ FlynitchtT, KiuRliird C'ri'stt'd. . *' Pluobi' " Olivi'-.sidiMl " Wnod Pewei' " Yellow-bellied Traill's Least Finch, Purple HW 24 25 No. 142 I4:{ n:. 140 147 14H 14U Fish-duck"., French Teal ''Field Plover" "Fish Hawk" . 2t) H2 ii;{ H' '■ CI. Grebe, Western •' Holb(»'ir.H " Horned " Pied-billed Gull, Klttiwake " Glaucus . " Great Black-backed " American Herring " Ring-billed " Laughing " Bonaparte's Gannet Goose, Greater Snow " American White-fronted. " Canada Guillemot, Black Gallinule, Florida Godwit, Marbled " Hudsonian Grouse, Canada . . . " Canadian Hutted Goshawk, American 1 2 » 4 8 \) 10 11 12 \'A 14 2U 4» 50 51 250 61 77 78 04 101 rn No. 142 148 144 145 140 147 14K 149 1(16 24 25 29 :« K2 IIH 2 :< 4 i» II) 11 12 IH 14 20 4» 5() 51 250 61 77 7H m }»4 101 I SDKS. 0. 219 No. (Jyrfiilcdii, White l(l!( (Jriic-kle, Mroiized KM (Jrosht'iik, KvoiiiiiK UW " Ainericiin Pine 1(15 " Hos»>-i)rea8ted lHi '•!h- n '-. 222 THE BIRDS OF MOXTREAL. O. m^^ m ' Owl, Dusky Horned .. " Snowy " Aniericiin Hawk. Oriole, Baltimore Oven-bird "Old Wife" " Old Tom Peabody " . . Petrel. Storm Phalarope, Nortliern Plover, Black-bellied " American Golden. Killdeer Seniipalmated ... Ptarmigan. Willon Pigeon, Pa.sseng'T Phd'be No. ISl 124 125 161 221 43 177 1» 63 8« S9 90 91 95 {Hi 144 Pew ee, Wood 146 Pipit, American 228 " Pond Blue hill". *• Partridge " " Pewee " 39 94 144 \W 165 " Pine Linnet " . 171 " Pine Gro.sbeak ". " Qnawk ". 57 R. Rail, Virginia . . . " Sora " Yellow Raven. Northern. Redpoll 58 59 60 155 169 Redstart, American 227 Robin, American 247 *' Ri;'-neeked (Jrebe " 2 i. INDEX. 223 R. Rc'tl-throatt'd Diver " Rod-necked Plialarope ". . . Red-breasted Snipe " Red-breasted Sandpiper".. Robin Snipe " RiiiK-neck Plover" Rntled Grouse " . Red Owl" Rain crow Raven " Red-bird" Red-eyed Flycatcher " Redstart " Red-bellied Nuthatch"... ' Ruby-crowned Wren " Robin" S. Scoter, Anaerican " White-winged Surf. Snipe, Wilson's' Sandpiper, Purple — Pectoral . . W hite-rumped " Baird's " Least *' Red-backed '• Semipalmated •• Solitary " Bartramian Bnir-lHvasted " Spotted Sanderlinuc Swift, Chimney Siskin, Pine 171 Snowtlake. . 172 Sparrow, Vesper 174 Savanna 175 No. (> m 67 68 m 01 Ji4 120 127 1.55 188 199 227 2:« 240 247 45 46 47 m 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 81 82 83 84 76 140 ^M - ti ii ) f i! 224 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. S. No. Sparrow, White crowned 170 " throated. Tree Cliipping FIt'hl Song Lincoln'.s 177 17H 170 \m 182 183 Swamp 184 183 2-19 lUl 1!)2 1SI3 194 197 198 7 14 1(5 20 23 24 2o 24 32 m 34 42 42 43 Fox " European House Swallow, Ciitl' Barn •• Tree Bank Shrike, Northern . . " White-rumpi'd ' Sea Dove " " Sea Pigeon " " Sea Swallow " " Solan (Joose " " Saw-bill" " Shell-drake • "Spoon-hill"' " Sprigtail " " Summer Duck " " Spirit Duck ■■ " Shot-bag " " Sou" Soutli>rly " Stake-driver ' 52 "Shite-pout" • 52 " Snipe" 60 " Stone Snipe ■' 79 " Sandlark " 84 ' Spruce I'artridge " 93 " Spotted Crouse " 93 " Short-winged Buzzard " 105 " Shore Lark " 150 151 INDEX. 225 S. No. " Sinosvliird " 172 " Snow Hunting " 172 " Sand ."Martin " li}4 " Summer Waibler " 210 T. Torn, Caspian . . 15 " Common 10 " Arctic 17 " American Bladv IS Te il, Green-winged 30 *' Blue " 31 Turnstone 92 Tanager, Scarlet 188 Summer 1«) Thrnsii, Water 222 Wood 242 WilsDii'is 243 Gray-cheeked 244 Olive-backed 245 Merinit 246 Thrasher, Brown 230 " Timber-doodle " 05 " Tvranl Flycatcher ' 142 "Titlark " 228 V. V.reo, Red-eyed 199 '■ Philadelphia 200 " Warbling 201 '• Yellow-throated 202 " Blue-he ided 203 ' Velve -duck" 40 W. Woodcock, Kurpoean — <'4 '■ American Of» Woodpecker, Northern Hairy 120 Downy 130 • - •; il !;. 'i 226 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. 11 W. No, Woodpecker, Arctic Three-toed 131 " American " • 132 " Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 133 " Pileated 134 *• Red-headed !35 " Rp-' .ollied 13(V " Flicker 137 Whippoorwill 1;J8 Waxwing, Bohemian.. 05 Cedar .36 Warbler, Black and White , 204 Nashville 2a5 " Orange crowned 208 " Tennessee 207 " Farula 208 Cape May 209 " Yellow 210 Black-throated Blue 211 Myrtle 212 " Magnolia 213 Chestnut-sided 214 " Bay-breasted . . 215 Black-poll 216 " Blackburnian 217 Black-throated Green 218 Pine 219 Y'ellowPalm J20 " Mourning .'23 Wilson's 226 Canadian..... 226 Water Thrush 222 Wrenj House 231 '• Winter 232 " Long-billed 2:j3 ' Whistlef " " Whistle-wing".. " Wavy " "Wild Goose"... "White Grouse". 40 40 49 51 95 IXDh\\. 9.97 W. No. " Wild Pigeon " 90 •'White Owl" 124 " Woodcoclt " 1^4 " Whisliy Jaclc " 154. " Wilson's Snowbird " isi " White-bellied Swallow • 193 " White-bellied Nuthatch " 2:^5 Y. Yellow-legs, Greater "nj m *' Yellow-legs " 71) " Yellow-shanks " HO '* Yellow .jellied Woodpecker "' 133 "Yellow d" 170 210 '* Yellow-ruinped Warbler " 212 " Yellow Redpoll " 220 ' i I r 11 16 M i' ©AVIDDENNE. '»OIJ I ii 'I ii] I . I (1 ■lift ■s ll :'l CONTENTS. PAIJK Abbey Brown and J. II. T. c: 2H1 " FeftHh," l»y Win. MfLennan 23:i A Fortnight in tlie MuKantk- Woods 234 Brook Trout : A Koniiniscenci' 240 A Red Letter Day : Fonr Trout 242 Razor Backs 243 Bull Frogs 245 The Ouiananiche 247 A Day's Duck-Shoot iiiK 248 A Truthful and Modest Fish Story 251 My First Salmon 25:i David Dennc's First Salmon (Poem) 25<) Story of a Duck Hunt 257 A Day's SnipeShootin;j; 2(51 Sport Around Montreal Fifty Years Ago 203 A Mon Ami, by L. A. Boyer 272 Fish and Game Laws, IHlMt 275 Ji 1 1 < 1^- ■ il •: i' 1 e wi t'll vfm Sivp H T: •a Jlil I.N \H'\i\, Ahbv Hrowii find I (the former well know ii as an old Montreal Ihci-oshc pliiyor und snowsliocr) left CauglinauaKa liy staw f<»r llnnthiKdon, llienc*^ liy private vcliicle to a small vil- lagf ( alUMJ St. Michaels, for a tlin-e or lonr days linnt. We made our liead(|narter.s with an old settler named .lohn liitkH. of the township of llinchinltrook. The weather was anytliiu)^ lint favor- able for InintinK, rain falling three days in suceession. However, early in Die morning «»' start tul for the husli aecompanied by a v»'ry valuable thoroughbred deerhound named Lass. There were about three feet of snow on the level and heavy at that, stiekiiiK to our snowshoes and niakinj^ trampinj; very fatiguing?. After roamiuK ivboiil for four or live hours we aj^reed to separate and meet at a certain point. I took a patli whit-li led info a piece of burnt bush and can assure you I was ^^lad when I {^ot through it. I |)]aced my old fashiom-d rille ajxiiinsl a large elm tree and took a draw at my clay |)ipe. Abby, as usual. Iiaving taken charge of the " I'ain Killer." .lust as I looked from behind the tree I saw a fawn approaching. I took aim rapidly, the cap missed lire, having got wet I suppose in my scramble through tlie woods. So as (juick as thought I drew my iron ram rod and had no sooner done so when the fawn came almost directly opposite me. I let him have it across the nose and brought him to his knees. I tlien gave him another blow, beuding tlie ram rod double, after wliich he fell on Ids back. When I saw liis beautiful, pleading eyes I felt such a pang of remorse tluvt I almost wished I had received the blow myself. When Abby appeared he (juickly bled the fawn and its sufferings were over. It was now getting late, so we cut a pole and fastening the deer to it we each took an end on his shoulder and trudged homeward. At last, reaching the cabin, a bright ilre and a > J t- '■' *:■■ 232 tiP()HTI\G SKETCHES, jtood liot Mnppor nuulf us soon forgot our hard work. We retiri'd oiirly. but not without a smoke. Tlu' next morning we were oir at 7 oVIock, tiikiuK'V ;, then sutldenly turning, in a few rapidhoauds was lost to view and passed round the hill. liUss Willi u loud ery Hew in pursuit and the Hounds
  • oun'> lout?. Well de minute 'e strike de h'ice, 'e's curl h'up like a hiin'l 'cop, an' de col' was so (piick, it freeze 'eem solid, (."fore 'e on, an' my leg was so sore I'll can't hai'dly move 'eem. Hut I'll woulden't stop for dat,' an I'll wouiden't he stop yet, h'only I'll kick up two itAiiiurn'Ks— cat- feesh you'll call 'em -Dey was hig too, more hig nor any of de trotits, hut w'en I'll go for feesh I'll go for sport an' nol for har- hotle. Au' I'll stop. I'll always know w'en I'll 'ave enough, nu-. t i| 234 SPORTIXG SKETCHES. A FORTNIOHT IN THE HEQANTIC WOODS. ■■% ki By E. a. Cowijov. From his pipe tlie siiiolte ascending Filled the sky with haze and vapor, Filled the air with dreaming softness." —Loiujfcllotr. IViers Wolf, Rabbit, l'\)x and Coon composed the party which left Montreal on the evening of Angnst HOth for their annual shooting, fishing and outing trip, the point of destination being the .Megantie wilderness. Contrary to ti»e generally accepted idea that the Canadian Pacitic Railway was "always on time," we arrived at the station, liake Megantic, at a.m., or nearly three hours behind time, but no one complained, (except, i)erhaj)s B'rer Rabltit, for the rubbers of whist were going the wrong way and he wanted to cry (|uits> for IH a.m. is. when one realizes it, a somewhat inconvenient hour to arrive anywhere. Our two Peterborough canoes had come through safely, and of conr.-e tin rest of the l)aggagv^. ii'lnding the dogs, had followed suit, notwithstanding a baggage car filled to the roof. At Mo(|uin"s hotel, where we breakfasted, we met our l ide, genial Joe Rolduc, already engaged by letter, I'ot a professional guide, mind you, but one who was as good, in every resi)ect as any guide in the district and a great deal better than most of them, and what is an additional point in his favor, one to whom it would be (|uite imnecessary to oiler a " fancy price " to put one in the way of killing a moose— in season. Mo(|uin'> is a lirst rate hunter's resort, and the proprietor's son-in-law, Mr. Keene, did his best to try and make things pleasant for us. The little launch " Albion,"' belonging to the lumber company took us aboard at S a.m. and we steamed twelve miles to the head of the lake, debarking at Wobnrn wharf. The sail up tlie lake is very beautiful, resembling in many respects, Lake George. Lake Megantic not to be outdone by its rivals, has its j)ro- fessional hermit who lives in a hut oii the lake shore, an I who honored us (or the steamer's captain) by a wave of h!o hand as we passed his lonely habitation. Several handsome coituges owned by prominent Canadians nestle in lovely nooks here and h SPORT [Nd SKETCHES. 