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Ghe CANADIAN
FIELD NATURALIST

VOLUME XLVI

1934

THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ CLUB
OTTAWA, CANADA

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VOL. XLVIII, No. 1 JANUARY, 1934

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ISSUED JANUARY 15, 1934

Entered at the Ottawa Post Office as second-class matter

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THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ cB

Patrons: ae LN eae
THEIR EXCELLENCIES THE GOVERNOR GENERAL AND COUNTESS OF BESSBOROUGH ;

President: Dr. M. E. Witson. >
1st Vice-President: Mr. HERBERT GROH 2nd Vice-President: Mr. P. A. Oa :
Secretary: Miss GRACE S. LEWIS, Treasurer: Mrs. WILMoT LLOYD, 582 Mariposa Ave.,

344 Lisgar Road, Rockcliffe Park. Rockcliffe Park.

ag hana Members of Council: F. J. ALCOCK, R. M. ANDERSON, Miss M. E. Cowan, Messrs. H. G.
CRAWFORD, ‘ARTHUR C ae: Looe Oh DELUuRY, F. J. FRASER, C. E. JOHNSON, A. G. KINGSTON, EB.
M. KINDLE, (, W.. H., LANCELEY, A. LAROcQUE, DoucLas LEECHMAN, HARRISON F. LEWIS,
Hoyrs LLOYD, MARK G. McELHINNEY, A. E. PORSILD, E. E. PRINCE, L.S. RUSSELL, J. DEWEY
SOPER, C. M. STERNBERG, E. F. G. WHITE, Miss PEGGY WHITEHURST, R. T: D. WICKENDEN,
W. J. WINTEMBERG, and Presidents of Affiliated Societies.

Auditors: A. G. KINGSTON and HARRISON F. LEWIS.

Editor:
DoucLAsS LEECHMAN
National Museum, Ottawa, Canada. ae)

7 Associate Editors: : : oO
DS ENNESS es os ee att Sa Anthropology GLYDEN TL, PATCH: oO aor Herpetology —

Sie a tal RUDY cg tata Page SAE PS NEA NEL Ae ee eh Botany R. M. ANDERSON..............Mammalogy
F. R. LATCHFORD. BS SAR ROSIN eS Conchology A. G. HUNTSMAN...... oh es Marine Biology
ARTHUR GIBSON...... i Ay SS a Entomology — OPO AS TAVERNER Sic. ois c5s)s serene can Ornithology —
Fis AICOCK:) fsa hee ek. el eee Geology E. M. KINDLE. Bp detuhansnane ts ues Palen ieee :
CONTENTS foie:
PAGE
Reclassification of the Fossil Unionide (Fresh-water Mussels) of Western Canada. ‘By Ta
MISSOLE oo ics a shale eN et are ale ot oe (Sg Bey coh a Ot at ela nea YAR ec
On the Behaviour of the Long-Finned Squid (Loligo pealii, (Lesueur)). By J. A. Siovencous. 4
Notes on Certain Recently Described Dinosaurs. By C. M. Sternberg................-.-e08- qT
Notes on the Rearing of Captive Young Meadow Jumping Mice. By H. Roy Ivor............ Se
Erucastrum Gallicum—A Sly Intruder. By Herbert Grohe ona Source nee, Comba anode 10°
Notes on the Nesting of the Duck Hawk in Ontario. By Robert Vince Eindsayy 0-2 seta: ii
Birds:and:a Bath.) By Susan KoSquires so 0 G0 si ea eo he rea eh CMe a ae 4
Some ee on the Winter Birds of Yarmouth and the Tusket Islands of Nova Scotia. By R. A. ‘ee ‘
ODMSOD ee Oe RN I a Ae Sa en «2 ae eh Se ee gig res neal 15
eGiement eh onedcial Standing, Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club, a the Close of the Year, 4
55th Annual Meeting, Gttawa Field-Naturalists’ Club; Gouneil Report. Ra tana to 19

Notes and Observations:— ae
The Madeira Petrel, Oceanodroma castro A New Bird for Canada. By P. A. Taverner...
Microtus tetramerus on Vancouver Island, B.C. By Kenneth Racey NERA 2 Be hc aha i e

Book Reviews;— ig
Birds mae Ges ae a from the Kootenay Valley, Southern British Co! umbia. By Joseph

gullies 50 5 RO Po I en ET A Re OE ea are Pac

: The official publications of THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ CLUB have been issued =
iz since 1879. The first were The Transactions of the Otiawa Field-Naturalists’ Club, 1879-1886,
#8 two volumes; the next, The Ottawa Naturalist, 1886-1919, thirty-two volumes; and these have
_ # been continued by The Canadian Field-Naturalist to date. The Canadian Field-Naturalist i is
_ issued monthly, except for the months of June, July and August. Its scope is ae publication
iz of the results of original research in all departments of Natural History. _ a

as a

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increase the subscription list of The Canadian Field-Naturalist. We are, therefore, caine.
who is truly interested in the wild life of our country to help this Sects to its ae: ful
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Subscriptions ($2.00 a year) should be forwarded to — Lge
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ield-Nat

ultimately led to more detailed

The Canadian Field-Naturalist

VOL. .XLVIII

OTTAWA, CANADA, JANUARY, 1934 No. 1

_ RECLASSIFICATION OF THE FOSSIL UNIONIDAZ (FRESH-WATER
MUSSELS) OF WESTERN CANADA‘
By LORIS S. RUSSELL

OR SOME TIME the writer has had in
preparation a complete revision of the
mi fossil non-marine Mollusca from western
“Canada. At present only the section on
the Unionidae is finished. A summary of the
writer's conclusions on this family is offered
here, so that the revised nomenclature may be
available for other studies. Criticisms of the
scheme outlined will be appreciated.

For many years the living North American
Unionidae were grouped in the three genera
Margaritana, Unio and Anodonta. Naturally
this system was followed by the palaeontologists.
The great diversity of form within the family
classification.
Study of the soft parts revealed that the gills,
especially in their modification as larval pouches,
afforded the best basis for a natural arrangement.
This was first completed by C. T. Simpsonz
and later revised by A. E. Ortmanns.

Unfortunately, such a classification based on
soft parts cannot be applied directly to fossil
material, and up to the present most palaeonto-
logists have followed the old method, referring
the majority of extinct species to the genus Unio
in the broadest sense. The time has come when
the convenience of this method is outweighed by
its obsolescence. Some attempt, however ten-
tative, must be made toward the adoption of a
nomenclature that expresses the probable rela-
tionship of the fossil to the living species. The
writer’s method involves the conchological com-
parison of the fossil with living genera and spec-
ies. The resultant classification is artificial, and
probably false in part, but no other procedure

1 Published with the permission of the Director, Geological
Survey, Depar ment of Mines, Ottawa.

2 “Synopsis of the Naiades or pearly fresh-water mussels”,
U.S. National Mus., Pr.c., vol 22, pp. 501-1044, 1900. “A
descriptive catalogue of the Naiades, or pearly fresh-water
mussels”, Detroit Michigan, 1914.

3 “‘Notes on the families and genera of the Najades’’, Care
negie Mus.. Annals, vol. 8, pp. 222-365, figs. 1-28, pls. 18-20,
1911. ‘‘Monograph on the Najades of Pennsylvania’’, Car-
negie Mus., Mem., vol. 4, pp. 279-347, figs. 1-8, pls. 86-89,
1912, vol. 8, pp. 1-384, figs. 1-34, pls. 1-21, 1919.

appears possible if the systematic arrangement of
the fossil Unionidae is to be modernized.

Family UNIONIDAE D’Orbigny
Subfamily UNIONINAE Swainson
Genus Fusconaia Simpson

Fusconaia dawsont (Russell)
Unio dawsoni, Russell, Roy. Soc. Canada, Trans.,
ser. 3, vol. 25, sec. 4, p. 9, pl. 1, figs. 1, 2, 1931.
Edmonton formation, Upper Cretaceous, Bow
River, Alberta. This species has the typical form
of a Fuscona, and may be compared with F.
flava trigona (Lea).

Fusconata tuchiasana (Russell)
Unio tuchiasana, Russell, Roy. Canad. Instit.,
Trans., vol. 18, p. 340, pl. 1, figs. 4-6, 1932.

Upper Ravenscrag formation (Paleocene),
southern Saskatchewan. This species is referred
to Fusconaia because of the abbreviated and
convex shell, the anteriorly inclined beak, and the
unsculptured surface. In outline the shell is
more like that in certain species of Amblema,
such as A. plicata (Say).

Fusconaia cryptorhynchus (White)

Umo cryptorhynchus, White, U.S. Geol. Surv.
Terr., Ann. Rept., 1878, pt. 1, p. 68, pl. 24,
figs. la, 1b, 1883.

Judith River formation (Upper Cretaceous) of
Montana and equivalent beds in southern Al-
berta. The shell in this species is somewhat
more elongate than is typical of Fusconaia, but
the beak structure and form of umbonal sinus
and ridge may be compared with those in varie-
ties of F. flava (Raf.)

Fusconaia? danae (Meek and Hayden)
Unio danae, Meek, U.S. Geol. Surv. Terr., Rept.,
vol. 9, p. 517, pl. 41, figs. 3a-3c, 1876.

Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene of Saskat-
chewan, Alberta, Montana and Wyoming. This
is excessively elongate compared with modern
members of Fusconaia, but in other shell charac-
ters agrees well with that genus.

2 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

Genus Quadrula Rafinesque.

Quadrula natosini (McLearn)
Unio natosin, McLearn, Nat. Mus. Canada, Bull.
No. 58, p. 738, pl. 18, figs. 7-9, 1929.

Lower Cretaceous of southern Alberta and
western Montana. In general features the orna-
mentation of this species is strikingly like that of
Quadrula (or Tritogonia) verrucosa (Raf.), al-
though there are differences in details, and in the
shape of the shell.

Quadrula melearni (Dyer)
Unio mclearni, Dyer, Nat. Mus. Canada, Bull.
No. 63, p. 7, pl. 3, fig. 15, 19380.

Foremost beds (Upper Cretaceous) of Alberta.
On the basis of shape and ornamentation this
species may be referred with confidence to
Quadrula. :

Quadrula holmesiana (White)

Unio holmesianus, White, U.S. Geol Surv., Terr.,
Ann. Rept., 1878, pt. 1, p 67, pd. 22, figs. 4a-
4e, 1883.

Occurs in the Upper Cretaceous from New
Mexico to Alberta, in continental beds above the
youngest Pierre shales. The species probably was
derived from Q. mclearni, from which it may be
distinguished by the more convex shell. and the
nodose, rather than costate, ornamentation.

Quadrula subprumaevus (Dyer)

Unio subprimaevus, Dyer, Nat. Mus. Canada,
Bull. No. 63, p. 7, pl. 3, fig 2, 1930.
Foremost beds of Alberta. Suggests some of
the more elongate species of Quwadrula, such as
Q. cylindrica (Say).

Quadrula primaevus (White)

Unio primaevus, White, U.S. Geol. Surv., Terr.,
Ann. Rept., 1878, pt. 1, p. 70, pl. 29, figs. 3a,
3b, 1883.

Judith River formation (Upper Cretaceous) of
Montana and equivalent beds in southern Al-
berta. This species is closely related to, perhaps
derived from, Q. subprimaevus, but may be dis-
tinguished by larger size, more prominent and less
anteriorly placed beak, and more complex ormma-
mentation.

Genus Pleurobema Rafinesque
Pleurobema dowlingt (McLearn)
Uno dowlingix, McLearn, Geol. Surv. Canada,
Mus. Bull. No. 29, p. 11, pl. 4, fig. 2, 1919.

Dunvegan formation (Upper Cretaceous), north-

western Alberta. This species may be compared

with the more elongate varieties of P. obliquum
{Lam.).

(VoL. XLVIII

Pleurobema humet (Dyer) -

Unio humet, Dyer, Nat. Mus. Canada, Bull. No.
63, p. 8, pl. 4, figs. 1, 4, 19380.

Pale beds (Upper Cretaceous), southern Al-
berta. The prominent beak distinguishes this
species from most members of Plewrobema, but
« very similar form of shell is present in the
living P. coccineum catillus (Conrad).

Genus Elliptio Rafinesque
Elliptio hubbardi (Gabb)

Unio hubbardi, Gabb, Geol. Surv. California,
Palaeont., vol. 2, p. 190, pl. 30, figs. 86, 86a,
1869.

Lower Cretaceous, Queen Charlotte Islands,
British Columbia. The shell-of this species is
much more convex than that usually found in
Elliptio, but may be compared with FE. niger
(Raf.)

Elliplio nanaimoensis (Whiteaves)

Unio nanaimoensis, Whiteaves, Ottawa Naturalist,
vol. 14, p. 177, figs. 1, 1a, 1901.

Nanaimo group (Upper Cretaceous), Nanaimo,
British Columbia. This species has the typical
Ellhiptio shape, and closely resembles several
modern examples. Compare with FE. dilatus
(Raf.) and EF. violaceus (Spengler).

Elliptio swpragibbosus (Whiteaves)
Unio supragibbosus, Whiteaves, Geol. Surv. Can-
ada, Contrib. Can. Pal., vol. 1, p. 66; pl. 16,
fig. 1, 1885.

Foremost beds, southern Alberta. Although the
beak sculpture of this species is not preserved, the
compressed form, and general outline, of the
shell strongly indicate the genus Elliptio.

Subgenus Protelliptio, nov.

Shell of medium size, elongate-ovoid. Beak
low, sculptured with numerous regular concentric
plications extending onto the disc, with posterior
joop more or less developed; two narrowly diver-
gent, posterior dorsal lines sometimes present.
Posterodorsal surface of shell usually marked by
radiating, upcurved, Lasmigona-like plications.
Umbonal ridge poorly developed. GenotyPe,
Unio biornatus Russell.

The three species referred to this subgenus
form a well characterized group, which merges into
the next subgenus, and through it is connected
with the modern Elliptio. -

Elliptio biornatus (Russell)

Umo brornatus, Russell, Roy. Soc.. Canada, Trans.,
_ ser. 3, vol. 26, sec. 4, p. 1, pl. 1, fig. 1, 1982.

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January, 1934]

McMurray formation (Lower

northeastern Alberta.

Cretaceous),

Elliptio hamili (McLearn)

Unio hamili, McLearn, Nat. Mus. Canada, Bull.
No. 58, p. 73, pl. 18, figs. 1-4; pl. 14, fig. 6,
1929.

Blairmore formation (Lower Cretaceous), south-
ern Alberta.

Elliptio douglasst (Stanton)

Unio douglassi, Stanton, Amer. Philos. Soc., Proc.,
vol. 42, p. 195, pl. 4, figs. 3, 4, 1903.
Lower Cretaceous of southern Alberta and
western Montana.

Subgenus Pleszelliptio, nov.

Shell of medium size, narrowly to broadly
ovoid. Beak sculptured with a few fine, close-set
plications, concentric or double-looped, and hav-
ing two slightly divergent, straight or gently
curved lines directed posteroventrally. No pos-
terior radiating ornamentation. Other shell
characters as in the typical Elliptio. Genotype,
Unio priscus Meek and Hayden.

Besides the species listed below, the following
are included in this subgenus: Unio vetustus
Meek, U. neomezxicanus Stanton, U. mendax
White, U. wasatchensis Cockerell.

Elliptio priscus (Meek and Hayden)

Unio priscus, Meek, U.S. Geol. Surv. Terr., Rept.,
vol. 9, p. 516, pl. 48, figs. 8a-8d, 1876.

Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene of Montana,
Alberta and Saskatchewan. This species com-
pares well with several modern members of
Elliptio, such as E. violaceus (Spengler).

Elliptio abbreviatus (Stanton)

Unio priscus, var. abbreviatus, Stanton, U.S.
Geol. Surv., Bull. No. 257, p. 108, pl. 12, figs.
2-4, 1905.

Judith River formation (Upper Cretaceous) of
Montana and equivalent beds in southern Al-
berta. The principal reason for regarding this
form as a variety of “U”. priscus is the similarity
of beak sculpture. In the present revision this
character is regarded as subgeneric in rank. The
shell form in the present species is quite dis-
tinctive, and seems to justify an equal rank with
other members of Plesielliptio.

Subfamily ANODONTINAE Ortmann

Genus Anodonta Lamarck

Three fossil species of edentulous Unionidae
occur in western Canada: A. propatoris White,

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 3

Pale beds of Alberta; A. macconnelli Russell,
Eastend formation of Saskatchewan; A. argillen-
sis Russell, Whitemud formation of Saskatche-
wan. No systematic revision of these species is
necessary at present.

Subfamily LAMPSILINAE Ortmann
Genus Medionidus Simpson
Medionidus? senectus (White)

Unio senectus, White, U.S. Geol. Surv., Terr.,
Ann. Rept., 1878, pt. 1, p. 69, pl. 28, figs. la-

lc, 1883.

Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene of North Da-
kota, Montana, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The
generic reference of this species is based on the
ornamentation, and is doubtful. Similar mark-
ings occur in shells of Lasmigona Raf., Alasma-
aonta Say and Ptychobranchus Simpson. It is
impossible or improbable that “Unio” senectus
pertains to any of these three genera, but it is
likely that it represents an independent and
extinct group, possibly derived from Elliptio
btornatus of the Lower Cretaceous.

Genus Lampsilis Rafinesque
Lampsilis farri (Stanton)
Unio farri, Stanton, Amer. Philos. Soc., Proc.,
vol. 42, p. 194, pl. 4, figs. 1, 2, 1903.

Lower Cretaceous of southern Alberta and
western Montana. Closely resembles in outline
the young shell of several living species, such as
L. siliquoidea (Barnes).

Lampsilis consueta (Whiteaves)

Unio consuetus, Whiteaves, Geol. Surv. Canada,
Contrib. Can. Pal., vol. 1, p. 59, pl. 9, figs 4,
4a, 1885.

Pale beds and Edmonton formation (Upper
Cretaceous) of Alberta. This species suggests
the more elongate of living Lampsilis, such as
L. anodontoides (Lea).

Lampsilis sandersoni (Warren)

Unio sandersont, Warren, Roy. Soc. Canada,
Trans., ser. 3, vol. 20, sec. 4, p. 5, pl. 1, fig. 1,
1926.

Edmonton formation (Upper Cretaceous), .cen-
tral Alberta. The shell form in this species may
be compared with that of L. ovata (Say).

Genus Micromya Agassiz
Micromya minima (Warren)

Unio minimus, Warren, Roy. Soc. Canada, Trana.,
ser. 3, vol. 20, sec. 4, p. 5, pl. 1, figs. 2, 3, 1926.
Edmonton formation (Upper Cretaceous), cen-

tral Alberta. The shell of this species is com-
parable in size and shape with that of M. fabalis

(Lea).

Genus Dysnomia Agassiz
Dysnomia tyrrelli (Russell)

Unio tyrrelli, Russell, Roy. Soc. Canada, Trans.,
ser. 3, vol. 25, sec. 4, p. 10, pl. 1, figs. 3, 4, 1931.
Edmonton beds (Upper Cretaceous), west cen-
tral Alberta. This species apparently pertains to
the subgenus Truncillopsis Ortmann and Walker,
and may be compared with D. brevidens (Lea).

OTHER SPECIES

Unio albertensis Whiteaves? was based on poor-

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

[VoL. XLVIITI

ly preserved shells of generalized shape, from the
St. Mary River formation (Upper Cretaceous) of
Alberta. This species is indeterminate at present,
but 1t may prove to be an Elliptio.

Murraa naiadiformis Russells, from the Lower
Cretaceous of northeastern Alberta, was referred
with question to the Unionidae. Further study
suggests that the species pertains to the Muteli-
dae, or at least parallels that family in the char-
acter of the dentition.

4 Geol. Surv. Canada, Contrib. Can. Pal., vol. 1, p. 3, pl.
1, fig. 1, 1885.

5 Roy. Soc. Canada, Trans., ser. 3, vol. 26, sec. 4, p. 2,
pl. 1, figs. 2-4, 1932.

ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE LONG-FINNED SQUID
(Loligo pealii, (Lesueur)).

By J. A. STEVENSON
Queen’s University, Kingston.

INTRODUCTION.

jURING the spring cf 1932, a weir of
stakes and brushwood was erected on
the shore at low-water mark in front
of the Biological Station at St. Andrews.
This weir consisted of two arms, the one reaching
to one side, and the other, at an angle of about
90 degrees, to the opposite side, of a depression
between two ridges of rocks, that extended from
low to high-water mark. The two arms of the
weir joined in the centre of this depression, the
lower end of which was thus completely closed
in by the weir. This was so constructed that
when it was left bare by the receding tide, a pond
remained at the angle of the two arms. In this
pond, such animals as happened to have been
trapped by the receding tide could remain alive
until attended to. A drain-pipe led from the
pond to the seaward side of the weir, permitting
the drainage of the water in the pond if neces-
sary. Fish and other animals that ventured be-
tween the weir and the shore at high tide found
their retreat to the sea cut off by the arms of
the weir; and at low tide, their only place of
refuge was in the weir pond.

Observations were made throughout the sum-
mer upon the animals that were caught in this
weir. It was noticed early in the summer that
the long-finned squid (Loligo pealit) occurred
frequently; so the opportunity was taken for
making the following notes upon the behaviour
of these extremely interesting animals.

OBSERVATIONS.

The squids swam into the weir in schools.
Assuming that those present in the weir com-
prised at least one whole school, the number of
individuals in a school varied considerably. It is
probable that on occasions when many hundreds
were taken at one tide, more than one school was
represented. A fairly average figure for squids
present in the weir at one tide was from a hundred
and fifty to two hundred. However, early in the
season the numbers were considerably below this;
a fact which would be probably explained by the
inshore summer migration not yet having properly
started. Observation indicated that the schools
of squids occurring at the Biological Station in-
creased somewhat in size until the middle of
August, after which they decreased.

Wher trapped in the weir at low tide, the
squids collected together at the deepest part of
the pond, and remained, when undisturbed, quietly
oscillating to and fro an inch or two off the
bottom, close together and all facing one direction
or the opposite. When they were not alarmed,
their colour was generally a rich red-brown, all
over their bodies. As long as they were not dis-
turbed, they would behave quietly like this, their
fins undulating and acting as elevators to the
posterior ends of their bodies. Their movement
was alternately forwards and backwards, with an
amplitude of a few inches. The arms were spread
in such a way that they formed a vane that al-
ternately adjusted itself to forward and back-

ist

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The eee ee Fae pena

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January, 1934]

ward movement, so as to elevate the fore-part
of the animal (Figure 1).

When a small pebble was thrown into the
water immediately above the school, causing
sufficient splash to alarm the squids mildly, they
responded immediately and in practically every
ease by suddenly darting, either forwards or back-
wards, depending upon their position, away from
the source of the disturbance. Their colour would
flash suddenly to a pallid white, but after a few
moments would regain the normal red-brown.
Some, in darting back, would eject a small cloud
of sepia. This only occurred in a small percentage
of individuals, however. ;

The squids would dart away from the splash for
a few feet, then collect together, all facing it.
in their rush they had gone too near the edge of
the pond, they would advance head-foremost,
slowly, towards the deeper water, ready on an
instant to dart back again if danger threatened.
After about three minutes, if there were no more
disturbance, they would finally take up their
original position in the deepest part of the pool.

. When, instead of a small pebble, a large rock
was thrown into the pool, sufficient to cause a
big splash and thoroughly seare the squids, a
somewhat different and very interesting reaction
was observed. Immediately the rock struck the
water, the first reaction of the squids was to dart
away trom the splash. Some ejected a little ink.
When, however, the magnitude of the disturbance
became apparent, they completely changed their
tactics. Every single squid in the school imme-
diately did two things; it sank like a stone to
the bottom of the pond, and it changed its colour
in such a way as to harmonize with that of the
bottom. When the ripples from the splash: had
subsided, it was at first very hard to understand
the apparently complete disappearance of the
school. Closer observation, however, revealed the
squids lying absolutely motionless on the bottom.
This they continued to do for fully five minutes,
when, the danger apparently past, one by one
they arose from the bottom, assumed their na-
tural red-brown colour, and continued their normal
oscillating movement. The colour-scheme of the
squids when frightened and “playing ’possum”
consisted of a whitish background, with three or
four red-brown bands of expanded chromatophores

zeross the dorsal surface. One of these bands was’

always present across the head. (Figure 2).

It is easy to understand how the squids could
benefit by this extremely effective defence method
of protective colouration. As long as they re-

If

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 5

mained absolutely still on the bottom, it is not
probable that a predatory fish or other animal
intent upon eating them would ever notice them
in this state, so closely do they resemble the
bottom.

It was noticed that the squids would often lie
on the bottom in the same manner, after they
had been put to undue exertion. When, for

instance, they had been chased around the pool
several times, they often lay upon the bottom
as if recuperating after the exertion of swimming.
The ejection of ink also appeared to fatigue them
considerably, since the
after it.

generally rested a while

FIGURE I.—Positions assumed by Loligo when oscillating back-—

wards and forwards in the water.

Observations made over the weir from a row-
boat at high tide showed the squids swimming in
schools in mid-water. The squids in one school
did not swim very close together, but they never
lost each other. When not disturbed their motion
was forwards; but when the water was splashed
with an oar, they shot away backwards. Their
siphons were used constantly for both forward
and backward swimming.

The largest Loligo pealu that have been ex-
amined by the writer during the present investi-
gation measured 48 cms. from the posterior end
of the mantle to the tips of the longest sessile
arms; and the smallest measured only 10 cms.
The average size, however, was from 22 to 27
ems. Females were found to be slightly smaller
than males, and all the very large specimens
opened were males.

Throughout the summer, whenever, large num-
bers of squids were trapped in the weir, it was

6 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

noticed that a large proportion of them stranded
on the shore, even at half-tide. Their movements
were watched one day (July 20) at about half-
tide. It appeared that they were trying to seek
an escape, on finding their retreat seawards
blocked by the weir, by exploring around the
edge of the enclosed water. When one hit a

bunch of seaweed, it would shoot either directly
away from, or directly into it; generally the latter.
It would struggle vainly for a few minutes in an
endeavour to extricate itself from the weed. Fin-
ally it would calm down and rest on the bottom.

MGURE I1—Colour-scheme and characteristic pose of Loligo Pealii

when frightened.

It would remain thus until the tide would leave
it high and dry, and would only seem to realize
its predicament when it could not possibly save
itself. Its struggles would then be extremely
violent, as it tried to regain the water. Finally
it would succumb to lack of water and the heat
of the sun.

Other squids, exploring to find a way to the
sea, would appear to become panicky, and dash
violently about, sooner or later running ashore
when, due to the force of their dashes, they would
find that they could not get back; and would
succumb also to lack of water and the heat of
the sun. They showed very little resistance to
such exposure, generally dying in the course of
two or three minutes.

The spawning activities of Lolgo have been
studied carefully by Drew (Jour. Morph., 1911 &
1919). Squids were seen to be spawning during
the summer of 1932 in the tidal pool opposite the
Biological Station at St. Andrew’s. The follow-
ing observations were made:

On the evening of August 23, twenty-five Loligo
were seen to be swimming about in the tidal
pool, which is near high tide mark. Upon obser-
vation, it was seen that there was a small bunch
(about 10) of egg-capsules attached to a piece
of weed on the bottom, in about three and a
half feet of water. A large male squid with a

(VoL. XLVIII

frayed fin was swimming beside a smaller one
(presumably a female) close to the egg-bunch,
which it did not leave. The rest of the squids
did not appear to approach the pair closely. Next
morning (August 24), after the tide had been in
and ebbed once, the twenty-five squid were still
in the pool, in which they had apparently chosen
to remain at high tide. The egg-bunch seemed
to consist of about the same number of capsules.
The large male of the evening before, recognized
by its frayed fin, was seen by itself patrolling
back and forth past the egg-bunch. There was no
pairing together among the squids in daylight.
Whenever another squid approached to within
about six feet of the eggs, the large male dashed
towards it and drove it away, generally edging
it off in the same manner in which a sheep-dog
drives sheep. The other squids seemed very
curious, and were continually striving to reach
the eggs, generally being driven away by the
large male. This specimen was the largest squid
in the pool. Some did manage to reach the eggs,
which they appeared to grasp in their arms and
shake violently. Later in the day, when the heat
became more intense and the water in the pool
warm, some of the squids were observed resting
in their characteristic position on the bottom; but
another large male, distinguished as such by its
size and by the absence of any fraying on its fins,
had taken up the position formerly occupied by
the largest male, which now, too, was resting.
Later in the day, the largest male was again back
in its place on guard.

On August 25, the egg-bunch was seen to have
increased in size, there being about twenty cap-
sules. The large male was still on guard, though
it was seen frequently to be resting on the
bottom near the eggs. All the twenty-five squids
had remained in the pool throughout two flood
tides. The fact that the egg-bunch contained
so many capsules seemed to show that it was the
product not of one, but of many female squids.
In the dissection of female squids throughout the
summer, it was found that only four, rarely five
or six, capsules were ripe at the same time; hence
deposited at about the same time. Drew (1911)
states that he observed one female to deposit no
less than twenty-three egg-capsules in an hour
and thirty-five minutes in the Woods Hole
aquarium. Possibly conditions further south are
different; but no female squids upon dissection
at St. Andrew’s showed nearly as many mature
or even partially mature capsules as this. It ig
possible that the egg-bunch up to this date had

January, 1934]

been produced by five or six female squids that
were in the tidal pool school The observations
also lead to the belief that the eggs were nearly
all fertilised by the same large male, which was
the only one in the school to be seen pairing.

August 26; the egg-bunch had again increased
slightly, and the same large male was on guard.
All twenty-five squids were still in the pond. On
the next day, however, all the squids had dis-
appeared, leaving the egg-bunch in the pool.

The above observations seem to show clearly

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 7

that the “parental instinct”, if it can be called
such, is found in Loligo peal. The writer has
seen no reference to this habit of the male guard-
ing the egg-capsules in any papers upon Loligo,
and Mr. Robson of the British Museum (Mollus-
ca) informs us that he, too, had not heard of
such an instance.

On and after August 27, when the squids left
the tidal pool and the eggs, it was noted that
few or no squids were taken daily in the weir
itself. Possibly the winter migration to deep
water had begun.

NOTES ON CERTAIN RECENTLY DESCRIBED DINOSAURS!
By C. M. STERNBERG

N A RBCENT PAPER (University of
Toronto Studies. Geological Series
No. 34, August, 1933) Dr. W. A. Parks
describes three new species of theropod
dinosaurs and three new turtles A careful study
of the descriptions of the dinosaurs leaves some
doubt as to the proper assignment of two of the
species.
— In The Canadian Field-Naturalist for May,

1983 pp. 79-83, the writer described a new
species of theropod dinosaur as Ornithomimus
edmontonicus. Comparison of the description
and splendid illustrations, especially of the manus
and fore limb, of Struthiomimus currellu Parks
with the type of O. edmontonicus Sternberg sug-
gests that they are co-specifie. The question as
to whether the species should be referred to
— Ornithomimus or Struthiomimus was fully dis-
cussed in the description of O. edmontonicus
Sternberg. As far as the specimens can be com-
pared, they seem to be similar in practically all
details in which they differ from previously de-
scribed species.

In the slender fore limb and the very long
slender manus with Mc. I longest and not diver-
gent, and the uniform length of the digits, the
two specimens are similar. The only noticeable
difference shown in the fore limb is the relatively
longer humerus in our specimen. This might be
partly accounted for by straightening and crush-
ing.

Likewise, the pes of Dr. Parks’ specimen is
relatively elongate and very slender. The differ-
ences In measurements of the individual phalanges
is doubtless due to the fact that those given for

1 Published with the permission of the Director of the
Geological Survey of Canada. ~~

O. edmontonicus Sternberg are the over all
measurements, for the lengths of the articulated.
digits are similar.

The two specimens are of about equal size and
the relative length of the limbs is similar. Both
were coliected from the same horizon in the
Edmonton formation and within a radius of five
miles.2

The other specimen in question consists of the
left metatarsus and is described as Ornithomimus
elegans Parks. It was collected from the Belly
River formation, below the mouth of Berry Creek,
Red Deer River, Alberta.

The very fine illustration shows that Metatarsal
TII was not reduced proximally or greatly ex-
panded distally but that it was of uniform size
throughout and approximately the same size as
Mts. II and IV. The distal end is only slightly
broader than that of Mts. II and IV and the
distal half of the bone is roughly quadrate in
cross section. These are all characteristic features
of the Coeluridae. In all members of the Orni-
thomimidae Mt. III is broadly expanded distally
and the lower portion of the shaft, above the
articulation, is triangular in cross section with
the anterior face broadly expanded and over-
lapping Mts. II and IV and the acute posterior
angle wedged in between these metatarsals. In
the upper half Mt. III is much reduced and al-
most or quite pinched out between. Mis. II and
IV. It would, therefore, seem to the writer that
Dr. Parks’ specimen should have been referred to
the Coeluridae instead of the Ornithomimidae.

In May, 1932, the writer described a new genus
and species of coelurid dinosaur as Stenonycho-

2 Since preparing these notes Dr. Parks has informed the
writer that his paper was sent to press before he received the
description of O. edmontonicus.

8 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

saurus inequalis.3 This specimen comes from the
same general locality and horizon as that from
which Dr. Parkes’ specimen was collected. It
would appear that this paper was overlooked.
Dr. Parks’ specimen seems to differ from the
metatarsus of S. inequalis Sternberg only in size
and relative length of Mt. Il. The uniform
breadth of the articulated metatarsus; the sub-
equal breadth of the metatarsals throughout; the
slight constriction of the shaft above the articu-
lation and the divergent articulation of Mt. I;
and the well developed Mt. III, with transversely

3 Can. Field-Nat., 46: 99-105, 1932.

|\VoL. XLVIII

flattened palmar surface, all agree with 8S. in-
equalis Sternberg. The longitudinal, somewhat
roughened, ridge on the palmar side, below mid-
length, of Mt. II, in Dr. Parks’ specimen, no
doubt represents the surface of attachment for
Mt. I. In our articulated foot there is a lke
swelling, similarly located, on Mt. II, just above
and opposite Mt. I.

It is fully recognized that Dr. Parks’ specimen
might belong to Chirostenotes, in which the
metatarsus is not known, as this genus falls
within the Coeluridae, but it can hardly belong
to Ornithomimus.

NOTES ON THE REARING OF CAPTIVE YOUNG MEADOW JUMPING
MICE

By H. ROY IVOR
Honorary Game Officer

HE REARING of a family of very
young mice would appear to be not
only a problem but a queer task to set
-oneself. What else could one do, how-

ever, upon accidentally tearing apart the home

of one of those rarely seen and very odd little
animals, the Meadow Jumping Mouse, and finding

a family of five velvety soft and _ helpless

voungsters?

Mice in general are considered pests and usu-
ally the young as well as the adults are killed on
sight. Let the writer confess, however, that
when he finds a beautiful white-footed mouse, or
even a field mouse, when they cannot seem to
do any harm, he lets them have their lives. Con-
sequently it seemed quite impossible to destroy
these harmless juveniles. Yet, knowing nothing
whatever about how to raise them, it was a
puzzling problem which we had to solve. Un-
questicnably a task, it proved, however, amusing,
interesting and decidedly worth-while (for once)
and perhaps an account of our experience may
interest other readers of The Canadian Field-
Naturalist and possibly add some data to the
comparatively little-known life history of this
handsome rodent.

In late August, 1931, one of our employees
turned up the nest of a Meadow Jumping Mouse,
containing five young, in our humus deposit at
Erindale, Peel County, Ontario. During the
previous spring the humus had been cultivated
and the refuse left in rows of about a foot in
height. It was in one of these rows that the

parent mouse had built her nest. The ridge was
quite dry. The humus deposit had a sparse
growth of weeds between the rows in the imme-
diate reighbourhood of the nest and about fifty
feet away there was a fairly dense undergrowth.

The finder of the nest had just placed the
young mice on a pile of humus as we arrived and
had cast the nest aside. We paid no attention to
the nest itself, other than a casual glance, and
therefore we cannot say accurately of what it
was composed. The impression, however, is that
it was made from old jute sacking, finely shredded,
as a quantity of this sacking had been lying
around the spot for some time.

The five youngsters were huddled together,
trying actively to get as close together as
possible. They were small, no more than two
inches in length excluding the tail (which was of
an exceptional length for mice) and were fully
covered with a very silky mole-like fur of a
beautiful light fawn colour. Their eyes were
closed and whether or not they could be opened,
but were not on account of the light, was not
determined. From the fact that their tails
definitely lacked any white tip and from the
situation of the nest we feel safe in concluding
that they were individuals of the Meadow Jump-
ing Mouse, Zapus hudsonius hudsonius. Our
identification of the mice was corroborated later
when we secured a series of snapshots of them
and submitted them to Messrs. L. L. Snyder and
J. L. Baillie, Jr., of the Royal Ontario Museum
of Zoology, who unhesitatingly referred them to

January, 1934]

this species.

The quintette of “nestlings” was brought to
the house in one closed hand and put into a wire
canary-breeding-cage covered with cotton mos-
quito netting and the bottom of the cage covered
with dry grass. For a nest we used a very soft
piece of heavy, downy cotton with a piece of
woollen blanket over it. The mice immediately
curled up together, as close to one another as
they could get, inside the nest, and apparently
slept all the time with the exception of the
periods when they were fed.

How to feed and what to feed them on con-
This proved to be,
as we expected, a task, for the reason that, in
our opinion, right or wrong, they should be fed
frequently. We mixed one teaspoonful of milk
with two of water and added a little cream or
evaporated milk in a two ounce bottle and heated
it by placing it in a bottle of warm water. We then
procured a medicine dropper and placed in its
opening a hollow grass stem which fitted snugly.
We found that without the grass stem the mice
would not take the milk, but as soon as this was
used we had no further trouble.

stituted our next problems.

One of the captives would take the stem in its
mouth and, as the bulb was gently pressed, would
drink. It was only a short time until they started
strenuous competition for the dropper. It was
most amusing to us to see one stand on its hind
legs, grasping the straw with its two front paws
(using them like hands) and suck the straw. The
difficulty was in keeping the straw in its mouth,
as while one had it, the other four were crowding,
pushing him in the face with their front feet or
climbing on top of him. Feeding time occurred
every half hour or even more often, and was a
time of continual fighting for the bottle!

Occasionally one of them would get too much
at a time and would choke and sputter, and it
required very careful pressure of the bulb to over-
come this difficulty. Also the milk apparently had
to have a little cream added cr they did not like
it! Too, it had to be perfectly sweet and at a
temperature just lukewarm., Twice it was either
slightly turned or too cold and on both these
eccasicns we found them later. lying as if dead,
although they were soon revived by being Placed
in a warm situation for a short while.

They had no fear of us, were very tame and
the five of them would come into the hand and
feed. However, they were of an extremely ner-
vous temperament, amounting almost to a panic,
during fright, when the slightest sound would

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

‘the garden near the house.

make them jump; and how they could jump!
They were as quick as a flash.

They came to know the one who fed them and
also a little whistle by which they were called
when food was ready. They were very friendly
with one another but we never saw them play.
When asleep they curled together into a ball.

A very slight difference in their development
was apparent and we could tell the “oldest” from
the “youngest” after we had had them for a week
or more. The “oldest” was very slightly larger
than the others and was the first to use its eyes.
The individual which we believed to be the
youngest was the last to do so. When their eyes
were opened we found that strong light seemed
to bother them, but as they got older this was
not apparent.

These youngsters did not seem to possess any
instinctive habits of sanitation and the nest had
to be changed frequently. The oldest began to
eat seeds about two weeks after we secured the
family. and very shortly afterwards the others
began. It was impossible to tell whether they ate
each kind of seed or not, but they did show a
marked preference for millet. As long as we had
the litter, however, they were exceedingly fond of
milk.

One morning when we went to feed them, the
oldest was missing. It had squeezed through the
netting, which had not been fastened as closely
as it should have been.
dividual again.

We never saw this in-
The others were then placed in
a box which we covered with wire netting, leaving
a space covered with wood through which the
hand could be put. The wooden covering must
have been placed carelessly a couple of nights
iater, for in the morning three of them were out,
one being found in the dining-room, and one in
Both submitted to
capture without much objection. The third we
did not find.

On another occasion, one of the family had
escaped and managed to fall down the cold-air
register into the outer casing of the furnace. With
the aid of a candle, mirror, cage and much pa-
tience, however, it was recovered.

About this time we noticed a change taking
place in their colour, but this had probably begun
before we noticed it. The hair showed through
the fur at this stage and was much darker. Before
they were released, in less than a month’s time,
they were quite dark.

From our experience we believed them to be
nocturnal. Although they came from their nest

10 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

occasionally in the daytime to feed on seed, it
was after dusk and during the evening that they
were most active.

They, by this time, seemed to be able to look
after themselves, so after giving them a drink and
some bread soaked in milk, of which they had
become fond, we took them to the back of our
woods. Here, in a swampy place where we had
seen jumping mice, we left their nest with a large
quantity of seeds in it, under an old stump. Re-
visiting the spot the next morning we saw no
sign of them.

Although it proved to be quite an undertaking

[VoL. XLVIII

to rear these young jumping mice from babyhood,
it was well worth-while, even if only for the
amusement at feeding time. We and our friends
had many a hearty laugh over their antics as
each of the mice endeavoured to take the straw
from the others. They were unquestionably not
as well developed as they should have been at
their age and were rather thin. Our feeding was
doubtless at fault, we having had no previous
but we at least
reared them so that they were active and ap-
parently capable of subsisting by their own efforts
when released.

experience with tiny animals,

(ERUCASTRUM GALLICUM)—A SLY INTRUDER
By HERBERT GROH

N AN ARTICLE on “Some Recently
Noticed Mustards’, contributed to
Scientific Agriculture, July, 1933, one
of the species discussed was Erucastrum

gallicum (Willd.) O. E. Schultz., both species and
genus unrecorded previously in Canada. Since
the article was prepared, a number of other
records secured in 1933, have considerably ex-
tended the range, and may be presented for
publication here.

The first American records were published in
Rhodora in 1911, by Dr. B. lL. Robinson, one of
these dating back to 1903, being from Wisconsin,
and another, which was the immediate occasion
of the note, from Massachusetts. The weed, which
has received the common name dog mustard, has
become fairly widespread, and has been found as
far west as Glacier National Park, Montana.

Although only now reported in Canada, the
first collection of this plant, was made by myself
as early as July, 1922, but was !aid aside unnamed.
Significantly enough, this earliest record was from
Emerson, Man., right on the International Boun-
dary, and due north of prior infestations along
the Red River.

Interest in the identity of the specimens which
had accumulated in the Division of Botany, was
stimulated in the fall of 1931, by the receipt of
material from Manitoba, as well as from Ontario,
along with evidence of really aggressive tenden-
cies. It was not until after another season’s fruit-
ful weed surveys, however, that the name was
correctly ascertained; and the full force of our
rather culpable Canadian blindness to its per-
sistent appeals for recognition at last burst upon
us.

When the available material was assembled at
the end of 1932, 1t was found that more than 30
stations for the weed were known, and mostly
authenticated by Division
Herbarium. These were distributed over about
2500 miles of longitude from Charlottetown, P.E.
I. to Seott, Sask., as follows:

P.w1I., one record, 1926; N.S., one, 1982; Que.,
five, 1927 and later; Ont., six, 1925 and later;
Man., thirteen, 1922 and later; Sask., seven, 1932.
Seven of these records were contributed by cor-
respondents of the Division, and many others
were secured in the course of motor travel kindly
made possible by field officers of the Federal and
Provincial Departments of Agriculture, chiefly
on other quests.

specimens in the

As already intimated, weed surveys in 1933
have added to the above information. The range
is now no farther west, but has been extended
north to St. Walburg, Sask., at present the ter-
minus of a branch railway, running northwest of
Battleford for about 80 miles. The stations to be
placed on record for 1933 are as follows:

Ottawa, Ont., July 11. (W H. Minshall)—On
a railway embankment skirting Hintonburgh. This
is the first record for the Ottawa district.

Kirk’s Ferry, Que., (Reported independently by
W. H. Wright and H. Groh)—Railway bed for
the entire length of the station yard. 2

Regina, Sask. (Reported by W. G. Palmer).

Wevburn, and Lewvan, Sask. July 28. (These
and the following all recorded by H. Groh)—AII
from railway premises.

Melvile, Sask., July 31.

Yorkton and Zehner, Sask., August 1.

St. Walburg and Turtleford. Sask., August 20

il

Se aaa ee

ner

dah AeF
ae ee

a

January, 1934]

Saskatoon, Sask., August 22--Spread extensive-
ly in railway yards.

Thus well over 40 stations are at hand for a
weed until recently unsuspected in our midst;
and without doubt, this can be multiplied all
over the country, unless possibly in Alberta and
British Columbia, which received fairly intensive
surveys in the principal agricultural belts in 1930,
1931 and 1933, without its discovery.