235 tlu re, w liilo on the eastern sliorc of Victoria Hay stands the handsome chib house of a defunct lisiiing cluh. On arrival of the steamer at Woburn wliarf our duM'ie was un- loaded and we adjourned to Machime Cameron's hostchy to arrange for transi)ortation to our campinjj; sliouhl not Judge by names in tliis part of the worhl for the -Madame was a buxom Frencli woman and what was more had t\vol)uxom (hiughters who were ministering angels to on^' hungry crowd. IJ'rer Rabbit's tender glances rendered us a favor on this occasion. Can some brother sportsman give a reason why any num carry- ing a rod or gun is almost invariably subject to the most wanton extortion ' W'c contracted for the only boat (and to call it a boat is s\ipremc politeness) at the head of the lake to carry our tent, )irovisi()i)s and pack bags to the camping ground on Foster's clearing, distant some three miles, 'riie bargain was defmite, of that I am sure, for I seconded the transjtortation committee in liis vain ellbi-ts to beat the son of a Cameion down to a tigure which would 'lot put to shame a lawyer's retaiinng fee ; at any rate, about two miles fiom the wharf our annial)le friend stru k for di)uble price, giving us as a reason that we were going further tiiaii was called for in the bond he thought, poor fellow, that we had arranged to camp in Lake .Meganlic, and the result was that we were compelled to pay it or dump the load. I never thought that a man or boy could stand so much wholesome abuse for one miserable dollar. Arriving at camp we pitched our lent in time for dinner, and while the preparul ion thereot is in i)rogres> I will explain the location of the camp, than which none better exists in the region. Situated on a cleared knoll rising pretty sharply from the Lowir Spider river ami aliout HKt feet therefrom, and about a mile from the head of liake Megantic, one-fourtli of a mile above the conlluence of the Arnold and Spider rivers, one-fourth of a mile below Rush lake, whiel; tlows into Lake Megantic throtigh the Lower Spider river, anil about three (|Uarters of a mile from Spider lake which Mows into Rush lake through the channel of the Upper Spider river, it thus stands between three lakes, Spider, I{ush and Megantic ami is almost encircled by lakes and rivers. It is called " Foster's clearing" after an old trapper and K.*" {£; 11 if i \l : : ! J ■ . 1 ] V ^"' .' ii' i *; y ' .] V,' 1 W ^ K=: 236 SPORT rXG SKETCHES. hunter naminl Foster wlio cleared tlie patcli of laud and erected his camp thereou. Tradition has it that he was drow ned while crossing Lake Megautic on the ice many years ago. Dinner was soon disposed of, and while Joe was engaged in making our bough beds we started in different rts " bang," " bang," weri' heard " Did you get hiiii ?" " Yes, Sir," " (Jood ! " and so on, until by noon seven ruUed grouse were brought to bag and the nimrods returned homewards. This is a sj)lendid grouse country and grouse are abundant, the great and only dilliculiy being in the fact that our dog--a Clumber Spaniel belonging to H'rer, Wolf, hunting nmle, would m- SPOIiTIXG SKETCHES. 237 not fi'ighten the birds sutticiently for a rise ; the birds being quite tame would run for tliirty or forty rods and rise in the heavy timber wiiere a sliot was next to impossible. Hunting with any dog whicli would give tongue would make a vast dltlerence in early September, and big l)ags sliould be the rule. During our eneimpment several grouse were shot witb -.v rifU' at a distance of no more than t^u or twenty yards. About .5 p.m., B'rer Coon was busily engaged in mailing liis eelebrated vinegar coclctail when the (isliing party returned witli a few trout, none of wliich would turn tlie half poun*^' .md voted with considerable emphasis tiie Arnold a complete Failure, at least for l.'i miles up, beyond which navigation with a u noe was then impossible. Pat not thy absolute faith in Clubgni( e books. About sunset all four made for Rush lake for the evei ing duck shooting, and after hastily constructing blinds we sa, in our caaoes waiting for the coming of the ducks, and the one bright particular spot in our fortnight's trip was the i)leasure d.M'ived in this lake (or small marshy pond at this time of the year). The Black ducks wo\ild sail in with their wings set. and in great numbers and, as no shooting hail been done that autumn they were nuu;h less wai-y than is their custom. It was a royal sight to see H'rer Wolf suddenly kneel at the sight of some incoming ducks, and with the reports of his gun see two single ducks have the Mock and dnij) into the lake, dead, while B'rer Rabl)it took care of one or two more. Shooting was kept \ip until about an hour after sunsei, when "all uj)!"' was called and we paddled can.)\vard just, as the glorious moon rose over the distant mountains of .Maine. The next day the whole party decided to try the West Branch of the Arnold for tiout, so. taking oui- canoes we paddled to Woburn Wharf, getting four black ducks en route, and thence travelled on foot some live miles, two and a half by road and rhe balance through bush. On arriving at the river we found it choked loi- some miles with inunense spruce and hemlock logs, whicli iiad Jammc I in Spring in a drive and stuck fast until ttie follow ing Spring \\ hen the high waters d()ul)tless carry them to Lake Megantic snme miles away. There were a few open spaces where the rivci' was clear but the trout hat! taken advantage of the shade allnrdcd by the logs and none were caught in the open stretches, although i I . I \ ■ '■ ' H i.t V'J. s ill'' k 'if' .! ' 'M 238 SPORTING SKETCHES. tlie choicest treasures of our tly-books were tried again and again. Under tiie circumstances we were redticed to the necessity of using the i)lebeian bait and of fisliing between the logs, as the latter made a natural bridge on which the walking was delight- ful wlien we had learned by experience to wear our rubber canoe shoes. The Hrst day we tried it we used leather boots, and for a successful experiment in turning the contemplative angler into a powder magazine, I can heartily recommend a lot of barkless logs rendered as slipjjery as ice by the el'Muents, I can vouch that by evening the logs were not the only barkless things in the neighborhood. Trout were very plentiful, and we con - eluded to try no more waters, but to do our tishing there during our encampment. Our record of tish kt/jt for live days to four rods Wiis over 7(Kt, ranging from a quarter of a pound to a pound and a half, the average, however, runi»ing small. H'rer Rabbit has never ipiite forgiven me for an accident which occurred on the last day we lished this river. He was on the opposite side of the stream from where I had been patiently fish- ing a good pool, and deciding that there was a big one left in it I crossed over to him, intending to give my pool a rest for a half hour or so. U'rer Rabbit was standing on the outside edge of an innnense pile of logs and said " There's a l)eauty in liere but I cant hook the rascal." "All right, I'll llsh over here," audi dropped the bait in about thirty feet from him on the inside of the pile and near the bank. There was a fierce tug and a swirl and I soon had a good pounder in my creel. " Hang the luck," said Brer Rabbit.t, " you've got my trout," and so I hau ; he had been frightened from the outside of the pool and I just dropped in in time to catch his eye. It was no easy matter to land a good Hsh through the ditl'erent holes formed by the layers of logs crossing each other in the most intricate manner, and r-mny a hook did we leave in those logs. It was not satisfactory tishing nor were the trout large, but we were enjoying our outing as much as though we were four school-boys. One day we found the tracks of a large black bear on some tiat rocks in mi to dry, so I fancy there is much truth in the statement. The game wardens of the Megantic Fish and (!ame ("lub are local men and while they do their best they are constantly in danger of their lives when they attempt a prosecution. In fact, on more than one occasion, they have been tireu .ipon with a ritle while en- deavoring to arrest pot-hunters during the close season, for moose hunting with a "Jack." A prosecution, at most, brings a trivial tine and the ultimate result of it all will be, that here, as elsewhere, in a few years time our game will become a matter of history. If our sportsmen were all animated by the same desire- i. e. to protect tie game, we could coin pel our Provincial Government to protect our forests and our streams by paid game wardens. On the contrary, howe. or, the sportsmen have to thank their own want of unamimity for the fast increasing scarcity of flsh and game, and being a crank on this subject I would like to dilate upon it but tind that I shall not have space in this sketch. We put in a jolly fortnight's camp, shooting a goodly number of ducks and grouse, varied by an oec isional blue heron or a bittern and tishing for trout in the West Branch and for mas- klnonge in Lake Megantic, sleeping, eating, ami taking it very easy generally, and the only tribulation and sorrow intiicted upon us was the loss of B'rer Fox, whom stern business called away at the end of the fifth day. and he left us in sackcloth and ashes, taking with him for distribution a few good trout and our hearty wishes for a reunion the following year. The days passed all too quickly, and when the end came we regretfully struck camp and, storing our dnllle in our canoes, pa a.m. Sunday, a well rested and happy crowd eager once again for the battle of life, aul ready with clearer brains to hold our end up with extra vigor, such as can only be imparted by a trip to the woods and streams, that we, in compmy with so many thousands of brother sportsmen love so well. BROOK TROUT : A REniNISCENCE. By W. H. Lamhe. There is mticli pleasure in the reminiscence of a good day's fisliiiig. with the attending circumstances that are personal tu the lisherman. These may l)e only in p irt communicated to others, but it certainly adds much to the anglei-'s ti'ium))h to have someone near-l)y to whom he may show the lish when landed and say " is not this a beauty '." What the trout's ideas on the subject may i> : is anotiaT nues- tion. Probably he may say " you cruel tyrant, to have deceived me when I was harndessly s|)orting in my home, from whith you have dragged me to an untimely death for your selfish amuse- ment." This moral has been stated by Cowper, and much may be said in supi)ort thereof, but as the butcher re])lit'd to the sentimenl- alist on the cruelty of killing lambs, that '" surely you would not eat them alive," so it lUiiy be said of (ishing when the object is to obtain food. Itniay lie added that (ish have to be cinifpit, ami in many cases are <|uite able to take care of themselves. My story is a short one and meets the j)oint raised that the fishing in this case at least was for supper. Fish stories grow, and this one diegan. Cast one over the sand-bar swarming with half pound trout r id six trout were thrown overhead to the men behind me. ' u4 two, three, four, five, six, and so on, with a result of six trout at each cast in an interval of about two to four minutes for hooking the lish, taking them oil" the hooks and rehaiting. The next thing was to shoot some millard grouse (savanne partridge) which I did, until one of the voyageurs proved to me that he could noose them with a slip-knot of cedar l)ark at the end of a pole. Tills satisfied me that pot hunting was not sport as is gener- ally understeod by anglers and fowlers, but we all did just ice to tin- supper. My fish story only begins here. Some ten or tifteen years afterwards our old host of Hunterstowii Mills, who was good at a story and could out-slick Sam Slick or Mark Twain, stopi)ed me as I i)assed along St. James street, having just then left Sir Fenwick Williams and his aides on the opposite side, to whom he had been telling a trout story, when with the remark to the general, " Why, there's the very man who did it, but wait ont^ minute until 1 ask him as to the number, tor by jove I have told the story so often that I really believe I have got ahead of the count." ! 1 ^n ri I 242 SPORTING SKETCHES. r^ 4i, !li ^!i:[^ Then prcs<>nliir, inc lie .said, "Tell mo, now, was I rifj;Iit when I aHHiired the ffeneral that you had ca»iKht o\w hundred do/en trout in an hour in the Hunterstowa river? I want to know if I am ri.nht. I shall start fair if I am wrons;." " My dear sir, I cauj^ht ten doz n and '/on.sidered I did pretty Wei i." Tlie general lauj^hed, and so did we ail, at the good tlsh story of my friend, w ho replied, " Well, I was not far wrong after all, but it was the confounded 'dozens' that bothered me." He has sinee left us am' iio n>ore eracks jokes or tells good lish stories. I HI A RED LETTER DAY : FOUR TROUT. By J. L. M. I will never forget that day. Twenty-tive years liave sped away since, but the sheen of those silvery trout is still plioto- graplied on my men ory. I was spending the sinnmer at Murray Bay and many a trout in stream and lake had yielded to the fascination of my flies. I went up to the pool above the clmte, six miles from the village, the favorite pool of my friend, W. H. Kerr, Q.C., of Montreal, from whicli lie had taken many a lordly salmon. The river there took a sudden bend where a foaming rapid struck a mass of sheltering rock at right ang'es, forming a broad deej) pool some 20() yards in length. It was a most pictur- es(|ue spot. Thick spruce and liirch crowded down to the edge of the rocks and threw their shadows over the water. On the other side was a shallow gravelly beach, the very spot upon which to land a salmon after having liooked him in the deep water at the head of the pool. Under the Hecks of foam close to the edge of these rocks the big trout loved to lie. That day I kept to the deep side and with dilHculty clambered along the edge of the rocks between the trees and the water. I had captured one or two small fish and without any great expectations had cast my fiy in a listless way over a point of rock ahead of me, into a little angle or nook close to the shore, and was ga/ing admiringly upon the towering mountains not spon Tixd SKI-: n ii es. 24:', far off. wlu'ii huddt'iily I IkmhI in tlu- direct ion of my (1\, a splash, and tuniiiiK (|uickly, saw a ^litlcrinj? sliower of drops which sent a llirill of joy to my luait. My line was iiai);iiiij< loose and I knew that by my cuvlessncss 1 had missed a hi^ fish. Gatliering hack my tackle I took a careful cast ri.Lcht over the jilace where the mi^^hty tail had disappeared and almost instantly, there was a wild rush, a lea)! and with a turn of my wrist he was hooked, i-'or ten ndniites I jilayed that tiout. He tried to make for the ripids liut I tuiued him. The reel wave out sweet music and his silver sides uleaiued in the sticim. I liad to l>e careful, haviny; no laiidini,' net and no one to help me. hut my tackle was j^ood and at last he lay upon his side within reach as I reeled in my line. Stooping down (piietly, I put my hand round his »vaist and lie was mine. He was a fresh run sea trout and weifihi'd liA lbs. The larf^esl trout I had up to that time ever caught I '-ast apiin, and out of the same jiool landed three more, i !ie ur welKhed 12 lbs. Then, I returned in triumph to my ife, 'Vi.o was i-eadiuK under a bridge some dist mco below. I was youn^ then and now am old with "silver threads among the gold." I have cauL^ht many trout since and bigger ones, but I ,»ubt if any days fishing ever gave me such keen enjoyme it as did my cajjtureof these four trout in that famous pool. January, 1S!)4. ' vl RAZOR BACKS. liv A. .1. P. It was on the evening of November 2()lh, iSTti. we arrived at our cabin. The weather intensely cold ; the moon in its first (piarter, was shedding a clear light through tlie marshes, we could bar an occasional (|uack of the black duck ; this was too much for my friend H . He could not withstand the tempta- tion. Maxime was ordered to get the canoe out, H , well wrapped up, went out through the marsh into the small lake to get a crack or two. From tlie slightly elevated groun bill. The westerly wind blew us with our "cache" out into the lake, we were soon on the feeding ground ; decoys were i)lact>d, the boatmen retired to the marsh, all was ready for the sport, l-'lock after tloi'k came up to us and we pepperefl away in lively style I'nfortunately the high wind drove the white cai)s into our butt and they immediately liecame solid ice. We were com- l)elled to give it up the water was well strewn with binis, our signal to return was answered by the men, who collected the ducks ; II taking the birds, he havingthe larg«'r boat, I, the dfoys. Then came a most perilous Journey to the marsh, heav'ly laden as we were. Our men were capital hands at manag- ging the canoes, but notwithstanding their care we took in a lillle water; the little, however, was sullicient to freeze me in tight and fast to the boat. Arriving at a ligiithouse, we were only too glad to put .ashore. After nicely arranging the birds on the bow, i)lacing our linest on the top, we hurried up the ladder lo tlu' comfortable room. Next thing in order was a good warmin/, both outside and in. While making the water hot, I was moving round examining the ' :ii SPOHTINd SKETCHES. 245 curious Willi (K'ooratloiis, when iifcidciitiilly loukiiiK <»'»t of the window, I saw half t dozen " riizor Ijaeks " at our boats, each with a noble bird in its mouth. Tiic alarm Riven, all .jumped u|» and out, but, alas! too late, each lion cantered oil' carrying the prime of our day's sport. I . BULL FR0Q5. By a. .1. P. Twenty years a>;o last sununei-, we drove out of Ottawa for a day's sport, tntut (IshinK. The road we had taken led us directly toMeche's Lake, ending at the water's ed^e. Ily (he kindness of our hospitable host (Ward, of (he Hoyal V^ictoria) we had been loaned his boat and a good one it was. After putting up our horses at an adjacent farm, we retraced our steps to the lake side ; here we shouted to the opposite shore (nearly a mile distant.) Hello! Hello-o-oo! Presently you could distinguish the splash of oars as tiny dipped in the liipiid \£,o\i\. the sun was haslcnin;^ to hide itself behind the surrounding mountains. The entrancini; landseaj)e bailies all '* TIktc ! sai(l the lnoitmiiii, "lot liiiii tiiUc your lly." " I'll liodU liiin if you will take liirii oil," I replied. •'All rij^lit, if he dues not tiikr hlittsilf oil", I will." I let the lly down to the fro;;, who indolently eiiUKht It iind into the bout I hroiiKht hiui. No Mooner hiul he touched the luittom of the hoat thui he was oil" the hook; the harhof the hook had evidi-ntly not penetrated the skin. Itowin)^ iilon;;, we Hoon sijj;hted another and nineh larg^'r. Wishing to put tlu' matter to a test I pive a sharp nj) stroke of the rod, landing him in the hoat. .Mr, Kro^ delilierately sat upon his hindtpiarlers and commenced handliiiK the hook like a human, and in a few incmientH he ha«I freed himself, to our astonishment and amuse- ment. We tiow proceeded to the outlet, soon arriving there, our delij^ht was uiiliounih'd. Through the space between two larye rocks (you could .jump from one to the other) flowed the surplus watir of the lake, rushing, tearing, frothinj;; into the ravine l»elow, following this outburst of water it <|<>*t't^'l down to the beautiful trout imol. Oh ! such a spot. The pool dark as porter, save the irridescent bubbles, sporting round after each other like mad. To cast our flies was necessarily a diflicuil task owlnj? to the close growth of the slender, jjraceful birch, HurronndiuK you with their silver trunks and bright colored foliage. The beauty bewitchiiiKly lovely was soon lost to our thoughts. Xo sooner had otir (lies touched the water than a rush was made at them ; each of us had hooked a trout. Owinj; to the lightness of our taoUle and tJie siirrounding impediivents, the excitement was great indeed ; we hat! killed two tine lish. Our sport continued, and after cleaning out two pools, (always carefully returning the small tlsli) we lined our basket with nice cool green ferns, ))lacing in the catch, completely tilling it. We were welcomed back to Ottawa by our pleasant host, who n-niarked that they were the finest lot of Kpeckled trout he had over seen brought into town. Twenty-seven, weighing thirty- six pounds. srou Tisa sh'h 77 7//;.s. 247 n THE OUIANANICHE. Ii^ .1. L. M My llrst oxporicncc of ()iiiHiiiiiiic'h<« lishiiiu in is'.io a.u\ a copy iily lilm*, Deff ly cast in^ a lly And liopinjj; soon to spy A l)i'i}{iit Oniananiclic. It Ix'Kins to f«'fl (lull, Wlu'ii, Oil 1 tlu'i'c'H a uri'at pull And the reel ci-ics swisli. SplasliliiK. dasliinK, Hashing; IMasliin;;, lashing, inusliinjj; lltTc, tluMt', ('vt'ry\vlu>n' ; LcapinK into air, HoilinK. toiling, nioilinij;, TucUli' straining, siioiliiiK. Kiglitinfj: Htronu, and fair Evt'iy trick to tlarc, Plui kii'st of all the tisli Is the nobit' Ouiananicho. Air When we were llrst aciiucnl. The first thiujjc this lish does wlwii he is hooked is to slioot up into the rtir and so he continues on most of the time until he either frees himself or is landeil. One lish leaped twelve times before he went into the landing; net ; another ten tintcs. and these are fair examples. I do not think that tiiey ari' more plu<'ky t han black bass, nor do they make such runs, but they \niU just us hard and leap a great deal more and consecpieiitly the sport is more exciting. A nund)er of four pounders were caught this year and one of H'l lbs., but it is rare to ^et them over I lbs. and very many do not Koover fn)m 1 to 2 lbs. I think that on the wh >le they are the most lively lish I ever caught. e > i i t ►*4 ii It;! - 248 SPOBTIXG SKETCHES, u>. A DAY'S DUCK SHOOTING ON 23rd SEPT., 1893. »Y 1). D. Quack ! Qiuuk ! Qi.nck ! Quack ! Tlie "(irt'it \\\\h\\ Hiiihviiy." d<'sirous of "keeping up" its reputation, lanc'ed us at our destination on Friday ni>?ht over half ii liour late, but we had leavn!