For the benefit of any who might have an
opPortunity to look for it, an excellent description,
as given by Dr. Robinson in his paper in Rhodora,
may be here quoted.—‘Annual, erect or ascending,
2-4 dm. high, with habit somewhat as in Sisym-
brium altissumum; stem retrorsely pubescent, the
hairs being simple; leaves ob!cng in general out-
line, deeply pinnatifid to decidedly bipinnatifid,
the lobes rounded, the sinuses broad and usually
obtuse or truncate; racemes at length elongated,
loose, the pedicels slender, ascending or so widely
spreading as to be nearly horizontal, in fruit 6-10
mm. long, the lower ones subtended by distinct

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 11

(though much reduced) leaves or leaflike bracts;
flowers of medium size; petals pale yellow 5 mm.
in length; pods linear, subterete, 2.5-3.5 mm. long,
1-2 mm. in thickness, tipped with a slender style
about 3 mm. long; seed essentially in a single row
in each cell.”

The continuance of leaves or leaflike bracts up
into the inflorescence, is an unusual thing in the
Cruciferae, so that their presence here is useful
as a field character for identification Other aspects
of the plant also soon impress themselves strongly
upon one who has seen it a few times, and this in
spite of the fact that from seedling to well de-
veloped maturity, it may exhibit every degree of
branchiness.

Dog mustard is adventive from Europe, where
it is a recognized weed. In this country it is
usually found along railways or waysides, but is
confined to such a habitat. In several
places it was seen as a crop weed, and in the
Ste. Rose district of Manitoba is regarded as a
dangerous pest.

not

NOTES ON THE NESTING OF THE DUCK HAWK IN ONTARIO
By ROBERT VINCE LINDSAY

F THE REMNANT of hawks to be
found in the north-eastern United
States and Canada, the Duck Hawk,
(Falco peregrinus anatum) is probably

the most interesting and spectacular.

It is very doubtful if this species ever occurred
in eastern Canada in numbers sufficiently great
to justify the term “common” being applied to
il, the difficulty in finding suitable nesting sites
undoubtedly having been an important factor in
limiting its numbers. Like its Old World counter-
part of mediaeval fame (the peregrine falcon) the
Duck Hawk has consistently shown a decided
preference for rugged surroundings remote from
civilization in which to rear its young. It almost
invariably selects high rocky cliffs overlooking
lake or stream (with a requisite water-fowl popu-
lation) for its daily needs1.

The persistent advance of civilization in the
New World, and, within recent years, the highly
efficient weapons of destruction perfected by man,
have been largely responsible in reducing many
of our more conspicuous forms of bird-life to

dangerously near the vanishing point, and one >

can readily appreciate the conservationist’s atti-
tude of alarm as to the future welfare of this
and other illustrious birds of prey.

The future increase of the Duck Hawk in On-
tarlo appears to be improbable, and its status
at present, if the literature on the subject is to
be our criterion, shows it to be so rare that very
few evries have been discovered.

Possibly the first Ontario breeding record is
that of J. E. Cabot, who saw an unfledged young
in the summer of 1848, at St. Ignace Island,
Nipigon Bay, Ontario.2

In 1898 P. A. Traverner found a set of eggs in
an eyrie located on the side of a cliff 75 feet
above water at Crown Island, Lake Muskokas;
and W. G. Shelbourne collected a set of eggs
from an eyrie in the Blue Mountains, Leeds
County in 1900, and in 1901 eggs were again
collected; a set of two eggs was found on May
§, 1902, and in 1903 another set of four eggs.
This nest was visited several times by the late
Edwin Beauprét. J. W. Russell describes an
eyrie with three downy young found on a ledge
of a high cliff at Dorset, Lake of Bays, Muskoka,
in June, 1906. They nested again in 1907, the
young hatching on May 205; M. Y. Williams
reports adults and young seen on July 10, 1915
at Echo Island, top of Bruce Peninsulat; Edwin
Beaupré found one pair breeding near Kingston
(Crow Lake), eggs or young having been seen

12 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

in the nest in 1917, 1918, and 19317; Messrs.
W. E. Saunders and T. D. Patterson report (not
published) the finding of an eyrie at Bass Lake,
Algonquin Park; Rev. C. J. Young, states “This
species breeds at Diamond Lake, North Hastings
Countys.

In addition to the above records, the writer,
and Mr. F. H. Emery of Toronto were instru-
mental in bringing to light a previously unknown
breeding locality (the ninth) for the Duck Hawk
in the Province, while on a tour of investiga-
tion near Redwing, Grey County, on June 6,
1929. The residents of this district promptly
apprised us of the presence of what they des-
cribed as a vicious pair of “eagles” inhabiting the
neighbourhood of a limestone cliff on the pro-
perty of the late Mr. Metcalfe, an old resident
of the district whose farm lies half a mile south-
west of Redwing.

This limestone escarpment faced west and
appeared to be roughly one hundred feet high,
with a sheer drop of eighty feet at the highest
point. A quarter of a mile to the west flowed
a small trout stream, and eight miles away in
the same direction lay the Beaver River (which
empties into Georgian Bay fourteen miles north-
east of the escarpment). This is an interesting
feature as the literature suggests that Duck
Hawk eyries are usually located in the imme-
diate vicinity of water.

Without losing further time we hastily made our
way toward the cliff. However, instead of en-
countering rapacious “eagles” we were greeted with
the loud, high-pitched, penetrating keh keh keh
keh cries of a pair of Duck Hawks as the birds
executed their aerial manoeuvres high above the
cliff. This indeed was an illuminating discovery,
but the real difficulty was to locate the postulated
eyrie. The intricate problem was finally solved
after much laborious effort was expended with
negligible results. We chose a strategic position
which favoured us with an unobstructed view of
the cliff, and noted subsequent proceedings. The
female (distinguished by her larger size) finally
exhibited proper parental concern for her off-
spring by swooping from a considerable height
at an astonishing speed, and disappearing almost
as quickly into what appeared to be a very small
cavity about a third of the distance from the
apex of the cliff. Training our binoculars on this
epot we saw a white object, which was certainly
not a part of the cliff, shift its position slightly.
Immediately above, and so on the brink of the

[Vou. XLVI

precipice stood a clump of four stunted paper
birch trees.

Making a mental note of this we speedily ob-
tained stout ropes and after much time and effort
fastened these securely to the trunks of the birches,

and then threw the end, which had been. knotted,

overboard. While Mr. Emery manipulated the
ropes and kept a watchful eye on hawk proceed-
ings the writer made a nervous descent to the
eyrie, which proved to be no mere pigeon-hole
in the rock as Judged from below but a good
sized cavity of spacious dimensions, having a
penetration of fifty-six inches, an average height
of fifty-two inches, and width of thirty-six inches.
The interior was inappropriately bedecked with
ferns of the bulblet bladder and purple-stemmed
cliff brake varieties. The floor of the eyrie was
scantily covered with an assortment of feathers,
bleached bones of wild birds, and domestic fowl.
A few pullet legs of recent kills added a finishing
touch of colour to the falcon’s retreat.- It should
be stated that no sticks or nesting material of any
kind were in evidence, although Forbush (loc.
cit.) mentions that Audubon found nests of sticks
and moss on Labrador and Newfoundland cliffs.

Meanwhile, three downy young about the size
of bantam fowl united their voices in a tirade of
protest of ear-splitting intensity, while the agitated
cries of the excited parents seemed only to stimu-
late their vocal efforts. Grasping one of the
youngsters in a friendly gesture of good-will, (but
motivated it must be confessed by a subtle de-
sire for possession), resulted in quickly dispelling
any illusions which the potential collector may
have entertained of establishing amicable rela-
tionships. Beak and talons were freely used dur-
ing the ensuing melee before the obstreperous
one was subdued sufficiently to permit its being
placed in a basket and whisked aloft for safe
keeping. During the “height of the fracas the
parent birds remained at a respectful distance
from the scene of disturbance, only on one or two
occasions swooping down to within thirty feet or
so of the eyrie. This behaviour on their part is
somewhat at variance with the numerous accounts
cited in a certain class of literature concerning the
reckless ferocity of raptorial hirds in defence of
their young. It was interesting to note also in
this connection that the adult male appeared even
less aggressive than his audacious mate, and could
usually be seen flying high above the female or
at a convenient distance away. The voice of the
male was of a gentler tone and possessed a plain-

eS oO

a

January, 1934]

tive quality in contrast to the shrill keh keh keh
of the female.

To watch these birds in flight is to witness one
of the most marvellous exhibitions of speed and
command of the air shown by any bird. Their
sudden arrow-like fall from a dizzy height is in-
deed an impressive sight.

In an interview with the late Mr. Metcalfe we
learned that the falcons, or “eagles” as he called
them, had nested there regularly every season for
the past forty years without molestation, although
he affirmed the farmers living in the immediate
vicinity usually lost about half of their poultry
stock every summer, consisting mainly of chicks,
pullets, and ducklings. So swift were these birds,
however, in making off with the fowl that it was
extremely difficult to catch them in the act. Mr.
Mitchell, owner of an old saw mill a quarter of
a mile west of the cliff informed us that in 1929
up to June 6, they had lost fifty young ducks.
We were thereupon urgently requested to wipe
out the total “eagle” population of the district,
a distasteful proposition which we diplomatically
evaded.

A second expendition to the haunts of the Duck
Hawk was. undertaken on May 31, 1930. Our

party on this trip included Messrs. F. H. Emery,

H. H. Brown, A. Van, (photographer) and the
writer. As we drew near the cliff the alert birds
welcomed us by a menacing outburst of keh keh
keh. Adopting our former tactics of descending
the cliff via the knotted rope to the eyrie, this
proved somewhat less exciting than did the initial
adventure of the previous year. As before, only
<hree downy young occupied the eyrie, plus one
addled egg which had, for some reason or other,
escaped damage. The egg, short ovate in shape,
was creamy white, heavily marked with cinnamon
brown. The measurements were 62.25 < 44 mm.
A liberal amount of bones, feathers, and poultry
remains was again in evidence, as ocular proof
that the available food supply for this voracious
family still held good. Extricating a petulant
young falcon from among his fellows, including
the aforementioned egg and a miscellaneous col-
lection of bones, legs, feathers, etc., for later iden-
tification, the human biped scrambled in simian
style to a place of security where an atmosphere
of peace and tranquillity prevailed. During the
intervening period our photographer succeeded
in obtaining some very good pictures of proceed-
ings.

Later we were entertained with harrowing ac-
counts of “eagle” depredations by irate human

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NAT JRALIST 13

neighbours whose domestic flocks had been deci-
mated by the predatory ones. Graciously as-
suming a sympathetic mien, but secretly hoping
that the falcons would continue to occupy their
well-nigh impregnable home for generations to
come, we took our departure.

An attempt was made by Mr. Emery to rear
the young faleon which we had taken. In this
experiment he was successful for a time but the
bird unfortunately developed paralysis in the legs
and passed out on July 19, 1930. The specimen
proved to be a male, and is now in the writer’s
collection.

On our third expedition to the Duck Hawk
country on May 31, 1931, we experienced incle-
ment weather which seriously hampered our at-
tempts at photographing the young in the eyrie,
of which there were, as before, three. We were
successful, however, in securing an addled egg
plus an assortment of feathers and bones. The
parent birds evinced their usual reluctance in
venturing too near as we inspected their sanc-
tum, but amazed us with an extraordinary display
of power and command of the air never before
witnessed by us. In the face of a stiff wind,
these paragons of the art of flight, would hang
as it were suspended in space, and without any
apparent stroke of pinions maintain their posi-
tion for minutes at a time.

The collection of bones, feathers. etc. (not in-
cluding poultry remains) was submitted to Mr. L.
L. Snyder of the Royal Ontario Museum of Zool-
ogy for proper identification. I should like here to
express my sincere appreciation to Mr. Snyder
for the time and trouble given to _ this
task, and for many other courtesies shown in the
past. The submitted report reads as follows:—
Twenty tarsi, and many feathers of killdeer plov-
er; two tarsi of blue jay; remains of two meadow-
larks (feathers); few wing feathers of goldfinch;
bones and feathers of nighthawk; one pigeon
(feathers) and many additional bones and feath-
ers, probably of the above mentioned species;
one small wasp; wing case of a brown beetle;
a little gravel, and a small quantity of wheat;
(the last two items probably from the crops of
poultry).

Notwithstanding the apparent economically
harmful nature of the Duck Hawk’s daily menu,
we can only plead on the grounds of fairness and
justice that the Duck Hawk is a sufficiently rare
species to deserve the most stringent protection,
and surely we can sacrifice a few insectivorous
birds, representative of species of wide distribu-

14 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

tion, and of vast numbers, to ensure the con-
tinued safety and perpetuation of a species
thought by many to be the most perfeet flying
organism, and one of the swiftest, most nicely
balanced and beautifully coloured birds in ex-

istence.

VoL. XLVHI

FOOTNOTE REFERENCES

1 Forbush, Birds of Massachusetts, 2:165.
made of this species occasionally occupying tree cavities for
nesting and also deserted cagle’s nests.

2 Agassiz Lake Supzrior, Its physical character, vgetation
and animals, 185%.

3 Fleming, Auk, 1901, and Swales and Taverner, Wilson
Bulletin, 1906, pp. 64-5.

4 Clarke Ottawa Naturalist, 1902, 88; Macoun, Cata-
logue of Canadian Birds, 1903, p. be, and Beaupre, Can.
Field-Naturalist, 1922, p. 33.

5 Russel, Ontario Natural Science Bulletin, 1907, page 37.

G Williams, Ottawa Naturalist, 1915, p. 90.

7 Beaupre, Canadian Field-Naturalist, 1922, p. 35.

8 Macoun, Catalogue of Canadian Birds. 1909, pp. 278-9.

BIRDS AND A BATH
By SUSAN K. SQUIRES

“»LMOST everyone has seen birds taking
a bath. They are interesting, some-
times amusing, and elways well worth

the barnyard into which the surplus spring water
from the house flows. At one side where the tub
everflows is a cement block. with a hollow in it
not much larger than a soup plate into which a
continual dribble of water runs. Here the chick-
ens and pigeons drink and the smaller birds bathe.
I have even found a fat old toad in it at dusk
soaking the moisture into his spotted warty hide.
On hot days in July and August it has a great
many visitors and it is amusing to watch the
different ways different species approach the water.
Of course the most of the birds stand in the
water and splash and let the dribble run over
them, robins, thrushes, sparrows and others, but
some do not. The wood peewee alights on the
edge of the tub and drinks, the red-eyed vireo
splashes right at the surface of the water and
throws it all over his back, and the swallows
barely touch the water as they glide over. While
the birds wait they have many rows as to pre-
ecedence but usually the biggest bully gets the
first chance.

But some birds have more uncommon ways of
bathing.
storm I stood on the lawn with my bird glasses
in my hand. There must have been a gentle
rain after the thunderstorm for the leaves were
not beaten down but stood up stiffly and each
leaf was loaded with large individual drops of
water. As I stood, something whirred past my
head and flew towards the corner of the veranda
which is covered with a wild grape vine. It was
a male ruby-throated humming-bird and I
thought he was going to alight but he did not.
He poised on his almost invisible wings as close
to the leaves as he could get without his wings

watching. We have a water tub in.

Early one morning after a thunder-.

touching and began to spray his body with the
large drops. As those on one leaf were exhausted
he flew to another and then another until he
was satisfied with his bath, then he flew to a
cherry tree, lit and finished his toilet.

A male pileated woodpecker performed his
eblutions in a lazier manner. It was a rainy
Sunday. morning and he was in a butternut tree
twenty-five or thirty feet in front of the house.
The rain that was falling was the kind of Scotch
mist which wets an Irishman and everyone else
to the skin. It was summer and warm so per-

haps the woodpecker enjoyed the wetting for.

he made no effort to seek eover. He was so
soaked that he seemed all neck. Occasionally he
would run his bill down through his feathers as
if opening up new channels for the water to
run in. After a while he began to stretch his
wings and to go over the feathers one by one
with his bill.

Another morning I watched a crow taking a
bath but it was in a snow drift. It was towards
the last of April and the fields were nearly bare,
except where there had been deep drifts and
these had melted until they were composed of
tiny pellets of ice like hail and were very wet.
The crow was stalking around over the bare
ground hunting for something edible when an
idea struck him. He walked sedately over to
one of the mounds of snow, sat down and began.
to dig a hole with his feet, throwing the wet icy
snow up around him. After the hole was deep
enough he turned to one side, spread the top
wing to its fullest extent and began to throw the
snow all over his body with his feet just as a
hen does in a dust bath. He would also rub
his head and neck on the snow at the edge of
his “nest.” After a time he got up and reversed
his position turning the other side of his body
up and repeating the performance. When he

Mention is:

= Reseed TA orn a thie ae aon
Oe Ne ee Fe TS Ue Ee eet eee EN TTS ted ene RY eee aise etre eee Pay

frac scipiatye sh i= dociebis

ad

January, 1934]

was sure he was clean he stood up, shook him-
self thoroughly, and flew up into a nearby elm
tree to dry in the sun.

We scarcely stop to ask ourselves if winter
birds ever have a bath, although of course we
see house sparrows taking advantage of a winter
rain to slop in the puddles on the side-walk. I
saw the question, “Did anyone ever see a chick-
adee take a bath?” asked in print somewhere.
I did once. Where our spring comes up out
of the ground it is surrounded by a circular
cement tank. After a wet autumn, despite the
water which is piped to the house, it overflows
and forms a little brook cutting down through
the banks of snow and keeping the ground
thawed. In this little brook and close to the
spring I saw some sort of a commotion going
on one morning and it proved to be a bird in
the water. I suppose it was the flash of the
drops of water in the sun which drew my atten-
tion for I could not really see the brook be-
cause of the snow on each side. Each time the
bird flew up in the air and splashed down I
could see head or wings and see the water
thrown. The spring water was not too icy and
the little bird was evidently enjoying itself all
alone. It was not until it flew up on the five-
fingered ivy, which covers the rustic summer
house over the spring, to preen its feathers, that
I saw that the bird was a chickadee.

Another day I saw ten or a dozen pine gros-
beaks having a bath in the same little brook. It
goes under the avenue which leads to the high-
way, in a culvert made with boulder sides and

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 15

covered with As the brook
drops away from the bridge it spreads out over
a space five or six feet wide where daffodils
and narcissl grow in the shallow water. I was
standing looking at the sprouting bulbs, for al-
though it was the last of March and the fields
were still covered with snow, the spring water
had started the bulbs growing. While I watched,
the pine grosbeaks, which had been feeding on
maple buds in the tree overhead all dropped
down into the water splashing and whistling and
I went on and left them having the time of their
lives.

I have also watched a flock of goldfinches bathe
in the middle of winter but it was in light feathery
snow. I saw the flock of small birds at the
cones of a yellow birch tree but although I
thought they were goldfinches I was not quite
sure, for siskins are much more common with
us in winter, and this was February. I snow-
shoed very quietly through the soft snow to get
near enough to them to be sure. Close to the
birch was a stunted hemlock whose lower bran-
ches were very wide and far-outreaching and on
each branch was a miniature snowdrift of very
fluffy dry snow which had fallen the previous
night. Just as I satisfied myself that the birds
were goldfinches, they began to drop into the
snowdrifts on the hemlock. The snow was go
dry that they could throw it all about as they
fluttered their wings up and down. When they
had finished they flew back into the birch again
and resumed their interrupted task of dissecting
the cones.

huge flat stones.

SOME NOTES ON THE WINTER BIRDS OF YARMOUTH AND THE
TUSKET ISLANDS OF NOVA SCOTIA
By R. A. JOHNSON

N SEARCH of an opportunity to ob-
serve the Atlantic Murre in winter I
made a visit to Yarmouth and the
Tusket Islands of southwestern Nova

Scotia during the latter part of December,
1932. December 24th and 25th were spent
about the harbour at Yarmouth with a

four mile trip along the coast in the vicin-
ity of Chebogue Point. The succeeding six days
were spent on and about Spectacle Island, which
is approximately fourteen miles from the main-
land—one of the outer of the Tusket group.
Particular attention was given to the study of the
sea birds, yet, whenever land forms were en-

countered note was made of them.

During the eight days temperature ranged from
29 to 44 degrees Fahrenheit, but was above
freezing point most of the time. There was
very little wind so that many of the sea birds
which ordinarily live well off shore were rarely
seen and doubtless some that were there and
might be blown in during a storm were not re-
corded by me. The temperature of the water
at Spectacle Island ranged from 40 to 42 degrees.

A special fishing season for lobster was open
in Nova Scotia during the winter, consequently
there was a population of several families of
fishermen on Spectacle Island. Most of these

16 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

people were interested in my work and helped
me in any way they could. Besides the kind-
ness and hospitality which they extended to me,
they were always watching for birds which they
reported to me at the end of each fishing trip.
Sometimes I traveled along in one of the boats
and thus made records of birds that were not
seen near the islands.

Observations on the feeding habits of certain
species with notes on the hunting methods used
in the region are presented in conjunction with
those pertaining to the abundance of the species.
The list of species which follows cannot be con-
sidered complete, for during my short visit some
of the rarer forms would certainly escape notice.
A species of sparrow which seemed to be a res-
ident was not identified. Grouse were reported
on the wooded islands which also support great
number of mice and likely different birds of
prey.

Gavia immer. Common Loon.—This loon was
very common. It was often seen on the water
and flying in the region of Spectacle Island.

Fulmarus glacialis. ATLANTIC FuLMAR—Indiv-
iduals were seen at different times about Spec-
tacle Island.

Moris bassana. GANNET—This bird was re-
ported to me several times by the fishermen
but it was not observed by me.

Phalacrocorax sp. CorMorant—This bird was
reported to me and was said to be common. I
did not observe it.

Branta canadensis. CANADA GoosE. — Canada
geese were frequent visitors to the region of the
Tusket Islands, but the total number of birds

was small. I believe that there were not more-

than two or three small flocks coming into the
region and they were very wild.

Branta bernicla. AMERICAN Brant—Three
birds of this species were reported, but not seen
- by me. The species is said to be comparatively
rare in the region.

Anas rubripes. Buack Duck. — Large flocks
containing two to five hundred birds were seen
daily among the Tusket Islands. During the day
these birds were in the vicinity of the outer
reefs. In the late evening and early morning
they seemed to go in among the islands and to
the mainland for drinking and likely for food
also. At such times comparatively small flocks
were encountered. The native people believe
that there are two varieties of black duck in
the region; one, a large red-legged bird which
they refer to as an “outside” bird, and another,
a smaller duck with orange and grey coloured

[VoL. XLVIII

legs which they call an “inside” duck. The
method of hunting the black duck is, for the
most part, by shooting from a blind at places
where the birds come for fresh drinking water.
Two birds examined by me were in good flesh.
They weighed 1276 and 1075 grams respectively.

Glaucionetta clangula. GotpEN-kyE-—A flock
of thirty of these ducks was feeding in the inlet
to the Yarmouth harbour on December 24th,
and again on the 25th. Other small flocks were
seen among the Tusket Islands. One specimen
examined by me was of the species americana.

Clangula hyemalis. Otp Squaw. — The Old
Squaw was one of the most numerous of birds
found around the Tusket Islands. Flocks of
four te twenty birds were put up every few min-
utes as one travelled in a boat among the is-
lands. Due to the many boats which were going
about fishing for lobster the birds were wild,
restless and flying a great deal. They seemed
to feed chiefly between the hours of nine in the
morning and three in the afternoon, according to
the condition of the tide. I spent several hours
watching their habits on one favoured feeding
shoal, a shallow water bar which formed a con-
nection between the two parts of Spectacle Is-
‘and at low tide. The birds seemed to be feed-
ing exclusively on the abundance of small snails,
and possibly taking also some of the coarse sand
available there. When the tide was well up
over the bar a small flock of birds would alight
there and soon be followed by others in singles
or in small flocks until twenty or thirty birds
might be present. After all had inspected
the landscape thoroughly to detect any enemy,
meanwhile swimming toward a compact group,
one bird would dive and be immediately followed
by all the others. For a period of from % to 1%
minutes all the birds would be down below the
surface of the water. When the birds came up
they might be scattered several yards or rods

spart, whereupon they would swim back toward ©

a concentration point before another dive would
be made. Additional birds might Join the feed-
ing flock at any time, some birds leave it, or the
entire flock fly round in wide circles a few
times before resuming the feeding. At times
the birds become playful and, at the same time,
noisy. Some will flap about on the water in a
short semicircle at which time their peculiar
notes can be heard at a great distance; a noise
which sounds to one who is not familiar with
the bird somewhat like that of a flock of geese.

This habit, which the species has, whereby

—

January, 1934}

the entire flock dives under water at the same
time is.a serious menace to 1t when considered
in relationship to man. The hunter is enabled
to run up on a flock which may be feeding
within gun range of the shore. When the birds
are up the hunter lies motionless on the ground
and when they again dive he approaches closer.
Thus he can usually make a good account of his
effort, for sooner or later a bird wil! dive and
come up close enough to shore for a good shot.
Then the other birds can be depended upon to
cirele back once or twice and hesitate over the
dead bird which may permit of another kill.

Somateria mollissima. Eiper—HEjiders were often
seen in small flocks of four to ten birds flying
in a line as they went about among the islands;
but the total population was not very great.
Two birds were found dead; both, I think
resulting from shot injury. ;

An interesting method of hunting the Eider,
which is also sometimes used with the Old Squaw,
may be described here. At times a duck will
consume a quantity of small snails together with
sand so that an accumulation of this heavy ma-
terial fills up the neck and throat in such a man-
ner that the bird looses its balance and cannot
fly for a time. Such a bird is called a “bedded

duck”, and is immediately pursued with a boat

in which the gunner follows the diving bird
persistently until it becomes so tired that it must
finally appear on the surface at very close range.
It is then shot with little likelihood of wasted
ammurition.

Melontta deglandi. Scotsr—This bird was
found to be comparatively rare among the Tusket
Islands. One specimen, a young male was taken.
It was in good condition.

Larus marinus. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL.—I
believe there were six birds staying around Yar-
mout!: harbour.

Larus argentatus. Hrrrina Guu. — This bird

was very common around Yarmouth and often’

seen among the islands.

Larus delawarensis. RiING-BILLED GuLL—The
species was noted among Herring Gulls around
Yarmeuth.

Rissa tridactyla. ATLANTIC KirtrwAKE.—One
immature bird was collected. The native fisher-
men know this bird as the “Fall Gull”. They
say that it 1s very common in the fall but be-
comes uncommon in late winter.

Alcea torda. Razor-BitteEp AuK—One bird of

this species was seen at close range near Spectacle

Island. I believe that it frequently occurs in the

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 17

vicinity as the fishermen know it well, and refer
to it as a “noddy”.

Uria lomvia. BruNnNicuH’s Murre—One speci-
men of this species was collected in the waters
outside Spectacle Island. I believe this species
spends most of its time well outside the waters
which surround the islands.

Alle alle. DovEkiz—Everywhere along the coast
of the mainland and also on the islands were to
be found wings and parts of the carcasses of the
Dovekie. During the four mile walk along the
shore of the mainland at Chebogue Point I ex-
amined the remains of six of these little birds.
The flesh had all been consumed by crows and
gulls. The native fishermen on Spectacle Island
spoke of a migration of great numbers of these
birds about December Ist. They stated that
rany of the birds could not, or would not, fly
when approached, and so could be picked up or
knocked over with an oar. At the time of my
visit to the island there were only a few indi-
viduals to be seen. One specimen collected was
in good condition, weighing 127 grams.

Cepphus grylle. Buack GUILLEMoT.—One speci-
men was taken in the waters outside Spectacle
Island. It was very fat, weighing 470 grams.

Fratercula arctica. ATLANTIC PurriIn.—This
species was not observed, but I discovered the
head of a freshly killed specimen. I do not think
that it is very common about the islands. It
may be that there are greater numbers farther
out te sea.

Cryptoglaux acadica. CoMMON SAW-WHET OWL.
—One specimen of this owl was taken on the
wooded end of Spectacle Island and two others
were seen.

Colaptes auratus. FLIcker—Two of these birds
were seen together on the mainland about two
and one half miles east of Yarmouth.

Corvus coraz. NorTHERN RAavEN.—TIwo North-
ern Ravens were living in the vicinity of Spec-
tacle Island. :

Corvus brachyrhynchos. EASTERN Crow. —
Everywhere on the mainland, and on the islands,
crows were to be found in large numbers; it was
a common thing to see thirty to fifty birds in a
flock.

Penthestes atricapillus. BLACK-CAPPED CHICK-
ADEE—This species was fairly common around
the conifers, both on the mainland and on the
islands.

Penthestes hudsonicus. ACADIAN CHICKADEE.—~
This bird was found in the dense growth of low fir
trees growing on Spectacle Island.

18 TH CANADIAN FISLD-NATURALIST

As stated before, the main purpose of this trip
to southern Nova Scotia was to search for the
Atlantic Murre. No birds of this species were
found. However, several of the men on Spec-
tacle Island assured me that, from the descrip-
tion I gave them, they knew the bird well, and
that it would be blown in when a good storm

eame. Consequently on January 15, after a

[VoL. XLVIII

severe storm, I had a letter from them saying
that many “scribes” (local name) had been seen.
The question of accepting this as a record comes
when one considers the close resemblance be-
tween the two species of Murre which may be
found in this locality and that sometimes ornitho-
logists do not detect their distinguishimg char-
acters.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL STANDING, OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’
CLUB, AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR, 1932-1933

ASSETS

Balance in Bank, Nov. 30, 1933...... ae a Ae
Billistreceiviaolen were wee ieee eee 44.56
$ 48.83

RECEIPTS
Balance, November 26, 1982......... .88
Heese Clrrenitmaneee nese eae 905.83
SON VaAnces writen Haack ere 58.05
NdiverntiseMmentse nese nei ani 15.00
Single numbers....... SDE UASS po uiRdS o 169.05
Separates and Illustrations.......... 62.58
IMiscellancousiee- oe ae eee 30.88
$1242.27

Wiumot LioyD, Treasurer.

Audited and found correct:
December 4, 1988.
A. G. KINGSTON,
HARRISON F. LEWIS,
Auditors.

LIABILITIES

NIL—
BalaiGer 2) cert ts stele ule fear aay arr $48.83
$48.83

DISBURSEMENTS

Printing and mailing ‘‘Naturalist’’. .. $998.98
IF BGO Tet eae eae ste eer ee ee eens a ee £0.00
Postage and Stationery............. 40.12
Separates and Iliustrations.......... 72.11
Bank discount (0s i02 ieee eee 18 19
Miscellaneous............./.......! 18.61
Balance in bank November 30, 1933.. 4.27
$1242.27

*Explanatory statement by the Treasurer :—

During the year Nov. 26, 1932—Nov. 30, 1933, the total
receipts of the Club were $1242.27. For the same period the
expenditure for publishing The Naturalist was $1219.39. The
receipts from membership fees amounted to $963.88

It took the total membership fees plus the amount of
$255. 51 to issue The Naturalist. Attention is called to the fact
that this last mentioned sum was a!most entirely a contribu-
tion to the present membership at large from resources accum-
ulated by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club when it was only
a local society, and before the Club undertook, fifteen years
ago, the national work of affording a place of publication for
Canadian natural history.

Wiimot Lioyp.

STATEMENT—RESERVE FUND

ASSETS
Canad'an Government Bonds........ $1200.00
@ashsme Bankie erotic eee hates TATA
$1271.74
RECEIPTS

Balance in Bank November 26, 1932. 5.89
Banke sin teresticns oleae. cles, Meee ee ea ale 1.85
Bongdeelnterest:. se ss kee hee oe 64.00
$71.74

Witmot LuoyD, Treasurer.
ARTHUR GIBSON ?
Reserve Fund Committee

LIABILITIES
NIL—
Balancers: sage cc cescisisscetry ea eee 1271.74
SIZ TG
< DISBURSEMENTS
IL—
Balance in bank November 30, 1933. 71.74
$71.74

Audited and found correct:
December 4, 1988.
A. G. KINGSTON,
HARRISON F, Lewis.
Auditors.

January, 1934]

Tam CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 19

STATEMENT —PUBLICATION FUND

ASSETS

Caradian Government Bonds........ 800.00
Cash in Bank November 30, 1933.... 51.385

$851.35

RECEIPTS

Life membership fees............... - . 350.00
BonGelnterest.< 32 oases esn acme ehe ot Sous 35.75
eaMeMnUerest ci.) a. sets atm ase ee te 9.69

$395.44

WIiLMoT LioyD, Treasurer.

LIABILITIES
NIL—
Balance meae carton thi yy horn dl alee tee 851.35
$851.35
DISBURSEMENTS
Purchase of $300 face value
Canadian Government Bonds....... 299.14
‘Na GUraiSte 2). & iter ee eee 44.95
Cash in Bank November 30, 1933.... 51.35
$395°44

Audited and found correct:
December 4, 1933
A. G. KINGSTON,
HARRISON F.. LEWIS,
Auditors,

55TH ANNUAL MEETING, OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’
CLUB; COUNCIL REPORT

1. MEETINGS.
three

Since the last annual meeting
have been held: at
the homes of the following members—Mr. E.
F. G. White, Dr. E. M. Kindle. and Mr. C. M.

Council meetings

Sternberg, President. The attendance averged
12.

2. Lectures. No lectures were given during
the year.

3. Brrp Census. The annual Bird Census
was carried out as usual in connection with
other societies in the United States and Canada.
The local Bird Census, arranged by Dr. H. F.
Lewis, was held on December 26th, 1932, 16 mem-
bers going out in 9 parties. 2,108 individuals
were counted and 26 species identified, the larg-
est number of species to be counted in any
Christmas Bird Census at Ottawa; notwith-
standing the absence of some of the species
usually seen.

4. Excursions. This year there were more
excursions arranged for than in some other years,
and these of exceptional interest. An early one
in March, when the Club were guests of Dr. E.
S. Archibald at the Central Experimental Farm,
and visited the Dairy and inspected young live-
stock under the leadership of Mr. George Muir,
was followed in May and in June by 8 more.
Of the 4 planned for September only 2 were
held. The attendance in May averaged 30, in
June 13 and in September 5. The programme
for the excursions included visits to the follow-

ing districts and partook of the subjects indi-
cated’ McKay Lake, ornithology, led by Mr.
Hoyes Lloyd; Ottawa River at MHintonburg,
ornithology, led Dr. H. F. Lewis; Fairy Lake,
zoology, botany, ornithology, led by Mr. C.
E. Johnson, Dr. R. E. DeLury and Mr. Hoyes
Lloyd, Britannia, zoology, led by Dr. R. M. An-

derson ; Carlsbad Springs, geology and
zoology, led by Messrs. A. LaRocque and
C. E. Johnson; Dominion Experimental
Farm, ornithology, led’ by Mr. W. H.
Lanceley; Jones Falls, geology, botany, en-

tomology, led by Messrs. Arthur Crowson and
J. P. Henderson. The autumn excursions were
to Hog’s Back, geology, led by Mr. C. M. Stern-
berg; and Long Lake, botany and _ geology,
led by Mr. F. J. Fraser. A full account of this
excursion was printed in the October Naturalist.

5. Counctt REPRESENTATIVES TO RoyaL Society
or CanaDA-Meetincs. Dr. E. M. Kindle was asked
by the President to represent the Club at the
Royal Society of Canada meetings held at Queen’s
University, Kingston, in May.

6. INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE PROTEC-
TION CE THE Birps oF THE Wort. Mr. Lloyd
and Dr. Lewis have been the Canadian represent-
atives of the International Committee for the
Protection of the Birds of the World during
the year.

7. FEDERATION oF ONTARIO Naturauists. Dr. H.
F. Lewis represented the Club at the meeting

20 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

at Queen’s University of the Federation of Ont-
ario Naturalists on the King’s birthday.

8. Pustications. Mr. Hoyes Lloyd, Chairman
of this Committee reported that The Canadian
Field-Naturalist had been issued on _ schedule
‘ime throughout the year with a reduced num-
ber of pages. The Committee had sold a com-
plete set of the Club’s publications to the Prov-
ince of Quebec for the use of the Zoological
Society. This Committee has also prepared bio-
graphical articles on the lives of the late Nor-
man Criddle, the late W. T. Macoun and the
late M. O. Malte—three highly esteemed natur-
alists and valued members of Council—for pub-
lication in The Canadian Field-Naturalist.

9. Frnance. As a result of the saving made
by issuing the Naturalist with a reduced number

of pages, the Club has been enabled to reach

the ciose of the year with no apparent deficit.

10. InrorMATION Service. The Information
Service, of which Mr. A. LaRoque has been
Chairman, has announced, through the columns
of the Naturalist, the availability to amateurs
ef the resources at the command of the members
of the Club.

11. Dr. H. M. Amr Scrap-Bsoox — 1899, 1900,
1901. During the year this scrap-book was plac-

[VoL, XLVIII

ed in the Public Archives of Canada, where the
Dominion Archivist promised to have it put
in a glass case, for consulation by students.

12. FLetcHER MemoriAL Fountain. The Club
drew to the attention of the Minister of Agri-
culture the fact that the inscription on this
fountain at the Central Experimenta! Farm was
growing dim. The Minister agreed not only to
have the inscription cleaned, but to have the
Fountain again put in working order.

13. SpeciaL Commirrer. The Special Finan-
cial Committee, of which Mr. Hoyes Lloyd is
Convenor, has had an active year in advertis-
ing the merits of the Club.

14. Councit. Your Council in retiring from
office, desires to express its appreciation of the
work done by members in the field of natural
history generally, as well as in co-operation with
Council; also to express its faith in a brighter
future, as can be hoped for from our financial
statement. To the incoming Council and Ex-
ecutive we turn over the task of administration
with every hope for successful promotion of an
enterprise now about to begin the 56th year
of its history.

C. M. STERNBERG.
President

Grace S. LEwIs.
Secretary

NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS

Tue MaperraA PreTrEL, Oceanodroma castro—A
New Birp ror Canapa1—tThe latter part of Aug-
ust, 1933, was notable for the terrific storm that
swept the Atlantic and did incalculable damage
along the eastern coast of the United States.

This storm seemed to have originated in
the eastern Atlantic in the neighbourhood
of Madeira and the Azores and, sweeping

westward, spent its force against the shores of
this continent. Undoubtedly great numbers of
pelagic birds were blown far from their normal
ranges by tthe tempest. ‘Reports, have come
in of various strange Petrels and Shearwaters
found far inland in the days shortly after the
occurrence and the list of North American birds
has probably been increased by the first occurr-
ence of several of these waifs.

Of course there is not the slightest chance
of such deep sea species surviving inland or on
fresh water. They are truly pelagic in habit
and habitat and their home is the vast expanse
of the salt seas. How often these disasters take

1 Publshed with the permission of the Director, National
Museum of Canada Department of Mincs, Ottawa.

place it were hard to tell. Every once in a
whilé some lone wanderer turns up far from its
native habitat but the few that come to the at-
tention of ornithology must be only an _infin-
itesimal fraction of those that are blown to
hostile surroundings and drop on weary wing
to oblivion without informed observers being
the wiser.

It was probably this storm that added at
least one species to the Canadian list—a Mad-
eira Petrel, Oceanodroma castro, which was pick-
ed up living but helpless on the Rideau River
within the city limits of Ottawa, on August
28th. The bird died in the night and was
brought by some intelligent boys to the National
Museum, where it now reposes. The boys thought
that they had seen several similar birds flutter-
ing about the river a day or so previous but
though a search of the river and its shores was
made immediately, no such birds could be found
and no definite confirmatory evidence obtained.

The Madeira Petrel breeds on Madeira, the
Salvages, Azores and Cape Verde Islands and is

January, 1934]

usually confined to the eastern and southern At--

lantic. There are casual individual records for
the species in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the
District of Columbia, all probably victims of
similar meteorological disturbances. This speci-
men thus makes the fourth record of the species
tor North America and the first for Canada—
P. A. TAvERNER.

Microtus tetramerus ON Vancouver ISLAND,
B.C.—During the summer of 1931 several in-
teresting colonies of Microtus tetramerus were
found on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Three of these were of particular interest.

The first colony was situated in a grassy glade
on the outer reef off Chesterman Beach near
Tofino. This reef is a rugged mass of rock about
half a mile in length, and the width varying from
a few feet to a couple of hundred yards. Clumps
of spruce and other trees and bushes grow here
and there and patches of grass and fern are in
evider.ce where sufficient soil enables them to
gain a foothold. The reef is entirely separated
from the main island except for a sand bar
half a mile in width which is bare only at low
tide. These voles had chosen a sheltered situation
in a thick growth of grass and hay amongst rocks
and stunted spruce. Here and there were many run-
ways diverging in every direction and while set-
ting out the traps a young vole ran into one of
these and was captured.

The following day, May 19th, the traps pro-
duced six voles, three adult females, two adult
males and one juvenile female. On May 20th
two more were taken as well as two peromyscus.

The other two colonies were on two small is-
lands southwest of Meares Island. The larger
of the two islands lies about a quarter of a mile
from Meares Island, is very rocky and about an

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 21

eighth of an acre in extent. On it is a considerable
growth of salal and stunted cedar and fir. A soft
grass covers a large portion of the southerly end
of the rock and in this grass are numerous deep,
well worn runways running in every direction.

This grass is apparently the mainstay of these

voles and cuttings were everywhere in evidence.

At very low tide this small island can be reach-
ed from Knocken Island over a mud flat and
Meares Island can be reached from Knocken
Island in the same manner, but only at very low
tide.

Another island lies about a mile further up
Disappointment Inlet and its vegetation consists
of salal, small firs and various weeds and grass.
A small colony of microti lives on this small is-
land and the runways through the thick grass
were fresh and well worn. This island is entirely
separated from the surrounding islands by deep
water.

A resident of Tofino stated he had seen several
colonies of these mice on different isolated rocky
islands and had once captured one of these voles
alive.

The isolated colonies of Microtus tetramerus
offer the curious problem as to how these small
rodenis originally reached these out of the way
places.

The specimens taken on Chesterman Beach
reef showed signs of severe fighting and in a few
hours they almost completely devoured a small
bird which was unfortunately caught in one of
these traps.

Mink were common about here and it is strange
that the small microtus colony was not completely
exterminated. One morning when examining the
traps a large mink was seen running along the
rocks close by and on being secured was found
to be an old male weighing four and a quarter
pounds.—KENNETH Racey.

BOOK REVIEWS

Birps AND MAMMALS FROM THE KooTENAY VALLEY,
SOUTHEASTERN BriTISH COLUMBIA. By
Joseph Mailliard, Curator emeritus Depart-
ment of Ornithology and Mammalogy, Cali-
forna Academy of Science, Fourth Seres,
Volume 20, No. 8, January 8, 19382. San Fran-
cisco: Published by the Academy. pp. 269-
290. Price 25 cents.

This very interesting paper by Joseph Mailliard
gives the results of field work conducted by him-
self and Frank Tose, chief, and Russel! Hendricks,

student assistant, Department of Exhibits, of the
California Academy of Sciences, in the region
around Creston, B.C., a few miles north of the
British Columbia-Idaho International Boundary,
from April 30 to June 5, 1928. Collections were
made principally on the east side of the Kootenay
River near Creston (altitude 1985 feet) and on
benches at the foot of Purcell Range, but some-
collecting was done by Mr. Tose on the west
side of the river at foot of Nelson Range from
May 9 to 14, and at Kitchener (about 2435

22 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

feet) approximately twelve miles east of Creston,
and at Yahk (2817 feet), about twenty-seven
miles east of Creston, a few miles north of the
British Columbia-Idaho-Montana corner. This
region, in one of the comparatively dry interior
valleys of British Columbia, shows considerable
variety of habitats, from the broad, low, periodi-
cally overflowed bottom lands of the Kootenay
Flats to the heavily timbered benches and moun-
tain sides of the Purcell and Nelson ranges on op-
posite sides of the Kootenay valley. The orig-
inal timber has been removed to a considerable
extent by logging and fires subsequent to the
building of the Crowsnest branch of the Canadian
Pacific Railway, and the immediate vicinity of
Creston and neighbouring valley points is occupied
to some extent by orchards and market gardens.
The list of specimens obtained by the party in-
cluded 319 birds (of 73 species) notes being given
cn 81 species, and 108 small mammals (of 10
species).

Few notes have been published on the animal
life of this part of British Columbia, and as a
field party from the National Museum of Canada,
consisting of R. M. Anderson, H. M. Laing, and
E. R. 8. Hall, worked in substantially the same
region during the following season, at Creston
(August 7-23), Goatfell, 2910 feet (August 23-30),
and Meadow Creek, 3500 feet, about seven miles
south of Yahk (August 31-October 3, 1929), a
comparison of records may be of interest.

The interior of southern British Columbia is
so much cut up by mountain ranges and valleys
that mammals of. different habitats and life zones
may frequently be found within a few miles of
each other. The bird life is less static, and while
the breeding grounds of the species are fairly
well marked within certain zones, there is natur-
ally much overlapping during migration. While
the field of operations of the two parties did not
cover much more than thirty miles east and west
and about ten miles north and south, the Cali-
fornia party worked mainly east of the Kootenay
River at foot of the Purcell Range, and the
Ottawa party mainly west of the river while
near Creston. Kitchener is only a few miles
northwest of Goatfell, and in the Yahk region
the Ottawa party worked mainly along tributar-
ies of Meadow Creek, a tributary of the Moyie
River, rising near the extreme northwestern corn-
er of the State of Montana. In the bird line,
the California party caught the spring migration
and early breeding birds, while the Ottawa party
came in about the time the warblers were leav-

{[VoL. XLVIII

ing, and spent much time in the natural fall
migration route of Fringillidae along the fairly
open, weed and brush-grown tributaries of the
Moyie valley.