} from experience to lu' pre- pared for delays and were j)rovidid with sandwiclies, etc., a good deal of the latter. On leaving the train we were glad to hear tlie well known voice of one of onrguide i who had driven over for us. He soon had our "traps" in the v aggon and after a pleasant drive we found ourselves at our destination, a small fann-liouse on the hank . of a river and the moon shining overhead in all lier brightness, o. as the poets would remark, "The moon was full." We were soon seated at a comfortable table enjoying a good supper. After that a few weds fertile dogs, old friends, then a pipe, with the usual accompaniment, whilst we completed our arrangements for the morning. I3> lO.IiO we were all in bed, and except those who were too excited about the prospects of the morning's sport, soon asleep. At 1.'M\ we were arr.u.sed, our lamps lighted iU'd ii; ■> (pjarter of an hour we «vere dressed and looking out ;o lind whicii way the wind ean.e. There was little of it and tlie worst we could have had, but enough to lift the mist. A good drink of milk and a slice of home-made bread and butter composed our liist breakfast, and very soon we were in our boots, eacli accompanied by his favorite guide and dog. There was just light enough on the water to enable us lo direct our ditl'erent courses up or down the river. The blackbirds in the rushes were. just beginniiig to welcon>e the coming morn. A cock crowing on the shore, i bell at the village chutch,asi)lash of ,'. lish or sometimes a musk rat, were the sounds \\ e heard as we paddled alnng \inder the still starlit sky. In about an hour we are all hidden away in our various "blinds," our live decoys (luarkingas innocently as oossiliie. and feeding away (piite con- tentedly, being well aec\istcimed to i)eing anchored nut as lures. The "roseate streaks of (la\\ n " wei'e appeai'lnu in the east. The linishing Iniiches were just com|'leled about t he Idind, I was piepariug to load my gun. .My guide sitting behind me had just got one slu'ij of No. .< in his, and was feeling in his bag for another. n 250 SPORTING SKETCHES. ii % wln'ii we heiird the ducks coming, iiiul from helund. Joe did not liesirate. Up went his gun, a No. 10, Jind liow it did speaic right over my head, tiien down splaslied tliree blarlv ducks out of the twenty-Hve or more who tool- tliat early peep at us. I was more tiian disapi)ointed at losing my ciiance at this tloek. They were so near, but it's always that way with duc-k shooting. He oft" yonr guard at any moment, tilling your pipt or sometliing else, .jiist then you lose the best chance of the day. However, its no good "crying over spilt milk." We are both ready now. Our dog has l)rought in the ducks, and we are pleased with the result of the tirst shot. In a few min\ites "> black ducks are seen coming up the river; our decoys (piack well. Nearer and nearer they come: \ip goes my 12-bore for a right and left. Down drojts one almost among the decoys, another fill Is well over the other side of the river and, being only wounded, goes ashore there, and hides till our retriever looks him up later on in the day. Then follows a Hock of teal, a long shot, liut we got one bird. Then a bittern's curiosity costs him bis lift-. Afterwards a long wait, and notliing moving v.-e start for breakfast with astonishing api)ctites considering we bad not gone out fasting. The other boats also I'etnrn. tinding the day too line for This does not amount to much, the weather is not favorable. We are too early in the season for fall ducks, and the summer ducks won't lly till too late on this particular night. Once more we return to the house, change our " things " and that gladly, as rubber boots were uncomfortable to walk in, and especially on a hot (hiy. We have some good roa>t chickci., jties, SPORT I XI ; SKETC 'HES. 251 etc-., for (lintu'i. Then drivi> haok to the "siiition, " ;iini in a despenitc hurry, for we liavc taken too lon^ over our meal listen- inji to some vvoinU'rl'ul stories of tlie day's sport. M-- ^ui(h', .loe, is a marvellous "raconteur" and amused us i)y t(llin<:;iis that hist week he had a fine fat heron lor dinner. He liked it l)etter than duek. The only fault he could lind with it was that his wife could not wash the smell of this " jjaniey " bird oil' the plates and knives and forks, although she had tried her he-t ever since, "t'hacun a son gout '" after all we need not have huriied to tlu' train, for it was a;;ain late. The veiT amialile station- master made many apolopjies and otlered us the l)est chairs and otluM" com t'niences at his disposal. We reached home willuAit accident which, after all. our w iv" s thou,uht the jircalist de- sideratum. We liave since had ii good sle 'p and feel well disposed towards everything iind everyl)od\ and are alieady looking forward to the next day"s duck shooting. ' i A TRUTHFUL AND MODEST FISH STORY. Wrilfi n hji l>. ]>.. ill nil iiiDfi/ of (I lishimj /rl/i irif/i .1. I.. .1/., ./((((.■ .'"///, IS'.IC. We went fishing, just for a (iiu- June day. The tirst train out of town took us to a wharf \n ' -re we sliould have met our hoatmen. hut alas, when we left tin ti'ain. the train left us standing alone, none to wclconu' us. Fortunately, however, wc were seen by one who had compassion on our loniiiu'ss ami olVered to lind us ;i boat and a man to row it ; miu'c tlian this. out' who knew the ground and who llshcd for a li\ing. Our friend .vent oil' for tills boatman, even w;ilked to his house, but the Fates seemed against us. He was not there, and lliey (his better h; '•")(! id not know what had beci>me of him. We insti- tuted a search and found him fast asleep in his lH)at under the wharf; he seemed to l)e drcanung pleasantly, but we had no pity and in answer to our call up lie started. Of course he was quite ready to go with \is at once, but he had not Itrisiklasted, wliich accounted for his anxious glanct's at our well-lilled lunch baskets. \W ypoRTrxa sketches. His iioat, as usual with such men, never leaked a drop, wouM ride over any waves that the wind could hlovv. Then for fish stories, oh, what a stock this disciple of Isaac had at his tongue's end ! His hair was very white, so, no doubt, he was a truthful racuntcur. In order the better to double the length of each fish taken during previous trips, he would stop rowing, and mark ott' with his left hand the length on his right arm, looking up at you all the time to see it you believed him when he said " Longne vomme ca." The time passed pleasantly enough whilst crossing over to the fishing ground. The day was all that a fisherman could desire. Our tackle was in perfect order, for had we notfreiiuently during tlu' winter overhauled it in anticiv)ation of this time ? It was tlien with joyful and expectant hearts that we committed our artificial p./innows, Maltby's celebrated horn killers, to the water, I'irst, a pike, never very welcome to us, then adore, then another pike, :. percii, afterwards at a favorite " Chcnai" a lot of the gamiest black bass we ever Icilled, and we have killed a good many I can assure you. Then we neared a lovely island, on which we landed for a few minutes to give our guide his breakfast and a few mos.juitoes a bite or two. All this time we listened to the wild birds singing their nK>rnii\g hymn of praise. Those who have heard them at this hour are not, I am sure, the libellers who say our Canadian birds cannot sing as sweetly as the " Old Country " songsters. Afterwards we saw the wood duck and her youngsters. The old liird tried every trick she could think of to make us follow her but we well understood iier ways and did not deviate from our course. We 'vili give her and her fanuly a call about September 1. The wild roses aid the cranberry blosM,!; tnade the shores iovely and on the ro 'ks the littK- ,iipers we > , ; ning their usual gan-.e ;»f " tit up." Tci reUirn to the fishing. Well, wi.' fished all that day, except when enjoying a little refreshment at noon under the shade of some lovely trees. Of course we lost our V)iggest fish, the man said ilie largest f/o/v' he ever saw on a book. Our landing net was not large enough for such a patriarch ; aiuithertime we will go |)repared for him. With the stars shining overlicad. we SPORTING SKETCHED 253 returned to our licnies that ni(i:hl with all tlie Hsh we wanted, our faces and hands well ournt by old Sol, a little tired, perhaps, but satisfied and thankful for a day's outing such as only "jolly anglers " know how to enjoy. MY FIRST SALHON. By D. I>. (27ic woodcut is from a photograplt by the late Spencer T. liamsity, Ksn.) Reader, did you ever see a Canadian salmon stream? I shall never forget my first sight of one— such water, rushing along in its purity over stones, clean and smooth. No weeds, always cold and bright, hiding nothing, too cold for tlie lishermen to bathe in with impunity, but for the salmon a very paradise. Pool after pool becomes the resting place of the (ish us they ascend the river, moving up (piietly to the spawning grounds, sometimes leapii\g as only salmon can leap ovit waterfalls that a novice would think they could never pass. The graceful curve of a salmon's body as he leaps in the summery air is almost beyond descriptim. Standing in your canoe, anchored at the liead of some favorite pool, yoiir two guides having droi)ped their iron-shod poles with which they have worked so hard in bringing you up the stream, you exanune your well-chosen tlv. Your line cast of salmon gut is well soaked arnl ready for the biittle you hope to liglit. ^'(JUl• line, a ItHI yards or more of best (juality, has been well chosen and placed carefully on your favorite i-eel by youi- own hands. \ow, yon commi'Mce with a short cast, then a little longer and now with a nii'i- easy motion of your right, your lly dropsjust above where you saw that forty poundei' rise last evening ^ On are Jiist thinking yon have selected the wrong lly when a message iiscends your lini' telling you that ".lock Scott" has proved too enticing, and the next moment some distance above you a dsh .shows hinisel; a magni- ficent leap. Down goes the tip of your rod and acros.s the pool goes the tlsh with such a rush, then another leap and down in the deei) water, almost under your long canoe, there he lies sulking. V(Mi give him a strong lifting strain. Just about as r i' p Li I: m^ K '- J'-' *,; T SPORTING SKETCHES. 