Comparison of our birds lists showed that of
the total number of 81 species noted by the Acad-
emy party, 78 were listed from the vicinity of
Creston, and 15 at Kitchener and Yahk, although
as the notes are not very complete as to the
commener species observed on the side trips, the
number of species was probably larger than in-
dicated. The National Museum party recorded
a total of 116 species of birds. of which 63
species were observed near Creston, 51 near Goat-
fell, and 78 near Yahk. Species which might
be of questionable identity were generally col-
lected. Fifteen species of birds noted by the
Academy party in 1928 and not by the Ottawa
party in 1929 include the following:1 American
Merganser (C), Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker
(C, K), Alaska Three-toed Woodpecker (K),
Black-chinned Hummingbird (C), Rufous Hum-
mingbird (C), Calliope Hummingbird (C), Ar-
kansas Kingbird (C), Bobolink (C}, Bullock’s
Oriole (C), Lazuli Bunting (C), Tree Swallow
(C), Rough-winged Swallow (C), Calaveras Warb-
ler (C), Chestnut-backed Chickadee (C), West-
ern Bluebird (C, K, Y).

Thirty-five species of birds were noted by the
National Museum party in 1929, but not includ-
ed in the list of the Academy party in 1928, as
follows: Pied-billed Grebe (Y), Great Blue Heron
(Y), Pintail (C, Y), Green-winged Teal (C, Y),
Hooded Merganser (C), Turkey Vulture (C),
Eastern Goshawk (Y), Western Red-tailed Hawk
(C, Y), Marsh Hawk (C, G, Y). Pigeon Hawk
(Y), Sora (C), American Coot (C), Western
Solitary Sandpiper (C), Greater Yellow-legs (C),
Pectoral Sandpiper (Y), Gull, Larus sp. (C),
Rocky Mountain Pygmy Owl (G, Y), Short-
eared Owl (Y), Night-hawk (C, G, Y), Say’s
Phoebe (Y), Olive-sided Flycatcher (G, Y), Arc-
tic Horned Lark (Y), American Magpie (Y),
Northern Raven (Y), Slender-billed Nuthatch
(G, Y), American Pipit (Y), Northern Water-
Thrush (G, Y), Macgillivray’s Warbler (G, Y),
Northern Pileolated Warbler (C, G, Y), Pale
Goldfinch (C), Bendire’s Crossbill (C, G, Y),
Western Vesper Sparrow (Y), Lincoln’s Sparrow
(Y), Swamp Sparrow (Y),2 Alaska Longspur (Y).

1 C (Creston), G (Goatfell), K (Kitchener), Y (Yahk).

2 Second record of the Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgi-
ana (Latham), from British Columbia. taken by H. M. Laing
on American Creek, 3800 ft., north of Flatiron Mountain near
Idaho-Montana-B.C. corner, Sept. 12, 1929.

*

January, 1933]

Among the points of interest was the apparent
lack of Marsh Hawks in 1928, while in 1929
both adults and young were very common on
the Kootenay Flats, hawking for meadow mice,

and frequently gorging on small young Western |

Spotted Frogs (Rana pretiosa pretiosa). Mail-
liard notes the Osprey as occasionally seen in
1928, and speculated on the apparent scarcity
of food for this bird, but in 1929 the Osprey could
be called common, heard overhead at all hours
of the day, along the muddy side channels of the
Kootenay River, and finding an abundant food
in the Squawfish (Ptychocheilus oregonensis), and
possibly also capturing Large-mouthed Black Bass
(Micropterus salmoides), the latter said to have
been a comparatively recent introduction into
the Kootenay River in northern Idaho and now
sbundant in the side channels of the river in
seuthern British Columbia. Several nests of
the Osprey were seen, one of them containing
two young birds as late as August 15. The hum-
mingbirds and most of the Warblers had evident-
ly disappeared from the Creston district before
August 7. The presence or absence of both bird;
and mammals in certain areas was undoubtedly
strongly influenced by the high water and spring
floods in 1928, and conversely by the prolonged
drought during the summer of 1929 driving them
from the lower levels in one case, and attracting
them later to the wet spots where vegetation
was luxuriant and food abundant.

The Academy party collected ten species of
mammals in 1928 the only species not taken by
the Museum party in 1929 being the British
Columbia Woodchuck (Marmota monaz petren-
sis), one specimen being found dead near the
mouth of Goat River near Creston, supposed to
have floated down with the spring freshet. Two
specimens of Wood Rat (Neotoma cinerea oc-
cidentalis) were listed in the report by mistake
as N. c. drummondi, and later corrected by Mail-
liard (See Canadian Field-Naturalist, 46: 145,
Sept. 1932).

The reviewer’s attention was attracted by the
fact that the only chipmunks taken by the
Academy were referred to Eutamias ruficaudus
simulans Howell (Coeur d’Alene Chipmunk).
The Ottawa party in 1929 took 32 specimens
of chipmunks in the Creston region, and these
had been studied in Washington, D.C., by the
writer and Mr. A. H. Howell of the Biological
Survey, and 8 specimens referred to E. r. simulans,
and 24 to Eutamias amoenus luteiventris (Buff-
bellied Chipmunk). The simulans specimens were

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 23

all from the foot of Nelson Range on the west
side of Kootenay River near Creston, with 5
specimens of luteiventris from the same region;
the remainder of the luteiventris specimens being
from Goatfell and Yahk(Meadow Creek). Through
the kindness of the California Academy of Sciences
21 skins and 12 skulls of the Creston chipmunks
recorded by Mailliard were sent to Ottawa for
study. They were carefully compared with 69
fairly typical E. a. affinis, two of the females
and 4 affinis x luteiventris from British Columbia,
53 luteiventris from British Columbia and 35
from Alberta. Six males and 13 females in the
Academy collection from Creston proved to be
fairly typical E. a. affinis two of the females
differ somewhat from the others and are apparent-
fairly typical E. a. affinis, two of the females
The typical affinis specimens have the general
grayiso colour of this form with little rufous
tinge. The two intermediates have considerable
rufous on the sides of neck and flanks, chest
faintly rufous, brighter on middle of belly, fad-
ing posteriorly, the back also showing more of
a pinkish tinge than in the typical specimens.

The Academy authorities were unable to give
the reviewer any information as to the altitude
at which the specimens were taken, or the pre-
cise locality beyond that of Creston and one
specimen labelled Kitchener.

These determinations do not disprove the gen-
eral opinion of mammalogists that it is illogical
to find two subspecies of the same species oc-
cupying the same ground, as in an area of as-
sumed or proved intergradation two different
subspecific forms may occupy slightly different
habitats or ecological niches, or live at different
altitudes. The importance of recording ecological
conditions at all collecting stations and approxi-
mate altitudes when collecting in mountainous
districts can not be overestimated. The writer
is also convinced that in a district near an area
of intergradation one subspecies may predominate
while cn the same ground occasional specimens
of the typical form of allied subspecies may
also be taken and in fact are to be expected as
throwbacks to the other form.

The distribution of the several forms of chip-
munks in southern British Columbia is very ir-
regular, and while the large number of geographic
races of chipmunks indicate that the species are
very plastic, it is hardly necessary to go back to
evolutionary and environment hypotheses to ac-
count for some of the anomalies of distribution.
The National Museum of Canada has spec-

24 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

imens of luteiventris from Trail, Rossland (6800
ft.), Elko, Fernie, Newgate, and Morrissey, as
well as from Alberta and other points mentioned.
We also have affinis from various points in the
Similkameen' and Okanagan valleys, Rossland
(at 4000 feet), and as far east as Cranbrook and
Newgate, B.C. In fact, at Newgate our collectors

in 1930 found luteiventris to be the form on the .

east side of the Kootenay River (Tobacco Plains),
and affinis occupying the west side of the river
at the foot of the McGillivray Range The Koot-
enay River seems to be at least a temporary
barrier at this point. It is probable that there
has been considerable extension and _ shifting
of the ranges of some of the small mammals in
ihe region along the Crowsnet Pass line of
the Canadian Pacific Railway within the past 25
or 30 years on account of the logging and
big forest fires which have repeatedly swept
parts of the region. This is well known
to have occurred with some of the more notice-
able big game mammals. One form may be wiped
out of a district when forest fires sweep over
and the deforested territory occupied by other
jorms as the bush grows up again, bringing dif-
ferent mammal forms into closer alignment than
at the period of their evolutionary development.

Other mammals taken by the Academy party
were the Mountain Wandering shrew (Sorex v.
monticola), Columbian ground squirrel (Citellus
c. columbianus), Richardson red squirrel (Sczwrus
h. richardsoni), Sagebrush white-footed mouse
(Peromyscus m. artemisiae), Kootenay red-backed
mouse (Clethrionomys g. saturatus), Mountain
long-tailed vole (Microtus m. mordax), and Vary-
ing hare (Lepus bairdi cascadensis?).

Twenty-six additional species were taken by
the National Museum party in this region in
1929, «us follows:

Cinereous long-tailed shrew (Sorex c. cinereus)
G,Y
Dusky Shrew (Sorex o. obscurus) C,Y

Mountain water-shrew (Sorex o. navigator) G,Y
Little brown bat (Myotis I. luctfugus) C
Grinnell Yuma bat (Myotis y. sociabilis) C
Silver-black bat (Lastonycteris noctivagans) C
Pallid lump-nosed bat (Corynorhinus r. pall-
escens) C
Selkirk marten (Martes a. abietinoides) Y
Bonaparte weasel (Mustela ec. cicognani) Y
Pacific mink (Mustela v. energumenos) G,Y
Northern striped skunk (Mephitis hudsonica)
Coy.

(VoL. XLVIII

California badger (Tazxidea t. neglecta) G,Y

Lynx (Lynx sp.) Y

Mountain coyote (Canis latrans lestes) Y

Northern mantled ground squirrel (Callosper-
mophilus 1. tescorum)

Buff-bellied chipmunk (Eutamias a. luteiventris)
C,G,Y

Dusky flying squirrel (Glaucomys s. fuligino-
sus) C,G,Y

Coeur d’Alene pocket gopher (Thomomys f.
saturatus) C, G

Pacific beaver (Castor c. leucodonta) C.

Rocky mountain meadow mouse (Microtus p.
modestus) C, G, Y

Rocky mountain muskrat (Ondatro z. osoyoo-
sensis) C, G. Y

Kootenay jumping mouse (Zapus princeps)

Yellow-haired porcupine (Hrethizon e. epixan-
mania) (Cy XE

Rocky mountain snowshoe rabbit (Lepus b.
bairdi) Y

Yellow-tailed Deer
ochrourus) Y

(Odocoileus virginianus

Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus hemi-
onus macrotis) Y ,

The following species were ascertained from

reliable testimony to be present in limited num-

bers in parts of the area:
Grizzly bear (Ursus sp.) C, G, Y
Cougar (Felis concolor) Y

Okanagan hoary marmot (Marmota caligata
okanagana) Y .

Pika (Ochotona, princeps) Y
Mountain caribou (Rangifer montanus) C
Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) G, K

Papers such as the one under review are very
valuable in bringing to light data on the wild
life of a region comparatively little known bio-
logically, showing the varied conditions that pre-
vail at different seasons, and the fluctuations in
wild life from year to year, particularly where
there are no active resident field-naturalists. We
shall never approach completeness in our natural
history records until every collector and museum
worker does what he can to put his knowledge
on record, even if it is nothing more than that a
certain number of species were taken at a certain
place, so that investigators may know that speci-
mens are at least extant in collections, to be
examined in detail when desirable.—R. M.
ANpDERSON, National Museum of Canada, Ottawa.

a NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF
rs MANITOBA
NS "1929-30

President Emeritus: C.E. BASTIN; President: G. SHIRLEY

Brooks, Past Presidents: H. M. SpEecuLy, M.D., C. W.

Lowe, M.Sc., A. A. McCousprey, J. B. WALLIs, M.A.,
te V. W. JacKson M.Sc., A. M. DAY TRON M.D., R. A.
-—s- WaRDLE, M.Sc.; Vice-Presidents: Mrs. L. R. SIMPSON,
Cc. L. Brotey, W. H. Rann, Dr. R. S. Kirk,
CARTWRIGHT, A. BURTON GRESHAM, Treasurer: A. G.
LAWRENCE; Auditor: R. M. Tuomas; Social Convenor:
Mrs. A. J. SHARLE; General Secretary; NORMAN LOWE,
: 317 Simcoe St., Winnipeg; Executive Secretary: J. HADDOoW.

- Section Chairman Secretary

- Ornithological L. T. S. NorRis-ELyYE, B.A. A. H. SHORTT
Entomological A. V. MITCHENER, M.Sc. Miss M.F. PRATT
Botanical Mrs. I. M. PRIESTLY ' Mrs. H. T. Ross
Geotogical — Miss C. J. EGAN, P. H. StoKrs
Ichthyological FERRIS NEAVE, M.Sc. G. D. RUSSELL

_ Mammalogical V. W. JACKSON, M.Sc. J. P. KENNEDY

whan?

_ Microscopy
Zoology R. A. WARDLE, M.Sc.
Botany C. W. Lows, M.Sc. H.CHAS. PEARCE

Meetings are held each Monday evening, except on holidays
from October to April, in the physics theatre of the University,
Winnipeg. Field excursions are held each Saturday after-
noon during May, June and September, and on public holidays
during July and August.

THE HAMILTON BIRD PROTECTION
SOCIETY

(Incorporated)

Hon. President:
Rev. CALVIN McQugsToNn; Vice-President: R. OWBN MERRI-
‘MAN, M.A., Kingston, Ont.; First Vice-President: Dr. H. G.
_ ARNOTT; Second Vice-President: Mrs. F. E. MACLOGHLIN;
} ‘Recording Secretary: J. ROLAND BRowN; Secretary-Treasurer:
Miss NINA DUNCAN; Aszisiant Secretary-Treasurer: Miss E.
McEwIN; Junior Committee: Miss M. E. GRAHAM; Pro-
Bos Committee: Rev. C. A. HEAVEN; Extension Committee:
. NUNN.

oe _ MeILWRAITH ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB,
LONDON, ONT.

BN Mr. EDIsoN MATTHEWS, 554 Central Ave., London
- Ont.; Vice-President: Mr. E. D. BRAND, 148 William Street,
- London, Ont.; Recording ret dal Mr. VERNON FRANKS, 195
- Duchess Ave., London, Ont.; Corresponding Secretary and
_ Treasurer: Mr. W. G. GIRLING, aa English St., London,
Ont. Migration Secretary: Mr. E. S. Dae, 297 Hyman
Street, London, Ont.; Members Fea to answer questions:
Ww. E. SAUNDERS, 240 Central Avenue, London, Ont.;

C. G. WarTson, 201 Ridout Street South, ae Ont.;

_ J. F. CALVERT, 461 Tecumseh A venue, London, Ont.; E. M. s:
DALE, 297 Hyman Street, London, Ont.

Meetings held the second Monday of the month, excep
. during the summer.

.

‘VANCOUVER NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

y Honorary President. L.S. Kiinck, LL.D., President Univer-
sity of B.C.; President: JoHN Davipson, F.L.S., F.B.S.E.,
University of B.C.; Vice-President: Pror. M. Y. "WILLIAMS,
Honorary Secretary: C. F. Connor, M.A., 3222 W. 36th
Street, Vancouver, B.C.;_
_ Betty HERD; 2nd Assistant Secretary: Mr. VERNON WIE-
DRICK; Honorary Treasurer: A. H. Bam, 2142 Collingwood
‘adhe Street, Vancouver, B.C.; Librarian: Mrs. McCrimmon;
Members ey, Executive: Miss E. J. SMITH, ae J. D. TURNBULL,
Mr. B. J. Woop, Mr. P. L. Tart, Mr. R. J. CUMMING; Au-
%; ditors: Ge SELWoop,- W.. 'B. ‘Woops.
_ All meetings at 8 p.m., Auditorium, Normal School, 10th
Avenue and Cambie Street, bitiors otherwise announced.

4 BRITISH COLUMBIA BIRD AND MAMMAL
4 SOCIETY:

Dr. M. Y. WILLIAM;
Mafia it ‘LAING;
Vancouver, BC. Had

First Vice-President;

W. E. SAUNDERS, London, Ont.; President:

. Me. J. H. FLEMING, Dr. N. A. POWELL;

‘Mr. W. R. Watson, Mr. L. T. OWENS.

First Assistant Secretary: MIss_

Soe Vice-President: Dr.C., J. Bastin: (

Affiliated Societies

PROVINCE OF QUEBEC SOCIETY FOR THE
PROTECTION OF BIRDS INC.

OFFICERS & COMMITTEE:

Past Presidents: Mr. L. MclI. TEBE, Mr. NAPIER SMITH-
Mr. W. S. Hart; President: Mrs. C. L. HENDERSON; Vice-
Presidents: Mr. H. A. C. JACKSON, Miss M. S. NICOLSON’
Vice-President and Treasurer: Mk. HENRY MOUSLEY; Secretary:
Miss M. Smatu; Curator: Miss Hopp MCLACHLAN. Committee
Dr. W. W. BEATTIE, Mrs.C.F.DALB, MR. J. A. DECARIE,
Mr. W.S. Hart, Mrs. H. HIspert, Miss K. D. MALCOUR-
ONNE, Miss P. B. MATTINSON, Miss EpDITH Morrow, MIss
L. MURPHY, Mr. R. A. OutHET, Mr. NAPIER SMITH, ah
L. MclI.SpacKMAN, Mr. L. MclI. TERRILL, MR. G. J.
TIGAR, V. C WYNNE-EDWARDS.

Address all correspondence to the Society at P.O. Box 1185
Montreal, P.Q., Canada.

Socere PROVANCHER D’HISTOIRE
NATURELLE DU CANADA

Patron Honoraire: Son Excellence, LE TRES HONORABLE
CoMTE DE BEsSSBOROUGH, P.C., C.M.G., Gouverneur-
Général du Canada; Vice-Pairon Honoraire: HONORABLE
M. H. G. CarRouu, Lieutenant-Gouverneur de la Province
de Québec; Bureau de Direction pour 1983: Président: W.
STUART ATKINSON; ler vice-président: EDGAR ROCHETTE,
C.R., M.P.P.; 2éme vice-président: G. STUART AHERN;
Secrétaire-trésorier: Louts-B. Lavoie; Chef de la section
acientifique: Dr. D.-A.DERY; Chef de la section de Propagande
éducationnelle: ALPHONSE DESILETS, B.S. oe 3 Chef de la section ©
de protection: R. MEREDITH, N.P.; Chef de la_ section
dinformation scientifique et pratique: Dr. J.-E. BERNIER;
Directeurs: ADRIEN FALARDEAU, C.R.; MAJor Jos. MATTE
JAMES F. Ross.

Secrétaire-irésorier: Louis-B. LAVoIn
38, rue Sherbrooke, Québec.

THE TORONTO FIELD-NATURALISTS’
CLUB

OFFICERS FOR 1933-34,

Honorary President: Dr. A. P. COLEMAN; President: ARNOTT
M.PATTERSON; Hon. Vice-Presidenis: Hon. G. H. CHALLIES.
Vice-President: Mr.

F. P. IpE, Secretary-Treasurer: J. P. OUGHTON, Chairman o)
Conservation Committee: Mrs. S. L. THOMPSON; Council—
Dr. E. M. WALKER, S. L. THOMPSON, Prog. J. R. DYMOND
C. S. FARMER, Pror. T. F. McILWRAITH. DR. NORMA
ForD, MAGISTRATE J. E. Jones, L. T. OWENS; RUPERT
Davips, F. C. Hurst, Dr. T. M. C. Taytor, C. G. BRENNAND;

Dr. P..E. CLARKSON, S. B. McCreEapy. Leaders: Birds—

-Megssrs. S. L. THOMPSON, L. i SNYDER, J. L. BAILLIE, JR.

Pror. T. F. McItwraitH, R. V. Linpsay, R. M. SPeEirs,
F. H. Emery, T. SHORTT, HUBERT RICHARDSON, R. J,
RUTTER. Mammals—Pror. A. F. COVENTRY, MESSRS. E.-
Cc. Cross, ee Be McLuLicu. Reptiles and Amphibians—
Messrs. E. B.S. Locier, WM. LERAy. Fisk—Pror. J. R.
DyYMOND, PRor. W. J. K. HARKNESS. Insects— Dr. BE.
M. WALEER, Dr. N. Forp, Mr. F. P. lpg. Botany—Pror.
R. B. THomson, Dr. H. B. Sirton, Dr. T. M. C. Taytor;
Mollusks—Dr. BE.
M. WALKER, J. P. OUGHTON. Geology—Dr. A. P. COLEMAN
Pror. A. MCLEAN. ih

We would ask the Officers, and more
particularly the Secretaries, of all the
Affiliated Societies to assist us in our
task of building up the circulation of
this magazine. By securing every
member as a subscriber we can truly
make this magazine into one of the
leading Natural History publications
of America.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY of JOHN MACOUN, M.A. | | CANADA NORTH OF FIFTY SIX

By E.M. KINDLE
These are attractively bound, and contain a

wealth of information concerning Canadian ~ Special profusely illustrated number of The
Natural History and Exploration. The author Naturalist’’, 86 pages, 31 illustrations. Every
was a former President of the Club and this is a Canadian should know this prize essay.
Memorial Volume PRICE FIFTY CENTS |
PRICE $3.00. - 305 pp. : WILMOT LLOYD pt ee
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COMPLETE SET OF THE CLUB’S Enclosed please find $2.00 as membership in

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ener nen seen eens enenenen ane sccenenennes neqnececccoescweseren--esscescesccecencossce
me : eowens

Address.) 2002 25 PNM UE ROUSE or Pe tes IU erin SUE

FORM I do hereby give and bequeath to The Ouse. Field
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BS 2y3
VOL. XLVHI, No. 2 FEBRUARY, 1934

: as Nee ees

OTT at GUI KAO SSI

vi
—

er
er

rw Pass ad
ay al
3 =e i

OTTAWA FIELSRAGKALISTS' CLUB

ISSUED FEBRUARY 7, 1934
Entered at the Ottawa Post Office as second-class matter

2B)
ae
rt

Soe

THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ CLUB

jPatrons: Sie
THEIR EXCELLENCIES THE GOVERNOR GENERAL AND COUNTESS OF BESSBOROUGH ~

Tee President: M. E. WILSON. i geen :
1st Vice-President: HERBERT GROH 2nd Vice-President: P. A. TAVERNER ~
Secretary: GRACE S. LEWIS, Treasurer; WILMOT LLOYD, 582 Mariposa Ave.,

344 Lisgar Road, Rockcliffe Park. “he Rockcliffe Park.

Additional Members of Council: F. J. ALCOCK, R. M. ANDERSON, M. E. Cowan, H. G. CRAwForD,
ArTHUR CROWSON, R. E. DELuRY, F. J. FRASER, C. E. JOHNSON, A.G. KINGSTon, E. M. KINDLE,

W. H. LANcELEY, A. LARocquE, DouGLAS LEECHMAN, HARRISON F. LEwis, Hoyres Luoyp,
Mark G, McELHINNEY, A. E. Porsitp, E. E. Prince, L. S. RUSSELL, J. DEWEY SOPER, C. M.
STERNBERG, E. F. G. WHITE, PEGGY WHITEHURST, R. T. D. WICKENDEN, W. J. WINTEMBERG,
and the following Presidents of Affiliated Societies: G. SHIRLEY Brooks, CALVIN MCQUESTON,
EDISON MATTHEWS, JOHN DAVIDSON, M. Y. WILLIAMS, C. L. HENDERSON, W. STUART ATKINSON,

_ ARNOTT M, PATTERSON. PN

Auditors: A. G. KINGSTON and HARRISON F. LEWIS.

Editor:
DouGLAsS LEECHMAN
National Museum, Ottawa, Canada. —

aie ‘ Associate Editors:
DD SENNESS 5 /2)s cise g sic tiers oie .... Anthropology CLYDE Li: PATCH oan eee Herpetology —
SS ae Denia tee dae ces aheKG (atagttanule ES OLEIEY R. M. ANDERSON..............Mammalogy
F. R. LATCHFORD...............-Conchology A. G. HUNTSMAN....... ....-Marine Biology
ARTHUR GIBSON...............-Lntomology . ede Al TAVERNER Sco cuu to sate Ornithology
Bid: ALCOCK.) Hoo o/s 0» Mei Gre Geology — E. M.KINDLE...... de ot ey Palzontology

CONTENTS :

: of Oe hy | PAGE
Recent Developments in Waterfowl Conservation in Eastern Canada. By Harrison F. Lewis 24
Chijstmas ‘Bird’ Censuses, 1988.65 ..2b scn ce Pe a ee

Pleistocene and Post-pleistocene Molluscan Faunas of Southern Saskatchewan. By Loris S. :
+ Russell With Description of a New Species of Gyraulus. By Frank Collins Baker.... 87

Notes and Observations:— ~ Ge ae : . ee

- Some Vancouver Island Bird Notes. By Hamilton M. Laing...........:.... Bei ite “Oath ES Oia

: Holboell’s Grebe in Nova Scotia. By R. W. Tufts..................... PN Le pate foto

»Do Gaddis Fly Larvae Kill Wish? ‘By A.. Pritchard: 0c at eens ie sage

White Herons in Southern Ontario. By P. A. T............ et tnaes Meese ce wnrha 3)

The Hog-nosed Snake Heteredon contortrix in Parry Sound District, Ontario......... ease ot:

By: Howard Ac Kellyiy ik cok ocak Bee Se ae Wek acme ee Shr oat ste’ 4 aC MR PRE true)

Nova Scotia Gets Willow Ptarmigan. By R. W. Tufts...................... Leader DOs ; 39

Note on the Range of Valvata lewisi ontariensis F. C. Baker. Si mE MAREE SC
Correction, “.By BR. Me ‘Anderson 24. secs 4e on Cees ee

me cnecncncccesncens copnacescescconscansscnseneness cocenceacanssscacesseunensaccassnesesesoccocesscessssessescnesansseosasas
Ht eee ee ee
Sooo ccocccescececesscaccec seers sere s G6 C5068 Ses cb PG FEES eS ESDO Ss COSC EEE DEUS SS SUEDE SON SSESEOUESeDeSEESEESSUSSSESESSESSESEESEES:

The official publications of THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ CLUB have been issued
# since 1879. The first were The Transactions of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club, 1879-1886
i=? two volumes; the next, The Ottawa Naturalist, 1886-1919, thirty-two volumes; and these ha
# been continued by The Canadian Field-Naturalist to date. The Canadian Fie d-Naturalist is |
i# issued monthly, except for the months of June, July and August. Its scope is the publication
; it of the results of original research in all departments of Natural History. Tibet oe he aa
i i
i

Price of this volume (9 numbers) $2.00; Single copies 25¢ nen

Bee cncvccsccecaceccosencescaasncssan-a0000scscescccens-snesescossscccsecccscacnadcscnccsssrccanescenccacesccsugscaccccccscsss: success:
Bor aoe eee ceccccscescacccceccccesseccecascescssccoscscesceccssccsauedecauccscaucGesceaaccsccussccgccscessaccseusssssucccuccencaucssccsss
Seer eee ooo aoe ca oscacescosouccce=ascescsesccesscereeesccescosccusooepbossesspacececcesccucecescsscoussescesesceussessesensensnssasa

The Membership Committee of The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club is making a specia €
increase the subscription list of The Canadian Field-Naturalist. We are, therefore, asking ev
who is truly interested in the wild life of our country to help this magazine to its rightful place amor
the leading Natural History publications in America. RS oe ERE aes

Subscriptions ($2.00 a year) should be forwarded to ee
) ; ‘WILMOT LLOYD,

Ottawa Fie

Roekeliffe P

Phe pee

The Canadian Field- Naturalist

VOL. XLVIII

OTTAWA, CANADA, FEBRUARY, 1934

No. 2

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN WATERFOWL CONSERVATION IN
EASTERN CANADA
By HARRISON F. LEWIS*

N OUTSTANDING phenomenon which
has affected the situation relating to
eal waterfowl! conservation in Hastern Canada
in recent years is the relatively sudden
death of most of the individuals of the plant
known as eel-grass (Zostera marina L.), which
was formerly very abundant on she!tered tidal
flats along the sea-coast from Labrador south-
ward. This plant provided an important supply
of food for the American Brant and for those
Common Canada Geese and Black Ducks that fre-
quented maritime regions. The Brant ate the
rootstocks of the plant and depended upon it
for the major part of their food when they were
within its range, that is to say, during all that
part of the year, from autumn to early summer,
when they were south of Hudson Bay and Strait.
The Common Canada Geese also ate the root-
stocks of eel-grass but were not dependent upon
it to the same extent that the Brant were, as the
Canada Geese, unlike the Brant, often obtained
food in fresh water or on marshy or upland areas,
and maintained a more varied diet. Dependence
of Canada Geese upon eel-grass for food was most
pronounced in the northern parts of their coastal
winter range, as in southern Nova Scotia, during
late winter and early spring, when food on land or
in fresli water was made inaccessible to them by
ice and snow. Black Ducks were accustomed to
feed to a large extent on the ripe seeds of eel-
erass, which were obtained from the mud into
which they thad fallen. They were not partic-
ularly dependent upon these, as other sources
of food were generally available to them. They
seldom ate other parts of the eel-grass plant.
Destruction of eel-grass on a large scale, from
some cause not readily perceptible, was observed

*Dr. H. F. Lewis is Chief Federal Migratory Bird
Officer for Ontario and Quebec, National Parks Branch,
Department of the Interior, Canada. This article is
published with the approval of the Department of the
Interior. It was presented, on November 16, 1933,
before the American Ornithologists’ Union, at its Fifty-
first Stated Meeting, which was held in New York City.

on the Atlantic coast of the United States
south of New York City some three or four
years ago. Extending rapidly northward along
the seaboard it made its appearance in south-
ern Nova Scotia in 1931, if not earlier. At the
end of the year 1931 the scarcity of eel-grass
consequent upon this destruction was present
around most of the coast of Nova Scotia, along
the south shore of Prince Edward Island, and
in southern New Brunswick. A year later, at
the close of 1932, most of the eel-grass had dis-
appeared from the north shore of Prince Ed-
ward Island, from the Magdalen Islands, and
from the eastern coast of New Brunswick at
least as far north as Tabusintac. When the ice
cleared from the St. Lawrence estuary and from
the northern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence
in the spring of 1933, it was found that de-
struction of this plant had taken place along
the shores of that region, as far as the Strait
of Belle Isle, between’ Newfoundland and Lab-
rador. A recent report tells of dearth of eel-
grass in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, also, and
probably other parts of the coast of that isl-
and are affected.

Thus we have evidence that eel-grass is ab-
normally rare at the present time throughout
practically its entire range in eastern North
America from North Carolina to Labrador. The
Canadian coast involved, from the Strait of Belle
Isle to the mouth of the St. Croix River, has
a length of more than 3,000 miles. A similar
scarcity of this plant is reported from several
parts of the coast of western Europe, where it
was formerly abundant.

The degree of destruction of eel-grass varies
at different times and in different localities,
but ip general is probably more than 90 per
cent. Along the north shore of the Gulf of
St. Lawrence in the summer of 1933 I estimated
it to be more than 99 per cent. In the Mag-
dalen Islands! ih May, 1933, I did not succeed

26 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

in finding as much as one living plant of eel-
grass. In areas such as estuaries, where the sea
water is markedly diluted by inflow of fresh
water, the eel-grass appears to survive better
than elsewhere. Probably the completeness of
its disappearance in the Magdalen Islands has
a direct relation to the fact that these islands
contain no rivers or other large supply of fresh
water.

During the summer of 1932 extensive tidal
flats on the coast of Nova Scotia became fairly
well covered with a dense growth of young eel-
grass plants, which attained a length of 5 or
6 inches. Most of this growth died subsequent-
ly. Similar growth appeared in the summer of
1933, both in Nova Scotia and in the St. Law-
rence estuary. The probability is that this will
die in a similar way. Growth of this kind
probably springs from a stock of seeds of pre-
vious years, remaining viable in the mud of the
flats. After growing for a few months it appears
to be destroyed by the same lethal agency that
destroyed the established adult stands of the
plant. I know of no valid ground for thinking
that the scarcity of eel-grass in eastern North
America will soon terminate or is being sens-
ibly ameliorated.

Up to the present time the cause of this
sudden and widespread destruction of eel-grass
remains uncertain. There are a number of in-
dicaticns that it may be a bacterial disease,
and workers in France, Messrs. Fischer-Piette,
Heim, and Lami, have published their state-
ment! of the discovery of what they take to be
the causative bacterium, found in tissues of eel-
grass collected on the west coast of France.

American Brant and Common Canada Geese
on the Atlantic seaboard of this continent have
been seriously affected by this scarcity of eel-
grass. Reports obtained by the Canadian De-
partment of the Interior, which has been keeping
in close touch with the development of this
situation, show marked diminution in numbers
of both of these species in the Maritime Prov-
inces and in eastern Quebec Province in the fall
of 1932 and the spring of 1933. Many of the
Canada Geese and Brant taken by hunters in
these provinces in the fall of 1932 were very
thin and in poor condition.
so emaciated that they were considered unfit
for human food. The birds were observed to act
abnormally, being very restless, moving frequent-
ly from one feeding-ground to another, and seek-

1 Comptes Rendus de l’Academie des Sciences, Tome
195, No. 26, p. 1420, Paris, 27 decembre, 1932.

Some of them were

(VoL. XLVIII

ing food in unusual places. In two different areas
in Prince Edward Island and in one area in New
Brunswick flocks of American Brant were seen
in the spring of 1933 to be feeding in upland
fields, which are most abnovmal feeding-places
for them.

At the Bay of Seven Islands, at the north-
west angle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which
is a concentration area much used by Brant on
their spring migration, annual counts of the num-
bers of Brant observed passing northward through
the bay are made by an officer of the Canadian
Department of the Interior who is stationed
there to protect these birds. He reported that
100,40@ Brant passed through the Bay of
Seven Islands in the spring of 1932 and that
the number of these birds that passed the same
point in the spring of 1983 was 79,500, indicating
a decrease of about 21% in this species in the
year between these observations.

Reports received this fall, up to November
4th, by the Department of the Interior from 36
observers in the coastal regions of eastern Canada
south of the mouth of the St. Lawrence River,
including Robie W. Tufts, the Chief Federal Mi-
gratory Bird Officer for the Maritime Provinces,
and the present speaker, are nearly unanimous
in indicating that both Canada Geese and Brant
are much less numerous throughout those regions
than they were in the fall two or three vears
ago. Because there is so much local shifting of
the flocks in search of food it is very difficult
to give anything like a definite statement of the
percentage of this reduction, considering the re-
gion as a whole, but there is undoubtedly a
severe diminution. One observer, who is a fed-
eral officer whose duties cause him to travel over
large areas in Prince Edward Island, and who
is considered reliable, reported on October 21st
that the number of Canada Geese in the dis-
trict surveyed by him was then less than 10%
of normal, and that Brant were present there
in small numbers only.

The destruction of eel-grass at Isle Verte,
on the south shore of the St. Lawrence estuary,
has been so severe that none of the plant was
harvested commercially there this year, although
under normal conditions such harvesting is an
important industry at that place. On October
24, 1933, I found the extensive tidal flats north-
east of the village to be about half covered
with living young eel-grass, four to five inches
long, which showed signs of being diseased.
There seemed to be enough of it to furnish an
abundance of food for some weeks, at least, to

February, 1934]

the thousands of Canada Geese and Brant norm-
ally to be expected at this place in late October.
The birds were not there in anything approach-
ing such numbers. In a search lasting 3% hours
I found only 4 Canada Geese and 60 Brant.
Why were they so few? The most probable
reason is that they are not now in existence in that
genera’ region in large numbers. Reduction in
their numbers may have been brought about
by scarcity of food in other parts of their range,
or by over-hunting, or by disease or injury of
some kind that may possibly have affected them
as a result of eating dying eel-grass, or by some
other cause. It is reported that the flocks of
Brant contain birds of the year this fall, indicat-
ing a successful breeding season in the Arctic
last summer.

This indication of suitable conditions for
the raising of young waterfowl in the eastern
Arctic last summer is corroborated by the condi-
tion this fall of the large flock of Greater Snow
Geese as it appeared on its feeding-grounds at
Cap Tourmente, near Quebee City, where it was
seen iu the autumn of last year by the American
Ornithologists’ Union. Mr. Henry des Riviéres, a
member of the Cap Tourmente Fish and Game
Club, cn whose grounds this flock is protected,
and Mr. E. F. G. White, of Ottawa, who recent-
ly spent two weeks at Cap Tourmente,. agree
that this flock of Snow Geese contains a high
proportion of young birds of the year this fall
and shows a marked increase in total number
of individuals, as compared with last fall. This
increase is estimated to be not less than 1,500
to 2,000 birds. My own estimate of the size
of this flock of Snow Geese on October 21, 1982,
when this Union visited it, was 9,000 birds. If
that is correct, then the present size of the flock,
according to the estimates of increase Just quoted,
should be between. 10,500 and 11,000 individuals.
The flock has now reached the largest size in
its known history.

The number of Blue Geese accompanying the
Greater Snow Geese at Cap Tourmente is also
greater in 1933 than it was in 1932. On October
21, 1932, I recorded 6 Blue Geese at the place
menticned. I believe 3 or 4 had been shot there
earlier that fall. The numbers of this species
at this place this fall were estimated by Mr. des
Riviéres as about 100. The principal concen-
tration-ground of Blue Geese in the fall is in the
southern part of James Bay, where they were
teported to be plentiful this year in mid-October.

Black Ducks were present on their breeding-
grounds in eastern Canada in large numbers last

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 27

spring. They subsequently had an excellent breed-
ing season, with much fine, dry weather. One
effect of this kind of weather is to reduce the
number of black flies, which in some areas at

least may fatally infect ducklings with the proto-

zoan, Leucocytozoon anatis Wickware. As a re-
sult of these favorable conditions, Black Ducks
have been very numerous this fall in most suit-
able sreas in eastern Canada, although there have
been some local exceptions. Despite their hav-
ing been accustomed to feed to a large extent
on the seeds of eel-grass along the coast, the
general failure of this plant has not produced a
marked adverse effect upon them. This may be
due to the fact that so many other foods, in
both salt and fresh water, are available and ac-
ceptable to them. There is some evidence to
show that they still obtain a good many eel-grass
seeds from the tidal flats where this plant for-
merly grew abundantly.

Of other important game ducks in eastern Can-
ada, it may be said that Ring-necked Ducks and
Greater and Lesser Scaup Ducks appeared in
fair numbers this fall, while a decrease of Ameri-
can Pintail and Green-winged Teal is reported.

Protection of the American Eider Duck along
the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence
entered upon a new phase this year when the
local production of eider-down for commercial
purposes, which had been planned for some time,
was begun. Under the present law on the sub-
ject, this industry can be carried on only under
permit from the Department of the Interior, and
these permits are granted only when the De-
partment is assured that conditions favorable to
the breeding and increase of the Eiders will be
maintained. Each permit gives an individual
resident of the region the sole right to collect
eider-down from the nests of Eider Ducks on
certain islands, which are definitely indicated, and
which are either owned by him or leased by him
from the government of the Province of Quebec.
In this way individual control of and interest in
the Hider Ducks on each limited area covered
by a permit is assured. All the operations of the
permittee must be carried on in such a way >
as to cause no injury to these Ducks and to
molest them as little as possible. A system of
inspections ensures observance of the permit
terms.

In 1933 twenty residents of the north shore
of the Gulf of St. Lawrence held permits of this
nature, although some of them failed to take any
action under their permits. The operations of
those who did gather eider-down were generally

28 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

very successful and encouraging, despite a gen-
eral and inevitable lack of practical experience.
It was clearly and repeatedly demonstrated that
the necessary flushing of the Eiders from their
nests, the handling of the eggs to permit the
clean down in the bottom of the nest to be
removed and to be replaced by a pad of dirty,
less desirable down from the nest-border, and
the final reduction of the amount of down in
the nest to such a pad did not prevent continued
incubation and the ultimate successful hatching
of the eggs. In some cases, down was removed
from a given nest as many as three times, yet
there was no observable injurious effect.

The total amount of down gathered under

authority of these permits this year was enough

to weigh about fifty pounds when thoroughly
cleaned. Only a part of this has yet been market-
ed, but that which has already been cleaned and
offered for sale has been disposed of without
difficulty. It is sold through ordinary commer-
cial channels and the present retail price is $5.00
a pound. It is expected that the experience
gained by the permittees this year will make
possible a much larger harvest of down in 1934.

[VoL. XLVIII

American Hiders in the region in question are
still receiving, as they have received for some
years past, the benefit of the protection afforded
by a series of ten bird sanctuaries established and
maintained by the Department of the Interior, as
well as of that given by a staff of patrolling of-
ficers enforcing a complete close season for these
birds. The establishment of leased areas under
joint private and public control for the produc-
tion of eider-down outside of the sanctuaries,
which has now been put into effect in the way
that I have just described, provides a very useful
supplementary protective agency, because it makes
unauthorized or harmful molestation of these
Ducks less likely and more difficult over these
very considerable areas, including some of the
best breeding-grounds outside of the sanctuaries,
and because it gives the resident human popu-
lation a strong interest in Eider Ducks apart
from their value for food or sport and a power-
ful incentive to co-operate as fully as possible
with governmental conservation forces in increas-
ing the numbers of these birds. Experimental
work, with a similar end in view, has been initiat-
ed by the Department of the Interior among the
Eskimos of Baffin Island.

CHRISTMAS BIRD CENSUSES, 1933

Nore oN THE NAMES USED IN THE CHRISTMAS

Birp Census Reports—The comments on this sub-
ject published by Messrs. W. E Saunders and
Theed Pearse in The Canadian Field-Naturalist
for December, 1933, have been read by the present
writer with care and with much interest. The
following remarks relate to them.
_ It is desirable that identifications of birds seen
by census takers should be carried by these ob-
servers as far as is practicable and no farther
and should be reported by them with precision,
which should include definite indicaticn of doubt
when doubt exists. When this is done, there is
neithex need nor opportunity for an editorial
revision that may affect the original identifica-
tions in any way. Of course editorial revision
should not make identifications finer than the ob-
server was able to make them. Difficulty has
arisen from the fact that in many cases in the
past the report furnished by the observer has not
done lustice to his ability to make identifications
in the field.

Vernacular names were originally formed largely
by popular usage, but the need for conciseness,

certainty, and world-wide comprehension in scien-
tific publication makes it preferable to-day to use
for such publication names that conform strictly
to a fixed and well-known standard list of such
names, with accompanying references to defini-
tions of the concepts that they represent. The
Fourth Edition of the “A.O.U. Check-List” is such
a list and has been officially adopted by The
Canadian Field-Naturalist as its standard in this
matter. It is this voluntary adoption of this
standard by The Naturalist and not the original
selection of names, either by usage or by a Com-
mittee of the A.O.U., that calls for adherence to
this standard in the pages of this journal.

The statement that some editorial corrections
by the present writer expressed his opinion of
the preferable form of the common name of a
species and that some of the names thus intro-
duced are no better than those they replaced
must be based on a misapprehension. Such
changes were made, of course, in order to produce
conformity to the standard adopted, namely, the
English language nomenclature of the Fourth
Edition of the “A.O.U. Check-List” and not be-

v

February, 1934]

cause of personal preference. Personal prefer-
ences and local names, such as “Fish Crow” to
indicate a form of Corvus brachyrhynchos in cer-
tain tegions, are entirely out of place in the
nomerclature used in publications of this kind,
which, as has been stated before, must be un-
derstandable with certainty at all places and in
all times.

This year no changes have been made in any
bird vensus reports without consultation by cor-
respondence with the authors of those reports,
whose co-operation is much appreciated. Con-
sequently, the reports as published represent the
agreed opinions of their authors and the editorial
‘reviser and it is hoped that they may be found
acceptable also to those who read them—Har-
RISON F. Lewis, Chairman, Bird Census Com-
muttee.

MontTreat (and vicinity), QuEBEC, DECEMBER 24,
1933.—9.00 a.m. to 4.20 p.m., cloudy, temp. about
18°, 20 inches of snow. Observers together most
of the time. Subspecies determined geographi-
eally.

American Golden-eye, 2; American Merganser,
§; Canada Ruffed Grouse, 1; Eastern Screech Owl,
1; Northern Downy Woodpecker, 1; Eastern
Crow, 1; Black-capped Chickadee, 24; Brown
Creeper, 4; Starling, 770 (estimated); English
Sparrow, not estimated. Total, 10 species, 812
individuals (plus English Sparrows). .

Also seen recently: Herring Gull, Richardson’s
Owl, Hairy Woodpecker (Northern or Eastern),
Northern Shrike (W. J. Brown), White-breasted
Nuthatch, Canadian Pine Grosbeak, Eastern Snow
Bunting —V. C. WyNnner-Epwarps, Cciin Nicou,
H. A. C. Jackson, L. Mcl. Trrriti (Members of
the Province of Quebec Society for the Protection
of Birds).

Orty wa, ONTARIO, DEcEMBER 24, 1983—On this
date sixteen observers, grouped in six separate
parties, took the annual Christmas Bird Census.
The sky was heavily overcast throughout the day
and the temperature ranged from 12° at 8.00 a.m.
to 15° at 3.00 p.m. There was a light wind which
varied from north-east in early morning to south-
east or even farther south at dusk. During the
morning there was no perceptible precipitation,
but aiter noon there developed a misty condition,
with occasional light falls of fine snow and sleet,
and a steady fall of hail began at 3.30 p.m. and
continued until after dark.