2:5 l«l' much as jircen-liciirt ami j^\it will stand. Miinitc altci- iiiiimti' passes. Carefully you see ttuit all Is ready for the next iiiove- inent. Fifteen minutes j)ass, then a slij^ht ()uiv('r. and I lien away goes your fish straij^ht down stream. Your men lose no time in liftiiifj; tlie " Killick." You steady yourself apiinst the tlivvart of the canoe, ready for the lirst jtush of their pikes, over the rapids and down into the next i)Ool, where the lish stops to have another tussle with you. lie tries to take your line under a sunken tree hut your c ireful j;u'th's hold your canoe well over him, and he turns up stream again, to tlie liead of tlie pool with a rush that makes your reel scream. Your line runs clear; yonr iioi)k 'does not draw; all is right still. Then, away he goes across the other side, gives another hig leap, and again down to the bottom of tins pool. Five nnnutes' apparent rest, but the full strain of the rod is tiring him ; a short lun across the streiun, and then he shows his belly, rolls from one side to another, lashes at your line with his tail and then look out ! Indeed you must, for it reciuires the greatest care now, and your guides know it. Ihit he yields to the steady jtrt'ssure. Down across the stream he drops. Heeling in, you stejulily Itiing him nearer and nean-r the canoe. The gait' is ready ; another moment and you think he will be safe ; but no, not yet. One more effort he is able to make, and he makes it. Once more into the rushing water of the midstream and you are obliged 10 give him line. t)ne last leap and round he comes, slowly but surely to the gaff; another moment and your guide has him safely in the boat, a forty-live pounder until 1h' is we glied, but for the time fully that. Then, who shall describe the lishei- man's feelings as his nerves and muscles relax. Once more at rest, he sits on the lovely bank of the stream, the lish. his first salmon, before liim. Never, if he live to be a hundred, and kill hundreds of Hsli as tine and tiner, perhaps, will lie ever experi ence what he does now. He has fought a good light with that tish. strained every lu-rve, and his arms ache after tliree-ipiarters of an hour of such work. At every instant of that time any imperfect knot in his casting line, any fault in the tying of his lly, any tangle of his line on his reel, any mistake by the guides, and that tish would not have been hi>. Well, the sun is getting high. It's warm work. The tish is wet once more, l)ut cannot appreciate it. It weighed ,jusr thirty pounds. Xot ([uite what m m VU JjLl w II i ',: i]--i ■ ' .! i ^ i 256 SPOHTIXa SKETCHES. ^ ri ( i ■ we anticipated, but for all that a flue freah run fish. I'ipes are lit, to the canoe and back to the camp, where the fish is killed over asaiii. and as long as our (islierman lives lie will kill this fish again and again. DAVID DENNE'S FIRST SALnON 1889. . Lines by .1. L. M., written in memory of a trip to the " Little Cascajiedia," wlierc with a ".lock Scot" tied by that fine sports- n.an, the late .1. \V. Skelton, Esc]., 1). I), killed a thirty pound salmon at Brulee I'ool. The poet and the fisherman were in- debted to Mr. .1. W. Skelton for an invitaticm to this river. We were out for a week or more. And j)addling up along the shore, Of the beautiful Caseapedia, We suddenly saw (piite a school Of salmon, lying deep in a pool; (ireat big fellows, some seven or eight. The least, twenty-tlve pounds in weight. \\'e could see that one was fresh run As his scales gleanuMl bright in the sun. Hut they were not to be caught that day, So forward we jtaildh-d up aiul away. And to tlu' camping ground all wtMit, Wliere for the night we pitched our tent. Xext morning, soon after breakfast, The keen Mr. Denne made a cast, But fish were exceedingly shy. And scarce deigned to look at the fly Which be cast over them, but then, Not to be discouraged was Denne, lie fished from nine till nearly four, He cast his lly from slion' to shore Hut still no Im-k ; 'twas all in vain. When! down there fell a shower of rain ; The time had come, and (juick as thought. He lied firm on a big "' .lock Scott.' W i li SPORTING SKETCHES. 2bl re d is tie ts- lul ill- There eaiiie up then a stiiHsh lireeze, One skillful ciist iiiul if you please, Till' biggest Hulinon ((uiekly rose, Just as the lly danced near his nose, A silver flash, a mighty tail, A something clad in silver mail, A whirring sound, a whizzing reel, A clinching of the barl)ed steel, A Hcatt'ring of the shining spray. The tish is on, he I'uns away, Heware tiie tree, l)eware the tree. He makes for it as you can see, 'Tis sunken where the depths are coul, In darkest portion of tiie pool. All safe, the reel begins to tly. See, he has leaped full fo-.i- feet high. And now he makes for lowvr pool. That salmon was not i)()rn a foul. The rapids passed he stops to rest For sorely this poor llsh was pressed. In vain he turns and seeks to hide. The cruel gall' has pierced his side. ***** We took him gently by the tail And placed him fair upon the scale. Hurrah ! I)enne"s toil was well repaid, .Fust thirty pounds his salmon weighe»». STORY OF A DUCK HUNT. Hv I). 1). " Yes, I have been duck-shooting on the Richelieu, hut on this occasion I killed no ducks there. The only things my friend and I brought home in our game bag were two plover and a goo>o, a very wild out' we oiu-e thought. You shall hear why, btit you must read the following account of our trip : '• We started for one piaceand ended i)y going to several others. 258 sj'Oh' Tixa skktches. TIh' tniiii \vi' li;i(l iirraiiKi'*! tt> I'lkr li;i(l uIhd Ik-imi selected l>y otlier Hj)f)i-tsim'i> to convey tlu'iii to tlioir (lest imit ion. LeiiriiiiiK fnmi tlu'Ui that Ihcv liml socurod all the availaMe K'litlt'H and lioats to he liad wlieie they wire ^jjoin^, and as it turned out they had cliosen the sanu' place we had heard of as h^inji a jiood one and were ^oinm to unexpectedly, we made \jp our minds to leave the train and the other party when we arrived at St. .lohns. On reac hinii: this station it was raining in torrents. The peoi)le here had heen prayin>; for rain, not heimr contented to leave the weather to the "(Jreat ("lerk." Their prayer had indeed been answered. The roads were in many places under water and some of the culverts washed out. Oh ! what mud there was every- where. The j)oor faruicrs lost all their root ciops and were in despair. 1 had once stopped at a tisherman's cfj/n//ie somadow just aboui w here we left it, causing us at first to mistake the remaining lamp in the carriage for that in the hunters wiiulow. Now. as I was the only one of the party with rubber boots on, you can understand we were a little discouraged. Still we resolved to try it again, and l)y keep- ing three trees in a line before us as often as the deep holes would allow us, we at last got out into the rushes on the shore, saw the river in the distance, also a stack of marsh hay, and nothing mt)re. We shouted loud and often, but there can no welcome answer. Then we concluded the atbane had been removed (in reality i*; was hidden by the hay stack, and the w ind prevented our being heard). Back again we went to the road, and found SPOli TL\(i SKETCH Ks •2oO oiirlKirsf had iniuiiip'd lo^t't info tlio dilcli unti the coiivi'VaiKM' hiui lolloui'il liiiii. More impliiisiiiil work in ijnisptct, Iml pns- ontly we sturd-d oIliiKiiiii utter bii'H.siiiK ii K<»<'d inuny tluiiKs ami people, uiitl made for an liolei, said to lie a little fnrtiier on llio road. Down came tlie rain, uiakinuc it, if i)()ssii»|«>, still more dilli- enl( to travel. 'I'lie root' of our cairiaLie leaked, and we i|iiite expected the tide to rise over oui' feet. Splash, Hplasli ut-nt tlic horse through it all. l-'ortunately, we were .ill sinokcrs, and o\ir pipes were a ^real comfort, ."^oalso were the |)ocket c iii|);ip;r!iis duck Hhooters ^jenerally provide tlieni-elves with— to keepniii the cold anil wet. In about an lioiii' we reached what h;id iieeii a cross road^ hotel, anil found that it had now lieconie i lirst-c I;ish farm house. Ohservinn no li>ihl in ;iiiy of its wimhiws, we hesi- tated to call so early in tlie mornin.Lj. Imt the divcomforl ean>e(l hy oiir wet clothes overcame all scruiiles. ,ind \sc knoi'kcd xi-oi- ously on the front door. It was opened, rather unwillingly it seemed to us. hut it wiis no. joke to he disturbed at suchan linur. We soon tokl our troubles to an apparition in a ;j,ray llanni-l Hliirt surmounted by a to(|ue roune. Were told that the lahani: was still to lie found in the old place about a mile or so down the river side. We started oil' once more to lind it, followinj; the shore, still without success ; uothiiiK lait the stack could we see. The ni;ihl was still dark and wet. and we returned to the farm uuain. ra|)ped up the wi'ary farmer, who beinj^a Krenchman stimi forgot himself and, with the genial hospitality characterisi ic of his race, bade us enter his house. While lu' }j;ave oui- man in structions as to where to p\it up his horse we piled our lianuaire on the on»' time counter before the bar and edinmeiued hanuiui:; our wet clothes around the hall stove and every where we cciild lind a pej.'. The hre was ri' lit, our hamper opened and we j^'ir- look of a later sui)per than we had taken for some years. Our host would not .join us, but wailed politely and patiently till we had tinisheil lair meal and then conducted us to a room well fur- nished with evcr> condort and i-onvenience. We were soon fast asleep in spite of damp clothes. ^V^' rose at dayli^?hI and p.i: HKik of a lij^ht lireakfast Our piod host had kintlly jilaced his boat at onr disposiil and told us of a K^iod "• bliud " already made near liy, where we n»i;j;ht expect some shootin;^. -As we walked dosvn ;lie marsh to the river side 1 ^ot a shotat twti " yellow and ' t| killed them both. We fotnul tin- lioat in Rood condition and 18 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k ^ i ^'^^ A t/j 1.0 1.1 1.25 1.4 1.8 1^ S w /a ^y. V ^m csi y M Photographic Sciences Corporation ^^ k^^ ,\ ^\ V % .V ;«9^ A ' ^^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 # <^ 4j^ 260 SPORTING SKETCHES. were soon tn.akiuK ourselves as comfortable and cheerfu* in the "blind "as the rain would permit. Two "golden eyes" passed over our decoys as we were loading our guns and these were all the ducks we saw or heard that day. The wind blew us out of the " l)lind " and we landed and sought shelter in an old house with interior so dirty we could not remain inside. We had a new rirte with us, and being anxious to try it we " nnlimbered for target practice," but somehow the shells would not explode (explained afterwards on our way home by discovering that rim instead of central fire cartridges had been supplied). All at once, just outside the rushes riding on the heavy swells we saw what we mistook through the tops of the rushes for a wild goose and quickly gave him a charge of AAA. He tried to Hy, but fell back into the water and made off across the river. Away we went for the boat and then commenced a chase up wind, the hardest my friend said he ever pulled. At last we got another shot, but still on went the goose for mid stream. We headed him, and over the big waves we rushed down wind on the bird, never heeding in the excitement how we should pull back again. Another long shot and we lifted him in quite dead, a little sur- prised at his color, but not fully realizing, until we got into calmer water that after all we had only killed a tame goose. Oh, the goose sped o'er the wave. And the ganders followed fast. The stormy billows surged and rolled, Wild shrieked the autumn blast. We were of course sadly disappointed, but as we could not les- tore him to life and there be; i;j; no wild fowl to shoot we made up our minds to start for home. The rain was over, the roads worse than ever. Having day light in our favor, after a drive, trying alike to man and beast, we made the railway station and without further adventure soon found ourselves at home with leisure to dream of the discordant cries uttered by the animals we disturbed with our lantern in those dark woods on the historic shores of the Richelieu. SPORTING SKETCHES. 