Generally speaking, wintry conditions began at
Ottawa unusually early this fall and, with slight

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 29

intermission, continued until census day with ex-
ceptional severity. There was a heavy fall of
snow as early as October 24th and, although this
soon melted, subsequent snowfalls were frequent
and there was an unusual number of ice-storms,
making conditions of life very difficult for many
wild birds. It is estimated that the total depth
ef snow and hail on the ground near Ottawa on
December 24th was at least 18 inches on the aver-
age and perhaps more. November, 1933, was the
coldest November ever recorded at Ottawa, with
a mean temperature of 20.4°, which is twelve
degrees lower than the average mean for the
month. Sub-zero temperatures occurred several
times in November and were frequent in De-
cember. No doubt these meteorological condi-
tions were largely responsible for the compara-
tively small number of birds found by the census-
takers.

Attention may be called to the record of a
Northern Barred Owl in the census report this
year, as this species has not been included prev-
iously in a’ Christmas Bird Census at Ottawa.
The Eastern Screech Owl, which was found this
year, is also a rarity in our Christmas Bird Census
reports, where it has not been recorded since 1923.

A number of species, which are usually present
in reports of this nature from Ottawa, such as
the Eastern Snow Bunting, Eastern Goldfinch,
White-winged Crossbill, and Eastern Purple Finch,
are absent from our list this year. On the other
hand, the number of American Mergansers re-
ported in this census, namely, 20 is the largest
yet recorded in any Christmas Bird Census here,
the rext largest number recorded being 12 in
1931. The number of Eastern Hairy Woodpeckers
included in tthe census, which was only 1 in 1931
and the same in 1932, is 7, which is probably a
more normal number, in this census of 1933.

An Eastern Robin was seen in the Arboretum
at the Central Experimental Farm on December
23, but was not observed during the taking of
the census.

The parties participating in the taking of the
1933 census and the routes followed, in North,
East, South, West order were: (1) Hoyes Lloyd,
8.00 am. to 3.00 p.m., south bank of Ottawa
River. eastward from Rideau Gate to Ottawa
airport, including Village of Rockcliffe Park,
property of Federal District Commission, and
Beechwood Cemetery, 7 miles on foot; (2) R. M.
Anderson, 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., Ottawa East,
including refuse-dump, and north bank of Rideau
River to Billings’ Bridge, 4 miles on foot; (3)

30 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

[VoL. XLVIII

CuristMas Birp Census, OTTawa, ONTARIO, DrceMBER 24, 1933.
aa

Species* of Birds_

Route Nos. as in text.

2 3 4 5 6 Total
American Golden-eye ........--++se cere eters 7 4 23 2 36
American Merganser ........----++e-see terres 4 16 20
Sharp-shinned Hawk .........---++0+0+ reer eres 1 1 2
Canada Ruffed Grouse .........-+--+seeeee eres 5 3 8
Ring-necked Pheasant ..-.-.------++s+esrsecees 1 1 2
Wastern Screech Owl ........--02- eee eect trees 1 1
Northern Barred Owl ........--+---++ees recess 1 1
Eastern Hairy Woodpecker .........---+--++++5 3 | 2. 1 7
Northern Downy Woodpecker ......-----+++++: 2 1 1 6 10
Niort berm Blue aiyas fleet es tale seted clair lolialoan/a Sete ai 1 1
BaStenlun TOW, (heat oit: (eee teie a sta nedcsrasn 2 292 20 1 315
Black-capped Chickadee ......-..--++++seseee> 17 10 12 74 3 116
White-breasted Nuthatch .......------..0e0e- 6 4 3 13
Red@breasted Nuthatch «4.0... (.05. 2. ee 1 1
IBGOWINIO MES DEL Last eit each cpt el atenaidcta ot 1 1
Niartiernershirilee yi ulate nets c vierers re sthelepaiencltiodenwe arene 1 1
SHibinfs Watiowe mneaurwen ner gn JoebDasRaRGa unde te 150 200 33 1 384
Finglish Sparrow .....-------ssses terse eet 71 40 200 220 35 30 596
Canadian Pine Grosbeak .........----++++e++0> 19 6 25
Redpoll (Acanthis linaria (subspecies 11 11
Northern Pine Siskin .-......-.2.4-526-- +205: 21 91
Conta leim@ividuals: vtec s+ ae) cke cis ele eiayens oi-)stanega aes LOG, 192 Aa i SlGN 73 67 1572
Mortal SpeCles ) iets (oe ets cele one ie elelelaerlpnelar 7 3 12 11 11 8 21

* Subspecies determined geographically.

C. E. Johnson, G. Johnson, C. M. Sternberg, Stan-
ley Sternberg, G. W. Dennis, and C. R. Lewis, 9.00
am. to 3.00 p.m., Bronson Ave. south to White’s
Bridge, along C.P.R. track to Metcalfe Road and
return on it, 7 miles on foot, 8 by auto; (4) R. E.
DeLury and Geo. Clark, 8.00 am. to 3.00 pm.,
Experimental Farm, Rideau Canal and River to
Hog’s Back, and beyond nearly to Hunt Club,
and return, 10 miles on foot; (5) R. Lockwood
and Harlow Wright, 8.40 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., north
bank of Ottawa River, Deschenes, Aylmer, Queen’s
Park, and 2 miles beyond, 14 miles on foot; (6)
G. H. Hammond, Harrison F. Lewis. K. A. Mc-
Elroy, and Peggy Whitehurst, 9.00 a.m. to 4.30
pm. Hull, Wrightville, Fairy Lake, Ironside,
Farmer’s Rapids and region N.E. for 3 miles, 18
miles by auto, 8 on foot——HAarrison F. Lewis,
Chairman of Bird Census Committee.

PAKENHAM, ONrarIo, DeceEMBER 26, 1933.—
9 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., weather dull, raw east wind,
snow falling, visibility poor, 18 inches snow,
temp., zero. Observers separate ; total distance,
12 miles on foot with snowshoes.

Canada Ruffed Grouse, 8; Northern Downy
Woodpecker, 1; Northern Blue Jay, 2; Black-

capped Chickadee, 11; White-breasted Nuthatch,
1; Starling, 7; Eastern Evening Grosbeak, 4;
Eastern Snow Bunting, 41. Total, 8 species, 75
individuals.

Canadian Pine Grosbeak, Redpolls (sp.?), and
Hairy Woodpeckers (Eastern or Northern) are
presert but were not seen on Census Day.—
Vern: M. Ross, Epna G. Ross, A. F. Ross and
Witmer Ross.

Toronto, ONTARIO, DecEMBER 24, 1933—Twenty-
nine observers contributed to the ninth Christmas
Bird Census of The Brodie Club and the usual
routes were taken with the exception of No. 1,
in the eastern Don valley, which was not cov-
ered. The first observers were in the field by
8 a.m. and activities were concluded at about
4 p.m. Parties were made up as follows:

2—G. S. Bell, R. G. Dingman, F. S. Dingman, ~
L. L. Snyder, R. B. Wootton, R. J. Rutter, H. M.
Halliday and Mrs. G. Evans; 3—C. E. Hope,
H. P. Stovell and Mrs. O. S. Mitchell; 4—J. L.
Baillie, Jr., J. H. Fleming, R. A. Smith and T. M.
Shortt; 5—Dr. P. Harrington, F.A.E. Starr and
Mr. Saunders; 6—R. Amos, J. Armstrong, F.
Smith and S. L. Thompson; 7—H. H. Brown,

February, 1934]

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

31

CHRISTMAS Birp Census or THE Bropre CLuB—Toronto—DECEMBER 24, 1933.

Species*

Canvas-back
Greaven Scaup uUckity: Vases le Rowan ON
American Golden-eye
Old-squaw
TRG. NYC Sea A Aa HU 28 aN
White-winged Scoter
Hooded Merganser
American Merganser

Ring-necked Pheasant
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Kastern Screech Owl
Long-eared Owl
Eastern Belted Kingfisher
Hachem rary \Wioodpecker.....4-. 12+. ses
Northern Downy Woodpecker
Horned Lark (subsp.?)
Northern Blue Jay
Eastern Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Eastern Winter Wren
Kastern Robin
Eastern Golden-crowned Kinglet ................
Northern Shrike
Starling
Fnglish Sparrow
Eastern Cardinal
Northern Pine Siskin
Slate-colored Junco

Eastern Tree Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Song Sparrow
Eastern Snow Bunting

Total individuals:

Parties
2 3 4 5 6 "i 8

(Abundant—seen by all parties—not counted)

Species totals:

Total number of species seen

1 1

400 400

17. — 88 4 109

8 340 450 798

1 1

1 1

2 2

Ph sy) 1 55

1 8 Si 40 4 61

2 2

7 6 13

61 2915 40 130

4 7 10 21

2 1 2 5

1 1

1 1

1 1

5 2 7 1 1 1 17

2 2

5 5 6 16

1 1 1 3

57 13 927 14 3 4 118

5 2 11 18

3 1 4

1 1

1 1

2 2

1 1

22 221 505 17 6 Ue Se

2

1 1

1 2 8 15 6 32

8 15 15 38

1 1

2 2

2 df 1 10

44 29 73

106 255 745 1041 551 11 17 2726
14 13.28 15 12 4 4

* Subspecies determined geographically.

F. H. Emery and L. Owens; 8—O. Devitt, S.
Downing, C. Maloney and H. Richardson.

The weather was most unfavourable. Low
clouds made it very dull all day and a fine mist-
like rain, freezing as it fell, caused discomfort to
both human beings and birds. Several observers
reported seeing Starlings and Blue Jays apparent-
ly suffering from shaving their plumage soaked
with the freezing rain. Everything became coat-
ed with ice and those using motor cars found
travelling very hazardous. The minimum tem-
perature was 21° and the maximum 28°, with a

light N.E. wind, and about 3 inches of snow
covered the ground.

In spite of the weather, however, the total
of both species and individuals is quite up to
the average, but it is interesting that 85 per
cent. of the total number of individuals were
seen by parties 4, 5, and 6, who worked near
the lake shore. Six species were listed that have
not appeared before on Brodie Club censuses,
namely: Canvas-back, King Eider, White-winged
Scoter, Hooded Merganser, and Eastern Belted
Kingfisher.

32 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

The following additional species have been
seen at Toronto during December, 1933, but all
managed to elude the census takers: Horned
Grebe, American Pintail, Redhead, Buffle-head,
Eastern Pigeon Hawk, Eastern Sparrow Hawk,
Wilson’s Snipe, Great Horned Owl, Snowy Owl,
Northern Barred Owl, Short-eared Owl, Richard-
son’s Owl, Northern Flicker, Eastern Meadowlark,
Eastern Red-wing, and Canadian Pine Grosbeak.
—TueE Bropie Cuius, Per R. J. Rutter, Secretary.

VINELAND, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 27, 1933—9.00
a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Clear; wind south-west; temp.
4° at start; snow 6 to 8 inches deep on ground.
About 7 miles were travelled on foot and 12 miles
by automobile. Part of the time observers to-
gether and part of the time in 2 parties.

Scaup Duck (sp.?), 2; Golden-eye (sp.?), 4;
Duck (sp.?), 1; large Hawk (sp.?), 1; small Hawk
(sp.?), 1; Ring-necked Pheasant, 3; Herring Gull,
3; Eastern Mourning Dove, 4; Eastern Hairy
Woodpecker, 1; Northern Downy Woodpecker,
2; Northern Blue Jay, 11; Black-capped Chicka-
dee, 8; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Brown Creep-
er, 2; Eastern Robin, 1; Eastern Golden-crowned
Kingiet, 10; Starling, 100+; English Sparrow,
100+; Slate-colored Junco, 15; Eastern Tree
Sparrow (subsp.?), 2. Total, 19 or 20 species,
273+ individuals.

Mammals: Red Squirrel, 1. Mouse and rabbit
tracks in snow—G. H. Rickson, W. J. K. Harx-
ness, W. E. Hurisurt, Dovuctas Ross, Frank
STRONG.

HAMILTON, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 27, 1933—9 a.m.
to 5.15 pm. Clear, 6 inches of snow, bay frozen
over completely. Wind strong, south-west; temp-
erature, max. 12° at noon, min. 6° at 5 p.m.

Four parties, totalling eight observers, covering
part of Dundas Marsh, Burlington Bay, La Salle
Park, Lake Medad, and Sulphur Springs.

Horned Grebe, 3; Common Mallard, 1; Red-
legged Black Duck, 400; Canvas-back, 1; Greater
Scaup Duck, 2,000; American Golden-eye, 75;
Buffle-head, 1; Old-squaw, 12; American Mergan-
ser, 70; Eastern Goshawk (?), 1; American
Rough-legged Hawk, 1; Northern Bald Eagle, 3;
Hastern Sparrow Hawk, 1; Canada Ruffed Grouse,
7; Ring-necked Pheasant, 12; Glaucous Gull, 10;
Great Black-backed Gull, 27; Herring Gull, 550;
Ring-billed Gull, 2; Eastern Screech Owl, 1;
Hastern Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Northern Downy
Woodpecker, 11; (Northern) Horned Lark, 22;
Northern Blue Jay, 6; Black-capped Chickadee,

[VoL. XLVIII

65; White-breasted Nuthatch, 8; Brown Creeper,
1; Eastern Winter Wren, 1; Eastern Robin, 4;
Starling, 780; English Sparrow, 300; Eastern
Cardinal, 2; Slate-colored Junco, 120; Eastern
Tree Sparrow, 80; Swamp Sparrow, 1; Eastern
Song Sparrow, 8. Total, 36 species, 4,588 individ-
uals.

Also seen recently: December 17. Red-breasted
Merganser, 1; Eastern Red-tailed Hawk, 1; East-
ern Belted Kingfisher, 2; Northern Pine Siskin,
30. December 22, Eastern Crow, 5; Hastern
Purple Finch, 3; Canadian Pine Grosbeak, 6;
Bastern Snow Bunting, 15. December 26, Eastern
Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1; Carolina Wren, 2—W.
Brown, R. Haist, Dr. & Mrs. G. O. McMittan,
G. W. Nortu, H. C. Nunn, R. Nunn, Miss E.
SmirH, J. H. WiwiaMs.

Lonpon, Ontario, DrecEMBER 23, 1933—Com-
bined list of 11 parties, (18 individuals), some
working in the morning, others in the afternoon,
practically from daylight until dark. Temp. 24°
at 8 am., 32° at noon, 29° at 8 pm.; wind
medium to fresh, north-east; ground covered
with an inch or two of snow; sky overcast;
streams pretty well open. Names of species and
subspecies are those which, according to the
A.O.U Check-List, are supposed to be found here.

Common Mallard, 1; Black Duck (probably
both Common and Red-legged varieties repre-
sented), 27; American Golden-eye, 107; American
Merganser, 302; Eastern Red-tailed Hawk, 4;
American Rough-legged Hawk, 6; Eastern Spar-
row Hawk, 1; Eastern Ruffed Grouse, 1; Eastern
Bob-white, 40 (two coveys of 20 each); Ring-
necked Pheasant, 56; Herring Gull, 39; Eastern
Screech Owl, 1; Great Horned Owl. 2; Short-
eared Owl, 1; Eastern Belted Kingfisher, 9;
Northern Flicker, 8; Eastern Hairy Woodpecker,
6; Northern Downy Woodpecker, 25; Northern
Blue Jay, 48; Eastern Crow, 585; Black-capped
Chickadee, 197; White-breasted Nuthatch, 40;
Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Brown Creeper, 8;
Eastern Golden-crowned Kinglet, 24; Starling, 78;
English Sparrow, hundreds; Hastern Meadowlark,
1; Eastern Cardinal, 29; Canadian Pine Gros-
beak, 58; Common Redpoll, 12; Eastern Gold-
finch, 12; Slate-colored Junco, 18; Eastern Tree
Sparrow, 26; Song Sparrow (subsp.?), 5. Total,
35 species, 1779 individuals (plus English Spar-
rows). Also seen recently, Eastern Robin, 1, and
Eastern Evening Grosbeak, 3—MclIuwraitH Or-
NITHOLOGICAL CLus, per E. M. 8. Dats, Chairman
Census Committee.

February, 1934]

MircHetL, PertH County, OnrTaArIo, DECEMBER
26, 1933—10.30 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. Cloudy, even
foggy at times, with some snow-fall, clearing at
2.00 p.m. and becoming cloudy and stormy again
just before dark. Visibility poor until about 2.00
p-m., then good. Wind southwest in the morn-
ing, changing to west at night; temp. 30° at
noon, 24° at 6.00 p.m. Eight inches of ice on river,
three or four inches of snow on the ground in the
open and eight inches of snow in the woods. On
foot in Fullarton Township, from Mitchell east-
ward for about 3% miles, then south 2 miles,
then west 3% miles to the Thames River,
then following the Thames back to Mitchell;
about 12 miles in all.

Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1; Canada Ruffed Grouse,
6; Eastern Screech Owl, 2; Snowy Owl, 1; Eastern
Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Northern Downy Wood-
pecker, 3; Northern Blue Jay, 4; Black-capped
Chickadee, 98; Eastern Golden-crowned Kinglet,
23; Cedar Waxwing, 33; Northern Shrike, 1;
Starling, 17; English Sparrow, 26; Eastern Purple
Finch, 27 (1 flock); Red Crossbill, 50; White-
winged Crossbill, 7: Eastern Snow Bunting, 500
(two flocks). Total, 17 species, 800 = individuals.
The White-winged Crossbills and Red Crossbills
formed one flock, feeding from hemlock cones
on the ground—W. G. Nerr.

AwrMeE, Manirosa, DreceMBrErR 28, 1933.—8.00
a.m. to 430 p.m. Mostly cloudy; 14 inches of
snow on the ground; wind light, S.S.E.; temp.,
min., —35°, max., —10°. Subspecies determined
geographically.

Eastern Goshawk, 1; Canada Ruffed Grouse, 41;
Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse, 23; European Par-
tridge, 11; Eastern Screech Owl, 1; Richardson’s
Owl, 1; Eastern Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Northern

Downy Woodpecker, 1; Northern Blue Jay, 3;

Black-capped Chickadee, 7; Canadian Pine Gros-
beak, 4; Hoary Redpoll, 47; Eastern Snow Bunt-
ing, about 60. Total, 13 species, 202 individuals.

The Ruffed Grouse come to be fed morning
and evening and some of them will feed out of
our hands.

The small Owls are feeding very largely on
English Sparrows. The Richardson’s Owl was
found with a live Sparrow in its claws and made
no attempt to kill it, although watched for some
time. The Screech Owl had half a dead Sparrow,
which it dropped when scared up. We have often
noticed that these small Owls carry about with
them food that they do not require at the time—
SruartT CrIppie.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 33

EASTEND, SASKATCHEWAN, DECEMBER 24, 1933.—
Valley of Frenchman River, four miles west of
Eastend. 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Fairly clear,
light northeast breeze, about zero all day. A
light dusting of snow, earlier snow in hard-packed
drifts. About 7 miles on foot.

Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse, 5; Sage Hen, 3;
European Partridge, 6; Horned Owl (subsp.?), 2;
American Magpie, 9; Long-tailed Chickadee, 5;
Redpoll (Acanthis linaria (subsp. ?)), 12; Hastern
Snow Bunting, 2. Total, 8 species, 44 individuals.
Seen on December 22nd: Evening Grosbeak
(subsp.?), 2—LAURENCE B. Porrer.

Rep Deer, ALBERTA, DECEMBER 25, 1933.—Clear;
wind south, light; temp., —380° to —26°; snow 12
to 15 inches deep on the average. Observations
made in part at a feeding-station in my yard, in
part during a walk of 1% miles on the border
of the town, leaving home at 2.00 p.m.

Downy Woodpecker (probably Northern, pos-
sibly Nelson’s), 5; Northern Blue Jay, 3; Ameri-
can Magpie, 3; Long-tailed Chickadee, 15; Eng-
lish Sparrow, 8; Western Evening Grosbeak, 8
to 10; Pine Grosbeak (subsp.?), 1; Common
Redpoll, 30. Total, 8 species, 73 to 75 individ-
uals—M. P. Cots.

SUMMERLAND, OKANAGAN LAKE, BriTISH CoLUM-
BIA, DecEMBER 20, 1933.—8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cloudy
and attempting to rain, very strong south wind
all day, temperature averaging about 35°, snow
varying from 19 inches in hills to slush and ice
on the lake front. By car along 12 miles of lake
front, thence on foot over adjoining fruit benches
back to pine-clad hills. Observers separate.

Common Mallard, 6; American Golden-eye, 4;
Goshawk (subsp.?), 1; Duck Hawk, 1; Pigeon
Hawk (subsp.?), 1; Hawk (sp.?), 1; Ruffed
Grouse (subsp.?), 2; California Quail, 480; Ring-
necked Pheasant, 152; American Coot. 200; Kall-
deer, 2; Wilson’s Snipe, 3; Herring Gull, 11;
Red-snafted Flicker, 36; Woodpecker (Dryobates
villosus (subsp.?)), 4; Batchelder’s Woodpecker,
1; Black-headed Jay, 9; American Magpie, 61;
Northern Raven, 3; Western Crow, 1; Clark’s
Nutcracker, 2; Long-tailed Chickadee, 16; Moun-
tain Chickadee, 12; Slender-billed Nuthatch, 4;
Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1; Dipper, 1; Western
Robin, 65; Western Golden-crowned Kinglet, 4;
Bohemian Waxwing, 115; North-western Shrike,
2; English Sparrow, 120; Western Meadowlark,
3; Red-wing (Agelaius (sp.?), 40; Western Even-
ing Grosbeak, 8; Common Redpoll, 15; Pale Gold-
finch, 110; Red Crossbill, 14; Slate-colored Junco,

34 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

15; Shufeldt’s Junco, 523; Western Tree Sparrow,
5; Gambel’s Sparrow, 1; Rusty Song Sparrow, 35.

{\VoL. XLVIII

Total, 42 species, 2090 individuals—Eric M.
Tait, Herpert M. Simpson, 8S. A. LippELu.

PLEISTOCENE AND POST-PLEISTOCENE MOLLUSCAN FAUNAS OF
SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN:
By LORIS S. RUSSELL

WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OE GYRAULUS
_ By FRANK COLLINS BAKER?

INTRODUCTION

XTENSIVE investigations of the surface
deposits in Saskatchewan by officers of
the Geological Survey of Canada have
had as one result the collection of num-

erous fossil mollusks from beds of interglacial and

postglacial age. Some of this material was sub-
mitted to Mr. Allan Mozley, of Johns Hop-
kins University, who identified the species and
published? a description of a new variety. Later,
additional localities for these shells were dis-
covered, and a collection of the living mollusks
of the region was also made. When the study
of the combined collections was undertaken by

the writer, he found it necessary to submit a num-.

ber of specimens to Dr. F. C. Baker, of the
University of Illinois. Dr. Baker, in turn, for-
warded the Physidae to Dr. William J. Clench,
of Harvard University. The contributions made
by these gentlemen to the present study are in-
dicated in the faunal lists below. In addition,
the writer is indebted to his colleague, Mr. A.
La Roque, for helpful criticisms and assistance.

FAUNAL LISTS

In the following lists the localities of each spec-
ies are indicated by letters in the columns on
the right. These various letters refer to the
authority for the particular identification, as fol-
lows: B, Dr. F. C. Baker; C, Dr. W. J. Clench;
M, Mr. Alan Mozley; R, the writer.

1 Published with the permision of the Director, Geo-
logical Survey of Canada, Department of Mines, Ottawa.

2 Museum of Natural History, University of Llinois,
Urbana, Ill., U.S.A.

3 Amer. Midland Nat., vol. 18, pp. 2386-240, figs. 1-5,
1932.

List or Mouuusca FROM INTERGLACIAL Deposits

Vv
<I
2
os}
SMGUAEY 1G) S
Jets ial CO rcs
SA Fee Sie ie
{o} =
eam A
Pisdivum cf. swperius Sterki...... R ;
P. cf. rotundatum Prime........ leeds Bernat
Bop sect atl fashelene nis on yal tee Darel” lay RY
Stagnicola palustris elodes (Say). . . . BR
S. palustris nuttalliana (Lea)..... . B R
S. saskatchewanensis (Mozley)... .. . . M
S. emarginata canadensis (Sower-

LONTA erent Asie aoe id Goce aie a es eile eM B : R
SEAT BEP Mn ioe eae hare ta aa Sacer) a
Gyraulus altissimus (F.C.Baker). R . R
G. cyclostomus F.C.Baker, n. sp..B Re REY.
Phiysa gyrina Say*....:......... : RMM

INTERGLACIAL LOCALITIES

Rosetown. Railway cut in SE.%. sec. 17, tp. 27,
rge. if. W. 3rd meridian. R. T. D. Wickenden.

Lake Johnstone+ Railway cut in SW.%4, sec. 25,
tp. 14, rge. 1, W. 3rd merid. Wickenden.

Scotsguard. NE4%4, sec. 35, tp. 8, rge. 16, W. 3rd
merid. Wickenden.

Blooming NW.%, sec. 25, tp. 2, rge. 18, W. 2nd
merid. Wickenden.

Beaubier+ Canadian Pacific Railway cut about
1 mile east of Beaubier station. Wickenden.

The particular stage or stages to which these
interglacial deposits belong cannot be determined
at present. Presumption favours correlation with
the iast or Peorian interval.

a See Geol. Surv. Canada, Summ. Rept., pt. B, pp. 66,
67, 19381.

February, 1934]

List or Moxiuusca FRoM PostcGLActas. DEposits
RO NEN ENN SE ei ia care ches ets

=)

e

[=|

Se

= o

eae

SiS

Bm
Sphaeiiwm simile (Say)..............005- R
Pisidium compressum Prime............- Re
Stagnicola palustris elodes (Say).......... R
S. palustris nuttalliana (Lea)............. R
Lymnuea stagnalis subsp. indet. .......... 5 18
Succinea chrysis Westerlund ............ R
Helisoma subcrenatum (Carpenter)...... SB
H. antrosum striatum (F.C.Baker)....... Boe
Gyrauius altissimus (F.C.Baker)......... RR
Physu heterostropha Say...... Pepa aces HY R

PostTGLActIAL LOCALITIES

Wood Mountain. Railway cut in silt about 4
miles northeast of Wood Mountain station. C. M.
Sternberg.

Beaubier. Road cut in silt near Canadian Paci-
fic Railway, about 1 mile east of Beaubier station.
Postglacial age not certain. R. T. D. Wickenden.

\\ nm

SS MN

12 x6 13

For figure references,

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 35

List oF Living Mo.iusca

Invermay
Wadena
Allan Hills
Melville
Moosejaw
Willows

IEDC SOn bodoopeoefhoode
Lymnaea stagnalis jugularis
Say
Stagnicola palustris elodes
(Say)
S. palustris nuttallcana (Lea) .
Helisoma subcrenatum (Car-
penter)
Gyraulus altissimus (F. C.
Baker)
G. cyclostomus F. C. Baker,
TESTO LRM cee casos Tat Ns :
Phys GupinG Says 222. 3 :
Aplexa hypnorum (L.).....
Succmea chrysis Westerlund.
S.'grosvenon (Lea) 2... ..-
Euconulus fulvus (Muller). .

Cer ee ee eC eC

=e)
Dam

wi. POW BP DP AD wD

LocaALities oF Livinc Mo.iusca

Invermay. Two miles west of Invermay. R. T.
D. Wickenden.

Wadena. North shore of Fishing lake. Wick-
enden.

Allan Hills. SE.%4, sec. 2, tp. 32, rge. 3, W. 3rd
merid. Wickenden.

Melville. About 9 miles northeast of Goodeve.
Wickenden.

Moosejaw. .Sandy Creek water works. Wicken-
den.

Willows. East side Lake of the Rivers, near
south end. Wickenden.

x6 14 x6

see page 37

36 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

DISCUSSION

The genus Pisidium is well represented in the
Pleistocene fauna. Species of this genus are very
difficult to identify in the absence of type mater-
ial. The shell represented in fig. 1 closely ap-
proaches P. superius Sterki in form but differs in
the presence of straight, rather than curved, car-
dinal teeth. A second species is characterized by
a more abbreviated, convex, and nearly orbicular
shell (fig. 2), resembling that of P. rotundatum
Prime. Here again the cardinal dentition differs,
especially the right tooth, which is straight, and
not noticeably expanded posteriorly. A relatively
shallow, moderately elongate shell (fig. 3) repre-
sents a third species, which the writer is unable to
identify. In this form the cardinal teeth are prom-
inent, the right one curved, and expanded behind,
the left two narrow, nearly straight, and close to-
gether. Pelecypods are not so important relative-
ly in the recent faunas. The three species of
Pisidium mentioned above are replaced by other
forms. The genus Sphaerium appears among the
postglacial fossils and doubtless is also present In
the living fauna.

Among the Pleistocene Gastropoda of this
region the Lymnaeidae form the most conspicu-
ous element. Most of the specimens are referable
to Stagnicola palustris. These include only one
example of S. p. elodes, which is represented in
figure 6. S. p. nuttalliana, in contrast, is abund-
ant, although most of the specimens are somewhat
smaller than the average for this subspecies. A
broad, short-spired variety is represented by a
few specimens, such as that shown in figure 8.
S. palustris is even more abundant in the recent
faunas; here the specimens are of larger size,
and both the subspecies elodes and nuttalliana are
well represented.

Stagnicola emarginata canadensis is represented
in the Pleistocene by a number of specimens, all
somewhat below average size, possibly slightly 1m-
mature. This includes the specimens from Beau-
bier identified by Mozleys as the typical Lymnaea
vahlu. S. e. canadensis is not present in the post-
glacial and modern collections from Saskatche-
wan, but is known at other localities from Michi-
gan to the Mackenzie district. The shell des-
cribed by Mozleye as Lymnaea vahlu saskatche-
wanensis is illustrated here by a drawing of the
holotype (fig. 9). This is a small form, with at-
tenuate spire. If, as here suggested, the shells
identified by Mozley as L..vahlit do not pertain to
that snecies, the subspecies saskatchewanensis may

5 Amer. Midland Nat., vol. 18, p. 240, fig. 4, 1932.
6 Op. ct., p. 236, figs. 1-3.

[VoL. XLVIII

be raised to the rank of a speeies until its affini-
ties are more clearly understood. This species
also is absent from the recent faunas.

The form listed as Stagnicola n. sp. is illustrated
in figure 5. It has an elongate shell, with some-
what flattened whorls and few revolving lines; it
is absent from the recent collections. Dr. Baker
is not yet prepared to define this species.

The most conspicuous among the living Lymn-
aeidae of this region. is Lymnaea stagnalis jugu-
larts, represented by numerous specimens, some of
which reach more than average size. In the post-
glacial fauna LD. stagnalis is represented only by a
single immature specimen, which cannot be identi-
fied as to subspecies. In the Pleistocene collection
the species is entirely absent.

The Planorbidae of the Pleistocene fauna are
all small forms, belonging to the genus Gyraulus.
G. altissimus (fig. 11) is well represented in the
interglacial, postglacial and modern collections.
The new species, G. cyclostomus (figs. 12-14), is
moderately abundant in the Pleistocene, and ap-
parently survives in the modern fauna, where it
is represented by a few specimens from Wadena.
Shells of the genus Helisoma, so abundant in the
recent faunas, are conspicuously absent from the
Pleistocene collection. H. subcrenatunt, the com-
monest living species, resembles the well known
H. trivolvis, but lacks the distinct keels above
ond below. AH. antrosum striatum is represented
by two specimens in the postglacial collection.

The specimens of Physa gyrina in the interglac-
ial fauna are extremely small (fig. 10); those in
the modern collection are somewhat larger, but
well below average size for this species. P.
heterostropha is represented by a single specimen
in the postglacial fauna. The remaining species
in the recent faunas are noteworthy only for their
absence from the Pleistocene.

The general relationships between the mollus-
can faunas of the Pleistocene and the Recent in
southern Saskatchewan cannot be postulated with
certainty from small collections such as those
studied here. However, certain conclusions may
be offered tentatively, in the hope that they will
stimulate further search for interglacial fossils in
this area. The present material indicates that
the Pleistocene fauna here was a reduced assemb-
lage of small forms. This suffered severely from
the return of glacial conditions, being not only
driven out of the area, but also in part destroyed.
The postglacial fossil mollusks are not survivors
of the local interglacial fauna, but rather fore-
runners of the existing fauna. The latter is a
fairly rich assemblage, characterized especially by

February, 1934]

abundant examples of Lymnaea stagnalis jugularis
and Helisoma subcrenalum.
conditions in

Apparently climatic
southern Saskatchewan are more

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 37

favourable to the mollusean fauna today than
during interglacial time.

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF GYRAULUS
By FRANK COLLINS BAKER

Gyraulus cyclostomus, sp. nov. Figs. 12-14

Shell depressed, periphery rounded; colour dark
horn, surface dull, sculpture of coarse oblique
growth lines crossed by fine spiral lines; whorls
four, rapidly enlarging; spire flat, whorls coiled
in the same plane, rounded, sutures deeply im-
pressed or even channeled; body whorl little de-
pressed near the aperture; base flattened but
little concave, exhibiting all whorls to apex,
the whorls flatly rounded with marked sutures,
the body whorl well rounded; aperture rounded,
rarely slightly oblique; outer lip simple slightly
thickened within; parietal wall with distinct white
callus rendering the aperture entire in most speci-
mens.

Length Diameter Aperture L. Diameter

2.00 5.3 1.5 1.5 mm. Holotype
18 B:2 15 14 mm. Paratype
2.0 49 15 1.5 mm. <
18 5.0 1.7 1.7 mm. s

Tyve locality: Rosetown, Saskatchewan. Inter-
glacial.
Types: Geological Survey of Canada; holotype,

No. £038; paratypes, Nos. 8038a-c.

This little Gyraulus differs from all American
species in the rounded aperture which is also a
notable character of young and immature speci-
mens. It differs from parvus, altissimus, and cir-
cumstriatus in the rounded whorls of the base and
in the absence of any appearance of reaming so
conspicuous in these species.

(Explanation of Figures)

SASKATCHEWAN PLEIStoceNE Motuusca. Figures
natural size unless otherwise marked. Fig. 1, Pisi-
dium cf. superius Sterki, Rosetown. Fig. 2, Pisi-
dium cf. rotundatum Prime, Rosetown. Fig. 3,
Pisidium sp., Lake Johnstone. Fig. 4, Stagnicola
emarginata canadensis (Sowerby), Rosetown. Fig.
5, Stagnicola n. sp., Scotsguard. Fig. 6, Stagnicola
palustris elodes (Say), Beaubier. Fig. 7, Stagnicola
palustris nuttallana (Lea), Scotsguard. Fig. 8,
Stagnicola palustris nuttalliana, variety, Scots-
guard. Fig. 9, Stagnicola saskatchewanensis (Moz-
ley), holotype, Beaubier. Fig. 10, Physa gyrina
Say, Beaubier. Fig. 11, Gyraulus altissimus (F. C.
Baker), Lake Johnstone. Figs. 12-14, Gyraulus
cyclostomus F. C. Baker, n. sp., holotype, Rose-
town; the revolving lines are barely discernible
and cannot be represented on this scale.

SOME VANCOUVER ISLAND BIRD NOTES
By HAMILTON M. LAING

HE FIRST indication of the Solitary
Sandpiper at Comox was on August
8, 1931, when a juvenile of this species
was observed in a pool of Brooklyn

Creek just before the door. This bird escaped,

but. on the 18th of August, 1932, another bird

noted in the same pool was secured, definitely
adding it to the list. Next day while camped
with my wife at the outlet from Paradise Mead-
ows af an elevation of about 3500 feet I secured
another juvenile of this species at a small mead-
ow pond. Though only one of the birds—both
males—shows the flecking of the primaries, both
were considered the western form (Tinga s. cin-
namomea) and the identification was checked by
Dr. L. B. Bishop who examined the birds.

On May 19th, 1932, while on a collecting ex-
pedition by rowboat around Denman and Horn-
by Islands a Yellow-headed Blackbird was taken
at Tree Island, one of the outer group that com-
prises the Denman Island Spit. This surprise, a
young male, is but another example of the birds
of the interior of British Columbia wandering
over to the coast country. I know of no other
definite record of this bird west of the mainland.

In 1932 it was established that one, at least, of
the three-toed woodpeckers is a breeding species
on Vancouver Island. Three-toes previously had
been known in the region behind Comox for sev-
eral years but were always observed under con-
ditions where the taking of a specimen was im-
possible. On June 15th at an elevation of about

38 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

4000 feet the unmistakable note of this wood-
pecker drew me off across the snow to find a
fine male “ladder-back” busy on the trunk of
a mountain hemlock. He was examined at twen-
ty feet. Later in the season, on August 19,
while en route to Paradise Meadows another
of these elusive birds was found and secured.
This proved to be a juvenile female doubtless
not far from the nest site. On three occasions
in the next four days the notes of this species
were heard again but no adults were secured.
As previous sight and sound observations cover
September and March, doubtless the bird is
resident here and of the western form (Picoides
a. fasciatus).

The breeding of the Sooty Fox Sparrow, as ob-
served in 1932 in the Comox area, would seem
Though it had been felt for
some time that the bird should breed locally, it
was not till May 2lst that it was located. On
that day while moving camp at dawn—such hours
being necessitated by the vagaries of wind and

noteworthy also.

[VoL. XLVIII

tide—the strain of a Fox Sparrow came out across
the water nearly half a mile from the north-
erly end of Hornby Island. The secret was out
and latter two adults and a fully fledged young
were secured within a few yards of shore. These
are exceedingly dark birds with a complete ab-
sence of yellow in the bill—the lower mandible
being distinctly bluish. It is noteworthy that
of several Fox Sparrows referable to this form
(Passerella i. fuliginosa) taken in winter at Comox,
identified by H. 8S. Swarth, only one, of date
April 2nd, shows the bluish lower mandible. All
other forms show yellow in the bill. That this
is a seasonal change might be proved. That this
form breeds “at high elevations (Canadian zone)
in southern Vancouver Island” (Brooks and
Swarth Distributional List of Birds of British
Columbia) would seem also to show that unless
the bird has wondrous diversity of breeding hab-
itat, there may yet be confusion in the darkest
race of Passerella.

NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS

Hoieorit’s Grese In Nova Scorta-—Holboell’s
Grebe (Colymbus grisegena holboelli) occurs in
Nova Scotia with more or less regularity, and one
or more authentic records for the species are
available for all months except June, July, August
and September. These are as follows:

January, 1880: One was picked up dead by the
roadside near Chester, Lunenburg County, and
was taken to a taxidermist for mounting. The
specimen is now in possession of Mr. G. L. Bish-
op, Greenwich, Kings County, Nova Scotia.

February 3, 1933: Near Middletown, Anna-
polis County, one of these grebes was picked up
and sent to me in the flesh for identification.
The bird was much emaciated. This specimen is
now in the possession of Mr. R. W. Smith, Wolf-
ville.

March 4, 1904: In the Provincial Museum
‘at Halifax is a specimen which was taken on this
‘date at Three Fathom Harbour, Halifax County.

April 9, 1891 and April 25, 1894: On these
respective dates specimens were taken in Halifax
County according to the records of Mr. Harry
Piers, Curator of the Provincial Museum at Hali-
‘fax.

May 13,1917: One was seen at close range by
myself at Sunken Lake, Kings County.

May 1, 1885: Mr. Harry Piers also supplies this
record, it being a bird taken in Halifax County.

October 24, 1915: Three or four were seen by me
on a small freshwater lake at Camperdown, Lun-
enburg County.

October 4, 1919: One was taken by me at River-
port, Lunenburg County.

Novcmber 17, 1921: One was taken at Clam Bay,
Halifax County, by myself. The bird was in a small
fresh-water pond that was almost entirely frozen
ever. This specimen is in my collection at Wolf-
ville.

December 16, 1899: A specimen taken in Halifax
County, according to the records of Mr. Harry
Piers.

In addition to the foregoing I recorded three
birds in full breeding plumage on April 16, 1926,
along the shore of Kents Island, which is one of
the Grand Manan group in New Brunswick and is
less than fifty miles from the Nova Scotia coast.
In discussing its occurrence with Mr. Allan Moses
of North Head, Grand Manan, who is a reliable
observer, I was told that Holboell’s Grebes are
regularly seen along the Grand Manan shores in
both spring and fall—R. W. Turrs

February, 1934|

Do Cappis Fry Larvar Kitt Fish ?—It is a well
known fact that the larvae of caddis flies form
a part of the diet of many species of fish. It
may not be such common knowledge that these
insects may reverse the process and become the
means of killing the young of the fish them-
In the spring of 1933, while the run of
seaward migrating pink salmon (Oncorhynchus
gorbuscha) fry was being enumerated at Mc-
Clinton Creek, Massett Inlet, British Columbia,
under the writer’s direction, the counters drew
attention to the fact that often the small fish,
1% to 1% inches in length, were found inside
empty caddis cases. Upon the examination and
observation it was decided provisionally that the
fish had chosen the case merely as a means of
protection. On April 24th, one of the type of
caddis larvae which construct a case of particles
of sand, was found with its head extended, tight-
ly grasping a fry which was still alive. There
was quite a definite ring round the fish behind
the head where the legs of the insect had been
holding. Later several similar cases were observ-
ed. In some of these the fish was drawn almost
wholly into the case and its head was apparently
chewed. It appears, therefore, that there is no
doubt that the insect and its case may on oc-
easion become the means of death for some fry. —
A. L. Prircuarp, Pacific Biological Station, Nan-
amo, B.C.

selves.

Wuitt Hrrons IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO.—There
have been numerous reports of unusual numbers
of white herons through July and August from
Toronto, Wheatley, Port Stanley, St. Thomas,
Aylmer and Kingsville. The species in most cases
have not been very well determined and the
numbers reported have been from two indivi-
duals to three hundred. Eiven allowing for con-
siderable exaggeration it is evident that there has
been a quite considerable flight of white herons,
egrets or both into the more southern localities
of eastern Canada this season (1933) —P. A. T.

Tur Hoc-nosep Snake (Heterodon contortriz)
IN Parry Sounp District, Ontarto—The hog-
nosed snake (Heterodon controtrix (Linné)) is
not wncommon in the neighbourhood of Deer
Lake (Wah Wash Kesh), a lateral to the Mag-
netawan River, Parry Sound District, Ontario.
It has been found in the vicinity of Magnetawan,
Chapman township, and at Island Lake seven
miles north of Deer Lake.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 39

The adults are generally a dull sage, occasion-
ally hehtly striped, not well-marked, rarely show-
ing the bright checked pattern seen farther south.
A specimen which I saw dead on the road some
years ago near Deer Lake was larger than any
T have found in any place, viz., about 32 inches.

Clifford Bennett on whom I depend to secure
specimens of these snakes, says that they are
found mostly in high, dry places, usually in areas
covered by second growth—Howarp A. KEtty.

Nova Scotra Grts Wittow PrarmicAn.—On
March 13th, 1933, fourteen Willow Ptar~mican
(Lagopus lagopus albus) were liberated near Wav-
erly, Halifax County, N.S. These were the sur-
vivors of a shipment of seventeen birds brought
here from northern Manitoba as a result of neg-
otiations which have been carried on by Lt.
Col. R. B. Willis of Halifax In releasing the
birds Col. Willis was assisted by Mr. H. L. Fen-
nerty and other officers of the Department of
Lands and Forests. The crates were taken, with
considerable difficulty, to a point about six miles
from the Old Guysboro Road and the birds were
there given their freedom. This constitutes the
first attempt on record to introduce ptarmigan
in this province and the experiment is being
followed with much interest. On April 20th, 1922,
e male ptarmigan (sp.?) in winter plumage was
shot near Elmsdale, Hants County, N.S., this be-
ing the only record for the province. This speci-
men was mounted and is now in the Provincial
Museum at Halifax, Acc. No. 5090. It is gen-
erally believed that it came from Newfoundland,
possibly having been blown across by a storm.—
R. W. Turts.

Note ON THE Rance or Valvata lewisi ontar-
vensis F. C. Baker—Valvata lewist ontariensis
F. C. Baker was described in the Nautilus for
April, 1931, the type locality being Shakespeare
Island Lake, Ontario. In his remarks, Dr. Baker
mentions Kimmewin Lake, north of Drayton,
Ontario, as another locality and adds that “the
shells mentioned by Whiteaves (Ottawa Naturalist
19:65, 1905) from the Kawinogans River, Ont...
are probably this variety”.

On looking up Whiteaves’ specimens, I find
that they agree very well with Baker’s variety.
These are N.M.C. (Mollusca) Cat. No. 2180—
Valvata lewist ontariensis Baker, Kawinogans
River, Attawapiskat; Coll. W. McInnes, 14/7/04
—4 specimens.

40 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

In the National Museum collections there is
another specimen of Valvata lewist ontariensis
from Lac Seul, Ontario, collected by F. W. Waugh
in 1919.

It is probable, therefore, that this variety will
be found over the greater part of northwestern
Ontario and possibly in Eastern Manitoba and
northern Minnesota—A. La RocquE.