261 A DAY'S SNIPE SHOOTING.— 1893. By D. D. On the 16th day of September, the anniversary of many a good day's snipe shooting, my friend and I started by an early train from Montreal to Snipeville. Tlie morning was cool and pleasant and promised well. We felt like walking, our pipes were in perfect order and the tobacco of the best quality. Our canine companion, well knowing what "was up," seemed as happy as his master at the prospect of a good day's sport. It was not quite certain that the snipe had arrived ; but, then, had we not often found them before at this date on our favorite ground? Arrived at the station, the dog scampers away as if inclined to follow the departing train, but a whistle recalls him to his place. Then a walk of about two miles and we are on our "happy hunting grounds" once more, looking for signs of the arrival of our game. We walk over several acres of marsh, when, all a?, once, just as we were begini ing to despair, " Scaipe" soundin^; behind us calls for a quick shot and a miss at that. Away goes the bird and in vain we cry " Mark," " Mark." He is soon lost to sight altho' to memory so very dear. A few more steps and then up go one, two, three, and then, four more birds all at once, but out of range. The wind has risen and is blowing half a gale. The birds are very wild and rty as if they would never return. Two hours more over such heavy ground, accompanied by rain and wind, shows no birds killed. We try a " nip" and then rest a while for a smoke. Then, oh joy, we hear the cry we love so well and just overhead. Tne same birds have returned, down they go like arrows. At once we are after them. They have run some distance from where they " lit," but very soon we hear their cry of alarm ; up they go, one after another, as wild as hawks, but we were prepared for this. Four shots follow in quick succession, and down go three birds much to the spaniel's joy as he rushes to retrieve them. The rest of these birds are scattered over the field, and after a little more walking we secure two more. Then we try other fields, getting occasional long shots, but with only fairly good success. All this time it has been raining. A flre and some grub seem in order. Soon we are enjoying both, under 262 SPORTING SKETCHES. a good thickly spreading tree with its huge trunk at our back, and a bright blaze in frant. It ia unnecssary to say we welcomed our lunch. Who would not under such circumstances? The draughts we took to keep out the cold were not to be sneezed at, at least so we thought as we filled our pipes and turned towards the cheerful blaze made by burning cedar rails from an old time fence. Then the sun shines out and once more we are ready and our dog having finished his biscuits looks ({uite fresh. We wade across a stream, nearly deep enough to fill our rubber boots, and soon we are expecting more sport, but we are not to have it. Down comes the rain again, and once more we are having a pretty cool bath. In spite of wind and weather, we Idok for birds. No more have "dropped in." We are a little early for them this season. Another week of cold and rain and we shall do better. The birds will then have improved their condition. So we turn toward the station, homeward iMJund thinking it wise to catch an early train. On our road we are invited to try some milk at a pleasant-looking farm house. With the milk we are ofFereil cake. The farmer's daughter wLo gave us these acreptable luxuries, thinks, no doubt, that city folks have good appetites, for, although we had lunched, this milk and cake seemed the best we had ever tasted, and the lassie who handed tliem to us a very angel without boots. " Nuff said." The train was on time, and home that evening looked brighter than usual. Such trips do not repeat them- selves often enough in our sporting days, at least so we thought the next morning as we gazed upon a lovely bright blue sky. (^^ i; SPORTING SKETCHES. 263 WITH ROD AND GUN. Sport Around Montreal Fifty Years Ago. Snipk and WoonrocK FLK.vrrFui. ox Cuvk; STKiiirr, Bhavkr Hali, Him,, Sr. CATHi;itiyK Stri;i:t, and Whiore BONAVENTURE STATION STANDS. Writtfii for Hit .Mcmtrual Stiir by Major Qeobue Hoi'.NI', the foiimler of the Fish ami (iiiine I'foteutioii Ciiih of Ihc Provinee of Quohc;, ami the oldest aportsiimii with rod and gun still livinj; in this eit.v. Marsh and swamp. Sportsmen with dog and gun. Shots ring- ing through covers, and snipe and woodcock falling by the score. And all this on the ground where now Christ Church Catiiedral rears it« stately spire and a sea of houses stretch west to the Tanneiies and Cote St. Antoine ; where a stream of life passes day by day up and down Beaver Hall hill, and long rows of stores niark what is now Craig street ! And the sportsmen, many of them still with us ! Can our readers imagine it? And yet this is no romaiice, as the following interesting sketch of the origin of thi: Fish and (4ame Club tells : Previous to the enacting of onr game laws, spring shooting was largely indulged in. Fifty years ago game of all kind was very numerous (more particularly woodcock), and although in those days we had very few sportsmen who kept dogs and hunted cock (the king of the feathered game tribe), notwithstanding this, immense numbers of those tine birds were killed on their arrival in early spring. It was no uncommon thinj; for the writer and others of the well-kno« n sporting gentlemen hereafter named (all crack shots) to bag from twenty-Hve to thirty-live couple of cock in ft day's hunt, whereas today five to six couple is considered good sport. The (hvys of which I write, from 1837 to 18l>5, we had not to go any great distance from the city to have good sport with both cock and siiipe. The following places were our favor- ite grounds : For snipe, the fields from Beaver Hall hill, includ- ing tlie site where now stands Christ Church Cathedral, com- 264 SPORTING SKETCHES. prising the whole district from Sherbrooke to the south of Dor- chester, extending as far west as Guy street, there being only two or three houses in the whole tract in those days. The next convenient snipe grounds was upon the grounds where the Bon- aventure Station now stands, thence extending to the Tannaries. Previous to the Lachine Railway being built, this was a regular swninp or quagmire. Passing the Tanneries, we could i.".vvays depend upon getting good sport with cock and snipe on both sides of the little river St. Pierre, all the v^ay to Blue Bonnets, and close to where the Lachine Canal now is, which latter was only a ditch at that tinie. We frequently bagged a few black duck and blue-winged teal along the creek or river St. Pierre. Little attention was paid to duck shooting' by us in those days. Snipe and cock received all the time we could spare, they being the gavne most worthy tiie attention of sportsmen. Other con- venient covers were the district of country known as the " Bea- ver Meadow " and " Sanganore,"' running from the head of Pap- ineau road to the woods in rear of Longue Pointe village. Still nearer home we could always be safe for a few brace of snipe, at early morning, along the deep and muddy creek commencing at Victoria Square, along Craig street, past the Champ de Mars to Papineau road. I have many times shot ten or twelve brace of snipe in this creek of a morning before breakfast. Between the two niountjiin«, where Mount Royal Cemetery is now situated, was where the first cock was usually killed in early spring, this being before the present game law was in existence. The sports of IHJi? and following years used to vie with each other a.s to who should have the honor of kilMng the first cock of the .season, wliich was then considered a great event. The l)ird was ihen ex- hibited in " Dolly's" window, and always attracted nmch admi- ration, and was considered worthy of a notice in the daily papers of the country as a matter of interesting and important news. This spot used to be visited at early morn l)y the Inte Jacob Hall, Joshua Bell, myself and others, for weeks before the birds ar- rived, in order to have the honor of killing the first cock of the season. Such a practice at the present day would be considered ijeneath the dignity of a true sportsman, alike destructive and wicked. But to return to my subject, the origin of the Fish and Game Protection Club. I, with my chum and friend, the late Joshua Bell, one day drove in a caleehe Avith our dogs; this was SPORTING SKETCHES. 266 the style of vehicle in general use with the carters of the period - a high two-wheeled trap on leather spriuK^*, a most coiufortable and convenient mode of travelling, more particularly for sports. men. One line afternoon in the month of May we proceeded to the Blue Bonnet covers, a favorite feeding-ground for cock and snipe, luid a glorious afternoon's sport, bagged some twelve or more couple of cock and as many brace of snipe. On our return from the covers, close to the edge of the same, our three dogs came to a dead point. Tiiere they stood like statues, with ex- tended taih, eyes glistening like diamonds, not a muscle moving, only an orcasional trembling of the body, prodncrd by intense excitement. What a picture to a true sportsmun ! After wait- ing some time, we urged the dogs to go in and tlush the bird, but to no purpose. They having been taught otherwise, refused to deviate from their teaching ; the poor brutes were in a perplex- ing condition, knowing that to Hush the bird meant the whip. Contrary to the usual practice, and the evening advancing, I had to go in front of the dog^ and put the bird up, he laying close to the noses of the dogs, they surrounding him. My friend Bell took a shy at him, and over he went. Josh was a crack shot : his pulling the trigger meant certain death. On examining the spot we found the nest and eggs of the poor binl. Upon this discovery our remorse and regret can best be imagined. We felt sorry at having bagged so many that after- noon ; that was the last of our spring shooting. To this incident, simple as it appears, are we indebted for the origin of " The Fish and Game Protection Club " and amendments to the game laws soon afterwards by the legislature. On our way to the city we talked over the events of the day, and decided to call together a few of our best sportsmen (accustomed to cock shooting) to meet us at " Dolly's" the next day, to di-cuss the advisability of adopting measures to form a Fish and tlame Protection Club. The meeting was hidd accordingly. The following highly re- spected citi/ens and practical sportsmen with rod and gun at- tended, namely, Joshua Bell, George Home, Augustus Reward, Alexander Murray, Chas. J. Coursol, William Breckenridge and H. W. King. After discussing sport and sporting matters, we formed ourselves into a committee to canvass for members, and, as soon as twenty-five or thirty names wei'e obtained, to call a meeting to organize and elect ollice-bearers. Soon after we m-- 2GG SPORT INC SKETCHES. M'cuivd the requisite number of imiiies, and a nieetinKw.iH called jiiul luld at "Dolly's," and the following ofUce-bearers were elected : A. lleward, preaident ; .1. HreckenridKc, v lee-president : A. Henderson, treasurer ; Alexander Murray, secretary. Committee, Geo. Home, .1. K. Malhiot and .loshua Hell. The first business transacted was i-je naming aeoninilttce to draft a constituti-)n and by laws and adopt measures for the passing of Game Laws by the LeKixlnture. To our exertions and those of the sister ci-.ib of the old city of Quebec (who was a few years our senior) is the province indebted for amendments to the game laws since that time. We liad mucli to contend with dur- ing; this, our first year of existence, public opinion, especially in the hftbiftint country, being against us, thcj people l)elieving we were acting in our own interests, and for our gratification as sportsmen, rather than for the benefit of the country generally. Fortunately there is a difTerent opinion exinting today. As evi- dence of this, from a beginning of twtnty-liveor thirty members, we now ntiniber over three hundred, and are steadily increasing. Our first annual i-lub dinner was held In April, IKtO, at John Ore's hotel, then known as tlie " war ofllce," it being the hea,. quarters for the old Tory or Hritish party. Feeling ran high in those days, and elections in our city were times of war ; axe- handles were in great demand, Indng with our fl.sts the only wea- pons used. Pistols were seldom brought into reciuisition in our par^y fights. The dinner above alluded to was presided over by our first president, Augustus Howard, a host in himself, in the cover, or at the festive board. Not more than twelve or fifteen sat down ; they were all enthusiastic sports and crack shots, as well as jolly good fellows, and although very temperate when on the hunt (as is necessary to success), at the dinner table couhl do ample justice to the fine old Madeira and champagne, which in those good old days was cheap as compared to the present time. Annual dinners have been held ever since, and the work of the c5ub goes steadily or, doing e. grand work in preserving the fish and game of the country, thus securing to the people of the pro- vince a continuance of good and wholesoMie food at a low price. Then* is much yet to be done, the district being so large and roquiriug so many inspectors to visit our lakes, rivers, streams, marshes and forests during the close season, to see that our laws are respected and anyone found violating the same prosecuted. i^POli TINd SKK TCHES. 267 All this requires rnonoy, wlilch has boon heretofore raised i\v the niembers of the cliih, who are working in the interest of the pul)lie. Is it too much to expect soiiu' assistance from the peo- ple, through the Ciovernment of the day, fc" the e itension and the better carrying on of so nol)le a work i I trust our enter- prising and enerKetic president (elect), Alderman Cleorge W. Stepiiens. known as the "faithfu! watch-dog" (which means much), who hereafter will be known as the "pointer, Irish or Gordon setter," much more iiitelliKent aninnils than the " watch- dog," will make an etl'ort to secure t'.ie assistance suj^gested above. He, being a lifelong Liberal, should have m\u'h inllu- ence with the Merc er administration, if he l)e yet true to his party. A word now to young, inexperienced sportsnum. Many imag- ine that shooti.ig ami drinking are synonymous terms. This, in my experience, is a slur on the true and gentlemanly sport with rod and gun. Anyway, I never knew a good shot addicted to drink or of intemperate habits. To be successful with cock, four things are essential : A clear head, a keen eye, a good pair of legs, and a brace of well-trained dogs. As a rule, our dogs are not as well broken and steady since the introduction of breech- loaders as in old times when nmz/le-loaders were in use, Tiien, plenty of time was taken in loading, the dog being trained to come into heel, and down, "charge," where he lay quietly until orders were given to " seek dead." Whereas, with the breech- loader, the young and inexperienced sports rush after the bird when down, loading as they advance, and by so doing Hush other birds, which course has a tendency to make the dogs unsteady and wild. Three-fourths of the enjoyment of cock-shooting is the action and proper hunting of the dogs ; the bird, to the prac- tised s|)ortsman, is of minor importance. Another point to be observcfl is not to enter the cover too early in the moi-nlng, vvhen the dew is heavy. Much time will thus be saved from false point--, the scent being strong where the birds had been feeding and moving about at early morn. Never permit your dogs to run when going to or returning from cover; they will get as nmch work as is good for their health during the day, particularly in heavy and dirty ground. On returning at night, the dogs, being both tired and stiff, should be the first to receive attention. I have frequently had to lift them from the waggon, they being un- 268 SPOUTING SKETCHES. nble to assist tli«>mNt>lveH. Tltpy Nliould iiiwiiodiiitely b(> pincod in a warm .staJ)le or bam, and provided with plenty of cloan oat- straw and wator ; an liour or two later, a good dinner of soup and meat sliould be served ; "dessert" may be dispennod with. Next moridiiK f 'ii'ly they will be out ati brisk as ever, ready for their v.orlt ; for l)realifast, porriilf^e and milk should Ims given. Some dogs refuse porriip tlio bird, wliicli 1 MU)pi)cd. After waitiiij? some time, I prorcedcd witli the out a (juarter of an acre wide and a mile or so long, a well- known summer ground, surrounded l»y high, well-wooded land. I was walking on the high ground, within shooting distance of my dog and the edge of the swamp, when old "Carlo' came to a dead point. I urged him to flush the l)ird ; after waiting some time, up he got and Hew low across the marsh. I tired, imt owing to the smoke from my gun I could not see whether I had shot him. I turned to my friend, who was a little distance in my rear, to enciuire if I had stopped t he bird. He replied : " You have sliot them all." I answered : " What do you mean { " He said : " What did you lire at, anyway f " " I tired at a cock." KIs answer came : " You have shot a whole covey of ducks.' This rather surprised me, not having seen the ducks, which were sitting in a small pool of clear water in the swamp. Heing on high ground,! had to shoot at an angle, and the ducks coming within range of my gun accounts for my liaving killed seven teal ducks not seen by me. Our anxiety now was to get the birds, no boat or canoe being within a mile of us. " Carlo," however, with his other tine ((ualitics, was a good retriever. In he went, but 270 SPORT I NO UK ETCHES. It; tryiii;; to net on the la/y man's biul principle, by hringiiifi; them out all at once, whii-li was im{)o.sHlbl«'. lie adopted the proper courHC of hriiifj^iiiK them one l)y one. after tlie losHof much time. Ill tliose days we used to have four or Hve wcekH of good Hum- mer cock-shuotlng, the open HeaHon eommencing on tlie loth July, when the young birds were well Hedged, and in good condi- tion, whereas now tlie open season begins on the iHt September, when the birds are few, yet in their moultage, full of dust and ))lu feathers, In a sickly condition, and unfit for the table, and couse(|uontly should not be shot. Whoever were instrumental in changing the law knew little of the habits of the bird they were interesting themselves about. After our afternoon's sport and return to town, we dined at *' Dolly's," where we met several of our sporting friends (some of whom are still living), who were much amused with our singular experience of aiming and tiring at a cock, and killing seven ducks not aimed at. The Fish and Game Protection Club was established in 1861), thirty-one years ago. The game laws at that time existing were very imperfect, and the pro^'isions of tlio same seldom enforced. Large and small game of all kind were in great abundance, and were wan- tonly destroyed by pot-hunters and others at all seasons of the year. Partridge and black duck were then sold in our market as low as 20c. a brace. Were it not for tlie united efforts of this and the Quebec Clul), fish and game could only be found on the tables of the wealthy to(iay. The club continued its work with great energy up to 1870, when, from lack of funds and encouragement l)y the Gov- ernment and general public, it suspended its operations. No meetings were held or business transacted until 1875, although the office Ijearers never relinquished their positions as such, be- lieving that at no distant day the club would 1)6 revived and re- sume Its good work with fresh vigor, which it did. On the 11th of May, 1875, a circular was issued, signed l)y the then president, Judge Betournay, Henry McKay, Escj. (past prssident), and H W. King, Esq. (second secretary), calling a meeting of the members and others interested, with a view to reorganizing the club. In accordance with the circular, the meeting was held and the fol- lowing gentlemen were present, namely, George A. Drunmiond, Henry McKay, John Oglivy, W. H. Rintoul, F. G. Brady, W. H. Kerr and Alex. Murray, all old members of the club, as well as ^^f ■ I srnn nxa sKETCifES. 