CorrEcTION.—In issue of January, 1934. Vol.
48, No. 1, under Book Reviews, “Birds and Mam-
mals from the Kootenay Valley, British Colum-

{VoL. XLVIII

bia,” page 23, 2nd column, beginning on line 9,
should read as follows:

They were carefully compared with 69 speci-
mens of E. a. affinis (Columbian Chipmunk) and
4 intermediates (affinis x luterventris) from Brit-
ish Columbia, 53. lutezventris from British Colum-
bia and 385 from Alberta. Six males and 13 fe-
males in the Academy collection from Creston
proved to be fairly typical affinis. Two of the
females differ somewhat from the others and are
apparently intermediates between affinis
luteiventris, but none of them seemed to show
any approach to FE. r. simulans—R. M. ANDERSON.

and .

lt ie

ee “!

| NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF
MANITOBA
1929-30

aes Emeritue: C.E. Bastin;
OOKS, Pasi Presidents: H. M.
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Te Chairman Secretary
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THE TORONTO FIELD-NATURALISTS’
CLUB

OFFICERS FOR 1933-34.

Honorary President: Dr. A. P. COLEMAN; hedge F ARNOTT
M. ON Hon. Vice-Presidenis: Hon. G . H. CHALLIES,
Mr. J. H. FLEMING, Dr. N. A. SOE. Vice-President: MR.
F. Ps IpE, Secretary-Treasurer: J. P. OUGHTON, Chairman oj
Conservation Committee: ~MRs. Ss. L. THOMPSON; Council—
Dr. E. M. WALKER, S. L. THompson, Progr. J. R. DYMOND
C. S. FARMER, ProF. T. F. McILWwRalIrTH, Dr. NORMA
ForD, MAGISTRATE J. E. Jones, L. T. OWENS; RUPERT
Davips, F. C. Hurst, Dr. T. M. C. TAYLOR, C. G. BRENNAND:
Dr. P. BE. CiarKson, S. B. McCrREApDy. Leaders: Birds—
Messrs. S. L. THomPsoN, L. L. SNypDmER, J. L. BAILLIE, JR.
Pror. T. F. McILwraitH, R. V. Linpsay, R. M. SpPEirs,
F. H. Emery, T. SHORTT, HUBERT RICHARDSON, R. J,
RUTTER. Mammals—Pror. A. F. COVENTRY, Messrs. E.
C. Cross, D. A. McLULIcH. Reptiles and Amphibians—
Messrs. E. B. S. LoGier, WM. LERAY.
Dymond, Pror. W. J. K. HARKNESS. Insects—Dr. E.
M. WALKER, Dr. N. Forp, Mr. F. Ba IpE. Botany—PRor.
R. B. THomson, Dr. H. B. Sirton, Dr. T.M.C. Tayior;
Mr. W. R. Watson, Mr. L. T. OWENS. Mena oe E.
M. WALKER, J. P. OUGHTON. Geology—Dnr. A. P. COLEMAN
Pror. A. MCLEAN.

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THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS? CLUB

| Patrons: Pah PO 3 hos
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Editor: as - 3
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Associate Editors:

DSJBNNESS Os bios o tele coerce eh Anthropology CrypE TG 2PATCH eee eee Le aenietblons
Hes hehe ANS PARRA ein haute pra tama er Botany =R.M..ANDERSON! 22.00.0502 02 .Mammalogy
BOR LATCHFORD. 62. 3. 2 ck Conchology _ A. G. HUNTSMAN......... ...Marine Biology
ARTHUR; GIBSON: o occ. oss cee Entomology oh Pe A co TAVERNER ee sonic aen coer Ornithology
F. J. ALCOCK. Meera e rete tes Eaeaereree Geology Be MINDER fii. ot ec Palzontology 2a
cOnTENEs
‘ PAGE
Baaren tine Bird Records for Southenn Baffin Island. By J: Dewey Soper... 20. oo es sees Al
Food of the American Merganser, (Mergus merganser americanus) in British Columbia. : i
Paper No. 2. By: J.A. Munroand W. A. Clemens. 202 Soci 2 9. Ge en ee gis aoe sys.

Nutritional Anaemia in Mink. By Ronald G. Law and Arnold H. envied RARE Ee Sie Ee
J venoeenide from the Coast of British Columbia. By L. Giltay, D.Se..................... re: age

A New Mammal Record for the Riding Mountain National Park List. By ee U;, Green) os 0u ss
INetes onthe Alewife::..By iG, C.Toners tect oi een oc ieoce re ae ee ce eeee Sy pace etn: COM ae
Additional Christmas Bird Census, 1933........ PS Ui ate ei SL A eae aR a a eee aT AS eee ee Mg y= en
‘Notes and Observations:—

Would a Muskrat Attack a Pike? By Harry Bernard................ Fie Oe ae ace te Onan
Regarding the Arkansas Kingbird. By Thomas:A.. Harner... e030... cee eee ee ee
Note on the Water Ousel, Cinclus mexicanus. By A. L. Pritchard...... Peeian fon, ee ENS
A Red-eyed Towhee near Quebec: City: By Harrison EO Lewis. 0 eee eee see Lape
The Colour of the Bill in Roseate Terns, Sterna dougalli. By Charles W. Teena gh aa
“Northern Occurrence of Hog-nosed Snake in Ontario. By Stuart L. ‘Thompson..... 5D
The Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) in Welland County, Ontario. By W. E. Hurlb to 65
iB Another Bird-eating Frog. By Daniel Smiley, Jr............ cE eg Ta MURS Ae Beets eels PDB
CVERCW af tne acs acae S Ab eter Spc ot oth, Imbel ean eatar etc ere Pe eR eam. a eke svete eset

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‘The Canadian Field-Naturalist

VOL. XLVIII

OTTAWA, CANADA, MARCH, 1934

No. 3

ga

INTERESTING BIRD RECORDS FOR SOUTHERN BAFFIN ISLAND!
By J. DEWEY SOPER

HE WRITER'S first oreithological inquir-
ies in Baffin Island were made during the
course of the Canadian Arctic Expedi-
tion of 1923; this was followed by a

residence on the island from the summer of 1924

until the autumn of 1926. The results of the

wild life investigations on these occasions, for
the Tational Museum of Canada. were incor-
porated in a report “A Faunal Investigation of

Southern Baffin Island”, published by that in-

stitution in 1928. The subject matter of the pre-

sent paper has to do with new, or unusual, re-
cords of bird life which the writer has gathered
since that time on two expeditions to Baffin Is-
land, for the Department of the Interior, Ot-
tawa, Canada. The first of these was to Foxe
Peninsula 1928-1929, and the second, to the Lake
Harbour region, 1930-1931.

The results of the final investigations of these
two expeditions have been submitted to the
Department of the Interior. In the published
report of 1928, 85 species of birds are listed for
the island, based chiefly on the observations of
-Kumlien, Hantzsch and the writer. The field
work since done by the latter has added five new
species to the island’s avifauna, bringing the pre-
sent lst up to 90 species.

The object in writing the present paper, re-
ferring to 16 species, is not only to draw atten-
tion 10 the species newly added to the Baffin Is-
land list, but to record other matters of interest
and importance with reference to distribution,
breeding habits and rare material collected. Con-
siderable space has therefore been devoted to
several of the species herein segregated from the
expedition manuscripts, with a view to making
available observations that are deemed sufficiently
unusual in character to justily the preparation of
a special paper.

* Published by permission of the Dominion Lands

2 Le DE Department of the Interior, Ottawa,
Canada.
1 This paper was written in February, 1932. J.D.S.

In many respects the western tundra portion of
Baffin Island holds much greater interest for the
ornithologist than the mountainous regions of the
east, though each possesses a bird life which is
both characteristic and peculiar. The migration
and nesting of geese and waders on the western
plain are particularly notable and to a large
degree unique. Recent penetration of the tundra
iands there is directly responsible for the posses-_
sion cf a fund of ornithological data not to be
cbtained elsewhere in the eastern Arctic. Bird
life is particularly rich in the Bowman Bay region
of the southwest; there the best opportunities
were presented for studying the occurrence, mi-
gration and breeding habits of various species
which do not breed, and appear but rarely if at
all during migration, in the more rugged country
to the eastward.

All natural-history material collected on the
various Baffin Island expeditions has been per-
manently deposited in the National Museum a
Canada.

Phalacrocoraz auritus auritus (Lesson). DouBLE-
CRESTED CorMoRANT.—In February, 1931, a skin
of this species was obtained through the Hudson’s
Bay Company from an Eskimo in Frobisher Bay.
The native who shot it stated that it was seeured
during the preceding summer while it was drink-
ing ou the margin of a small lake, near the sea,
between Ward Inlet and Mingooktok. It is said
to be the first example of a cormorant that the
Hskimos, or others, have ever observed in that
part of the country. During the course of his
Investigations from 1923 until 1931, the writer
never saw a cormorant on Baffin Island, nor, un-
til the above occasion, had any report of it been
secured from the natives.

This is the first record of the Double-crested
Cormorant for Baffin Island. According to Kum-
lien’s report of 1879, the European Cormorant
(P. c. carbo) was a regular breeder in Cumber-
land Sound; it did not appear to be common,
but was said by the Eskimos to be plentiful in
some years. There are evidently no records ex-

42 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

tant to show that anyone, since Kumlien’s time,
has seen a cormorant in Cumberland Sound, or
elsewhere in Baffin Island, with the exception of
the above record.

Cygnus columbianus (Ord). WHISTLING Swan.
—Eskimo: Kuodjuk—Until 1928 the Whistling
Swan was known only as a migrant in Baffin Is-
land. While the writer was camped at the Eskimo
settlement of Nuwata on August 27, 1928, a native
hunter brought to camp four nearly full-grown,
but flightless, immatures of this species which he
had killed with stones on the low. coastal plain
a few miles inland from the sea. The Eskimos
state 2 few breed in this region each year, but
on the whole they are very rare in Foxe Pen-
insula. This is the first authentic record of the
breeding of the Whistling Swan on Baffin Island.

While the writer was living with the Eskimos
at Nuwata, a hunter related to him that he had
observed a nesting pair of kuodjuks a few years
Freviously, near the mouth of the Kommanik
River at Foxe Basin. Strangely enough, though
no swans were noted by the writer, during the
summer of 1929, about Bowman Bay, or along
the south coast of Foxe Basin, a pair of adults
with two large young of the season were encoun-
tered on the Kommanik River, on August 13,
about five miles from the sea. Probably these
were the identical swans which the Nuwata Es-
kimos had seen several years before.

Branta bernicla’ hrota (Muller), AMERICAN
Brant.—Hskimo: Nedleokjuk--Until 1928 the
American Brant was known only as a very sparing
migrant in Baffin Island along its south coast
from Amadjuak Bay to Cape Dorset. In the
spring of 1929 it was first observed at Camp
Kungwvik on June 7, when a flock of 26 individ-
uals passed over to the north. From this date
until June 24 the species was common in the
locality as it migrated northward or tarried to
rest and feed on the surrounding tundra in com-
pany with Hutchin’s, Blue and Snow Geese. After
the above date the Brant gradually diminished in
numbers until they virtually disappeared from
the region in late June.

For a period of nearly a month, following the
record of a small flock of four birds on July 1,
not a single individual was observed until July
27, when a pair of adults was seen at Cape
Alberta with two downy young about three days
old. Between Cape Alberta and the mouth of
the Jtommanik River no Brant were observed
during early August, but while ascending this river
on the 13th, a pair was noted with two well-

[VoL. XLVIII

grown flightless young, and the following day
another pair was seen on the river near Ungmal-
uktuk Lake. In late June, 1931, a number of
migrants were observed at Lake Harbour.

Chen caerulescens (Linnaeus). Buiur Gooszt.—
Eskimo: Kungovik—This species has long been
known as a migrant in Baffin Island. Only after
vears of search, however, was the breeding ground
of the species finally discovered by the writer on
the sundra of western Baffin Island, in the vicin-
ity of Bowman Bay. A full account of this was
published in The Blue Goose, 1930, by the
Northwest Territories and Yukon Branch (now
Dominion Lands Administration), Department of
the Interior, Ottawa.

Dafila acuta tzitzihoa (Vieillot). AMERICAN PIn-
raIL—Hskimo: Adla—A female of this species
was collected at Cape Alberta on July 25; 1929.
It constitutes, so far as known, the first record
of this species in Baffin Island The two Eskimos
accompanying the writer were greatly astonished
at the appearance of this bird, as neither of
them had ever observed it or received any in-
formation about the species from other natives,
even of the older generation. Consequently,
no Eskimo name for it existed; at the sugges-
tion of the writer they coined the name “Adla”,
meaning “the stranger’. Upon arrival at Cape
Dorset further enquiries were made among the
Eskimos there, but none of them had any know-
ledge of the bird. The solitary individual taken
was irequenting a small lake in the lowlands in
company with Old-squaws and female King Hiders
with broods of young. It was in a moulting
condition with all the wing primaries missing,
as well as the longer feathers of the tail.

Histrionicus histrionicus histrionicus (Linneus).
Eastern HarLtequin Duck.—EHskimo: Tungavia.—
Previous to the expedition of 1930-31, this species
had been observed in Baffin Is!and only at Cum-
berland Sound. Kumlien saw three and collected
one :n 1878, and the writer. in 1924, collected
an adult female and six partly fledged juveniles.
It was considered to be rare in Baffin Island. In
the spring of 1931, however, it was observed on
numerous occasions from June 5, on into July,
from Lake Harbour southeastwardly to McKellar
Bay. A female taken on June 8 possessed greatly
enlarged ovaries indicating a near approach to
nesting. No nests were found, but the Eskimos
state that the species breeds iu this district each
year. It is undoubtedly much more common in
extreme southeastern Baffin Island than has hither-
to been supposed.

March, 1934]

The Hskimos say that the
throughout tthe length of the south coast from
about White Strait to Gabriel Strait and is also
to be met with in Frobisher Bay. The species
1s apparently wholly absent from the interior and
the coasts of southwestern Baffin Island. Where
now known to occur it appears to be much more
common in the Lake Harbour district than else-
where. The species probably has a more or less
continuous breeding range in these parts along
the coast from about Crooks Inlet to, and about,
Frobisher Bay, and north into Cumberland Sound.

Lagcpus lagopus albus (Gmelin) Wittow Prar-
MIGAN.*—Eskimo: Arkagevik—Though the writ-
er collected a large series of Ptarmigan from many
widely-separated localities in Baffin Island from
1923 until 1926, not a single Willow Ptarmigan
was represented, all proving to be rupestris. The
former had, however, been recorded by several
other observers, including Kumlien and Hantazsch.
The belief therefore gradually grew in the mind
of the writer that the species was extremely rare,
an elusive feature of the island’s life that had
apparently departed, not to return. Then on April
12, i829, the writer came upon a flock of 16
Ptarmigan at Ungenuk Lake in the heart of Foxe
Peninsula; three were collected and all proved
to be albus males with the necks showing the
first rusty-brown feathers of the spring plumage.

tungavia occurs

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 43

One of the greatest surprises of the season,
however, was yet to come. No other Willow
Ptarmigan were met with after the above incident
until May 23, when travelling over the lowland
near Lowman Bay, en route to Camp Kungovik,
the party ran into an immense flock of these
birds numbering several hundred individuals.
Later in the afternoon another flock of 80 was
passed, and at the night camp a group of over
100 <trutted about and cackled with innocent
stupidity. They appeared to take little or no
notice of men and dogs and the bustle incident
to a comparatively large party making camp for
the night: Several were taken for the collection
with a small rifle. The number of these attrac-
tive birds throughout this locality was astonish-
ing and easily constituted one of the rarest and

-most interesting ornithological episodes to befall

the writer in the Arctic regions. Subsequently a
good series of specimens, which proved to be a
new race,* was taken for the National Museum
of Canada.

* In the annual report of 1930 (distributed April 4,
1932), National Museum of Canada, Mr. P. A. Taverner
describes this bird in “A New Sub-species of Willow
Ptarmigan from the Arctic Islands of America’’. The
name proposed is the White-shafted Ptarmigan (Lago-

pus lagopus leucopterus, subsp. nov.) Type. Nat. Mus
of Canada, No. 24437, '. May 28, 1928. Camp Kungo-
vik, west coast of Baffin Island, latitude 65° 35’ north,
J. Dewey Soper.

Collector,

Willow Ptarmigan visiting camp.

44 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

Upon establishing Camp Kungovik on May 24,
many large flocks composed cf both sexes were
in view on the tundra a short distance away.
Their favourite resort was the banks of the Blue-
goose River, which were just beginning to emerge
from the snow fields. Here they resorted in hun-
dreds—doubtless thousands for the region—until
nearly the middle of June. During this period
flocks numbering from a few individuals, up to
about 200, made a practice of sweeping in and
alighting noisily at the camp. Here, so long as no
one appeared, and quiet was maintained, the birds
‘held thigh carnival. They walked briskly about
the tents, under the guy ropes, pecked at the
canvas flew to the ridge-poles of the tents, and
inspected boxes, cans, and the big canoe with
consuming interest. The very existence of the
camp appeared to be a magnet for their over-
whelming curiosity. Throughout such raids the
whole company- maintained a running fire of
conversation, while the males cackled with loud
end prazen persistence. On such occasions it was
commonplace .to witness from 50 to 100 birds
within a few feet of the tent, when their con-
tinuous vocal efforts flooded the camp with a wave
of discordant sound. A series of good photographs
was easily obtained by carefully “shooting”
through a slit in the front flap of the tent,
when individual -birds were frequently within
vrm’s reach.

The loquacious males of this species are pos-
sessed of a large and varied vocabulary. The
familiar call is a deep, booming note,—who--who-
who, or how-who, how-who. They sometimes cluck
like barnyard fowls-and emit many low sociable
notes and mutterings. A frequent utterence is a
rolling crescendo,—tut-tut-tut-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-a-a-a-
a-aaaa-ooo00. In general composition it is some-
what reminiscent of the drum-call of the Ruffed
Grouse, but in this case the effect is produced
entirely in the throat. This is evidently a real
love song, as it was heard only in June. Upon
alighting after flight the birds customarily utter
a loud, confident cackle. Similar to contented
domestic fowls, they give voice to various solilo-
quies, like—kuck-kuck-kuck and how-it, uck-a-
uck-a-uck-a-uck, which are practised both while
resting and feeding. The whole range of various
expressions of this species is singularly deep and
guttural, some of which may he heard to a con-
siderable distance.

By June 12, the whole head and neck of the

males had become a rich, dark rufous to rufous
brown, while the wattles were greatly developed

[VoL. XLVIII

in a bright scarlet. Except for this, the white,
winte: garb was worn throughcut June and well
into July, when the summer plumage gradually
appeated. In the case of the females, on the
other hand, the change into summer dress had
taken place by the last days of June.

The great abundance of Willow Ptarmigan
was Inaintained around Camp Kungovik until
nearly the middle of June when there began to
be a pronounced decrease in the flocks and a tend-
ency to segregation. By late June and early
July the species had shrunk in numbers to such
an extent that a walk of many miles on any day
would not reveal more than three or four indiv-
iduals. Near the Blue Goose breeding grounds
the birds were not uncommon during the first
week of July, where they resorted to the little
areas of grassy uplands among the low, granite
hummocks of the Eswituk ridge. Here the males
exhibited a distinct predilection for well-defined
“stands” as is characteristic of the grouse family.
These stands were in the form of boulders, or
isolated and relatively high grassy tussocks on
the tundra, where the birds would perch for long
periods. The presence of large quantities of drop-
pings indicated clearly their purpose and _ use.
Their loud, brazen cackling, as they descended
and touched ground after flight was still char-
acteristic,—it is probably indulged in through-
out the year. Females were rarely seen at this
time end were suspected of brooding, though
long searching by every party failed to reveal
a single nest. Unquestionably, however, the
species breeds in this region.

During the latter part of July, Willow Ptar-
migan were observed on only one occasion on
the Bowman Bay plain. On the voyage along
the south coast of Foxe Basin, from July 24
until August 12, not a single individual of the
species was encountered. While crossing the
Foxe Peninsula interior to Hudson Strait it was
observered only once; this was a pair, with six
young just on the point of flight, which was met
with while making a portage below Crystal Lake
on August 13. On the expedition of 1930-31, to
the lake Harbour region, this species was not
observed, but the Eskimos report its occasional
occurence during the migration; it is also stated
that a few years ago a number of Willow Ptar-
migan young were shot near White Strait. These
are the only known breeding records of this
species in Baffin Island.

(To be continued)

ee

March, 1934]

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 45

FOOD OF THE AMERICAN MERGANSER, (Mergus merganser
americanus) IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
PAPER No. 2

By J. A. MUNRO

Chief Federal Migratory Bird Officer for the Western Provinces, National Parks of Canada,
Department of the Interior, and

W. A. CLEMENS,
Director, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C.

N A PREVIOUS paper* it was stated
the Migratory Bird Service of the
| CaED National Parks of Canada. Depart-
ment of the Interior. and the Pacific
Biological Station of the Biclogical Board of
Canada have undertaken a study of the food
habits of the American Merganser and the Red-
breasted Merganser in British Columbia. The
‘paper referred to summarized results obtained
from the analyses of stomach contents of 157
American Mergansers taken on the coast and in
the interior of British Columbia.

It was pointed out that most of the months
of the year were represented by specimens but
that there was a lack with respect to the spring
months. This requirement has been met in part
by the accession of 35 stomachs from specimens
collected during March to June, inclusive, 1932.
In addition to this there have been examined
33 other stomachs taken at other months of the
year. It seems advisable to present these ad-
ditional data at this time. Acknowledgement
is again made to the Dominion Department of
Fisheries through whose courtesy, and the valued
co-operation extended by the officers of that
Department, this material was made available.
The authors wish to thank also Mr. R. T. Jack-
son, Vancouver, British Columbia, for specimens
donated.

Stomach Contents oF 32 SPECIMENS FROM
VANCOUVER ISLAND.

Goldstream

March 18, 1932 (1); 2 sculpins, approximately
55 and 90 mm., 1 Salmo sp. approximately 150
mm., 1 sand shrimp, Upogebia pugetensis, scul-
pin eggs in large quantity in throat and gullet.

Cowichan River

April, 1932, (2): Vertebral columns of 12
salmonoid fry, 3 caddis larve, 1 mayfly nymph
6 blackfly larve, 2 midge larve, and 2 small
adult flies. The gullet of the second specimen

¥ The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 46: 166-168, 1932.

contained fragments of a Salmo not less than
8 inches in length, the condition of the flesh
suggesting that the fish had partly decomposed
before being taken by the Merganser.
May, 1932, (2): One specimen contained the
vertebral columns of 36 salmonoid fry, sculpin
eggs, at least 3 caddis larve, mayfly nymphs,
stone-fly nymphs and midge larve. The second
contained 12 cc. of the insect remains compris-
ing blackfly larve, midge larve and 1 caddis

_larva.

June, 1932 (1): Bone fragments of salmon-.

oids and sculpins and several salmonoid fry.

September, 1932, (6): Sculpins found in 5,
salmcnoids in 3, terrestrial insects, including ants,
in 1,
_ October, 1932, (2): Large number of small
fish represented by scales and jaws with teeth,
probably salmonoids; one specimen contained
a lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus, 70 mm.

Devember, 1932, (2): One snecimen contained
96 salmon eggs, probably of Coho; one specimen
contained a small amount of gravel, plant debris
and unidentified fish bones.

Big Qualicum River

August 7, 1932, (3): Food items comprised
1 sculpin, Leptocottus armatus; shore crab, Hemi-
grapsus oregonensis; blue mussel, Mytilus edulis;
and fragments of an unidentified gastropod.

Courtenay River
May. 1932, (3): One specimen contained
sculp:ns exclusively, two contained sculpins and
vertebral columns of salmonoid fry, in one case
15, in the other 18. Examination of the stomach
contents from 2 of these sculpins revealed in one
case 2 salmonoid fry and 6 crustacea, Asellus;
and in the other 1 salmonoid fry, 2 midge larva
end several small crustacea, Isopoda and Amphi-
poda.
Campbell Lake
May 25, 1932, (1): 1 sculpin, Cottus asper,
8 mm.; 1 stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus,
60 mm.; remains of at least 2 other small fish,
one of which was a stickleback.

46 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

Tsable River
May 17, 19382 (1): Bones and eggs of sculpins
and 1 caddis larva in case.

Puntledge River

May 10, 1932, (1): Vertebral columns of 2

salmonoid fry, at least 6 caddis larve in cases.
Henderson Lake and Henderson River

May, 1932, (4); Sculpins, Cottus asper, found
in all four specimens; sticklebacks, Gasterosteus
aculeatus, in one; salmonoid fry in three, in one
case G1, in a second 24; insects, including black-
fly larvee, midge larve and mayfly larve, in three.

Marble Creek Canyon, Quatsino

June, 1932, (3): All of these contained stickle-
backs, Gasterosteus aculeatus. Other fishes rep-
resented were smooth sculpin, Leptocottus armatus;
blenny; perch, Cymatogaster oggregatus, and in
cne case fragments of two small Salmo sp.

StomacH CoNTENTS OF SPECIMENS FROM
wo
MAINLAND Coast

Capilano Rive;
January 13, 1932, (1): 64 salmon eges of which
7 were clear.
Squamish Flats
January 13, 1933, (1):
Owekano Lake and tributary streams

March, 1932, (1): Distended with decomposed
salmon flesh.

April, 1932, (1): Several weathered salmon
vertebrae that may have indicated an earlier
feeding of decomposed salmon, but, on the other,
hand, these bones may have been picked up with
gravel, :

May, 1932, (3): Contained vertebral columns
of small fishes (the largest number being 6)
in two cases identified as salmonoid fry; one
stomach contained also 4 sculpins. Cottus asper,
at least, and 1 caddis larva.

Juty, 1932, (8): These were all juvenals and
contained sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, the
only cther fish represented being sculpin, Cottus
asper, two of which 35 and 60 mm. respectively,
were in one stomach. All of these young birds
had also taken quantities of vegetable matter,
largely unidentified, and mixed with this were
numerous insect fragments some of which mater-
ial may have come from the stomachs of the
sticklebacks.

December, 1931, (5): Four contained salmon
eggs, and in one case 2 sculpins, Cottus asper,

70 salmon eggs, opaque.

[VoL. XLVIII

in another a beetle, had been eaten; one stomach
was empty except for sand, gravel and vegetable
debris.

There are 5 specimens for which dates are not
available. The contents of these were:

1. Vertebral columns of 40 salmonoid fry,
1 Salmo sp. fry, 4 caddis larve.

2. Approximately 600 salmon eggs.
3. Sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, frag-
ment of salmon egg-case, insect fragments.

4. Sticklebacks,
least 12.

Gasterosteus aculeatus, at

5. 1 caddis larva in case, 1 salmonoid finger-
ling, fragments of at least 6 sculpins.

Gullchuck River

April, 1931, (6): Contained bones of fishes,
including sculpins and 1 blenny. Shore crabs
were represented in 3 stomachs. Another con-
taine:l 7 shrimps. The collector, Fishery Inspector
G. S. Reade, informs us that the migration of
salmon fry was under way at the time these Mer-

gansers were taken.

Oumedinashs River

April, 1932, (5): Fishes represented were scul-
pin, Oligocottus maculosus, (in one case 11 whole
fish. and. fragments of at least as many more scul-
pins), blenny, greenling, and in one specimen jaws
with teeth suggesting salmonoids. Traces of
shrimps, probably Sprrontocaris sitchensis Brandt,
were found in 3 specimens and one stomach was
empty except for gravel.

Sand and gravel in varying amounts form a
considerable percentage of the material in Mer-
ganser stomachs. Vegetable debris also is nearly
always present, in the above cases including cedar
twigs, madrona seeds, pieces of wood and un-
identiiied debris. —

The number of specimens for each month
represented are as follows: January, 2; March,
2; April, 14; May, 15; June, 4; July, 8; August,
3; September, 7; October, 21; December, 7. Five
dditional specimens are not dated, The locali-
ties represented are Goldstream, 1; Cowichan
River, 15; Big Qualicum River, 3; Courtenay
River, 3; Campbell Lake, 1, Tsable River, 1;
Puntledge River, 1; Henderson Lake and Hen-
derson River, 4; Marble Canyon Creek, 3; Capi-
lano River, 1; Squamish Flats, 1; Owekano Lake,
23; Gull Chuck River, 6; Quakusdus River, 5.

Vite ot

March, 1934]

Food Items, tabulated.

Salmonoids (including Salmo and Oncorhyn-

AIS MMLTSV Oe ooo cca ce as SoS oP loli en’ 22
Seal avai CTEM cong Ret ee a 9
Wecomposed’ salmon... ...6% 06... ete esses ees 1
Sculpins (including Cottus aspcr, 18; Lepto-

cottus armatus, 2; Oliogocottus maculosus,

3; unidentified Cottoids, 8; eggs, 1)....... 32
Perch—Cymatogaster aggregatus............ 1
Greenling—Hexagrammidae ................ 1
Blenny—Blennidae ..........0ccccee eee eeeee 3
Stickleback—Gasterosteus aculeatus cata-

IGE ELUS Bot ae te hee acs he a ed eos Beane 19
Lamprey—Entosphenus tridentatus ......... 1
Shore Crab—Hemigrapsus oregonensis....... 5
Shrimp—Spirontocaris sitchensis ........... 4
Sand Shrimp—Upogebia pugetensis.......... 1
PATE ENO DLETE.) il ac. sass cles cle Mloe ¥ tie s's i
Fly—Ciuironomid (larve and pup) ....... 5
Blackfiy—Simulium (larve and pup®)...... 4
Fly—Mise. Diptera (adult) .......... 1
Beetle—C oleopiend.«.<2:. 0. 2s66 2. se ee doen 1

Water Strider—Hemiptera (adult).......... 1

Wher Dip ——COmeed) |i o1. oasis. oe ats os aes 1
Caddis—Trichoptera (larve) . ............. 11
Mayfly—Ephemerida (nymph).............. 5
Stone-fly—Plecoptera (nymph and larva).... 2
Insect fragments unidentified .............. 10
Rrra IOUS COs «be Perri) en WTS «oe does oie, alee 1
Mussel]—M ytilus edulis ..............22.... 1

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST AT

A total of 225 American Merganser stomachs
have been examined, the results of which present
a fairly clear picture of the food range of this
species in parts of British Columbia. Neverthe-
less, 40 complete this study more material is de-
sired, both from the coast and the interior of the
Province.

At the same time, it is evident that before
conclusions are drawn as to the economic status
of the American Merganser it is necessary to ex-
tend somewhat the field of enquiry. In the first
place, the results of the studies of stomach con-
tents of the birds have shown that the sculpin,
Cottus asper, forms the largest single item in the
diet. It is generally stated that sculpins are des-
tructive to salmon and trout fry bu‘ the data are
limited and accurate information as to the food
habits of the sculpin should be obtained. So also
it is desirable to enquire more fully into the food
habits of the squawfish.

In the second place, close field observations
should be made on the conditions under which
Mergansers obtain salmon and trout fry and sal-
mon eggs.

Finally, if is apparent that much additional
information is desirable concerning the life history,
distribution and numbers of the Merganser.

NUTRITIONAL ANAEMIA IN MINK
By RONALD G. LAW and ARNOLD H. KENNEDY

Ontario Government Experimental Fur Farm
Department of Game and Fisheries

MONG the diseases of mink, which have
come to our attention during the past
few years, anaemia appeared to be
more commonly met with than any

other.

The symptoms appear to have been recognized
under the somewhat loose and ambiguous terms
of acidosis and sheath trouble, but the true na-
‘ure of the disease does not appear to have been
established. The term “sheath trouble” is des-
criptive of one of the common symptoms of
anaemia in the advanced stages of the disease,
but a degree of anaemia may exist without
sheath trouble being apparent and the term is
not applicable to the female. For these reasons
the term is not satisfactory as applied to the dis-
ease in question as it does not give any clue to the

true nature of the condition. The term acidosis is
also open to criticism. Authorities on the subject
are 1n no way agreed upon its real significance.
Acidosis is not a disease in itself but is a com-
plication which may exist in conjunction with a
wide variety of diseases. Therefore, the use of
the term in describing a definite and established
disease in mink is not justified and should be
dropped from the literature.
SYMPTOMS

A decline in the general welfare of the mink
is the first noticeable symptom. The fur be-
comies brittle, harsh and dry and lacks the lustre,
colour and sheen of the adequately fed animal.
In the regions of the neck and tail the fur has
¢ moth-eaten appearance and is also open and
short over the back. A decline in weight takes

48 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

place as the disease progresses. Due to the con-
stant dribbling of urine the sheath becomes wet,
the abdomen bare of fur, and the skin inflamed.
In advanced cases the penis protrudes and the
sheath is swollen and tumou” like. The eyes
lose their bright beady appearance and become
somewhat sunken in the head As the disease
progresses the mucous membranes, including the
lining of the mouth and eye, become pale. The
tongue has a blanched appearance and the foot
pads are conspicuously white and bloodless. Short-
ly before death the mink may commence a ner-
yous weaving movement with his head and body,
the appetite fails and he becomes dull and
sleepy. In these later stages the eye has a
squinted look. Twitching of the legs accompan-
ied with convulsions and gasping for breath is
manifest. Finally the animal dies in a comatose
condition.

CAUSES AND PREVENTION

In studies carried out at the Ontario Govern-
ment Experimental Fur Farm it was found that
the disease could be produced experimentally
with regularity and certainty and that the symp-
toms and pathology were identical with the condi-
tion as it prevails on mink ranches. The out-
standing feature from the pathologist’s point of
view is the presence of normoblast cells, and the
irregularity in size of the red blood corpuscles

in the blood stream. When found in any number —

normoblast cells are always indicative of anaemia,
particularly the pernicious forms. In mink the
red blood counts and hemoglobia may show a
reduction as low as forty per cent.of the normal.

A large number of diets, considered adequate
from the nutritional standpoint, have been fed
on ranches where the condition has appeared
from time to time. For example, the following
rations produced the earlier symptoms of the
disease, namely sixty per cent. fresh meat, con-
sisting of beef hearts, tripe, and muscle meat,
twenty-five per cent. cereals, ten per cent. bone
meal, five per cent. vegetables and small quanti-
tis of milk, wheat germ and yeast. A number of
similar diets, all of which apparently contained
a sufficient variety of food staples, did not give
entirely satisfactory results. Where fish was
substituted for meat, the condition also appeared.

It was not until the disease was recognized to
be of anaemic origin that measures could be
taken to prevent its occurrence. It was found that
when small quantities of liver were added to the
diet the anaemia did not develop The cura-

[VoL. XLVIII

tive effect of small quantities of liver in the
diet during the earlier stages of the disease was
also noted. The addition of half an ounce of
liver to the daily ration of a mink appears to
be well within the necessary requirements.

In the experiments carried out the symptoms
varied in severity according to the proportion of
liver contained in the diet. Consequently, many
mink are subjected to a state of nutrition fluc-
tuating between satisfactory and unsatisfactory
nutritional requirements. Severe symptoms term-
inating in death may very seldom be .encountered,
in some instances the disease going no farther
than producing a somewhat dry and _ lustreless
pelt and a slight dribbling of urine in a few young
males. Notwithstanding the fact that the quality
and censeness of the pelt may be affected to
some extent the presence of 4 tendeney to an-
aemla may not be suspected.

Once the disease has reached a severe stage
treatment is of no avail, as pathological changes
liave taken place in the liver, lungs and kidneys
which are beyond repair. It is only in the early
stages that the addition of liver has a curative
effect.

DIscussion

In this paper the underlying cause of the dis-
ease and the fact that liver is a preventive and
curative in the early stages have been pointed
out. There are, however, a number of questions
which require further investigation For example,
the proportion of cereal which a young mink can
assimilate to advantage may possibly be connect-
ed with the proportion of liver in the diet.
Young mink are usually fed a ration containing

a high percentage of meat and fish, and such diets,.

though not necessarily adequate to offset anaemia,
are superior to a high percentage of cereal in the
ration. There is a possibility that the addition
of liver to a ration containing a high percentage
of zereals would supply. the deficiencies which
exist in these foods.

Further investigations will no-doubt reveal
the most satisfactory combinations of cereals,
meat, fish and liver required for the optimum
rutrition of mink.

Post Mortem Finpincs

The carcass is emaciated and upon opening
the body cavities the tissues have a decided pal-
lor. The large blood vessels stand out promin-
ently. Their walls are thin and flabby and filled
with watery, pale blood which does not clot
readily. The intestines are

thin, white and

ET ene eS ED ee

March, 1934]

blanched, containing little or no ingesta. The
stomach and intestinal mucosa are usually coated
The liver
has a mottled appearance varying from a light
tawny orange to a dark chocolate brown colour.
Small petechial hemorrhages are often present.
The lobules may be quite prominent, especially
near the borders of the lobes.
variably swollen and dark brown to purple in
colour.. The kidneys are pale and swollen and
frequently show light hemorrhagic areas. The
heart is dilated and the musculature pale and
flabby. The lungs are often edematous and con-
gested. The body lymph glands are enlarged
and frequently pale gray in colour.

with a rather thick gelatinous exudate.

The spleen is in-

Microscopic PsaTHoLocy

The liver, kidney’ and lungs show the most
The blood
vessels in all organs were only partly filled with
blood, which stained poorly and was ill-formed.
Many of the cells appeared shrunken and broken.
The individual cells in most cases stained a pale

pronounced pathological changes

pink to a yellow colour and a few stained a dark

blue.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 49

A granular appearance of some of the epithelial
cells in the upper portion of the villi was the
only significant change noted in the gastrointes-
tinal tract. Small areas were observed where the
cellular structures of the villi were destroyed to
some extent. The cells appeared pale and frayed.
The villi were often surrounded by mucin.

A pronounced and generalized infiltration of
the liver cells was evident. In the lesser damaged
areas the cells had a granular appearance. In
the more extensively damaged areas the cytoplasm
showed small, round, clear areas surrounding the
nucleus, giving the cell a vacuolated appearance.
These vacuolated spaces enlarged, forming one
clear space in the cytoplasm, with the nucleus
driven to the side of the cell. The capillaries
were dilated. The sinusoides contained degen-
erated and poorly stained red blood cells.

Extensive damage took place in the kidney
tubules. The cells lining the ‘tubules were des-
troyed and lost their identity. The tubules ap-
peared as enlarged clear spaces, surrounded by
narrow ring-like bands of tissue. Blue staining
deposits and casts were often present in the lumen
of the tubules. The lungs were emphysematous
with the characteristic structures of the alveoli
destroyed.

PYCNOGONIDA FROM THE COAST OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

By L. GILTAY, D. Sc.,
Royal Museum of Natural History, Brussels.

HE PYCNOGONIDA have been a rather
neglected group on the Pacific Coast
of North America, particularly on the
coast of British Columbia where up to

the present there has not been a published record.

In view of this fact, it is of interest and value

now to place on record three species. Two were

taken at Race Rocks, near Victoria, in the Strait
of Juan de Fuca, by Mr. Sherman R. Burbank
and forwarded to me for identification by Dr.

W. A. Clemens, Director of the Pacific Biological

Station, Nanaimo. The third was on file at the

Biological Station and also forwarded by Dr.

Clemens.

Phoxichilidium femoratum (Rathke)

Syn: 1799 — Nymphon femoratum Rathke,
Naturh. Selsk. Skr. V, p. 201.

1837—Orithyia coccinea Johnston, Mag. Zool.
Bot. I, p. 378, Pl. XII, fig. 4-6.

1842—Phogichilidium globosum Goodsnr,
Edinb. New Philos. Journ., XXXII, p. 136.

1877 — Phoxichilidium femoratum Hoek,

Niederl. Arch. f. Zool., IIJ, p 240, Pl. XV,
fig. 8-10.

1878—Phoxichilidium maaillare Wilson, Trans.
Connect. Acad. Arts a. Se. V, p. 12, pl. IV,
fig, la-e.

1878—Phoxichilidium minor Wilson, Ibid., p.
13, pl. IV, fig. 2 a - f:

One individual, a female, taken at Race Rocks,
July, 1933, in a bed of goose barnacles. Mr. Bur-
bank reports that several other specimens were
seen but that this was the first time that this
species was observed.

On the Pacific Coast, this species has previous-
ly been reported from Alaska (Cole 1904) and
from California (Hilton 1915, 1918). Dr. C. Me-
Lean Fraser states that he has frequently taken

50 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

specimens in the Strait of Georgia, especially on
good shrimp or general crustacean grounds. He
also obtained one individual near Waldron Island
in Washington Sound during the summer of 1931.

Phozichilidium femoratum .Rathke) is
known from Eastern America, Greenland
Europe, from the White Sea to France
Ireland.

also
and
and

Pycnogonum stearnsi Ives

Syn: 1892—Pycnogonum stearnst Ives, Proc.
Ac. Nat. Se. Philad. 1892, p. 142, Pl. X, figs. 1
- 4.

Two individuals, egg-bearing males, taken at
Race Rocks, May, 1933. Mr Burbank states
that this species is fairly abundant in the mussel
beds. Specimens without eggs are usually found
singly, while egg-bearers seem to occur in pairs.
Individuals with eggs have been observed from
May to September.

This species was described from San Diego, Cali-
fornia (Ives 1892) and has previously been known
only from California.

Nymphon grossipes mixtum (Kroyer)

Syn: 1844—Nymphon mixtum Kroyer, Na-
turh. Tidsskr. Copenhagen, I, p. 110.

1930—Nymphon grossipes var. mixtum
Schimkewitsch, Faune U.R.S.S. Pantopodes,
II, p. 416, figs. 107-109.

Five individuals, three egg-bearing males, one
young male and one female, taken in Nanoose
Bay, a few miles north of the Pacific Biological
Station at Nanaimo (British Columbia), Septem-
ber 14, 1913. Dr. Fraser states that this species
was very abundant.

‘

[VoL. XLVIII

The synonymy of Nymphon grossipes mixtum
(Kroyer) is rather complicated. Many authors
synonymize it with Nymphon grossipes (Fabricius)
and Nymphon glaciale Lilljeborg However I
consider that they are three varieties or sub-
species of Nymphon grossipes sensu latissimo. I
agree with Schimkewitsch (1980) in calling my
specimens: Nymphon grossipes mixtum (Kr6yer).
They have exactly the same palp characteristics
and the same proportions of tarsus and propodus.

Nymphon grossipes mixtum (Kroyer) is a cir-
cumpolar, arctic and boreo-arctic species. On the
European coast it is found as far south as the
Faroes, Scotland and Denmark On the Atlantic
coast of America its southern limit is Cape Cod
and J.ong Island Sound. It seems abundant all
along the northern Siberian coast and on the
Pacific is found as far south as the sea of Japan.
Unknown from Alaska, this is the first time it is
recorded from the Pacific coast of North America.
Hilton (1915) reported four individuals of a Nym-
phon sp. from Laguna Beach, California. It may
be they were the same species.

REFERENCES ©

Cote, L. J. Pycnogonida of the West
Coast of North America. Harriman
Alaska Exped. X. pp. 247-298, Pl. 11-
26. 1904

Hitton, W. A. Pyenogonids collected °:
during the Summer of 1914 at Laguna
Beach. Pomona Coll. Journ. Ent.
and Zool. VII, pp. 67-70.
Pycnogonids collected during the
Summer of 1917 at Laguna Beach.
Ibid, X, p. 77.

Ives, J. E. A new species of Pycnogonum
from California. Proc. Acad. Nat. Se.
Philad. 1892, pp. 142-144, pl. X.

ScHIMKEwiItTscH, W. Pantopodes. Faune
de ’'U.R.SS., 2 vols. Leningrad,

1915

1918

1892

1929-1930

A NEW MAMMAL RECORD FOR THE RIDING MOUNTAIN
NATIONAL PARK LIST

By H. U. GREEN

N AUGUST 9th, 1933, while engaged on
beaver research and collecting small
mammals in the Riding Mountain Na-
tional Park, Manitoba, a specimen of the

Gray Eastern Chipmunk, Tamias striatus griseus

Means* (R. M. No. 156 ¢ T.L. 235 T.V. 97.H.F'.33),

was captured on the eastern escarpment of the

Riding Mountain above Norgate in a deciduous

fauna’

® Determined by Dr. R. M. Anderson, National Museum,
Jttawa.

area, recovering from a recent burn, where
Eutamias minimum borealis was quite abundant.
Every effort was made to secure further specimens
in this locality, but without result

As I have collected small mammals in the Rid-
ing Mountain and north-central Manitoba for
several years without previous field knowledge
of this form, I worked the higher altitudes to
the west and north with the object of taking
sufficient specimens to make a representative

March, 1934)

group of study “skins” for the Riding Mountain
Park museum at Wasagaming. It was not, how-
ever, until the north shore of Clear Lake was
reached, 20 miles to the west, that, on Septem-
ber 17th, 1933, a second specimen was collected
(R.M.No. 229 9 T.L. 251.T.V. 102.H.F.34), this
time in a dense spruce forest where again Hutam-
tas minimum borealis was abundant. This loca-
tion, too, was closely trapped for several days,

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 51

but no further specimens were collected or seen.

Tamias striatus griseus Mearns may, there-
fore, be included in the list of “Mammals of the
Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba,
(H.U. Green. Can. Field-Nat. 46:149, 1932) and
it may be inferred, owing to its apparent scarcity,
that the district about Clear Lake, Riding Moun-
tain National Park, is about the north-western
limit of its range.

NOTES ON THE ALEWIFE
By G. C. TONER

MMENSE numbers of gaspereaux, or
aT] alewives, Pomolobus pseudoharengus

(Wilson), have been present for years in

Lake Ontario. They were noted by near-
ly all the authors who have studied the fish
fauna of this lake. Periodically they die, in great
numbers and come ashore to pollute the beaches.
Wright (1891) mentions the difficulty of removing
such 2 nuisance from the shore lines near the
cities. CC. W. Nash, Provincial Biologist, as re-
corded by Pritchard (1929), found it on many
occasions in Toronto Bay. In the same paper
Pritchard has summarised the knowledge of the
fish as a member of the fauna of Lake Ontario.
They are supposed to have been introduced in
the early days of fish culture by error when the
intention was to plant shad. This theory has
been maintained throughout the literature but
apparently never critically examined.

During the past few years the writer has taken
the alewife in some of the lakes of the Rideau
Canal system and the Gananoque river system
in Leeds and Frontenac counties. Specimens
from Red Horse Lake and Charleston Lake, Leeds,
have been placed in the Royal Ontario Museum
of Zoology. Others in the same institution were
collected by Mr. E. O. Ebersole from Otter Lake,
Leeds. They have been reported from Dog Lake
and Loughboro Lake in Frontenac and the Bev-
erly wakes in Leeds. Other reports indicate that
these fish have a much wider range than was
previously noted.

_ These lakes vary in height above sea level.
The lower lakes are over 280 feet and the upper
lakes are about 450 feet, with the level of Lake
Ontario given on the Government charts as 245
feet. Mill dams and navigation locks separate
the various lakes. These are almost impassable

to fish that are not strongly anadromous. They
were built before 1832 in which year the canal
was opened to traffic.

The theory that the alewife was planted in Lake
Ontario by mistake would seem to be untenable
when the present distribution is considered. The
presence of the alewife in the higher lakes might
be accounted for in several ways. If the fish
were planted in Lake Ontario they may also
have been planted in the Rideau Lakes. This
is unlikely since very few plants were made in
such zreas in the early days, and no records
of later plantings have been found. Another
possibility is that they may have migrated through
the locks of the canal to the upper lakes, and
from there downstream to the lakes of the Gan-
anoque River system which receives part of its
fiow from the Rideau system. As an example
of this type of migration, Dymond (1932) says
that it is probable that this species reached
Lake Erie by way of the locks of the Welland
Canal. In the spring of 1910 and 1911 many of
these fish were found dead along the edge of the
canal at Washburn. Here the waters are 45 feet
above Lake Ontario with three locks interven-
ing. They may have been migrating at that
time to the higher waters of the region. The
area has again been under observation since 1928
in connection with other fisheries studies but
no alewives have been taken.

The last possibility is that the species may
be native to the entire region. Formerly, Lake
Ontario was much higher and covered the en-
tire area of the Rideau lakes. If the alewife
was present at that time, when the waters low-
ered it would be left behind, and where conditions
were right, would remain as part of the native
fauna. Koelz (1930) has shown that under sim-
ilar conditions the fresh water herrings, Leuc-

52 THe CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

ichthys artedi, have split into a number of sub-
species. Thus, if the alewife is part of the orig-
inal native fauna, one might expect that it would
differ slightly from the alewife of Lake Ontario
and both forms would differ from the forms of
the A‘lantic coast. Pritchard (1929) found slight
differences between fish of this species from Lake
Ontario and others from Nova Scotia. It would
be interesting to make some measurements of
the Iideau Lakes specimens and compare with
the figures given by Pritchard. Definite know-

ledge of an interesting type would be gained

[VoL. XLVIII

and, while it might not settle the status of the
species, would throw some light on a debatable
question.

LITERATURE CITED
Dymonp, J. R. 1932. Records of the alewife from
Lake Erie. Copeia, 1932: 32.
Koruz, W. 1930. Coregonid Fishes of North East-
ern America. Paper Mich. Acad. Arts 8c.
Letters, 13: 303-432. 5
Pritcuarp, A. L. 1929. The alewife in Lake On-
tario, Univ. Tor. Studies, Pub. Ont. Fish.
Res. Lab. No. 38: 39-54.
Wricut, R. R. 1891. Fishes of Ontario, p. 445.

ADDITIONAL CHRISTMAS BIRD CENSUS, 1933

Woop BurFraLo Park, ALBERTA, DECEMBER 26th,
1933—9.30 am. to 3.00 pm. Calm, bright sun-
shine, temp. from -28° to -35°; recent tempera-
tures from -45° to -60°. Travelled by dog train
from Rocky Point, Peace River, to 30th Base
Line at Slave River. Distance covered on census,
20 miles.

Willow Ptarmigan, 5; Arctic Horned Owl, 1;
Alaska Three-toed Woodpecker, 1; Canada Jay,
2; Northern Raven, 1; Long-tailed Chickadee, 2;
Hudsonian Chickadee, 4; Pine Grosbeak (sub-
sp.?), 2; Common Redpoll, 6. Total, 9 species,
24 individuals.—J. DEWEY SOPER.

Courtenay, VANcouver IsLann, B.C., DECEMBER
24, 1933—9.30 am. to 4.00 p.m. Overcast but
clear and still, no wind; temp. around 40°. Coun-
try under snow for previous two weeks. Mainly
road, Courtenay to Comox, taking in river (from
Sandwick boundary) and foreshore; from Comox
along foreshore to commencement of Comox Spit.
Including half mile on Little River Road and
other short excursions. Country mainly open,
cultivated, with woodland. About eight miles.
Observers together most of time and on foot.

Lesser Loon, 10; Pacific Loon, 4: Red-throated
Loon, 2; Hollboell’s Grebe, 6; Horned Grebe, 9:
Western Grebe, 250+ ; White-crested Cormorant,
2; Blue Heron (Ardea herodias (subsp.?)), 5;

Common Mallard, 500+; American Widgeon
(Baldvate), 700+ ; Canvas-back, 15; Scaup Duck
(probably both Greater and Lesser), 475+ ;
American Golden-eye, 150; Barrow’s Golden-eye,
1; Buffle-head, 58; White-winged Scoter, 800+ ;
Surf Scoter, 220; American Merganser, 18; Red-
breasted Merganser, 8; Bald Eagle (subsp.?), 1;
Black Pigeon Hawk, 2; Oregon Ruffed Grouse, 2;
Pheasant (Ring-necked?), 40; California Quail,
20; Coot (sp.?), 46; Killdeer, 12; Wilson’s Snipe,
3; Glaucous-winged Gull, 220; Herring Gull, 5;
Short-billed Gull, 16; Belted Kingfisher (subsp.?),
2; Flicker (sp.?), 18; Pileated Woodpecker (sub-
sp.?), 2; Harris’s Woodpecker, 1; Jay (Oregon?),
1; Raven (sp.?), 50; Northwestern (“Fish”) |
Crow, 300; Chestnut-backed Chickadee, 60+ ;
Red-breasted Nuthatch, 11; Wren (Nannus hie-
malis (subsp.?)), 7; Seattle Wren, 10; Robin
(Turdus migratorius (subsp.?)), 35; Varied Thrush
‘subsp.?), 60; Hermit Thrush (Dwarf?), 4;
Golden-crowned Kinglet (subsp.?), 11; English
Sparrow, 3; Western Meadowlark, 11; Brewer’s
Blackbird, 1; California Purple Finch, 65; Hep-
burn’s Rosy Finch, 1; Pine Siskin (subsp.?),
300+ ; Oregon Towhee, 34: Oregon Junco, 140;
Fox Sparrow (subsp.?, perhaps more than one),
11; Song Sparrow (subsp.?, perhaps more than
one), 67.

As well, several hundred Ducks in Bay too
far off to identify. Total, 55 or 56 species (3
atroduced), about 4805 individuals, plus un-
identified Ducks—THEEp Pearse, Davin GuTHRIE.

March, 1934{

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 53

NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS

Wouvp a Muskrat Arrack A PIKE?—It is a well
known fact that pike, when they are large enough,
will seize a muskrat in the water and make a

- hearty meal of it. But will muskrats, on the
other hand, attack young pikes when they have
the chance? A strange happening I witnessed
leads me to ask the question. A companion and I

_ were sitting on the bank of the Riviére Noire,
some eighteen miles from St. Hvacinthe, Quebec,
in the early days of October. It was already dusk,
probably 7 p.m. We suddenly heard a great
splash and saw a large muskrat that dived in
a hurry and disappeared on seeing us. We at-
tached no importance to the matter until my
companion suddenly asked: “What is that, on
the sand?” I looked where he pointed, almost
2t our feet, and noticed a small’green pike, prob-
ably twelve inches in length, which lay motion-
less on the shore, his belly flat on the sand. He
had his snout towards the water, about six inches
from 't, but did not move. Taking a handkerchief

-in my hand, so that the slimy creature should
not escape from my fingers, I grabbed it firmly.
It was quite alive, apparently in the best of
kealth, and my friend took it home to eat. How
did this fish get on the shore, and why did he
rot try to jump back into the water? Had he
keen chased by the muskrat, and was he still
too frightened to return to his natural element?
I have already seen pike jump out of the water
and land on a river’s bank, when chasing min-
nows, but in such a case they hastily make for
‘home and dear life.
‘the fish made no movement whatever and only

- reacted on realizing he was being caught. Would
e muskrat eventually prey upon a pike?—Harry
BERNARD.

On this particular occasion,

REGARDING THE ARKANSAS Kinesirp—In July,
1933, while in the village of Simpson, Saskatche-
wan, I had my first experience with Arkansas
Kinghbirds. While in Simpson, the owner of the
livery stable asked me to identify these birds
which were busily engaged in feeding their four
young. He had been comparing their habits
with those of our common or Eastern Kingbirds

and had come to the conclusion that they were
Kingbirds of some kind. After identifying them
with the aid of Taverner’s Birds of Western Can-
ada, he informed me that a pair of these birds

_had been nesting in different places about the

village for the past five years. This year’s nest
was behind an electric light transformer in front
of the livery stable, the young having left the
nest for a higher position on the wires—THOMAS
A. Harper, Simpson, Saskatchewan.

Note oN THE WatTeER OUSEL, Cinclus mezxicanus.
~An observation which may be of interest to
nuturalists was made during the spring of 1931
while the writer was examining the runs of small
salmon on Graham Island, the most northerly of
the Queen Charlotie group, British Columbia. It
was found that the fry of the pink salmon migrate
only at night and in the daytime seek dark places
beneath the bank or the bottom beneath the
stones apparently as a protection against their
many enemies. On the morning of April 18, a
Water Ousel was seen to alight on a log and
proceed to eat eight fry which were at the time
about 114 inches in length. Four of these the
bird picked from the water from the shaded
area behind the log. The remaining four he
picked from beneath the rocks at the bottom of
the creek. Although there were other small fish
in evidence the Ousel was avparently satisfied
and stopped eating. Later in the afternoon the
same bird was seen taking another meal of
seven fry. Several such observations on succeed-
ing days convinced us that the Water Ousel does
eat pink fry as a steady article of diet and that
the number taken at one time is seven or eight.—
A. L. Prircuarp, Pacific Biological Station, Nan-
uimo, B. C.

A RED-EYED TOWHEE NEAR QUEBEC CiTy.—On
the morning of May 18, 1932, R. Meredith, Angus
Graham, and I observed a male Red-eyed Towhee
(Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus) ip

54 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

brushy second-growth on the border of the Gomin
Wood, within three miles of Quebec City. We
first heard the bird singing. then heard its call
several times, while it remained out of sight
among the shrubbery. Finally it

singing, and we found it percl.ed conspicuously

resumed its
on a small tree. The sun was behind us, making
light conditions excellent while we all observed
the bird in detail, noting its striking and char-
acteristic coloration for five minutes through x6
binoculars at a distance of about thirty feet, and
making certain of the identification. This is a
species with which I have been familiar for many
years.

The late C. E. Dionne, in his well-known work,
“Les Oiseaux de la Province de Quebec” (Quebec,
1906), recorded that Neilson saw a pair of birds
of this species at Cap Rouge, about seven miles
west of Quebec City, in the spring of 1879. I
have seen no other record of the occurrence of
the Red-eyed Towhee in that vicinity —Harrison
F. Lewis.

Tup CoLour oF THE BILL IN Roseate TERNS,
Sterna dougalli—Major Allan Brooks in the
April, 1933, Canadian Field-Naturalist comments
on the colour of the bill of the Roseate Tern as
observed in a breeding colony in Nova Scotia,
and states that “all authorities in American works
had given the all black bill of this tern as its
diagnostic feature when in breeding plumage.”
This is hardly the case, for Ridgeway, Coues,
Baird. Brewer and Ridgeway, Chapman and For-
bush all speak of the red base. Forbush says:
“bill black, usually more or less red (vermilion)
at base (often about 50 of upper mandible and
33 lower). Under Field Marks he says: “Bill
largely black with red base.” I also find that
Howzrd Saunders in his Manual of British Birds,
says, “Early in the breeding season the bill is
orange at the base, but soon becomes chiefly or
whol'y black”. W. H. Hudson in his British
Birds says, “bill black, orange red at the base
in the breeding season”, and gives a coloured
plate by Thorburn which shows nearly half the
bill red at the base. Bonhote in his “Birds of Bri-
tain” says, “The bill in the breeding season is
black.”

Major Brooks states that in all the Roseate
Terns he collected “the bills showed about half

(VoL. XLVIIT

red, much as in the Common Tern.” The bill
of the adult Common Tern in my experience and
in the description of authorities is predominantly
brighs red with more or less of the tip black, the
very end being pale yellow.

Roseate Terns for some years have visited Ips-
wich Beach in many hundreds, if not thousands,
especially after the middle of July, sometimes
outnumbering the Common Terns. The Roseate
is of course easily distinguished from the Common
Tern by its long white tail and other marks, and
hy its distinctive call-notes. Their bills are at
this time decidedly black, a good field mark, but
on close examination a very little red can gen-
erally be seen at the base, a very different col-
oration, however, from that of the red bill with
black tip of the Common Tern. Roseate Terns
sometimes appear at Ipswich in May and I have
watched them courting on the beach, but have
noted no difference in the colour of their bills at
this time.

On July 19 and 20 of this year (1933) I spent
much time studying the large colonies of Roseate
and Common Terns breeding at Penikese Island,
Massachusetts. At this time nearly all the eggs
had hatched and most of the young were able
to fly. As to ithe colour of their bills, I quote
from my notes written at the time. The adult
Roseates nearly all showed red plainly at the
base of their bills, sometimes as much as half
red and half black or possibly a little more red
in a few cases. Commonly there was less red
than black, perhaps one-third red, as well as
some with scarcely any red, and that near the
commisure. One fine adult had a bill all black
but it showed a faint yellowish tint. near the nos-
trils. In some the bills looked all black, but it
was much more common to have some red at
the base. The bills of adult Common Terns
were vermilion red with black tips, generally
less than one-fourth of the bill in length. Young
Roseate Terns had black bills and black feet
and tarsi. Young Common Terns had _ straw-
coloured or, sometimes, pink bases to their bills,
the rest black; the legs pale flesh or straw-
coloured. These birds were studied on the wing
and close at hand on rocks or near their nests,
and the nearly full grown young handled. We
are certainly indebted to Major Brooks for call-
ing attention to the large amount of red in some
of the bills of Roseate Terns in the nesting sea-
son—CuarLes W. TowNSsEND.

7

March, 1934]

NorTHERN OccurRENCE OF HoG-NOSED SNAKE IN
OnTari0.—On August 25th, 1929, while paddling
with W. E. Saunders and E. M. 8. Dale up a
narrow charnel which connects Nogonosh Lake
with Smoky Lake in Parry Sound district, On-
tario, we were surprised to come upon a Hog-
posed Snake (Heterodon controtrix) swimming
leisurely across the channel. We lifted the rep-
tile into the canoe and brought it ashore. It
appeared to be quite normal and active, coiling
and striking with the usual blowing sound. Ap-
parently it had left the low-lying shore of the
channel to cross to the higher rocky ground. Its
length was about 24 inches. This is, I believe,
a verv northern occurrence for this species —
Stuarr L. THompson.

Tur Massasauea (Sistrurus catenatus) IN WEL-
LAND CouNtTy, ONTARIO—There is a very exten-
sive bog, variously known as the “Huckleberry
Marsh” and the “Big Peat Bog” lying about
3% miles west of Port Colborne. This marsh
has a sinister reputation locally as the home
of rattlesnakes, which are apparently frequently
seen and killed by huckleberry pickers. Mention
cf this place is made by Mr. W. J. Leroy in The
Canadian Field-Naturalist, 44:20, 1930.

On June 12, 1927, the writer visited this bog
and saw a small rattler only about 200 feet north
of the highway. It was about 18 inches in
jengtl. and was lying coiled on a tussock of grass.
As it was approached it sounded its rattle and
disappeared in the woods. This particular day
was evidently a favourable one for observing
snakes, being sunny, but with a cold wind. Within
guite a small area several snakes were to be seen,
sunning themselves on logs and tussocks. Near
where the rattler had been seen were two large
Milk Snakes and a Garter Snake. Under the log
on which the Milk Snakes had been lying two
more Garter Snakes were found. When these
Milk Snakes were disturbed they vibrated the
tips of their tails rapidly, making quite a loud
sound.

The Marsh was explored, in company with Mr.
Leroy, on August 15, 1928, but only one Garter
Snake was found. However, the particular spot
where I had seen the Rattler was inaccessible by

rvoad, which was under repair. On this occasion

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 55

an American Egret was observed on the northern
border of the marsh.

Professor W. T. MacClement, of Queen’s Uni-
versity, and I revisited the exact locality where
the first specimen had been seen and were for-
tunate enough to find another Massasauga in
practically the same spot as that of five years
previously. It was of about the same size, also.
This snake was captured by holding it down with
the handle of a butterfly net, while a quart
fruit iar was slipped over its head and gradually
closed behind the body. It was shown to Mr.
Leroy at Toronto, who said that the light mark-
ings or the back were of a much more yellow
tint than those of specimens from other parts of
the province and that this seemed to be charac-
teristic of those Massasaugas from Welland Coun-
ty, which he had seen. The specimen was eventual-
ly preserved at Queen’s University Museum.—
W. E. Hurvsurt, Vineland, Ontario.

In a subsequent letter Dr. Hurlburt says:—‘“‘In
regard to my observations on the Milk Snake
vibrating its tail, contained in my article on the
Massasauga, there is no doubt a noise was pro-
duced. This may hhave been from contact with
grass, leaves, &c., but this long afterward I
cannot recollect the exact position of the snakes
when I heard the noise. When I first saw these
snakes they were on a log. As I approached
they went under the log and I turned it over
and caught one of them. It may have been
after I turned the log over that they vibrated
their tails. Such being the case, there would no
doubt be enough loose material near by for
them to strike —W.E. Hurisurt.”—-Ed.

ANOTHER BirD-EATING Froca—Mr. P A. Taver-
ner’s note in the November, 1933, Canadian Field-
Naturalist recalls another instance to add to the
collection of Frog notes:

On August 7, 1930, an immature Junco was
found fluttering against the inside of a window
in the Lake Mohonk Mountain House, Mohonk
Lake, N. Y. It was banded and released but re-
peated six times in nearby traps during the next
two weeks. On August 21 the attention of some
of the guests was attracted by a commotion in
a small stone-walled fountain poc! in front of
the Mountain House. Investigation showed it
to be caused by the struggles of a frog which had

56 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

the head and neck of the. above Junco in its
moutn The bird was dead. I did not see the
struggle, but those who did said the frog was
trying to swallow the bird at first, but later dis-
gorged it. By the time that I arrived on the
scene, the frog had disappeared. but it was prob-

ably a Bull Frog.

the time was that the bird either flew against

The explanation offered at

some nearby windows and fluttered down into
the pool or else fell in, in trying to get a drink —
DantEL SMILEY, JR.

REVIEW

THE “C.J.N.”—At the first meeting of the A.C-
F.A.S. (Association Canadienne-Francaise pour
l Avancement des Sciences), one of the highlights
was the exhibition of natural history collections of
the C.J.N.(Cercles de Jeunes Naturalistes). We
now have before us the November, 1933, number of
the ‘‘Revue M.S.L.” which is entirely devoted to a
description of the exhibits and a brief history of
the C.J.N.

This movement, which is barely three years old
has swept through the schools of Quebec and en-
listed a host of students in scientific research.
Since its foundation, it has spread to Ontario,
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island,
Alaska, Yukon and even Bengal. But the bulk
of the membership is in Quebec where three
hundred and twenty-six clubs are actively engaged
in studying and collecting the flora and fauna of
as many different parts of the province.

When one considers that these young people
work under the watchful eye of such men as the
Rev. Bros. Adrien and Marie-Victorin and Mr.
Jacques Rousseau, it will be realized that important

details (exact locality, date of collecting, formation,
etc.), so often missing in amateur collections, will
not be neglected.

And now, a word about the collections them-
selves. As might have been expected, the bulk
of them are botanical, but there are small zoological,
entomological, mineralogical and geolcgical exhibits.
These promise well for the future and it is to be
hoped that more and more time will be devoted
to them, for these fields have been less thoroughly
worked than has Botany.

Might a conchologist add that very little collect-
ing of land and fresh-water shells has been done
in Quebec? These shells are everywhere plentiful,
require very little preparation and storage space,
and are therefore deserving of more attention from
amateur naturalists.

Even from the more than sketchy outline of the
work of the C.J.N. given here, it will beseen that
this movement is one of the most important in
popularizing natural history in Quebec, and one
to be watched and enjoyed by all Canadian
naturalists—A. LA RocQquE.

[VoL. XLVIHI

NATURAL. HISTORY SOCIETY OF
MANITOBA
1929-30

President: G. SHIRLBY
‘ Past Diekdinta: H. M. SPEECHLY, M.D., C. W.
Sc., A. A. McCousrey, J. B. WALLIS, M.A.,
Ww. JACKSON M.Sc., A. M.Davipson, M.D., R. A.
: } Vice-Presidents: Seen L. R. SIMPSON,
W. H. Rann, Dr. R. S. Kirk, B. W.
A. BURTON GRESHAM, Treasurer: A.
LAWRENCE; Auditor: R. M. THomas; Social Convenor:
A.. J. SEARLE; General Secretary: Norman Lowe,
317 ‘Simcoe St., Winnipeg; Executive Secretary: J. HADDOW.

Chairman Secretary

L. T. S. Norris-ELyg, B.A. A. H. SHORTT
A. V. MITCHENER, M.Sc. Miss M.F. PRATT
Mrs. I. M. PRIESTLY B Mrs. H. T. Ross

CARTWRIGHT,

Miss C. J. EGAN, P. H. STOKES
FERRIS NEAVE, M.Sc. _G. D. RUSSELL.
: le Vv. W. JACKSON, M.Sc. J.P. KENNEDY |

R. A. ‘WARDLE, M.Sc.
Cc. W. LOWE, M.Sc.

Betis are held each Monday evening, except on holidays
etober to April, in the physics theatre of the University,
peg. Field excursions are held each Saturday after-
during May, June and September, and on public holidays
du ng daly and ee

H.CHAS. PEARCE

- THE HAMILTON BIRD PROTECTION
SOCIETY

pre _ (Incorporated)

President: W..E. SAUNDERS, London, Ont.; President:
VIN McQumsTON; Vice-President: R. OWRN MERRI-
., Kingston, Ont.; First Vice-President: Dr. H. G.
Second Vice-President: Mrs. F. E. MAcLOGHLIN;
Secretary: J. ROLAND BROWN; Sécrefary-Treasurer:

DUNCAN; Assisiant Secretary-Treasurer: Miss EB.
mior Committee: Miss M. &. GRAHAM; Pro-
mittee: Rav. C. A. HAVEN; Extension Committee:

LONDON, ONT.

Geidenis Mr. Epison MATTHEWS, 554 Central Ave., London

Vice-President: Mr. E. D. BRAND, 148 William Street,
Ont.; Recording Secretary: MR. VERNON FRANKS, 195
y., London, Ont.; Corresponding Secretary end

Mr. W. G. GIRLING, pee English St., London,
igration Secretary: Mr. E. M. S. Dae, 297 Hyman
Stands Ont.; Members qualified to answer questions:
. SAUNDERS, 240 Central Avenue, London, Ont.;
N, 201 Ridout Street South, London, Ont.;
YALVERT, 461 Tecumseh Avenue, London, Ont.; E. M.S,

' Hyman Street, London, Ont.

gs held the second, Monday of the month, excep
ae summer.

ge. onorary President. S. Kuincx, LL.D., President aver
: President: JoHN DAvipson, F.L.S., F.B.S.E.,
ity “of B.C.; Vice-President: Pror. M. Y. WILLIAMS,
{ y Secreiary: C. F. Connor, M.A., 3222 W. 36th
eet, Mardesuyer B.C.; First Assistant Secretary: Muss
; and Assistant Secretary: Mr. VERNON WIE-
, H. BAIn, 2142 Collingwood
3 brarian: Mrs. McCRIMMON;
of Executive: Miss E. J. SMITH, ee D. TURNBULL,
- Woop, Mr. P. L. Tart, Mr. R. J. CUMMING; Au-

W. B. Woops. |
7 Bc sein Norual School, 10th
unless otherwise announced.

- Mr. W.

_ éducationnelle: ALPHONSE DESILETS, B.S.A.3

-@information scientifique et pratique:

ILWRAITH ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB,
: - Mr. J. H. Fiemine, Dr. N.A. pases

oC . Affiliated Scetetins

- PROVINCE OF QUEBEC SOCIETY FOR THE

PROTECTION OF BIRDS INC.

fae OFFICERS & COMMITTEE:

Past Presidents: Mr. L. MclI. TERRILL, MR. NAPIER SMI'TH-
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Presidents: Mr. H. A. C. JACKSON, Miss M. S. NICOLSON:
Vice-President and Treasurer: Mk. HENRY Moustny; Secretary:
Miss M. Satu; Curator: Miss Hopp McLACHLAN. Committee
Dr. W. W. BEATTIE, Mrs. C.F. DALB, Mr. J. A. DECARIE,
Mr. W.S. Hart, Mrs. H. Hipsert, Miss K. D. MALcouR-

- ONNB, Miss P. B. MATTINSON, Miss EDITH Morrow, MIss

L. Murpry, Mr. R. A. OuTHET, MR. NAPIER SMITH, MR
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Address all correspondence to the Society at P.O. Box 1185
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pO Eere ped ucuee nea Toler
NATURELLE DU CANADA

Son Excellence, LE TRES HONORABLE
CoMTE DE BESSBOROUGH, P.C., -C.M.G., Gouverneur-
Genta du Canada; Vice-Patron Honoraire: HONORABLE

H. G. Carrouu, Lieutenant-Gouverneur de la Province
. Québec; Bureau ‘de Direction pour 1938: Président: W.
StTuaRT ATKINSON; Jer vice-président: EDGAR ROCHETTE,
C.R., M.P.P.; 2éme_ vice-président: G. STUART AHERN;
Secrétaire-trésorier: Louts-B. Lavorn; Chef de la section
scientifique: Dr. D.-A.DERyY; Chef de eerie de Propagande
Chef de la section
N.P.; Chef de la_ section
Dr. J.-E. BERNIER;
Directeurs: ADRIEN FALARDEAU, C.R.; MAgsor Jos. MATTE
JAMES F. Ross.

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Patron Honoraire:

de protection: R. MEREDITH,

_ THE TORONTO FIELD-NATURALISTS?
CLUB

: OFFICERS FOR 1933-34.

‘Honorary President: Dr. A. ie CoLEMAN; President: ARNOTT

Hon. Vice-Presidents: Hon. G. H. CHALLIES.
Vice-President: MR.
F. P. Ips, Secretary-Treasurer: J. P. OUGHTON, Chairman oj
Conservation Commiitee: Mrs. S. L. THOMPSON; Council—
Dr. E. M. WALKER, S. L. THompson, Prop. J. R. DyMOND
C. S. FARMER, Pror. T. F. McILwraltH, Dr. NORMA
Forp, MAGISTRATE J. E. Jones, L. T. OWENS; RUPERT
Davips, F. C. Hurst, Dr. T. M. C. TAYLOR, C. G. BRENNAND;
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Messrs. S. L. THOMPSON, L. L. SNYDER, J. L. BAILLIB, JR.
oe T. F. McItwraitu, R. V. Linpsay, R. M. SPrEinrs,
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aL AH sem le A. F. Coventry, Messrs. E.
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Messrs. E. B. Ss: Tobiat, Wm. LeRay. Fish—Pror. J. R.
DyMonp, Pror. W. K. BARENESS: Insects—Dr. FE.
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M. WALKER, J. P. OUGHTON.
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VOL. XLVHI, No. 4 APRIL, 1934

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Editor:
DouGcLAsS LEECHMAN
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yA Mee Associate Editors: ‘ Ae ns
DO FHNNESS 6.5085 ee a a _ Anthropology CLYDE L. PATCH...... ee a ee Herpetology

BEET O a NCEE EEE EO oe nO ue eae Botany R. M. ANDERSON.........-...-. Mammalogy
BR OUATCHPORD se icc whe da wes ; .Conchology A. G. HUNTSMAN............ Marine Biology —
ARTHUR GIBSON........-e00ee00% Entomology PACT AVERNERG 3,2 oiaccees nes Ornithology
B,J. ALCOCK... 0.0.6... 0.02 eee eee ee Geology B. MuKINDLE sf. 2s: hse ese Palzontology —
: CONTENTS
NS ee Sc ch PAGE
~ Marmota caligata broweri, A New Marmot from Northern Alaska....By E. Raymond Hall and

Raymond ME Gilmore oo c80. 2 ss ale 02 Rah SP ie ek Aes et pe Poe ica 57

Notes on the Distribution of the Hoary Marmots. By R. M. Anderson..............--. et
Some Additions to the Vascular Flora of Anticosti Island. By J. Adams................... 63°)
«Interesting Bird Records for Southern Baffin Island. By J. Dewey Sone Ug ah ge oes :

Grasshoppers Routed by Gulls. By Py Bradshaw. a ojos oe) aoe EER SAD pcan d eee
Notes and Observations:— . | } 3
Ce Two New Canadian Lymnaeas. ‘By Frank C. Baker...... EEN toe Saban ya ene Seely

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The Canadian Field-Naturalist

VOL. XLVIII

OTTAWA, CANADA, APRIL, 1934

a

Marmota caligata broweri, A NEW MARMOT FROM NORTHERN ALASKA

By E. RAYMOND HALL and RAYMOND M. GILMORE
(Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, California)

N THE YEAR 1928 when Mr. Charles
D. Brower, of Point Barrow, Alaska,
first. began to build up, in the
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, a

collection of mammals from northern Alaska

(see Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., 39 (No. 14), 419-

425, he obtained one skull-only of an immature

Marmot from Cape Thompson. The skull

presented certain features differentiating it

from those of other American Marmots.

Knowledge of this fact led Mr. Brower to

make special efforts to obtain adult, and more

complete, specimens from northern Alaska,
since it was suspected that a heretofore un-
recognized race existed there.

Mr. Brower was successful in this effort;
he obtained three additional specimens, each
a skin, skull, and skeleton, from Point Lay,
just south of latitude 70°, on the Arctic Coast
of Alaska. Study of this material shows that
though the Marmot of northern Alaska is
allied to the Hoary Marmot of northwestern
North America, it, nevertheless, differs from
any of the described races in both external
and cranial features. Indeed, the striking
black face, light-coloured underfur, black-tipped
overhairs, often with a tawny suffusion on
the back and flanks, make it one of the most
handsome of American Marmots.

The name broweri is proposed as a token of
recognition of Mr. Charles D. Brower, of
Barrow, Alaska, whose industry in saving
natural history materials has contributed so
‘greatly to the forwarding of our knowledge
of the fauna of northern Alaska.

Marmota caligata broweri, new subspecies

TYPE.—Adult, unsexed, complete skeleton
with skin; No. 51675, Mus. Vert. Zool.; Point
Lay, Arctic Coast of Alaska; collected in early
December, 1931; obtained from native resident
by Charles D. Brower.

RANGE.—Known definitely only from the
type locality and the vicinity of Cape Thomp-
son.

DIAGNOSIS.—A Marmot of the _ caligata
group with black face and white feet. Re-
mainder of coloration essentially as in Mar-
mota caligata broweri (Eschscholtz) save for
greater average tawniness on hinder back and
flanks. Size apparently less than in M.c.
caligata. Skull: relatively (to condylobasal
length) narrow across zygomata; nasals nar-
rowest at point one-quarter of their total length
from posterior ends; palate projecting behind
last upper molars; anterior palatine foramina
constricted anteriorly; angular process of
mandible projecting little if any behind arti-
cular process.

COMPARISON AND RELATIONSHIPS.—
The large size, black and white coloration, gnd
general shape of the skull clearly show the
close relation of this Marmot to the Marmota

caligata group. From Marmota caligata
caligata, as known to us by Alaskan speci-
mens from the Kenai Peninsula, localities

bordering on Prince William Sound, Savage
River in the Mt. McKinley District, and Bri-
tish Columbia material from the Stikine
River at Flood Glacier, M. c. browert is found
constantly to differ in the following respects:
face all black rather than marked by extensive
white area between and in front of eyes; feet
mostly white rather than black or blackish
brown; skull relatively narrower across zygo-
mata; posterior two-thirds of nasals in longi-
tudinal axis relatively straight rather than
convex dorsally; nasals constricted, and nar-
rowest, medially rather than tapering poster-
iorly; nasals extending farther posteriorly to
premaxillae; palate projecting farther pos-

-teriorly to plane of last upper molars; anter-

ior palatine foramina constricted anteriorly
rather than posteriorly; inferior margin of

58 THE CANADIAN FIBELD-NATURALIST

lower mandible relatively straight rather than
distinctly concave (mandible markedly deeper
below m2 and M2); angular process reduced
and projecting little if any, rather than far,
posteriorly to articular process.

If the type specimen, a fully adult animal,
is a male, as is suspected on account of the
lack of well-developed mammae, then broweri
is judged to be a smaller animal than M. c.
eclig: ta.

MEASUREMENTS. _ Selected measure-
ments, in millimeters, of the skull of the type
specimen, probably a male, are as follows:
condylo-basal length, 94.9; palatal length, 55.2;
postpalatal length, 35.0; length of nasals, 40.1;
zygomatic breadth, 61.6; breadth across mas-
toids, 41.7; least interorbital breadth, 24.0;
breadth of rostrum, 21.8; maxillary tooth row
21.0.

REMARKS.—Since practically every one c”
the comparative differences mentioned abov-
constantly distinguishes M. c¢. broweri from M.
c. caligata, the only described subspecies whose
geographic range adjoins that of broweri, it
might be maintained with some justice that
browert should be accorded full specifie rank.
However, the differences distinguishing the
two forms are of much the same nature -
those which distinguish other subspecies, of
the calijcta group, between which inter-
gradation has been found to exist. Also,
Marmots are known to occur in several parts
of Alaska which are geographically inter-
mediate with respect to the ranges as now
known of M. c. caligata and M. c. broweri.
Nelson, in his ‘Report upon the Natural
History Collections made in Alasta between
the years 1877 and 1881” (No. III, Arctic Ser.
Publ., Signal Service, U.S. Army, 1887, p.
282) reports that “At Kotzebue Sound I saw
a great many of their skins made up into
clothing and worn by the Eskimo from the
headwaters of the Kowak and Nunatog Rivers.
The people reported them to be abundant
there among the hills in about latitude 68°.”
Also, in their ‘‘Notes upon the mammals of
northwestern Alaska” Bailey and Hendee
(Journ. Mamm., 7:20, 1926) state that: “Mar-
mots are fairly common throughout the hills
of northern Alaska. The Eskimos told us
they were numerous 50 miles inland from
Wainwright. They are found in the foothills
of the Endicott Mountains inland from Kot-
zebue Sound, and in the hills back of Nome.”
Whether or not Marmots from these mentioned
localities are referable to M. c. broweri or

Vou. XLVIII

even to the species Marm ta caligzta, we have
no way of knowing. It is barely possible
that Marmota moncx occurs at some of the
mentioned localities. However, we think it
probable that intergradation will be found to
exist between M. c. troweri and M. c. caligata.

Ne external measurements were taken of
the specimens in the flesh. The prepared
skeleton of the type specimen has the caudal
vertebrae intact. The vertebrae, 21 in num-
ber, posterior to the pseudosaerum ( two cau-
dal vertebrae fused with the two sacral units)
measure 190 millimeters in length. The hind
foot measures 80 millimeters on the dried
skin. If we are correct in supposing that the
absence of well-developed mammae upon the
skin of the type specimen marks it as a male,
then the measurements indicate that broweri
is a smaller animal than caligata, for even if an
allowance of five per cent for shrinkage due
to drying is made for the type it still is
smaller than any adult male of caligata seen,
or of which Howell (N. A Fauna, no. 37, p.
60) gives measurements.

With respect to the taking of the type at a
time as late as December, Mr. Brower, under
date of January 29, 1932, writes: “This one
was taken in the early part of December;
somewhat late for him to be wandering
around. Mostly, they disappear in early No-
vember.” ,

Two of the three specimens from Point Lay
are young; the temporal ridges have barely
fused posteriorly. The skull-only from Cape
Thompson is that of a subadult. However,
despite the tender age of these specimens,
each one of the three displays the characters

mentioned above as distinguished broweri from_

caligata.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—Total number,
4; all from the Arctic Coast of Alaska; Point
Lay, 3; Cape Thompson, 1.

It seems appropriate to record here a slight
extension of the known range of Marmota
caligata raceyt. This marmot, recently named
as new by Dr. R. M. Anderson (Ann. Rept.,
for 1931; Nat. Mus. Canada, p12) 19382)
from the Chileotin Plateau, latitude 52° 45’
north, longitude 125° west, was based on
eight specimens obtained at the mentioned
locality by Mr. Kenneth Racey in 1931.
Roughly one year later, on May 30, 1932, Mr.
Thomas T. McCabe and Mrs. Elinor Bolles
McCabe, obtained an additional specimen (No.
52111, Mus. Vert. Zool.) of the Chilecotin Hoary
Marmot at a point 30 miles east of Bella Coola.
This locality is near 55 miles southwest of the

April, 1934]

type locality of M. c. raceyi. Nevertheless,
the specimen displays the same narrow skull
and black and white pelage characterizing
topotypes of raceyi and suggests that the
subspecies has a more extensive geographic
range in southwestern British Columbia tha
the two records of occurrence now show.

Transmitted November 6, 1933

LEGENDS FOR FIGURES

Views of the skulls and left lower jaws of
two subspecies of Marmota caligata. Draw-
ings are photographically accurate. Outlines
were made on photograph; photograph then
washed out. Figures % natural size.

Fig. 1. Marmota caligata browert adult, male
? No. 51675, Mus. Vert. Zool., type specimen;

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 59

Point Lay, Arctic Coast of Alaska; collected
in early December, 1931; obtained from native
by Charles D. Brower. Dorsal view of skull.

Fig. 2. Marmota caligata broweri, lateral
view of left lower jaw, belonging to same
skull shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3. Marmota caligata broweri, ventral
view of same skull shown in fig. 1.
Figs. 4 to 6. Marmota caligata caligata,

adult, male, No. 964, Mus. Vert. Zool.; Hinchin-
brook Island, NE Bay Mt., 1500 ft., Prince
William Sound, Alaska; June 27, 1908; collected
by Edmund Heller. Views corresponding to
those shown of M. c. broweri.

Note especially as between broweri and ca-
igatp, difference in shape of the nasal bone:
difference in shape of the anterior palatine
foramina; longer palate, and smaller angular
process of the lower mandible and more nearly
straight inferior margin of lower mandible
in broweri.

gata caligata

ee Mie ecali

loata sheldoni

4.M. cal

PASS Mere

a

Sr Minac

gata oxytona

ali

S2 Micali

Yeas call

8.M. cali

gata vigilis

9.M. cali

pus

10.M. olym

bi a Be :

11.M. Vancouverensis

April, 1934]

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 61

NOTES ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE HOARY MARMOTS'
By R. M. ANDERSON

HE DESIRABILITY of publishing a
revised map of the distribution of
the Hoary Marmots or “Whistlers”’
of the Marmota caligata group was

suggested to the writer by Dr. E. Raymond

Hall, Curator of Mamma's, Museum of Ver-

tebrate Zoology, University of California,

Berkeley. The latest map showing the ranges

of the different forms of this group is in

Mr. A. H. Howell’s “Revistsn of the American

Mormots” in 1915°, reproduced without change

by Mr. H. E. Anthony in 1928°.

Since that time the writer has described a
new subspecies from the interior plateau re-
gion of British Columbia, Marmota coligata
raceyi Anderson‘, and Hall and Gilmore have
more recently described another new subspe-
cies from

of several forms have also been obtained from
various localities in the region and a number
of additions and corrections can be made to
the 1915 map. Bs

The Hoary Marmots are essentially. upland
inhabitants, living near timber-line in the
mountains, or in the vicinity of rock-slides
and talus slopes where they may find shelter
in connection with sufficient food. While the
species (Marmota coligata) is quite generally
distributed in the northwestern mountain re-
gions, the ranges of the forms are by no
means continuous as Marmots may be absent
from the valleys or from mountain areas
where conditions are not suitable. Consider-
able collecting and study will be necessary in
the future before the numerous gaps in our
map are filled and the points of contact or
intergradation of the races are demonstrated.

The Northwestern Hoary Marmot, Marmo/a
caligata’ browert Hall and Gilmore, is based
on 4 specimens from Point Lay and Cape
Thompson on the northwestern coast c”
Alaska. When I was working in Arctic Alaska
in 1908-1909 and 1913-1914, I heard many
reports of Hoary Marmots from various points

1 Published with the p2rmission of the Acting-Director,
National Museum of Canada, Department of Mines, Ottawa

? North American Fauna, No. 37, Bureau of Biological Sur-
ey, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, 1915. Fig. 3, p. 58.

3 Field Book of North American Mammals, G. P. Putnam’s
Sons, New York—London, 1928. Fig. 47, p. 191.

« Annual Report, 1931, National Museumof Canada, 1932,
pp. 112- 119, Plate V. :

northwestern Alaska (see anie.)
A considerable number of additional specimens ~

along the northern slope of the Endicott
Mountains, and saw at least one skin from
Hula-hula River in the foothills south of
Barter Island, and other parts of skins in the
pcs-ession of Eskimos. They were known to
the white traders as “badger” and to the
Eskimos as Tyjik-tjik-puk or Sik - sik - puk
(meaning “big ground squirrel” =big Citellus
parryi ), the native diagnosis of its relation-
ship being much nearer the truth than that of
the whites. Some of the Eskimos showed me
where they had taken specimens of the animal
on the Hula-hula River, but it was too lat-
in the autumn to get any specimens of the
hibernating Marmots. There is certainly a
large area in the Endicott Mountains (indicated
by dotted range No. 12 on the accompanying
map) where Marmots certainly occur, but
until specimens are brought out from this
area it is impossible to say whether the Hoary
Marmots of the region belong to M. ec. broweri,
or whether the range of typical Northern
Hoary Marmot, Marmo'a caligata caligata
(Eschscholtz), extends northward from the
Yukon valley side to the foothills on the
north slope of the mountains. It is quite
probable that the Marmots do not range as
high on the mountains here as they do farther
south, as the mountain-tops (from 3,090 to
8,000 feet) are rather barren and Arctic-Alp-
ine conditions, as shown by the flora, extend
practically to sea-level on parts of the Arctic
coast.

The Chilcotin Hoary Marmot, Marmota ca-
ligata raceyi Anderson, was described from
8 specimens obtained on Itcha Mountains, Chil-
cotin Plateau, by Kenneth Racey in 1931.
Hall and Gilmore (see ante) report one spe-
cimen taken in 1932 at a point 30 miles east
of Bella Coola, 55 miles southwest of the type
locality of raceyi. The National Museum of
Canada recently received a fine male specimen
taken by Mr. John C. Shelford, June 16, i933,
near Burns Lake(a little south of Babine Lake,
B.C.), extending the range of raceyi to about
120 miles nearly north of the type locality
and making a small indentation into the south-
western boundary of the formerly assumed
range of the Robson Hoary Marmot, Marmota
caligata oxytona Hollister. My correspondent
informed me that while the Hoary Marmots
had been reported in the neighbouring mount-
ains, this was the first one that had been

62 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

known to wander down to low levels, and it
was taken in a small house where meat was
stored. Two specimens (one melanistic) of
the British Columbia Woodchuck, Marmota
monax petrensis Howell, were taken near the
same place. WM. m. peirensis is known tv oc-
cur within the range of M. c. okanagana far-
ther to the south-east, and the Yellow-bellied
Marmot, Marmota flaviventris avara, cccupies
a similar relationship to okanagana in the
drier valleys farther west.