271 Hovoral piiltl rspii'llfil Kt'iitlciiiiMi iiiul sports hiiviiiK iin liitiToxt In the pr»'si'rv)vlii)u of the llsli tind gium' of llu'comilry, including the followiiiK (iiHciplcs of Isuiik Walton : H. U. Ivch, Ksq., I. II.. SteariiH, Kn(|,, and A. N. Shi'wiui, Ks(|. Few auKliTs visiting oui- salmon grounds can hundli; a rod, ciist a lly, and sncccssfiilly play their IImIi in so scientific a manner as the three above named gentlemen. To this nu'etiiiK are we indeided lor the success of the cluh Hince that date. Anyone in sjmpathy with us in this grand work o^' securing wholesome food for the poor as well as the rich should enroll their names as members and encourage us by their means and iulluence, • • eo ' \<< 272 SPORTING SKETCHES. A iMON Amt M. Dennio. Le plaisir do vous etre agreable me decide a vous narrcr qnel- ((ues dnMea d'episodos an ivces a ma connaissance dans le cours de UK'S expi'dition^. de chasse et de peche. L'hiibitude de marcher a la raquettem'ainduit a faire la chasse an caribou et prcsque chatiue hiver je chemine du cote du Club ShawiniRan, pour cec exercice des plus salutaires, tl men point cle vue. J'etais en Janvier a la chasse et poursuivant un caribou sur un lac, lorsque I'animal serre de pres, s'elanva du cote d'une chute de 20() pieds de hauteur, dite la chiite du lac En Croix, et s'y precipi'a la tete la premiere. Ma premiere pensee fut de des- cendre le lonj; de la chiue tranq\iillement me disant : " Voila un caribou ((ui sera tue sans balle." Quelle ne fut pas ma surprise, une fois rendu au pieds de la chute, de voir mon animal trotlant sur le lac Wapizagonlce et se sauvant de nous sans aucune bles- sure apparente. Celuila n'a pas besoin d'assurance contre les accidents, Le meme hiver j'ai vu une femelle de caribou k la(iuelle j'avals casse une patte de devant se sauver en trottinant pour un mille et s'arrf'ter pour encorner un petit chien ti pi^rdrix qui I'avait suivi et meme faire mine de fondre sur moi lorsque j'arrivai pres d'elle ; ce qui demontre la force vitale du caribou. On dit que I'orignal est trds sauvage et timide, mais je suis porte ii croire le contraire. Durant le ?nois d'aout dernier J'avi- I'onnais en canot d'ecorce avec ma femme, mes deux tlllettes et mon homme sur le grand lac Antikia-amac lors(|Uc j'apervois un immense orignal, un male avec ui oois superbe. L'animal etalt a piocher des racines de nenuphars pres du rivage et ne s'est decids- ii partir (jue lorsque nous somraes arrrives a (|uarantc pieds de lui, de sorte que nous nous sommes contemples pendant cinq minutes au moins. ,Te n'avais qu'un Kodak pour le jH-endre. et il est parti tranquillement sans s'inquleter de nous. I'a me transporte encore de voir le plaisir (|ue cette rencontre a cause k ma femme et mes flllettes. Ell^s pcuvent se vanter, je crois d'etre les seules de leur sexe qui aient vu un orignal a I'etat sau- vage. SPORTING SKETCHES. 273 J'ai beaucoup peche dans ma vie -4 (^ Farces Futitro." 3 FISH AND GAME LAWS. ••!• 1896 '1^ ->! OFFICERS 1^ J. T. FINNIE, M.D., .... J. B. TRESSIOKH, THOS. C. BRAINERI), - - - - G. W. MACDOIJGALL, • . - President. Vice-President. Hon. TreasKrer. Hon. CoKiisel. J. S. LEO, 1685 Notre Dame Street, Montreal, Hon. Secretary. ■>! COMMITTEE l«- H. W. Atwatkh, Geo. Bori/iKU, E. D.T. ClIAMIIKHS, E. O. CHAMl'AtiNi;. m. cociikntiiai-kb, Col. D'Ohsonnens, H. (}. Elliott. T. E. Emmans, J. Gknilkh, Gko. Hokxk, II. K. Ives, R. KlEHNAN. Pkiku M.\(Ki:.\/.ii?. W. H. I'AUKLH, H. Reii), ,1. p. l{(.i he. (). HuLI.AM), T. Roy, .IH., W. W Sioi'T. A. N. Shkw.vn, .1. H. Sl'AKKOW, 1. H. Stearns, ('.. W. Stkimiexs, \V. C. Tu()Tri;R. 276 FISH AND GAME LA WS. OI-OSE SEASON ROR GSAIN/IEI. PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. NOT TO BE HUNTED, KILLED OR TAKEN. CAUIHOU, .... From 1s( Kkh'y. to 1st Skpt. DKKR AND MOOSK, - - Fhom 1st .Ianv. to Int Oc T. N.li.— The hunting of Moo.sc, Caribou or Doer witli Dogs, or by means of Snares, Traps, etc., is prohibited. Excei)t in the Counties of Ottawa and Pontiac, lied De«>r may l)e hunted with Dogs from 20th October till the 1st of November of each year. It is fori)idden to hunt, kill or take Dt-er or Moose by "Yard- ing" or " Crusting," or to hunt, kill or take at any finic Fawns or the young of less t ban one year's age, of Moose, I )eer or Caribou. No per on (white man or Indian) has a right, during one sea- son's hunting, to kill or take alive unle'^s he has previously obtained a permit from the Commissioner of Crown Lands for tliat jinrpose— move than 2 Moose, 2 Caribou, and H Deer. Afttr the first ten days of the Close Season, all R-iilways and Steamboat Companies and Public Carriers are forbidden to carry the whole or any i>art (except the skin) of any Moose, Carilxai or Deer, without being atilhorized thereto by the Commissioner of Crown Lands. BKAVKH. .... MINK. OTTKH. MARTEN, i PKKAN, - - . t HARK, . - - - [ MC.^KRAT. . - - [ WOODCOCK, SNIPE, - | PARTRIDCE oi. any kink | BLACK DCCK, TFAL, i WILD DICK OK A.NV , KIM). KXCKI'T .Slli;i.- ; DKAKi; A.NI) Cifl.l., - ) Untii, Novkmiu;i{ 1st, HKX). FltOM 1st Al'UlI, TO 1st NOVEMUKU. FnoM 1st Fi;it'Y. TO 1st NOVKMHKK. Fhom 1st .May TO 1st .Ian. i'oi.i.owi.nu FwoM TO 1st .Ski^ti;.miii;h. Fuo.M to liith Ski'TKMUKII. 1st Fkh'y. 1st I'kh'v. Fkom 1st May to 1st Ski'TKMiiku. A nd at any t ime of the year bet\> eon cue hour after sunset and one hour before suniisi". li is also I'DKIudiikn lo keep exposed aiming such i)rohibiled hours, i,uui;s or 1)JX'oy.s. FISH AX J) GAME LAWS. 277 Hunting l)y moans of Snares, Springs, Ca^os, etc., of Part- ridge, Woodfock, Snipe, IJIacii Duclv, Teal or any Wild DuoU is Strictly Piu)HiiuTii;i). N.B.— Nevertlieless, in thai part of tin- I'roviuci' in tliu East and North of tlie Connties of Bellechasso and Montniorenc-i, the inhabitants nuiy at all seasons of the year, bnt only for the pur- pose of obtaining? food, shoot any of the liirds mentioned in the foregoing section. BiHDs known as Pekciiehs, except the Falconida-. Wild Pigeons, King Fishers, Crows, Havens, Waxwinijs (Hceollets), Shrikes, Jays, Magpies, Sparrows and Starlings. PitoM 1st Mahch TO 1st SEl'TlOMnEK. To take Ni;st.s or E(i(!S of Wrr.i) Bumis at any time of the year. N.B. — Fine of §2 to ^ItK), or imprisonment in default of pay- ment. No person wlio is not domiciled in the Province of Quebee. or in that of Ontario, can at any timeluint in tlas I'rovinee. with- out having previously obtained a license to that eireet from the Commissioner of Crown Lands. Such peiinit is not transferable. [It. ind led ^ FISHERY L.A\A/S K^ IT IS UNLAWFUL TO TAKE SALMON (AN(JLiv(i) From Ifith At'oisT to 1st FKitKiAKv OUANANfCItE " loth Sei't K. TO 1st l)i:i KMni:i?, SPECKLED TUOIT ( .. . . Octohkk to 1st Mvv iSaltrlinusronfinalitt) t 1st Uciohkk to 1st .\ia\. ^"^^J'rl-rp'^X ^^^"^ '' \ " l'"'tl' Oc TOBEi! TO 1st I)i:( i;Mr,i:K. PICKEREL OH DORE .... " loth Ai'ifii. to loth :\Iav. BASS '• loth Ai'iiii TO loth .IrNi;. MASKLN'ONGE '• 2.5th Mav ro 1st .Jily. WHITEFISH '• l.jihOcTonioRTOlstUErE.MBEH. .1/^ fhetic dtifeft air inr/iisirr. Xrf or S*'!iie Fis/iin;/ iriffioiif /wVr/i.sv s' pi-ohihifcd. Xcfs must be raised from Saturn'ai/ niqkt until Mondivj movnimj. Netn cannot be set, or Seines tified, no a.'! to bar Channels or Ikiys. Fine of fn to $'H), or imi)ri3onment in default of payment. 278 FISH AXD GAME LA WS. ¥A V X.B.— Anplinfjc by hand (with liook and line) is tlio only means allowed to hv nsed for taking Fisli in the lakes and rivers under eontrol of the Government of the Province of Ouel)ec. No |)i'rson who is not doiiiieiled in the Province of Quebec can at any time tish in the lakes or rivers under the contiol of the Government of this Province, not actually underlease, without having previei;sly obtained a })ennit to that ellect fj.mi ti>e Commissioner of Crown Lands. Such permit is only valid for the time, jjlac*' and persons therein indicated. This applies to Indians as well as white men. I'Mshing by means of Xets is jirohibited in the following Rivers, with li^ut^. extending one-lmlf mile on each side of the mouth of ejich, these rivers being set apart for the natural and artificial propagation of Fish: North Hiver, County of Argenteuil ; Sal- mon liiver. County of Huntingdon ; Magog and Massawlppi River ;. Counties of Stanstead and Sherbrooko. No person shall, during such prohibited time, chcvn'uil (red deen dans i('8 eomtcs d'Ottawa ot de I'ontiac, dopuis lo lid octohre,jus(|u'au ler novt-nihre de chat|ue annee. II fsf (fi'i'i'Hihi de duisser, tuer ou prendre I'oiijjnal et le die- vreuil dansles ravages (yarding) de ces animaux, ou en prolitaiit de la croute de la neiRe (crusting) ; on de chasser, tuei' ou jireiidre, en Sept. 9. Macukusks, Sahcki.lks, Canauks SAivAiiEs de toute espece (exeepte Harles, BecScies, Huarts, (Joelnnds) Du ler Mai au ler Sept. Kt en aucun temps de I'annee cut re une lieure apres le coucher et une heiire avant le coiiche du soleil. II est aussi defendu de se servir d'(ip))c/lant». etc., durant ces heiires de |)rolubition. H I- i 280 FISH Ay J) dAMh' LA U'S. II est de plus strictenient defendu de prendre iiu n'oyen de collets, resHorts, eiij^cs, etc., kucmiii des oSseaux luentionne.s aux Nos 7. H et 1). X.M,--N<'iiniiioins duns les parties de la Province sltmVs a Test et an nord des conites de Meileeluisse et Montmorency, les habi- tants peuvent cliasser rn fi)i(tis ,*, le Martin- pechenr, le Corhean, la t'orneille, le.s Jascurs, (Heeollets), les Pies-Grieches, les Gcais, la Pie, le Moineau. les Ktour- neanx I)u ler Mars an ler Sept. 11. EM.KVKH I.KS OkI'KS OtT NiDS 1>'0|SKA\TX SAI'VACiKS.. Kn tout temps de I'aanee. N.B. —Aniendes de ^2 a JtiKK), pour cliaque infraction, ou einpri- sonnement a d«'faut de paienient. (,*uicon«|ne n'a pas won dondcile dans la Province de Quehec o»i dans celle d'Ontario, ne pent, en anrun temps, faire la chasse en cette Province sans y etre atitorlse par un permiHdn ConuuisHaire des Terres de la Court»nne. Ce pernils n'est pas transferable- k 1 L.OIS suR I-.A reicme:. IL EST DEFENDU PAR LA LOI DE PRENDRE 1, Saumox (a la ligne) l>n 15 Aout an ler Fev. 2. Otanaxichk l>u 15 Sept. an ler Dec. :i. TituiTK TAt'iiKTKE (de ruis8e.i.n ou de riviere, etc.,) {anlmo fonfhmlls) Dn ler Oct. au ler Mai. GuossK Thlit''; Guise, lunye, touladi, {» (.AM/-: /,A II X 281 N.H.- T,a pt'cha li la liKiie (t'(vtinc i>t li^^iio) si:i i.k est aiitorisoc (laiiH It's lacs ft ii's rlvit'ivs sous li' colli lolo dii (Joiivcriiciiicut lic la I'roviuco do (^urlu'c. Toiite iHTsoniH' non domicilit'e dans ia I'ri vincc di- Qiu-iiec est ol)ii>;t'i' de sf procurer nil ix-nnis dii ("niimd^saire des Terres de la C'oiiroune, pour pt'cher dans Ics lacs ou les Rivieres sous le eon- trt'ile du (iouverneiuent de la Province (pii ne sont pas sous hail. Ce peruiis n'est valalile (pie pmir le teiii])s. leudroit et Ics pei- 80UiH's(pii y soiit iudii|iies. Ceei saiijilitpie aux sauvaj^es coniine a la race lilauohes. La peclie ail nioyeu de Filets «'st defendu dans les rivieres ci apW'H nieiit ioiiiiees. aiiisi que sur uu eleudu il'iiii deiui iiiilie chaDanie, MONTREAL.