In studying the range of the Cascade Hoary
Marmot, Marmota caligata casccdensis Howell,
I found seven records given by Howell (1915.
p. 69) of British Columbia localities, namely:
Chilliwack, 1; Hope, 1; Howe Sound (near
head), 3; Mount Baker range (near U.S.
Boundary), 8; Skagit River (mountains near
head), 6; Spence’s Bridge, 1; Tammi Hy (Ta-
mihy) Mountain, 2; and that all these records
are from the west slope of the Cascade mount-
ains except Howe Sound (a little north cf
Vancouver) and Spence’s Bridge, a station on
‘the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway
on the south bank of Thompson River about 30
miles north-east of the junction of Fraser and
Thompson rivers. As there are apparently no
other British Columbia records of cascadensis
on east side of Coast or Cascade mouattains,
and as the Spence’s Bridge record is some
distance from any other records of this sub
species, I thought it deserved further invest-
igation. The specimen (No. 20798, A. M. N
H.) collected by James Teit, in 1903, was re-
ceived on loan through the courtesy ~ the
American Museum of Natural History and
proved to be a medium-sized subadult, i~
faded and worn summer pelage, unsexed. and
without skull. It resembles all of our 14
specimens of WM. c. ckanagana in having less
blackish on head than any of our 13 speci-
mens of cascadensis. Some of the specimens
being juveniles in poor coats, the comparisons
cannot be very detailed. Even with fairly
good skins of adults in good pelage it is
often quite difficult to separate specimen: of
cascadensis from okanagana with certaintv.
as there is considerable variation in the
colours, and for a satisfactory determination
the skull of the specimen is almost necessery.
With only a skin in the condition of the Spence’s
Bridge specimen, it does not seem justifiable
to list it as certainly cascadensis. In my
opinion the general resemblance is somewhat
closer to okanagana, and this opinion is
strengthened by the occurrence of okanagan1

(VoL. XLVITII

at McGillivray Creek, some 30 or 40 miles north
west of Spence’s Bridge. The best solution of
the problem seems to be to treat the specimen
as intermediate or indeterminable, and cut
down the northward extension of the range of
cascadensis as shown in Howell’s 1915 inap,
leaving the space to be filled when more spe-
cimens from the region in question are avail-
able for scientific study. The National
Museum of Canada obtained 2 specimens of
cascadensis from Lihumitson Park, near the
U.S. Boundary, in 1927, and specimens secured
by Mr. Kenneth Racey and Mr. Ian McTag-
gart-Cowan of Vancouver indicate that the
large indendation in the range of cascadensis
cn western side of Howell’s 1915 map may be
filled in.

The range of the Okanagan Hoary Marmot,
Marmota caligata okanagana (King), as map-
ped by Howell (1915, p. 58) on the basis of
the following specimens: (ALBERTA: Henry
House (mountains 15 miles south), 2; BRI-
TISH. COLUMBIA: Field, 2; Glacier, 7; Spil-
limacheen River, 3; Toad Mountain(6 miles
south of Nelson, 4), is too narrow and does
not extend far enough to the westward. In
his description of okanagana (1915, pp. 64-66)
he discusses the original description by King !
and fixes the type locality as “Gold Range,
British Columbia,”—“the first range to the
eastward of Shuswap Lake—where it is likely
the type was secured” (Howell, 1915, p. 66).
King (ibid., 241) defines the type region as
follows: “In a small tract of country, on the
borders of the Rocky Mountains, lying between
the Columbia and Fraser Rivers, these animals
are found in abundance, supplying with food
and clothing the Okanagan Indians, whose ter-
ritory is bounded to the north by the Seech-
wap Lake, and to the south by the Spokane
River ...” Dr. H. S. Bostock and Dr. C. H.
Cairnes of the Geological Survey of Canada,
who are familiar with southern British Colum-
bia, state that while “Gold Range” is not
given on recent maps, in some of the older
works “Gold Range” was practically synonym-
ous with the present ‘“Monashee Range” which
consists of a group of small ranges. At one
time the name “Gold Range” was applied to
the range now known as “Shuswap Range.’
and this may properly be considered as the
type locality, as fixed by Howell, although his
map of the range of okanaganqg hardly comes
that far west.

1 Narr. Journ. Shores Arctic Ocean, Vol. 2, 1836, p. 274,

April, 1934]

In the collection of the National Museum
of Canada are 6 specimens from Banff, Alberta
(Cascade Basin, 7,000 feet altitude), which
may be reterred to okanagana, also 6 British
Columbia specimens taken farther west than
any of Howell’s records—4 from Rossland
Group of Monashee Range, near Rossland, B.C.
(Green Mountain and Old Glory Mountain,
6,000 and 7,000 feet altitude) at edge of Co-
lumbia valley a few miles north of Stevens
County, Washington; and 3 specimens from
McGillivray Creek (5,500 to 6,000 feet alti-
tude), near Lillooet, which extend the range
of okanagana much farther west, including
some country rather close to the northern end
of the range of cascadensis as mapped by
Howell in 1915.

The Montana Hoary Marmot, Marmota
caligata nivaria Howell, is mapped by Howell
as inhabiting two separate regions: IDAHO:
Bitterroot Mountains (headquarters of Clear-
water River), 3; Elk Summit, Salmon River
Mountains, 2; MONTANA: Upper St. Mary’s
Lake (mountains near), Glacier National Park,
9. The National Museum of Canada has one
additional specimen taken on Mount Forget-
me-not, about 40 miles WSW of Calgary, in
southwestern Alberta (No. 452, female, July
10, 1897, Wm. Spreadborough collector), which
is clearly referable to nivaria and may be
cited as the first Canadian record of this
subspecies. As large white Marmots are also
reported from near timber-line near the west-
ern border of Waterton Lakes National Park,
Alberta, just north of the border of Glacier

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 63

Park, there is little doubt that these also
belong to nivaria as well and that nivaria
also occurs on the British Columbia side of
the mountain passes in that region.

The range of the Vancouver Island Marmot,
Marmota vancouverensis Swarth, which al-
though of uniformly brown colour, is clearly
related to the mainland species of the Marmota
caligata group, was recorded by Howell (1915,
p. 72) from Eagle Basin, 1; King Solomon
Basin, 3; and Mount Douglas, 7. The known
range of this species is now known to extend
farther north on the eastern side of Vancouver
Island on the strength of 5 specimens from
Green Mountain, Nanaimo River, secured by
Mr. Kenneth Racey in 1931, and one specimen
taken by Mr. Arthur Peake on Battle Mount-
ain in 1929 and presented to the National
Museum of Canada by Major Allan Brooks.

The accompanying map is based on Howell’s
map “Distribution of the Marmota caligata
group (1915, p. 58), with additions of the
range of M. c. broweri by E. Raymond Hall;
to the ranges of M. c. raceyi and M. van-
couverensis by E. Raymond Hall and R. M.
Anderson; and revision of the ranges of M.
S. cascadersis, M. c. okanagana, M. c. oxytona,
and ™m. c. nivaria, as well as of the range of —
undetermined form in Arctic Alaska by R. M.
Anderson.

National Museum of Canada, Ottawa.

MAP.—Distribution of the Marmota caligata
group, as revised by R. M. Anderson and E.
Raymond Hall, 1934. Type localities shown by
circle and dot. (See page 60).

_SOME ADDITIONS TO THE VASCULAR FLORA OF ANTICOSTI ISLAND!
By J. ADAMS

paedia Britannica” Anticosti is des-
cribed as “a barren island situated
in the gulf St. Lawrence”. The same state-
ment is repeated in the “Encyclopaedia Amer-
icana” and might have been written by one
who viewed the island far out from the deck
of some passing steamer. But is is very wide
of the mark as experienced during a visit by
‘the present writer in August, 1933. At this
date many pretty plants were in full bloom
such as the Harebell—the bluebell of Scottish

1 Contribution No. 391 from the Division of. Botany, Ex-
perimental Farms Branch, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, -

Canada.

N THE 9th edition of the “Encyclo-

song ( Campanula rotundifolia ),
of Parnassus (Parnassia
Tresses (Spiranthes Romanzofpana) an orchid
with pure white, sweetly scented flowers,
Smooth Camas ( Zygadenus chloranthus) a
bulbous plant with tall branching inflores-
cence composed of greenish-white flowers,
and various others too numerous to mention.
Of special interest to the dweller in the far
inland was a group of sea-coast plants includ-
ing the Beach Pea (Lathyrus maritimus), Sea
Lungwort (Mertensia maritima) with its pe-
culiar bluish leaves, and Sea Ragwort ( Senecio
Pseudo-arnica ) with stout stem and heads of
bright yellow flowers.

Grass
carol‘niana), Lady’s

64 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

Various other plants were in fruit such as
the Cloudberry or Baked-apple Berry ( Rubus
Chamaemorus |) with salmon-coloured cluster
of fleshy fruits, the Creeping Snowberry
( Chiogenes hispidula ) the pure aromatic
berries of which were mostly hidden beneath
the crowded leaves, s2veral species of Blueberry
(Vaccinium ) just beginning to ripen, and the
Trailing Cranberry ( Oxycoccus palustris ).
But perhaps the most striking object was the
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) whose scarlet
fruits occurred in endless profusion on the
cleared ground.

An interesting sight was the presence of

deer, black foxes, and wild gees? almost
within a stone’s throw of the observer. The
tameness of the animals is doubtless due to

the fact that no dogs are permitted on the
island. Plenty of suitable habitats for these
animals occur, such as lakes and swamps and
extensive areas covered by timber of commer-
cial size consisting principally of white spruce
and balsam. Various species of grasses and
sedges, pondweeds, and water lillies were
plentiful.

In area the island is considerably larger
than Prince Edward Island but belongs to a
different geological formation, the underlying
rock being calcareous in nature and highly
fossiliferous. According to the latest topo-
graphical map(1929)issued by the Department
of the Interior the centre of the island is for
the most part still unsurveyed. Although no
heights are marked on this map or on that
contained in Dr. Schmitt’s monograph in all
probability the greatest elevation does not ex-
ceed 1000 feet.

My visit was made in response to a request
from the Consolidated Paper Corporation, Li-
mited, the present owners of the island, for
the purpose of determining what were most
suitable plants for the feeding of Muskrats
and whether some other species not indigenous
to the island might be introduced for the
purpose. The area covered during the short
time at my disposal embraced only the west-
ern end of the island extending from Baie
Ste. Claire to Lake Simonne at the end of the
logging railway. A considerable number of
plants were collected some of which had not
been recorded previously as occuring on the
island.

A list of the fauna and flora so far as known
at the time of publication is contained in Dr.
Joseph Schmitt’s “Monographie de l’Ile d’An-
ticosti ” published in Paris in 1904. In this

3 [VoL. XLVIII

work a total of 467 species of vascular plants
(seed-plants, ferns, horsetails, lyeopods and
their auies) are enumerated under their res-
pective families.

The additions in the present list are simil-
arly grouped under their proper families.
Those marked with an asterisk are introduced
species which doubtless found their way to the
island in the form of hay or other imported
material. As the island is apparently not
divided into townships it is frequently diffi-
cult to indicate with precision the exact local-
ity where some of the species occurred.

POLYPODIACEA
Onoclea sensibilis L. Whitehead Lake.

GRAMINEAZ
Ammophila arenaria Link. Shore of Ellis Bay.
*Arrhenatherum :latius Beauv. Port Menier.
*Bromus inermis Leyss. Port Menier.
*Poa annua L. Port Merier.
CYPERACEZ
Eriophorum viridicarinatum Fernald.
was probably recorded previously as
E. polystachion L.
Scirpus validus Vahl.
Probably recorded previcusly as
S. lacustris L.
LEMNACEA

Lemna minor I.

JUNCACEZ
Juncus articulatus L.

RANUNCULACEZ&
Ranunculus reptans L. Shore of Lake Simonne

CRUCIFER
*Thlaspi arvense L. Port Menier.

LEGUMINOSA
*Medicago lupulina L. Port Menier.

CENOTHERACEZ®
Epilobium lineare Muhl.

HALORRHAGACEA®

Myriophyllum sp. Washed up on the shore

of Lake Simonne but too fragmentary to

determine the species.

UMBELLIFER
*Carum Carvi L. Port Menier.
Cicuta bulbifera L. Whitehead Lake.
LABIATA

Scutellaria galericulata L. Lake Plantin.

This

Anse aux Fraises.

April, 1934)

PLANTAGINACEA
Plantago Rugelii Dene. Port Menier.

RUBIACEA

Galium triflorum Michx. Port Menier.

- COMPOSITA

*Artemisia biennis Willd. Port Menier.
*Matricaria suaveolens Buchenau. Port Menier.
Senecio aureus L. Whitchead Lake.
Erigeron philadelphicus L. Port Menier.
Solidago flexicaulis L.

*Cichorium Intybus L. Port Menier.
Prenanthes allissima L. Baie Ste. Claire.

There are two species of plants which have

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST ; 65

proved to be a scourge to certain members
of the human race and which have not so
far been encountered on the island. These
are Poison Ivy (Rhus Toxicodendron L.) and
Common Ragweed( Ambrosia artemistifolia L.)

Four species which do not occur naturally in
Anticosti were introduced during the year 1933
on some of the swamps inhabited by the
muskrats. These were Wild Rice ( Zizania
aquatica L.), Nut Grass (Cyperus esculentus
L.), Broad-leaved Arrow-head ( Sagittaria
latifolia Willd.) and Sweet Flag ( Acorus
Calamus L.). It remains to be seen whether
any of these will survive and become
permanently established.

ia
INTERESTING BIRD RECORDS FOR SOUTHERN BAFFIN ISLAND
By J. DEWEY SOPER

(Continued from page 14)

Crex crex (Linnaeus). Corn Crake—-A solitary
-male Corn Crake was collected on the beach at
Dorses Harbour on September 24, 1928. This is
the frst record for Baffin Island, or the Canadian
Arctic regions. This individual was very thin
and barely capable of sustained flight. The bird
was not known to any of the Dorset Eskimos,
but when the specimen was later shown to a group
of Nuwata natives an old woman declared that
she had seen a similar bird on the coastal plain
south of Cape Weston a few years previously.

The Corn Crake breeds throughout Europe and
Western Asia, extending its nesting range to the
vicinity. of the Arctic Circle, while it migrates as
far as Cape Colony in South Africa. On this
side of the Atlantic it has been recorded as an
accidental visitor to Greenland, Newfoundland
(?), and many points to the south on the Atlantic
seaboard, and in Bermuda.

Charadrius hiaticula hiaticula (Linneus).
Rincep Piover—This species is listed here, not
because of important recent records, but because
of the interesting discrepancy between Kumlien’s
observations in Cumberland Sound in 1877-1878
and those of the writer in Baffin Island from 1923
to 1931. Regarding this species Kumlien (1879,
p. 83) says: “I am not aware that this species
has hitherto been introduced into the North Amer-
ican fauna, though long known on the Green-
land coast where AX. semipalmata is rare. It is
apparently more common than the preceding
in Cumberland. Arrives about the same time,
and breeds in similar localities”.

During the past few years the writer has
collected a large series of Plovers in Baffin Island
principally at Pond Inlet, Cumberland Sound,
Nettilling Lake, Bowman Bay, Cape Dorset,
Amadjuak Bay, and Lake Harbour; with the
exception of a pair of hiaticula collected at Pond
Inlet on August 29, 1923, all of these Plovers
prove to be semzpalmatus. On the last expedi-
tion of 1930-31, to the Lake Harbour region, the
effort was continued, in the collection of a series
of specimens, to detect the presence of the Ringed
Plover, but again all examples are referable to
the Semipalmated Plover. In the light of these
more recent results, the Kumlien observations at
Cumberland Sound appear most remarkable.

Arenaria interpres morinella (Linnaeus). Ruppy
Turnstone. — Eskimo: Anuktau. — The Ruddy
Turnstone was formerly considered very rare in
Baffin Island, as the only record of it here, up °
to 1928, is that of two individuals in the Hantzsch
collection taken by Eskimos at Blacklead Island,
Cumberland Sound, in late August, 1910. The
species is not noted in Hantzsch’s diary, so it is
tighly probable that he never observed this bird
in Baffin Island.

It was first seen by the writer in Baffin Island
at Nuwata (Foxe Channel) on August 20, 1928.
During the next two days several of the birds
were noted feeding on the mud flats at low tide
in the same locality, and on the 23rd a pair was
seen at Cape Weston. In 1929, a flock of 10
individuals appeared at Camp Kungovik on June
6. The species was commonly observed, there-
after, until June 20, when it became decidedly

66 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

scarce’, though a few pairs remained to nest in the
locality. In early July Turnstones were compara-
tively common in the rough land of the Eswituk
ridge. bordering the breeding grounds of the Blue
Goose in latitude 65° 30’ N.

On July 3, a nest was found with four fresh eggs
on a slight, rocky elevation of the tundra, after
protracted searching on severa! occasions by the
entire party. The nest was the most slovenly
one that the writer had ever seen. It consisted of
a barely perceptible depression in a patch of nak-
ed clay soil, in which the eggs lay directly in con-
tact with the wet ground. A!I about were dry
areas, such as would normally have been chosen
by other species, but these were ignored, while
no effort was made to line the nest with leaves,
or grasses, which were plentiful in the vicinity.
This ‘s the first nesting record of the species in
Baffin Island.

The Ruddy Turnstone is extremely shy during
the breeding season and deserts its nest while one
is still far off. Afterwards it gives no clue to its
whereabouts, but keeps up a constant chatter and
flies with aimless energy all over the locality.
Consequently, discovery of the rest is difficult, and
achieved by accident more than good management.
The common call of the species ts a loud and clear,
wheat-a-wheat-a-wheat-a, given in a rapid, querul-
ous tone.

While ascending the Bluegoose River in mid-
July, the species was common on the limestone
lowlands bordering the stream, as far as the latter
was followed into the interior. In late July and
early August it was tolerably common everywhere
along the coast from Bowman Bay to Cape Ketoria
and Garnet Bay. It was not observed in the Foxe
Peninsula interior.

Pelidna alpina sakhalina (Vieillot). Rep-BACKED
SanppIrpeR.—The Red-backed Sandpiper is a spec-
ies wnich the writer had watched for in vain
during previous years in Baffin Island. At last,
however, it was detected at Camp Kungovik,
where a single individual was collected in June
9, 1929. It appeared to be the only example in
a flock of about 80 birds composed of White-
rumped, Baird’s, and Purple Sandpipers. Another
specimen was obtained on June 17. Undoubted-
ly this is a very rare bird in the island, as the
above were the only examples of the species col-
lected, or observed, at Camp Kungovik during
the spring and summer, and these constitute
the first records for Baffin Island. The Eskimos
had not previously seen this bird; consequently,
no native name is available.

[VoL. XLVIII

Phalaropus fulicarius (Linnaeus), Rep PHawa-
ROPE—Eskimo: Shokga. —Previous to 1928 this
species was observed but little in Baffin Island,
the few specimens collected being secured during
migration, spring and fall.
customarily at sea far from the coasts.
(1879. intimates that this species was breeding
in Cumberland Sound; Hantzsch (1914) found
them nesting sparingly at Tikerakjuak Point,
Nettiiling Lake, in July.

According to the writer’s exnerience the Red
Phalarope is never common along the south coast
of Baffin Island, during either spring or fall mi-
gration, though small flocks are occasionally met
with during the third week of June. There are
no breeding records, nor does the species appear
to occur in summer, or as transients during the
autumn. This is a particularly curious circum-
stance in view of the fact tha‘ it is now known
to breed abundantly in northern Foxe Peninsula
and on the tundra along the coast of Bowman
Bay and Foxe Basin, and that it appears as well
in astonishing numbers, in late August, along the
Foxe Channel coast at Nuwata.

Flocks observed were
Kumlien

The most interesting observations have to do
with the species in the Bowman Bay region,
where the writer spent the summer of 1929. Here,
at Camp Kungovik, the first pairs and small
flocks, put in an appearance on June 9. They
steadily increased in numbers, by pairs and in
flocks, of as many as 50 to 60 individuals, until
June 39, when they then invaded the tundra by
hundieds and thousands. This maximum abund-
ance persisted for six days, that is, until the 24th,
after which the birds gradually diminished in
numbers, obviously to pass on to more northern
breeding grounds. Large numbers, however, re-
mained to nest in the region of Camp Kungovik
and continued common on the tundra through-
out the summer.

The first nest of the Red Phalarope was locat-
ed on June 27. It held one egg. Within twenty-
four hours of the discovery of this nest, more
than a dozen others were found, some with a
single egg, but the majority empty. On the
morning of the 28th several others were dis-
covered, some empty, and still under construc-
tion, others with one or two eggs, while one held
the fujl complement of four.

The nest consists of a simple hollow in the
moss «nd dead grasses of the open tundra, spar-
ingly lined with the latter, and with a bottom pad
of a few little dead leaves of the prevailing
tundra willows, Salix herbacea and S. reticulata.

April, 1934]

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

67

Nest and eggs of the Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) on tundra plain near

Bowman Bay.
\

The finished receptacle for the eggs measures,
on the average, 24% inches wide and 1% inches
deep, and is almost invariably »verhung by droop-
ing stems of old grass; this affords excellent con-
cealment for the nest, as we!l as for the sit-
ting bird. So closely does the dorsal plumage
pattern of the species resemble this partially
concealing screen that the incubating bird may
easily defy detection at a distance of a few
feet. The nests are easily found, however,
owing to the bird’s habit of flushing ob-
trusively from the nest only when al-
most trodden upon. With the assistance of his
Eskimos, the writer had signa! success in locat-
ing nests by arranging that the party should
walk methodically over the tundra with an in-
terval of a few yards between each two individ-
uals. Sometimes the nest of the Red Phalarope
is situated either on the crown, or on the side
of a small grassy hummock, which may be en-
Sco many empty, but
newly constructed nests were found early in the
season, many of which were subsequently as-
certained never to have received eggs, that the
writer came to the conclusion that this species

tirely surrounded by water.

29 June, 1929.

has the habit of building many mimic nests be-
fore the actual egg-laying begins. Curiously
enough, the male of this species is entirely respon-
sible for the incubation of the eggs and rearing of
the voung. In temperament he is phlegmatic
and rather easy going.

This is a great breeding ground of the species,
probably one of the most important in existence;
doubtless it extends over most of the western
tundra from Bowman Bay to the limit of the
plain north of the Koukdjuak River and east-
ward to Nettilling Lake At Bowman Bay they
nested so commonly over the lowlands for miles
about Camp Kungovik and south to, and over,
the breeding grounds of the Blue Goose, that
many nests were usually found on every tramp
that was taken over the tundra. In the latter
iocality they were very plentiful and constituted
the commonest breeding bird therein, exclusive
of the Lapland Longspur.

During the first week of July sets of eggs of
the Phalarope were complete, and all those col-
lected were nearly, if not quite, fresh. At this per-
iod numbers of nests with three and four eggs were

found which had been inundated by ‘the

68 THe CANADIAN FIBLD-NATURALIST

overflow of the Bluegoose River and were, of
course, abandoned. Between July 9 and 11, sev-
eral sets were taken which had been consider-
ably incubated, and one contained well-developed
_ embryos.

In a nest near camp, which was under daily.

observation, the young hatched on the afternoon
of July 16. They were exceedingly dainty and
beautilul little creatures with 1 uniform covering
of silky, golden-coloured down, speckled over
with brownish spots. The ycoungsters remained
in the nest for several hours after hatching and
then walked away under the leadership of the
male parent. At this time the females had al-
most totally disappeared from the neighbourhood
after having gathered in sociable flocks as early as
the 10th of July.

The above family was again found on July 19.
The male exhibited very marked anxiety as the
young were approached, when they were found
crouched in the grass after a lengthy and minute
search.
uttered a low “peep”, which the parent responded
to with the characteristic grating and
whistled “sreest”.
the chicks that he made bold enough to search
for them in the grass within a foot of the writer,
and then baffled, finally settled down in a brood-
ing position and kept calling for the young to
join him. Upon releasing them on a level with
the ground they toddled away through the grass
on their amazingly long legs, so tiny and weak
still that they experienced marked difficulty in
pushing their way through the tangle of stunted
vegetation. Yet in three days’ time they had
succeeded in covering a distance of 120 paces
from the nest where they were born. At this
time their down was somewhat more developed,
of a rich, dusky gold, with dark brown, to almost
jet black, streaks and spots. Most interesting
was the fact that their disproportionately large

While held in the hand they continually —

half- —

So anxious was the male for.

{VoL. XLVITI

feet showed no evidence, as vet, of the curious
lobes characteristic of the adults.

While descending the Bluegoose River. between
July 20 and 24, large flocks of these birds were-
noted on the tundra from latitude 65° 30’ N,
along the loop of the river to its mouth at Bow-
man Bay. At Cape Alberta, from July 26 until
August 5, Phalaropes were very common, but
were observed in’ greater abundance during the
last week of July. All observed were males,
though females may have been present in flocks
that were seen beyond the range of positive
identification. In all probability the great maj-
ority of the females-had departed to other regions
to be joined later by males and immatures. This
circumstance would seem to explain the presence
of large flocks of Red Phalaropes in the North
Atlantic off Hudson Strait and northern Labrador
in the latter part of July, which are probably fully
adult females and immature non-breeding birds
of both sexes that congregate there immediately
after. the nesting season.

Based. on the number of adult birds observed
and the ideal character of the commtry at Cape
Alberta, this section appears to be a fine breeding
resort of the species. Young were observed on
severai occasions, and on August 4 one was en-
countered which was just capable of well-sustained
flight. While voyaging along the coast westward
to the Kommanik River, many individuals were
observed daily, but they were distinctly fewer in
rumber than to the eastward. During the ascent
of the Kommanik River on August 12, 13 and
14, Red Phalaropes were observed in compara-
tive abundance on the grassy river plains of the
Foxe Basin slope, together with numerous imma-
tures well a-wing. None, however, were noted
to the south of Ungmaluktuk Lake on the south-
ern watershed to Hudson Strait.

(To be concluded)

GRASSHOPPERS ROUTED BY GULLS
By F. BRADSHAW

NE of the most spectacular demon-
strations of systematic grasshopper
destruction by birds that it has been

my privilege to observe, was witnessed on

Sunday, June 18, 19338, on the west side of Last

Mountain Lake, east of Liberty, Saskatchewan.

After spending the week photographing bird

life in the Quill Lakes district, in company with

Dan McCowan, well-known naturalist, of Banff
Alberta, and Chas. F. Holmes, of Dollard,
Saskatchewan, we were driving south when
“Dan” called our attention to what at first
looked like a cloud of smoke curling lazily
above the horizon about two miles away.
Upon closer approach the object of our atten-
tion began to take on an entirely new aspect.

' April, 1934]

It was first black, then silvery, and the re-
currence of these shadings soon convinced us
we were nearing one of the largest flocks of
birds any of us had ever seen. We paid
scant attention to some 500 Mallards feeding
on burnt stubble, which sight, ordinarily, at
this season of the year, would have aroused
our curiosity, but pressed forward to solve
the mystery of the myriads of winged nomads
ahead.

Another mile and we overtook the object of
our quest. We were surrounded by hundreds
of thousands of Franklin’s Gull. These beauti-
ful land gulls, with their black heads, pearly-
grey backs, white breasts, delicately tinted
with a rosy hue, black and white wing tips,
and reddish bills and legs, are named in honour
of the arctic explorer, Sir John Franklin.

By this time they had alighted in column
formation, a mile in extent, averaging sixty
birds in width, covering almost every foot
of ground within this area. They were at-
tacking the devasting “hoppers” -with army-
like precision. Those in the rear after van-
quishing the enemies in their immediate sector,
would fly over the rest of the invading army
and take up the front line attack. Strange to
relate, when in this’ manner they arrived at
the east and west cross-road of the field they
did not pass over the highway, but wheeled
round and commenced work again on another
stretch of territory at the south end of the
field.

Similar activities were in progress all round
us. Occasionally the birds would take to the
air in clouds so bewildering and of such mag-

- nitude that one’s normal sense of calculating
numbers of birds seen in flocks was completely
out of gear and could not be satisfactorily
adjusted to compute such an extraordinary
spectacle. If one can visualize a well-filled
sticky fly paper as a plan of the column re-
ferred to, using a scale of fifty yards to each
fly paper one may have a faint idea of a

portion of this vast flock, but mere words.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 69

cannot portray the beautiful scene, nor ade-
quately convey any idea of its greatness.
Two miles to the south-west could be seen
another cloud of gulls, which, if anything,
seemed even larger than the one under review.

Franklin’s Gull is the bird commonly seen
following the plow, picking up insects from
the newly turned furrows. It is almost en-
tirely insectivorous in its habits. Fifteen
kinds of insects have been found in the stom-
ach of one specimen, including the nymphs of
327 dragon-flies; in another 82 beetles, 87 bugs
and 984 ants. When grasshoppers are numerous,
they constitute about 80% of the total food—
of Franklin’s Gull. Assuming these figures
as a basis, pending more accurate information,
which we hope to secure this season, one may
safely say that each gull will consume 500
grasshoppers daily. A very conservative es-
timate of the gulls observed feeding on the
crop in question would be 1,000,000 birds and
one may readily see that such an army of

-unhired help would quickly annihilate the

grasshoppers in this area.

When the Mormons first settled in Utah,
their crops were on the point of being ruined
by grasshoppers, but large flocks of gulls
invaded the territory and saved the crops from
destruction. As the Mormons prospered they
remembered the good work of the gulls and
erected a magnificent monument in comme-
moration of their feathered friends. After
seeing Franklin’s Gull at work one can the
more readily understand the significance of
the Mormon incident, for any farmer who is
so fortunate as to have these vast flocks of
gulls visit his farm will have no cause to go
to the trouble and expense of providing poi-
son to combat this menace. Birds are one of
nature’s ways of combating insect pests.
Some authorities go so far as to say that
“suecessful agriculture without their aid would
be impossible. Let us remember that: “Insects
eat crops; Birds eat insects,” and therefore
the slogan of all public-spirited citizens should
be “Save the birds”.

NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS

ce

Two: NEw CANADIAN LyMNAEAS.—A recent
study of Canadian Mollusca has shown that
several species are masquerading under wrong
names. ‘These will be more fully discussed in a
paper in preparation but it is deemed important
to correct such mistakes as soon as possible.

\

Stagnicola yukonensis Nov. Sp. This is the
species described as Galba vahlit (‘Beck’ Meeller)
in The Lymnaeidae of North and Middle
America, p. 370, and figured on pl. 39, figs. 11-
18. Vahlii is confined to Greenland and is

70 TH CANADIAN FIBLD-NATURALIST

quite different from the species under dis-
cussion. The types are from a pond at Atlin,
B.C., collected by Mr. J. Henderson. Types
in coll. F. C. Baker, No. 1569. The species is
common throughout Alaska, Yukon Territory,
and Canada. .

Stagnicola johnsoni Nov. Sp. This species
was erroneously referred to Lymnaea traskit
Tryon in the Lymnaeidae Monograph, p. 368,
pl. 39, figs. 9, 10. The description in this

[VoL. XLVIII

work refers mainly to johnsoni, the true
traskii being another form and confined to
California. The type locality is Banff,
Alberta, collected by Dr. C. W. Johnson, now
deceased, to whose memory the species is de-
dicated. This is a ccmmen species in the
mountain regions of Alberta and British
Columbia and probably cccurs in other parts
of Canada. Types in Coll. F. C. Baker, No.
771— FRANK C. BAKER.

BOOK REVIEW

BIOLOGICAL ETHICS, an attempt to arouse a natur-
alistic conscience. By Prof. Dr. Oscar De
Beaux, Curator of the Civic Museum of Natu-
yal History, Genoa. Edited by the Fascist
Association Sportsmen, Prov. of Trento, and
the Commission for Liguria of the Committee for
the protection of Birds and for the disiribution
of artificial nests. Milano. Translated from
the Italian by Florence Perkes. From ‘The
Italian Mail and Tribune’, Florence. 19-26
March, 2 April 1932. Pages 3-11.

THE CONSERVATION Etuic. By Aldo Leopold,

University of Wisconsin. Reprinted from

Journal of Forestry, Vol. XXXI, No. 6,

October, 1933. Pages 634-643.

These two reprints are recent outstanding
attempts, of diverse origin, to outline the ap-
plication of a deep-delving philosophy to the
problems of inter-specific relationships. They
are so excellent that it is greatly to be desired
that every one should read and comprehend
them. The matter with which they are con-
cerned is of fundamental importance to hu-
manity as a species.

After pointing out the indisputable fact that
we find ourselves existing in the field of bio-
logy, which is knowledge of life, Dr. De Beaux
states that, in addition to the scientific and
economic aspects of biology, there is also the
moral aspect, which should form the basis of
our thought, almost the fundamental, inform-
ative idea of all our action. He adopts as his
definition of “moral” the “voluntary limitation
of every individual or collective Will, by means
of a constant control of our own feelings,
and of a constant moderation of our own
actions”, and proceeds to show that there is
really no antagonism between morals and
utilitarianism, that they even stand in recip-
rocal relation, and that that which is moral
is that which is really useful to humanity.

In the last analysis, the maximum biological
benefit for humanity consists of its preserv-
ation, pure and simple, upon earth. As
research has shown clearly that the question of
existence is a question of surroundings, Man’s
surroundings must be a matter of the utmost
concern to him. Civilized Man has freed him-
self from many of the bonds that restrict
Primitive Man and occupies an eminently
active position as to his life surroundings,
which, indeed, are, at least potentially, the

~ whole world, with all its vegetable, animal, and

human life. Therefore “every substance, every
kind of living thing that Man cannot create,
has some importance or other for the human
race, may represent a reserve still to be
utilized at the opportune moment, the last
reserve at the last moment”.
Having thus presented his main argument.
Dr. De Beaux proceeds to an expansion and
application of his subject. Since the founda-
tion on which his views are built is a moral
one, it is useless to attempt discussion of the
question with any who may be amoral by
deliberate choice, but whoever feels himself
moral in biological fact, may consider Biolo-
gical Ethics as “The religion of respect to life
in all its earthly extrinsic manifestations”.
Two precepts of first importance are stress-
ed. One is a commandment derivable from
considerations already put forward: “Take
care that no animal or vegetable species dis-
appear from the face of the earth’. The
second is presented as the fundamental
biological law of Nature: “No species may
emerge and dominate to the prejudice of
others”. It is also pointed out that, while
Man can and does continually and profoundly
alter the natural equilibrium of his surround-
ings, he cannot modify the laws that govern it,
and that his wise course, the only ultimately
successful one, is to ally himself with all
those species of the animal and vegetable

April, 1934]

kingdom not living immediately and exclusive-
ly at the expense of his culture and so to
favour certain intensities of the rhythm of the
life of wild things about him, in order to
maintain with them a natural biological
equilibrium.

“Biological Equilibrium is not for mankind
the absolute exclusive Good, which does not
exist and cannot exist upon earth, but it is a
fairly stable state of things that can be known
pretty thoroughly, with which one can make
previsions and calculations more dependable
perhaps than with phenomena purely meteor-
ological, physical or chemical. Re-estabiish-
ing the equilibrium, when once it is suddenly
and profundly disturbed, is a work that
requires intelligence, patience and often
sacrifice.”

It is held that it is already demonstrated,
in areas of high population density in Europe,
as, for example, in Germany, that it is entirely
practicable for wild creatures to live on the
same territory with the maximum human
population, and even to exist there in great
variety and in reasonable abundance. There-
fore it will be possible to preserve a varied
and abundant population of other species even
when the human population of the entire earth
attains it maximum. ‘

Finally, the practical position of Man in the
face of the whole of Wild Life is held to be
that Man is the Cerebral Being par _ excel’ence
_and that his position with regard to any other
living being is therefore that of the Strong
in face of the Weak.

“He must therefore be indulgent to the
psychic inferiority of the Weak, to its slowness
or absolute impossibility: of comprehension or
of adapting itself to new surroundings.

“He must, as a rule, renounce taking ad-
vantage of the state of psychic servitude to
which the Weak, subject to the stimulus of
hunger, thirst, or love, is absolutely incapable
of resisting.

“He must renounce persecution of the Weak
by technical means, with which muscles, lungs,
and heart of living organisms cannot possibly
compete, before which the last ways of es-
cape are cut off, the last refuges violated:

“Where defence of Man is necessary, the
Strong must eliminate entirely from his own
mind any idea of guilt of the Weak; he must
try to keep watch over him, possibly to cffer
him some cheap compensation, rather than
proceed with unlimited force to suppression.”

Application of these deductions does not
mean abolition of biological research, or of

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 71

utilization of other species for commerce and
for hunting, but it does mean limitation of
such activities and their co-ordination to the
complex ethical and economic interests of all.
Man thus becomes the wise administrator of
Life on earth.

Prof. Leopold’s paper deals with a particular
part of the field covered by Dr. De Beaux’s, and
is more concerned with the application of
biological ethics to conservation than with its
derivation. Moreover, this paper, while having
much to say about other species of plants and
animals as essential parts of Man’s surround-
ings, lays especial emphasis on the importance
of the soil itself. in molding his environment.

By way of introduction, attention is drawn

- to the fact that the extensions of the applica-

tion of ethics to ever wider and wider fields,
where it replaces expediency as the controlling
principle, as mankind realizes the inadequacy
of the latter to produce the best results, is
actually a process in ecological evolution —
it is biological as well as philosophical.

The first ethics dealt with the relationship
between individuals.

Later accretions dealt with the relationship
between the individual and society.

The time has come for a third step, the
extension of ethics to man’s relationship to
land and to the non-human animals and plants
which grow upon it.

A harmonious. relation to land is of more
consequence to civilization than the historians
of its progress seem to realize. Civilization
is not as they often assume, the enslavement
of a stable and constant earth. It is a state
of mutual and interdependent co-operation
between human animals, other animals, plants,
and_ soils, which may be disrupted at any
moment by the failure of any of them. Land-
despoliation has evicted nations, and can on
occasion do it again.

“The swampy forests of Czsar’s Gaul were
utterly changed by human use—for the better.
Moses’ land of milk and honey was utterly
changed—for the worse. Both changes are
the unpremeditated resultant of the impact
between ecological and economic forces. We
now decipher these reactions retrospectively.
What could possibly be more important than
to foresee and control them?”

We pride eurselves on our mastery of the
tricks of physics and chemistry, and our
engineering has attained the pearly gates of
a near-millenium, but our applied biology still
lives in nomad’s tents of the stone age. If
our system of land-use happens to be self-

72 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

perpetuating, we stay where we are. If it
chances to be self-destructive, we move, like
Abraham, to pastures new.

“In short, the reaction of land to occupancy
determines the nature and duration of civil-
ization. In arid climates the land may be
destroyed. In all climates the plant succession
determines what economic activities can be
supported.”

In this situation we have at our disposal
three possible controls: legislation, self-inter-
est, and ethics. Legislation and self-interest
have been tried in various fields for some time
past and have proved disappointingly un-
successful. Our valuable soils are being
wastefully eroded, our forests are being des-
troyed rather than cropped, and our migratory
game birds are diminishing in numbers.

At this time, when our economic system is
being made the subject of experiment, do the
new economic formulae offer a short-cut to
harmony with our environment ?

“As nearly as I can see”, says our author,
“all the new isms - Socialism, Communism,
Fascism and especially the late but not lament-
ed Technocracy—outdo even Capitalism itself
in their preoccupation with one thing: The
distribution of more machine-made commodi-
ties to more people. They all preceed on the
theory that if we can all keep warm and full,
and all own a Ford and a radio, the good life
will follow. Their programs differ only in
ways to mobilize machines to this end. Though
they despise each other, they are all, in respect
of this objective, as identically alike as peas
in a pod. They are competitive apostles of
a single creed: salvation by machinery.” They
lack any vital proposal for adjusting men and
machines to land.

In wild life conservation, our concepts are
just reaching the stage where control of the
environment is recognized as the fundamental
requirement.

[VoL. XLVIII

Granted a community in which the combined
beauty and utility of land determines the
social status of its owner, and we will see a
speedy dissolution of the economic obstacles
which now beset conservation. Society may
then paint a new and better picture of itself.
Economic laws may be permanent, but their
impact reflects what people want, which in
turn reflects what they know and what they
are.

“The ultimate issue, in conservation as in
other social problems, is whether the mass-
min¢ wants to extend its powers of compre-
hending the world in which it lives, or, granted
the desire, has ‘he capacity to co so.”

Although both of these papers are concerned
with the application of ethical standards to the
relations between Man and his environment,
and although Dr. De Beaux makes use of
explicit moral premises for his argument, their
presentation of the results to be sought is
limited mainly to the utilitarian and the
anthropocentric. That these form only a part
of the goal that should determine our attitude
toward the other species on earth with us
and that it is logical to seek a composite per-
fection of all life as a system inclusive of
all specific perfections, the reviewer has al-
ready pointed out elsewhere.! In these papers
it is merely hinted at.

The public discussion of these questions by
those interested in wild life conservation in
various nations of the globe is a most en-
couraging indication. That it will continue
and develop until fundamental ethical consider-
ations actually direct our policies with regard
to our relations to our fellow-species is great-
ly to be hoped.—H.F.L.

1 A general discussion of the subject, in both its utilitarian
and its ideal aspects. was published by Dr. Lewis under the
title, “The Philosophy of Wild Life Conservation”, in Rod and
Gun age Conadsen Silver Fox News, 29:206-207, August, 1927.

~

/ NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF
MANITOBA
: 1929-30

President Emeritus: C.E. BASTIN; President: G. SHIRLEY
Brooks, Past Presidents: H. M. SPEECHLY, M.D., C. W.
OWB, M.Sc., A. A. McCousrey, J. B. WALLIS, M.A.,
. W. JACKSON M.Sc., A. M. Davipson,. M.D., R. A.
‘WARDLE, M.Sc.; Vice-Presidenis: Mrs. L. R. SIMPSON,
C. L. Brotey, W. H. Ranp, Dr. R. S. Kink, B. W.
CARTWRIGHT, A. BURTON GRESHAM, Treasurer: <A.
LAWRENCE; Auditor: R. M. THOMAS; Social Convenor:
Mrs. A. af SHARLE; General Secretary: NorMAN LOWE,
317 Simcoe St., Winnipeg; Executive Secretary: J. HADDOW.
Section Chairman ’ Secretary
Ornithological L. T. S. Norris-E.ye, B.A. A. H. SHORTT
Entomological A.V. MITCHENER, M. Se. Miss Me F. PRATT
Botanical Mrs. I. M. PRIESTLY Mrs. H. T. Ross
-_ Geotogical Miss C. J. EGAN, P. H. STOKES
_ _Ichthyological FERRIS NEAVE, M.Sc. G. D. RUSSELL
Mammalogical V. W. JACKSON, M.Sc. J. P. KENNEDY

_ Microscopy
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VOL. XLVIII, No. 5 MAY, 1934

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CONTENTS
PAGE
The Canadian Snowshoe Rabbit Enquiry, 1932-1988. By Charles Elton.............. ahs:
& Interesting Bird Records for Southern Baffin Island. By J. Dewey Soper... Need se Ais See
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SUSSTO CTO C USSSA See SSoceCeC oR esas senoseEs FeeeO CAD CODES CesO SETS Se FRO DeeS sans OeSosess BOSSE oES SEES DOC CES SEES AGsesseeCE eee EEDeeeGseDEeseEseerseReseoeeso
SSS CSSRODEST COSTES CEU ESDOO DEST OTCOS SECS DoD EsUFSE ESE SSSEE OOS SSUES COOSCEs SESE SEFEE SSE ASE Soe SoFeCOESCRSsUT SS SUCCESSES COE ESE PanGoeesEEeeCESSeESReSeSESEEES

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The Canadian Field-Naturalist

VOL. XLVIII

OTTAWA, CANADA, MAY, 1934

No. 5

THE CANADIAN SNOWSHOE RABBIT ENQUIRY, 1932-33
Edited by CHARLES ELTON

Edited for the National Parks Branch, Department of the
Interior, Ottawa, by CHARLES ELTON, Director of the
Bureau of Animal Population. Department of Zoology
and Comparative Anatomy, Oxford University, England.)

N 1931 the Commissioner of National
Parks, Mr. J. B. Harkin, authorized
an enquiry into the ten-year cyclical
fluctuations of the Snowshoe Rabbit
or Varying Hare (Lepus americanus) which
are of such great economic and _ biological
importance in Canada—economically, through
their influence on the fur-trade, conservation,
food supply, and forest damage, and bioiogi-
cally through the scientific interest of their
fluctuations and the fact that these form a
useful index of similar periodic changes in
the populations of other forest animals and
of game-birds, which in turn have economic
implications. A questionnaire enquiry was
carried out from Ottawa under the general
supervision of Mr. Hoyes Lloyd, and the
results mapped at Oxford and published in
The Canadian Field-Naturalist 47: 68-69, 84-
86, 1933. The successful coordination of these
results justified the continuance of the enquiry
as an annual one, and the present report covers
the twelve months ending May 81st, 1933, this
forming a useful biological year which also
corresponds with the working year (“Outfit”)
of the Hudson’s Bay Company. The question-
naire was similar to the one used in the first
enquiry, the main feature being the compar-
ison of abundance with that of the previous
year and not simply with some vague concept
of the “usual”. In this way a running record
(up, level, or down) is obtained from year to
year. Other questions dealt with habitats,
disease, and former years of abundance and
scarcity. Five hundred replies were received,
an increase of nearly 50%. Owing to the fact
that observers were in a better position to
know what to look out for, the standard of
replies was even higher than before and
rendered accurate mapping possible in most
instances. I wish to express my appreciation
of the services rendered by the following:—

Mr. W. D. Taylor, National Parks of Canada,
who handled the details of the National Parks
questionnaire, the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police, the Game Officers of the Provinces of
Canada, Honorary Game Officers under the Mi-
gratory Birds Convention Act, Holders of
Scientific Permits under the Migratory Birds
Convention Act, Taxidermists, Superintendents
and Wardens of the National Parks of Canada
and other observers throughout Canada. My
wife, Rose Elton, has given very valuable
assistance during the work on this material.

This year it was fortunately possible to in-
clude also the information contained in the
annual zoological reports (176 in number)
from the Hudson’s Bay Company’s fur posts,
which have been renewed after a short inter-
val, owing to the interest taken in the enquiry
by the Governor, Mr. Ashley Cooper, and the
Fur-Trade Commissioner, Mr. Ralph Parsons.
The Governor and Committee of the Company
have kindly agreed to the publication of this
information, which I have combined with that
from. the National Parks Branch enquiry in
the three maps shown in Figs. 1-8. Dr. A. G.
Huntsman has also obtained through the fish-
ery organisation valuable information from the
Maritime Provinces, but this is not available
in time for inclusion in the present survey.
Information about snowshoe rabbits is also —
promised from Alaska and Newfoundland, the
former by courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of
Biological Survey and the Alaska Game Com-
mission, and the latter by the co-operation of
the Commissioner of Natural Resources in
Newfoundland. It is hoped, therefore, in
future years to make these maps international
in scope, so as to give an annual record of the
snowshoe rabbit cycle from Behring Strait to
the Atlantic. In carrying out preliminary
negotiations I have to thank Mr. Copley Amory
and Sir Wilfred Grenfell, both of whom gave
me valuable advice and practical assistance.

It has been mentioned that one special
technical feature of this enquiry is the year-
to-year comparison of abundance. The second
feature is the method by which the results are

74 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

mapped. The details of procedure were ex-
plained fully in the previous report and need
not be repeated here: the essence of the
method is that the area covered by each
observer is plotted as accurately as possible
on a large-scale map and noted as “more”,
“no change”, or “less”. Areas with “none”
(meaning “permanently none’) are ignored
for the present purpose. When the area 1s
not accurately specified, a circle of ten-miles
radius (twenty miles across) is drawn round
the central point. The data from the large-
seale maps are then transferred to a smaller-
scale map of Canada by means of a grid of
30-mile squares (900 square miles in each).
Since a square is marked in even when only
a part of it is covered by an observer, the
final results occupy a greater area than the
original observations. But as the main object
of the method is to make standard compar-
isons from year to year without introducing
the subjective opinions of the mapper who is

Figure I. ; are
groups of squares overlapped by areas of observers reporting relative increase

in 1932-33 over 1931-32.
etc.

(VoL. XLVIII

studying the replies to questions, this exag-
geration of the original areas covered is not
a serious matter. The area mapping method
has the advantage of giving due weight to the
widely different sizes of area covered by
different observers.

The gross area of the squares on the grid
overlapped by observers was, for the National
Parks enquiry, about 640,000 square miles,
and for the Hudson’s Bay Company posts
about a million square miles. There is, of
course, a good deal of overlapping between.
the two systems, although the former tends
to occupy the more settled regions of Canada
and the latter the northern and more remote
forests. The total area covered by filled-in
squares on the final joint map is 1,500,300
square miles, so that the overlap is seen
to be about 140,000 square miles, or 9% of
the whole. Jt is thus apparent that the
National Parks enquiry and the Hudson’s
Bay Company reports dovetail in a most

State of the snowshoe rabbit population in 1932-33. Dotted areas are

Larger black dots are Hudson’s Bay Company posts
Broken lines show main vegetation zones.

May, 1934]

valuable manner and between them cover
most of the inhabited regions of Canada
south of the tree limit and north of the prairie.
A number of reports do, in fact, cover a
further portion of the settled belts in which
rabbits are scarce or absent: these have been
omitted from the present analysis. In map-
ping- the Hudson’s Bay Company results a
conventional area of fifty miles radius (a
circle a hundred miles across) was allotted
to each post, following the advice of the com-
pany’s officials. In most instances this is
admitted to be an underestimate. The in-
formation is supplied by the post manager,
on the basis of his own observations and those
of trappers and cther visitors to the post.
Where overlapping occurs between neighbour-
ing posts, any difference in record is mapped

by dividing the territories in a simple geomet-_

rical manner. In future years it will be pos-
sible to obtain more precise information about
the exact regions to which observations for
each post refer.

Figure 2. State of the snowshoe rabbit population in 1932-33. f
areas are groups of squares overlapped by areas of observers reporting
relative decrease in 1932-33 over 1931-32. Horizontally hatched areas, no

change.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 7)

It was considered advisable to try to es-
timate the degree to which the grid system
does exaggerate the actual area of ground
covered by observers, who do not, of course,
form a completely overlapping system of “ter-
ritories.” This was done by measuring the
actual original areas plotted on the large
scale maps of the provinces, by means of an
Amsler planimeter. The technique is a good
deal more laborious than the grid method but
the results have a high degree of accuracy—
much higher than the actual plotting of areas
from observers’ descriptions. Only the
National Parks were examined in this way.
In carrying out this special test I wish to
acknowledge the assistance kindly given by
Mrs. M. J. Baden-Powell who also copied a
number of large scale tracings for the Bureau.
Prince Edward Island was omitted owing to in-
sufficient data. The total area covered by the
National Parks results was for the grid about
512,000 square miles, and for planimeter mea-
surements about 275,000 square miles, the latter

4,

te,

Vertically hatched

| Larger black dots are Hudson’s Bay Company posts ete. Broken
lines show main vegetation zones.

76 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

being 54% of the former. Thus the grid
method about doubles the apparent area cover-
ed by the network of observers. The second
point that can be tested by the planimeter
work is whether the relative amounts of
“more”, “no change”, “less” and “overlaps”
are the same by the two methods. Analysis
shows that the grid is quite a reliable guide
to the ratios between these different categories.
It is hoped to publish the details of this
analysis at some other time, together with
another analysis which would enable the
reliability of observers to be tested statistically
(by the frequency of agreement among ob-
servers covering the same territories).

We now have to analyze the results of the
main map (Figs. 1-3). Of the 1667 squares
covered, 1508 (=—90%) recorded more, 159
(=9%) no change, and 189 (=10%) less.
The amount of overlap by the squares record-
ing more, on others, was 8%. Thus the percent-
age of the whole area recording more snowshoe
rabbits in 1932-33 than in 1931-32 was between
82 and 90. The higher figure would be correct

Figure 8. Epidemics among snowshoe rabbits.

increase in previous summer.

(VoL. XLVIII

if all the recorded overlaps were apparent
(e. g. ‘‘more” in one corner of a square and
“less” in another, with no real overlap). The
true figure lies somewhere between the two.
It is clear that rabbits were still on the in-
crease in most parts of Canada in 1932. It
will be remembered that the percentage re-
cording increase in 1931-32 over 1930-31 was
85-92: almost the same.

The increase areas have been shown on one
map (Fig. 1) and the decrease and no change
figures on another(Fig. 2). The third map(Fig.
3) shows that a most important change had
taken place in the snowshoe rabbit population
during 1932, for the previous year had shown
increase with little evidence of widespread
disease, while the reports for 1932 show the
onset of important epidemics over a large
part of the West and in some other parts of
Canada, in almost all cases in areas which
showed continuous increase during the summer
of 1932. Most of the epidemics took place
during the winter of 1932-33 and spring of 1933.
There is not space to enter into a detailed

Dotted areas are groups of squares
overlapped by observers reporting epidemics and decrease in 1932-33. Most
of these epidemics took place in winter and spring 1932-33 after continued

(See Fig. I.)

May, 1934]

description of the numerous reports dealing
with these epidemics. It may be remarked
that spotted liver disease (coccidiosis or
tularemia) occurred in several instances, that
the usual increase in tapeworms [Cestodes]
and in ticks [Ixodidze] was recorded commonly,
and that in some places the epidemics were
very severe while in others they did not seem
to have seriously affected the numbers. The
examination of these epidemic reports will
have to be done by a pathologist with ex-
perience of snowshoe rabbit disease, since
the symptoms described are rather varied.
From recent work that has been done in
Canada, it appears probable that tularemia
may be much more widespread in the north-
ern forests than has been generally supposed,
and that the snowshoe rabbit fluctuations may
assume an important medical aspect. Any
cbserver finding snowshoe rabbits infested with
ticks, whether the animal be alive, dying, or
recently dead, can be of service by keeping
some of the ticks alive and posting them
with suitable covering information to any of
the pathologists who are at present studying
this problem: Dr. Eric Hearle, Entomological
Laboratory, Kamloops, British Columbia; Dr.
R. G. Green, Medical School, Minnesota Uni-
versity; Dr. R. R. Parker, Spotted Fever
Laboratory, Hamilton, Montana; or the
Alberta investigation under the direction of
Professor William Rowan, Department of Zoo-
logy, Alberta University, Edmonton,—to men-
tion some of those of whom the writer has

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST CH

personal knowledge. The tularemia bacillus
can be recovered from infected ticks, and the
presence of the disease thus proved.

The maps can be further analyzed according
to the different provinces, and the results for
the whole grid are given in table No. 1.

Where two percentages are given, the higher
is that obtained without allowing for over-
laps with other categories (less, no change),
the lower after subtracting the percentage
overlap. The variation in overlapping is great
in different regions. It is most marked in
the Maritime Provinces and the settled parts
of Ontario and Quebec. (Prince Edward Is-
land has been omitted from the table owing
to incomplete data).

The regional distribution of the epidemic
is of interest. The results are shown in
table No. 2, as percentage number of squares
relative to the whole and to those reporting
increase (no allowance has been made for
overlaps). he main incidence was in the
Middle West, and here the epidemics were
almost entirely confined to the northern
forests. The high figures for New Brunswick
and Nova Scotia may or may not be of
significance in the ten-year cycle: we have yet
to prove for certain that the Maritime Pro-
vinces take part in the regular fluctuation.
It has also to be remembered that the rabbit
population is in these provinces much more
split up into small colonies, and this is prob-
ably the cause of the very great overlap in
opinions which makes the high epidemic fig-

TABLE No. 1
‘otal |No. squares] % squares |No. squares| % squares |No. squares| % squares
squares | reporting | reporting | reporting | reporting | reporting | reporting
covered | increase | increase | decrease | decrease | no ckange | no change
AY CUO Oras oleeabey Asean p aan Sosa 30 28 93 2 7 0 0
Northwest Territories,......... 187 154 76-82 28 10-15 16 8-9
British Columbia............. 180 174 89-97 2 0-1 Pal 3-12
AUGER EE, el ee Pea ee ef il 307 301 82-84 0 0 15 2-5
Saskatchewan woos. on. ¥.)!siec: - 140 114 66-81 27 9-19 20 9-19
Jit UPD 0] O25 es A Ane aR ora Re 157 149 95 0 0 8 5
GIES SET Ty aay aie PGE 4 Ok SA 0 ne 326 276 75-85 58 10-18 46 4-14
Quebec sige s. ARMOR se eis: 295 281 94-95 14 1-5 oe ethi
NewhBrunswichs sis:3:0.0 goo an 20 17 50-85 8 10-40 4 0-20
IOV SCObID Meru me. pee ile NRE, 25 14 12-56 20 16-80 20 16-80
TOTAL | 1667 | 1508 | 82-90 | 159 | 4-10 | 189 | 4-11

78 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

[VoL. XLVIII

TABLE No. 2
—— SSS

No of squares reporting
epidemics 1932-33

% of squares reporting
epidemics (out of increase
Squarek)

% of squares reporting
epidemics (out of total
covered squares)

DUC os CCAR OL ean AN NUP AR I 2s 7 7
Northwest Territories 19 10 12
British Columbia 31 17 18
Mlbertary ewok gate rites a held a 118 38 39
Saskatchewan 831 22 27

_ Manitoba 9 6

Ontarlowteeeceys enone. no Pe ai 13 4
Quebeewies - eee. a wei kia 33 11 12
New Brunswick 6 30 35
Nova Scotia 9 36 64
271 16 18

ures of less importance than those for the
West where the opinions are much more un-
animous. The 1932 epidemics are the first wide-
spread sign of the periodic decline of snow-
shoe rabbits in Canada, and we may expect
to find decrease setting in in other areas until
the map is covered with practically 90% de-
crease in a few years’ time. The main epidem-
ic in Alberta and Peace River is independently
confirmed by the National Parks and Hudson’s
Bay Company enquiries which here overlap
to a considerable extent. In Alberta the
epidemic area runs across to the east side of
Lesser Slave Lake and mainly north of the
55th parallel, and in Saskatchewan it runs
across to a definite point at which there is a
_ belt of high density with no further increase
but no epidemic, and east of this again high
density and increase with no epidemic. In the
next few years it may be possible to construct
a fairly good contour map showing the devel-
opment of these epidemics. There is a report
of local disease in the Mackenzie River Delta
and also somewhere in the region of Fort
Providence west of Great Slave Lake. These
have not been mapped owing to lack of exact
localities. Apart from these two reports and
those from Liard River, there was no definite

evidence of decrease through disease in 1932 in
the northern part of the Northwest Territories.
The main regional incidence of the epidemics
is in line with that noticed in previous cycles,
where decrease usually began in the West and
spread eastwards, and started first in the
northern forests, only coming to the grove
belt and southern forests of the eastern part
of Canada a year or two later.

On the practical side, it may be safely fore-
cast that the decline in fine fur began in 1932-
33 and will continue to an increasing’ extent
during the next four years (e.g. Lynx [Lynx
canadensis|Coloured Fox,[ Vulpes sp.] and also Wolf,
[Canis lycaon] Coyote, [Canis latrans|, ete.) The
parallel cycle in game birds now well substantiated,
will also begin to show a decline, so that
sportsman may expect fewer Ruffed Grouse,
[Bonasa umbellus], etc.

Much further work remains to be done in
analysing the abundant material obtained from
the enquiry, but it seemed desirable to present
the preliminary results as soon as possible.
Copies of the questionnaires, the large scale
tracings, and the final maps, are being deposit-
ed at the National Parks Branch in Ottawa,
and in the Bureau of Animal Population at
Oxford.

May, 1934]

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 79

a
“INTERESTING BIRD RECORDS FOR SOUTHERN BAFFIN ISLAND
By J. DEWEY SOPER

(Concluded from page 68)

Larus kumlient Brewster. KUMIIEN’s GULL.—
Eskimo: Nowyva; Newcupelu Nowya-—A special
interest attaches to this bird in view of recent ob-
servations in Baffin Island and the fact that it is
now tegarded by the American Ornithologists’
Union as no longer of specific rank, but a hybrid
between lewcopterus and thayert. As the latest
information seems to discredit this conclusion
and vs very little was previously known of the
distribution and ‘habits of this bird, it appears
worthy of somewhat extended treatment based
on the latest information from the breeding
range.

So tar as known this gull breeds only in south-
ern Baffin Island; available records indicate that
it has never been observed north of Cumberland
Sound, which was the only known breeding place
until investigations were recently made along
the south eoast of the island. It has now been
ascertained to inhabit the Davis Strait coast to
the south of that, and the entire north side of
Hudson Strait westward to King Charles Cape. In
1926. and again in 1928-1929, the writer found
the species common in the region cf Cape Dorset
with breeding colonies on the mainland north of
the west end of Okolliltuk Island and on the
Foxe Islands near Andrew Gordon Bay. Kum-
lien’s Gulls were seen commonly to the westward
us far as King Charles Cape, in mid-August 1928,
but none were noted to the north as far as the
coast was followed to Cape Dorchester.

During the autumn of 1928 and again in the
spring and summer of 1929 it was not observed
anywhere in the interior north of Andrew Gordon
Bay or along the coasts of Bowman Bay, or Foxe
Basin. The birds were frequently seen about
Cape Dorset in early September, but after that
becam.e very scarce. The last record for the
fall is a queried entry at Cape Dorset on October
11, for a small flock observed under unfavourable
circumstances. The species is more local in dis-
tribution than the Glaucous and Herring Gulls
and unquestionably migrates from the region in
the autumn much earlier than either of the above
species.

In the Lake Harbour region the species is local-
jy common and nests in a number of localities
from at least Soper Lake (Pleasant Inlet). east-
wardiy to Itivirk Bay. The birds appear to be
strictly maritime; unlike several other gulls in

Baffin Island, the writer has never seen it inland,
or nesting in other than the immediate vicinity
of the sea. In summer their movements appear
to be so local that imdividuals are seldom en-
countered at any great distance from nesting
places.

In the spring of 1931 it was learned that a
breeding colony of Kumlien’s Gull existed on a
small island in Soper Lake, near the entrance to
Pleasant Inlet. This was visited by the Eskimos
on June 7, when a considerable number of fresh
eggs were taken. On the 10th the writer, with
an Eskimo assistant, visited the spot when it was
founc that the colony consisted of about 80
individuals of the present species and one or two
breeding pairs of Glaucous Gulls The birds
were nesting on the grassy ledges of an almost
sheer cliff about 75 feet high overlooking the
sea. At this time the surrounding sea was still
covered with ice, and deep snow-banks persisted
on tne adjoining mainland.

The nests were rather shallow structures re-
sembling those of the Herring Gull and composed
of old vegetable matter. Some, obviously several
years old, had been repeatedly renewed and the
old outer parts of the structures were now welded
together and overgrown with living grasses and
other lowly plants. The greater number of these
were Guite inaccessible without the aid of ropes.
Owins to the recent activities of the Eskimos, the
nests were now empty, or contained but one egg. °
This appears to be a very early record for gulls
in Baffin Island, as fresh eggs of this species were
collected by the writer near Cape Dorset on
June 24, 1926. The Eskimos assert that gull nest-
ing dates are earlier to the southeast and pro-
gressively later to the northwest along the south
coast of Baffin Island.

The above colony was revisited on June 27,
when a single set of Kumlien’s Gull eggs was se-
cured; these were considerably incubated. Despite
the ravages of the natives here early in June, the
gulls had not deserted, but nested again. Such
nests as could be seen contained two or three
eggs. In colour they are practically indistinguish-
able from these of the Glaucous Gull, but in
size are much smaller, while they appear quite
inseparable from those of the Herring Gull of
corresponding size. Owing to the very limited
number of Kumlien’s Gull eggs available and the
great variability in the eggs of gulls, no definite

80 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

statement can be made, but it appears probable
that the eggs of kumlient wi'l average smaller
than those of the Herring Gull. The Kumlien’s
Gull eggs collected are ovate and finely granular
with tittle or no sheen; ground colour is deep,
dark brown, and more obscure purplish spots.
The markings on one egg are large and roundly
bold, and merge to some extent with an area of
deversified blotches about the larger end; on the
other end the spots are small, irregular, and
evenly distributed. Sizes: 2.46 x 1.86 inches (62.5
x 47. mm), and 2.55 x 1.88 inches (65.0 x 48.1).

In mid-July while following the coast south-
east of Lake Harbour to Philpot Bay, large num-
bers of birds were met with at various times. On
the east side of the northernmost extremity of
Itivirk Bay a large nesting colony of about 300
individuals were observed. The nests were placed
on shelving, grassy ledges of high cliff rising dir-
ectly irom the sea. At this time the nests held
young still being tended by the adults. Contrary
to conditions which not uncommonly obtain, no
other gulls were seen associating with Kumlien’s
Gulls of this colony. The Eskimos stated that the
present species nests in scattered groups farther
to the eastward along the coast and north into
Frobisher Bay.

Kumlien’s Gull was described by Brewster
(1883) from a specimen secured by Ludwig Kum-
lien in Cumberland Sound on June 14, 1878. When
Kumlien found this gull breeding there he first
referred it to glaucesens, but it was subsequently
recognized as a new species. Kumlien also collected
¢. single egg of this species, which appears to have
been the only authentic one in existence up to the
time vf the collection of the above set at Lake
Harbour. Bent (1921) remarks: “Several sets of
eggs were collected by Mr. J. 8. Warmbath on
one of the Peary expeditions, which have since
found their way into collections as eggs of _Kum-
lien’s Gull. These eggs were taken in Ellesmere
Land on June 15, 1900, and are probably eggs
of a new species of gull, to be known as Larus
thayeri, Probably the only authentic egg of Larus
kumlient in existence is the one referred to above
as taken by Kumlien. This egg is now in the United
States Museum; it is a miserable specimen, too
badly broken to measure accurately, and is tied
together withh thread”.

In the new fourth edition of the American
Ornithologists’ Union Check-List, Kumlien’s Gull
has been transferred from the regular List to the
Hypvtnetical List with the foliowing comment:
“Now regarded as a hybrid between Larus leuc-
opterus Faber and Larus argentatus Brooks (cf.,

[VoL. XLVIII

Dwight, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., LII, Art. 3,
Dec. 31, 1925, 254) and transferred to the Hypoth-
etical List”.

In the writer’s opinion this change appears un-
warrarted in view of the assembled facts. An ex-
amination of the specimens alone may admittedly
lead to the above conclusion of hybridism, but
conditions in the field support the earlier concept
of kuimlient as entitled to specific standing. In the
first place the known breeding range of Kumlien’s
Gull does not coincide with that of either the
Iceland Gull, or Thayer’s Gull; the two latter
species are rare in southern Baffin Island even
during migration and no nesting records exist for
elther in that territory, while the only known
nesting places for Kumlien’s Gull are in southern
Baffin Island. As earlier mentioned, this species
is not known to occur north of Cumberland Sound
and until the writer made wild life investigations
along the south coast of Baffin Island (1926, 1930-
1931) the former locality was the only breeding
place known. As Kumlien found it nesting in
Cumberland Sound, and the writer at various
places from Itivirk Bay to Cape Dorset, it would
now appear to have a more or less unbroken breed-
ing range from Cumberland Sound to Foxe Pen-
msula.

In the writer’s Baffin Island report of 1928
appears the following in respect to leucopterus:*
“This species 1s so scarce about Baffin Island
that the only evidence of its existence secured by
the writer is an adult and a juvenile, collected
on August 18, 1924, near Blacklead Island, Cum-
berland Sound. Kumlien (1879, ». 98) merely
remarks that it is far less common in Cumberland
Sound than the Glaucous Gul!. This species was
not noted by Hantzsch”. In regard to argentatus
and thayer: are these remarks: “Specimens col-
lected by the writer indicate that Larus thayert
is confined to a northern area extending from
Ponds Inlet to southern Ellesmere Island, and that
L. argentatus occurs only in the southern part of
Baffin Island. Larus thayert was observed only
while on the 1923 Canadian Arctic Expedition when
specimens were collected at Craig Harbour, Elles-
mere Island; Beechey Island; Dundas Harbour,
Devon Island; and Pond Inlet, Baffin Island.
The species seemed to be particularly numerous
in Lancaster Sound. It seems probable that the
breeding ranges of L. argentatus and L. thayeri
overlap somewhere between Cumberland Sound
and Pond Inlet”. Though much work has been

* Mr. P. A. Taverner informs me that the National
Museum of Canada has no substantiated records of
leucopterus breeding in the American Arctic.

May, 1934]

done in that country since the above was written,
the remarks on the scarcity of the two above
species still hold good. In fact, on the expeditions
of 1928-1929, and 1930-1931, to southern Baffin
Island, the writer failed to observe a single ex-
ample of either lewcopterus or thayert.

Along the south coast of Baffin Island kumlienz
has been found nesting in pure colonies at Cape
Dorset and Itivirk Bay, and also in several other
localities, more or less in association with Glaucous
snd Herring Gulls. In view of the above facts it
appears incredible that Kumlien’s Gull could
exist as a hybrid between Thayer’s and Iceland
Gulls, 4wo species with which 1t does not associate
Im any way during the nesting season. It is be-
heved that the circumstances in nature go to dis-
prove hybridism and again entitle Kumlien’s
Gull to full specific standing.

Xema sabini (Sabine). SaABINe’s GuLtu.—Eskimo:
Nowyaluga—Up to 1928 this heautiful little gull
was considered to be very rare in Baffin Island,
as no observer had seen more than a few straggling
indivicuals. In the region of Bowman Bay, how-
ever, the writer, in 1929, found them in large num-
bers and breeding freely on the tundra. At Camp
Kungovik it first put in an appearance on June 14.
The first spring migrants were solitary birds, but
on June 16 the birds began to arrive in flocks
varying from 10 to 25 individuals. Their numbers
were steadily augmented until the 26th of the
month when they became one of the commonest
birds of the district. A series of specimens sec-
ured shortly after the species’ arrival, in which
males and females were about equally represented,
indicated that the two sexes came together.

On July 2, a small colony of 20 pairs of Sabine’s
Gull was located at a tundra pond near the Blue-

goose River. More than a dozen nests were found
“in a state of apparent completion, though the
majority as yet contained no eggs; four that did
held three, two, one, and one, respectively. The
nests are built directly upon the low moist ground
on the margin of pools, or on little hummocks
and islets a few feet from shore. They are con-
structed of mosses common to pool-side areas
of the lowlands and lined with a few dead grasses.
The species is very demonstrative and excitable
when their nests are approached, after the manner
of Arctic Terns, which were assuciating with them.

Several additional solitary nests were found on
July 3 and 4 on the margin of various small ponds,
or on moss-grown hummocks therein, which were
scattered about over the nesting range of the Blue
Goose. All sets collected at this time were fresh.
A return was made on July 10 to the colony

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 81

discovered on the 2nd of the month, when nine
additional sets were secured; all were considerably
incubated, with the exception of four sets, which
were fresh. The prevailing habit of building nests
on small hummocks and islands in the ponds
probably arises from the necessity for protection
from prowling foxes. No nest of this dashing little
gull was found ravaged in any way, which seems
to indicate that the eggs of this species, unlike
those of the Herring Gulls and the geese, escape
the pernicious attentions of the Parasitic and
Long-tailed Jaegers.

After leaving the Blue Goose plain on July 24,
Sabine’s Gull was commonly observed about Bow-
man Bay and on the pool-sprinkled. rocky low-
lands about Cape Alberta during late July and
early August. It was also met with daily along
the Foxe Basin coast as far as the mouth of the
Kommonick River, after which the species was
not again observed.

Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa (Gmelin). Green-
LAND WHEATER—Hskimo: Hkuligak —The writer’s
experience in Baffin Island since 1923, indicates
that this bird is one of the rarest of the island’s
avifauna. Previous to the expedition of 1930-1931
to the Lake Harbour region, authentic records of
its occurrence in Baffin Island existed only for
Cumberland Sound and westward at Nettilling
Fjord and Amittok Lake, where it had been ob-
served by Kumlien, Hantzsch and the writer.
Kumlien (1879) stated that the species breeds on
both shores of Cumberland Sound. This evident-
ly is the only record extant of its nesting on the
island.

Upon arriving at Lake Hartour in late July,
1930, the writer was told of a small bird which
had nested in the crevice of a rock near the post
sbout a month earlier. The nest was at arm’s
lengtl: in a natural fissure, composed of moss and
grasses and contained four eggs. From the general
description it appears certain that this bird was a
Greenland Wheatear. During that season the
species was nowhere observed by the writer.

In 1931, a single Wheatear was observed per-
sonally on June 12, and another on the 14th. On
the 27th of the month a nesting pair was located
on the property of the Anglican Mission. The
nest was finally discovered in a stone wall sup-
porting an earthen terrace about the house. The
nest was difficult of access, as it had been built
in a cavity among the stones fully 20 inches
from the face of the wall. Permission was kindly
given to collect the nest and eggs The former
is a bulky structure, composed of moss and dead
grasses—the latter predominating—with a lining

82 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

of fine grasses and small feathers. The eggs,
six in number, are perfectly plain in colour, be-
tween etain-blue and pale Niagara green (Ridg-
way), or bluish white; the average size is 84 x .65
inches. Judging from the condition of the eggs,
it appeared that egg-laying had begun sometime
between the 20th and 22nd of. the month.

After the female bird had been collected the
male lingered about for a day or two and then
disappeared. Early in July, Mr. Bailey, the mis-
sionary, informed me that a pair of Wheatears
were again nesting in precisely the same crevice
from which the earlier nest had been removed.
This was verified personally on July 7, when the
second nest was almost completed.

Junco hyemalis hyemalis (Linnaeus). SLATE-
coLoURED JuNco—On June 2, 1931, the writer col-
lected a specimen of this species half a mile north
of the Lake Harbour settlement It was first
detected as it flitted under some boulders of a
talus slide below a precipitous granite hillside.
At first glance it was thought to be a female
Snow Bunting, but when it reappeared and flitted
away with flashing outer white tail feathers it
was instantly recognized as something new. This
constitutes the first record cf the species in
Baffic Island. The bird seemed singularly out
of place so far north of the tree Jine, with Hudson
Strait intervening, and surrounded by such a
bleak, rocky environment. None of the Eskimos
to whom it was shown had ever seen it before.

{[Vou. XLVITI

REFERENCES

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ Union (1931): “The
Check-List of North American Birds”. Fourth
Edition, pp. I-XIX; 1-526. Lancaster, Pa.
1931.

Bent, A. C. (1921): “Life Histories of North

American Gulls and Terns.” U.S. Nat. Mus.
Bull. 113, pp. 1-345, 1921.
HantzscH, BerRNHARD (1914): “Ornithologisches

Tagebuch. Aufzeichnungen Wahrend einer
Reise in Baffinland” (Ornithological Journal.
Notes during a Journey in Baffin Island).
Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft mnaturfor-
3sehender Freunde zu Berl:n, Jahrgang 1914,
Nr. 4, pp. 129-165. (MS ‘translation by M.
B. A. and R. M. Anderson, 1927).

Hesse, Ericu (1915): “Bernhard Hantzsch’s orni-
thologische Ausbeute in Bzffinland” (Bernard
Hatzsch’s Ornithological Results in Baffin Is-
land) Journal fiir Ornithologie, 63 Jahrgang,
Nr. 2, April, 1915, Leipzig, pp. 137-228. (MS.
translation by M. B. A. and R. M. Anderson,
1927,in library, National Museum of Canada).

Kumuren, Lupwia (1879): “Contributions to the
Natural History of Arctic America, made in
connection with the Howgate Polar Expe-
dition, 1877-1878”, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 15,
1879, pp. 1-179.

Ripeway, Rosert (1912): “Color Standards and
Color Nomenclature”, privately published,
pp. 1-43, Plates I-LIII, Washington, D.C.
1912.

Soper, J. D. (1928): “A Faunal Investigation of
Scuthern Baffin Island”. Nat. Mus. of Can.,
Bull. No. 53, Biological Series, No. 15, pp. 1-
143, 1928.

NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS

AMERICAN BARN OwL (Tyto alba) aT
OTTAWA.—During the latter part of the month
me, in detail, an Owl held captive at the fruit
of October, 1938, my eldest son described to
and vegetable farm of Mr. H. L. Bailey

situated on the Bowesville Road, about one ~

mile from the southern limits of Ottawa.
The Owl was sent to a local taxidermist to
mount so I did not see the bird alive. However,
on January 2, 1934, Mr. Bailey’s son brought
the mounted Owl to my residence and I was
able to verify my son’s identification of it as
an American Barn Owl. I am informed that
the bird was captured in a neighbouring barn
not far from the farm of Mr. Bailey.—

C. E. JOHNSON.

A NORTHERN RECORD FOR THE STAR-
LING, Sturnus vulgaris.—During the spring
of 1931, while I was at Churchill, Manitoba,
collecting birds for the Carnegie Museum

under the leadership of Mr. John B. Semple,
Mr. Hugh Conn, Manager for the Nelson River
District of the Hudson’s Bay Company, gave
me a Starling. Dr. George M. Sutton of
Cornell University and I examined the
specimen but were unable to determine its
sex. Nor were we able to save it as a skin.

Mr. Conn told me that he had found the
bird dead in an old, unused building at York
Factory, on May 11th, 1931. When picked up
it was still warm, as if it had just killed itself
by flying into a window.

York Factory is situated at the mouth of
the Hayes and Nelson Rivers along the west
coast of Hudson Bay, and is about sixty-five
miles from the nearest point along the Hudson
Bay Railway.

The weather was mild at the time the bird
was found. There was some snow on the
ground and the rivers were frozen shut.—

A. C. LLoyp.

May, 1934]

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

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BERNIGAUD, J. P.,
P.O. Box 229, Station B.,
Montreal, P.Q
BicGs, Miss M.,
Beynon, Alberta.
BILL, J. PHILIP,
64 Carling Ave.,
Ottawa, Ont.
BIoLoGy, LIBRARY OF,
Mont Saint-Louis,
224 Sherbrooke Street East,
Montreal, P.Q.
Birp, RALPH D.,
Box 250,
Brandon, Man.
BisHop, Louis B.,
450 Bradford Street,
Pasadena. Cal., U.S.A.
Buack, Hon. GEORGE,
Speaker, House of Commons,
Ottawa, Ont.
BLIZZARD, W. H.,
70 Duggan Avenue,
Toronto, Ont.
Boston SOCIETY OF NATURAL Hisrory,
234 Berkeley Street,
Boston, Mass., U.S.A.

Bowers, HENRY,

79 Bellwoods Ave.,
Ottawa, Ont.

Boy Scouts’ ASSOCIATION,
Canadian General Council,
Wellington Street,
Ottawa, Ont.

BRADSHAW, F..,

Director of Provincial Museum,
Normal School,
Regina, Sask.

BREAKEY, IAN
The Cottage,
Breakeyville, P.Q.

BRIGDEN, F. H.,

15 Oswald Crescent,
Toronto, Ont.

BRIMLEY, J. F.,
Wellington, Ont.

BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL Mu-
SEUM,

The Library,
Victoria, B.C.

BRITISH MUSEUM,

General Library,
Cromwell Road,
London, S.W. 7, Engiand.

BROOKLYN MUSEUM LIBRARY
Eastern Parkway and Washington
Ave.

Brooklyn, N. Y.

Brooks, MAJOR ALLAN,
Okanagan Landing, B.C.

Brooks, B. L.,

19 Noel Street,
Ottawa, Ont.

BRooMAN. R. C.,

c-—o Bank of Montreal,
Waterloo, Ont.

BRowN, Mrs. R. D
388 Main Street,

Ottawa, Ont.

Brown ,W. J,

4129 Dorchester Se.
Apt. 14,
Montreal. P.Q.

BUCKLE, E. R.,
Entomological Laboratory,
Vernon, B.C.

BUCKLE, J. W.,

262 Craig Street West,
Montreal, P.Q.

BUFFALO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE,
Research Library,
Buffalo, N.Y., U.S.A.

BULLER, Pror. A. H. R.,
Department of Botany,
University of Manitoba,
Winnipeg, Man.

BuRWASH, E. M.,
Department of Mines,
Toronto 5, Ont.

Cc

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIBNOBS,
c/o The Librarian,
San Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.
CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF EDUCATION
AND RESEARCH LIBRARY,
Division of Fish and Game,
510 Russ Building,
San Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.
CALIFORNIA, UNIVERSITY OF,
Library,
Berkeley, Cal., U.S.A.
CALVERT F. W.
e-o FRED HART
R.R. No. 3
Omemee, Ont.
CALVERT, J. F.,
Collegiate Institute,
London, Ont.

34

CAMERLE, A. C.,
re Game Birds in America,

In
580 Fifth "Avenue,
New York, N.Y., U.S.A.
CAMPAGNA, PROF. E.,
Department de Botanique,
Ecole d’ Agriculture,
Ste Anne de la Pocatiere, P.Q.
CARDINAL, V.
5781 Cote des Neiges. Road,
Montreal, P.Q.
CARNEGIE LIBRAry,
Ottawa, Ont.
CARTER, J. B.,
Department of Labour,
Ottawa, Ont.
CassELs, Mrs. W. A.,
Red Deer, Alta.
CATHERON, R. S.,

178 Marlborough Street,.
Bostom. Mass., U.S.A.
CHICAGO UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,
Chicago, Iil., U.S.A.

CLARK, G. C.

295 Manor Rd.,
Rockliffe Park.
Ottawa, Ont.

CLARKE, THOMAS H.,

Peter Redpath Museum,
Montreal, P.Q.

CLARKE, C. H. D.,
Department of Biology,
University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ont.

CLEMENS, W. A.

Director, Pacific Biological Station,
Nanaimo, B.C.

COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE,

St Catherines, Ont.
CoLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,
New York, N.Y., U.S.A.

CONDOR, THE,

c/o J. Grinnell,
University of California,
Berkeley, Cal., U.S.A.

Conners, J. L.,

347 Island Park Drive,
Ottawa, Ont.

CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,
Ithaca, N.Y., U.S.A.

COVELL, CORPORAL E. S8.,
R.C.M. Police,

Moose Factory, Ont.

CovENTRY, A. F.,

Department ‘of Biology,

University of Toronto,

Toronto 5, Ont.
Cowan, Miss M. E.

97 Stanley Ave.

Ottawa, Ont.

CRANBROOK INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE,
Bloomfield Hills, Mich., U.S.A-

CRAWFORD, H. C.,
Entomological Branch,
Department of Agriculture,
Ottawa, Ont.

€CRERAR LIBRARY,

Chicee ds Ill., U.S.A.

CRETE, F.

Desir Musee Educatif desSourds
Muets,
7400 St. Laurent,
Montreal, P.Q.
€RICKMAY, COLIN H.,
235 17th. St. E.
N. Vancouver, B. C.

CRIDDLE, STUART,

Treesbank, Manitoba

CROWSON, ARTHUR,

151 Goulbourne Street,
Ottawa, Ont.

Das, E. M. S.,
297 Hyman Street,
London, Ont.
DARCUS, S. J.,
Penticton, B.C.
Davis, Ev,
R.R. No. 7,
London, Ont.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

DEAM, CHAS.,
Bluffton, Ind., U.S.A.
DENMARK ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM,
Copenhagen, Denmark.
DES RIVIERES, H.,
Grande Allée,
Quebec, P.Q.
DEvITT, O. E.,
31 Willowbank Boulevard,
Toronto, Ont.
DINGMAN, RUSSBLL G.,
Pail Bay Street,
Toronto, Ont.
DossBig, Mrs. W. J.,
Glenwyid,
Buttonwood Ave.
Toronto.
Dosin, Dr. W. H.,
2 Hunter Street,
Chester, England.
DOMINION PRESS CLIPPING AGENCY,
74-76 Church Street,
Toronto, Ont.
DyMonpD, J. R.
Roya! Ontaiio Museum,
Toronto. Ont.

BASTHAM, J. W.,

Court House,
Vancouver, B.C.

EDMONTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Edmonton, Alta.

Epson, J. M.,

90 Marietta Drive,
Bellingham, Wash., U.S.A.

EDWARDS, D. Kemp,

494 Lansdowne Road,
Rockciitte Park,
Ottawa, Ont.

ErFRIG, PRror. C. W. G.,
1029 Monroe Avenue,
River Forest, Iii., U.S.A.

ELuis, RALPH,

2420 Ridge Road,
Berkeley, Cal., U.S.A.

ELTON, C. 8.,

Bureau of Animal Population,
University Museum,

6 Museum Road,

Oxford, England.

Emery, F. H.

620 Euclid Ave.
Toronto, Ont.

Farco, W. G.,
506 Union Street,
Jackson, Mich., U.S.A.
FARLEY, F. L.,
Camrose, Alta.
FAUVEL, B. A.,
263 McLeod Street,
Ottawa, Ont.
FIELD, Miss C.,
1461 Mountain Street,
Montreal, P.Q.
FLEMING, J. H.,
267 Rusholme Road,
Toronto, Ont.
FOERSTER, R. E.,
Biological Board of Canada,
Veddar Crossing, B.C.
FourRNigR, REv. O.,
Department of "Botany,
St. Hyacinthe College,
St. Hyacinthe, P.Q
FRASER, PRor. C. MCLEAN,
University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, B.C
FRASER, F. J.,
Geological Survey,
Ottawa, Ont.
Frito, ROWLEY,
65 Butternut Terrace,
Ottawa, Ont.
Furniss, O. C.,
2203 First Avenue West,
Prince Albert, Sask.

[VoL. XLVIII

G

GARDNBR, G. C.,

Manager, Bank of Toronto,
Sparks Street,
Ottawa, Ont.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY LIBRARY,
c/o Mrs. Forsey,

Natio: al Museum,
Ottawa, Ont.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY LIBRARY.
Department of Interior,
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

GERFAUT, Lz,

c/o Ch. Dupond,
Square Prince Charles 21,
Lachen, Bruxelles, Belgium.

GLEWRUPSKA, A. B.,
University Bokhandeln,
Lund, Sweden.

GOODHAND, B. C.

Dauphin, Man.

GORDON, H. K.,

35 Hillsdale Ave, East.
Toronto, Ont.

GOTEBORGS STADSBIBLIOTEK,
Goteborg, Sweden.

GOULD, Harry,

High River, Aita.

GREEN, H.

Vermilion Park,
Dauphin, Man.

GREEN, Morris,

39 South Wyoming Avenue,

Ardmore, Pa., U.S.A.
GREENWOOD, W. B.,

40 Bourke Street,

North Bay, Ont.

GRINNELL, J.,

University of California,
Berkeley, Cal., U.S.A.

Grist, Miss Mary L.,

251 Laurier Ave. East,
Ottawa, Ont.

Gross, Dr. A. O.,

Bowdoin College,
Brunswick, Me., U.S.A.

GUELPH PUBLIC LIBRARY,

Guelph, Ont.

H

HALKETT, ANDREW,
216 Lyon St.,
Ottawa, Ont.

HALL, E. R.,

University of California,
Berkeley, Cal., U.S,A.

HAMILTON, DR. Wass
Highland a Ill. U.S.A.

HAMILTON BIRD PROTECTION Socinty,
Miss Duncan, Secretary,
114 Sanford Avenue Rast,
Hamilton, Ont.

HARKNESS, W. J. K.,
Department of Biology,
Toronto University,
Toronto, Ont.

HARPER, FRANCIS,

206 Dickinson Avenue,
Swarthmore, Pa., U.S.A.

HARRINGTON, PAUL,

813 Bathurst Street,
Toronto, Ont.

Harris, W. E.,

3 Wendover Ave.,
Ottawa, Ont.

Hart, Capt. E. W.,
Division of Botany,
Central Experimental Farm,
Ottawa, Ont.

HART, Jey:
Pacific Biological Station,
Nanaimo, B.C.

Hart, N. C.,
Western University,
St. George Street,
London, Ont.

Hart, W.S.,

Province of Quebee Society for
Protection of Birds,

P.O. Box 1185,

Montreal, P.Q.

May, 1934}

HARVARD UNIVERSITY,
Arnold Arboretum, .
Jamaica Plains, Mass., U.S.A.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY,
Gray Herharium,
Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY,
Harvard Forest,
Petersham, Mass.,
U.S.A.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY,
Museum of Comparative Zoology
Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.
HemInG, W. E.,
Ontario Agricultura! College,
Guelph, Ont.
Hoare, EF. C.
68 Pembroke St. W,
Pembroke, Ont.
Howpom, Rev. M. W.,
The Rectory,
Chilliwack, B.C.
Hops, C.,
Royal Ontario Museum
of Zoology.
Queen’s Park.
Toronto, Ont.
Howitt, Dr. HEnry,
Empress Hotel,
Victoria, BC.
HUBER, WHARTON,
225 St. Mark’s Square,
Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A.
HUMPHREY, S.,
Unity, Sask.
Hunter, E. R.,
8 Kensington Gardens Square,
London W2, England
HUNTSMAN, A. G.,
University of Toronto.
Toronto, Ont.
HURLBURT, Dr. W. E.,
Vineland, Ont.

Ipis, THE,
Dr. C. B. Ticehurst,
Saxon House,
Appledore, Kent, England.
Ipz, F. P.,
Department of Biology,
University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ont.
ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
Urbana, Ill., U.S.A.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
Bloomington, Ind., U.S.A.
INGERSOLL, E.,
417 W. 114 St.,
New York, N.Y., U.S.A.

J

JACKSON, H. A. C.,

35 Campbell Avenue,

Montreal West, P.Q.
JENNEss, D.,

National Museum,

Ottawa, Ont.
JENNINGS, OTTO E.,

Carnegie Museum,

Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S.A.
JOHANSEN, F.,

Zoological Museum,

Copenhagen, Denmark.
JOHNSON, C. E.,

Geological Survey,

Ottawa, Ont.
JOHNSON, Mrs. G. E.,

70 Flora Street,

St. Thomas, Ont.
JOHNSON, R. A.,

State Normal School,

Oneonta, N.Y., U.S.A.

K

Kansas UNIVERSITY,
Periodical Department,
Lawrence, Kan., U.S.A.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

KEALEY, Miss Luu,
14 Blackburn Avenue,
Ottawa, Ont.
KELLEY, N. P.
625 Oriole Parkway,
Toronto, Ont.
KENNARD, F. H.,
Dudley Road,
Newton Centre, Mass., U.S.4
KINDLE. C. H.
Dept. of Geology,
City College,
New York N.Y.
KINDLE, E. M.,
Geological Survey,
Ottawa, Ont.
KINGSTON, A. G.,
120 Gilmour Street,
Ottawa, Ont.
KirTTo, V.,
36 Patterson Ave.,
Ottawa, Ont.
Kurata, T. B.,
359 Ellis Park Road,
Toronto, Ont.

LAING, H. M.,
Comox, B.C.
LAMBERT, Mrs. A. J. F.,
2321 Halifax Street,
Regina, Sask.
LANCELEY, W. He,
23 Elmdale Avenue
Ottawa, Ont.
LANGELIER, GUS.,
188 1845 al

Fauburg St. Jean Baptiste,
Quebec, P. Q.
LAPOIRETTE, PAUL,
College de Saint-Jean,
St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, P.Q.
La RocqQug, A.,
National Museum,
Ottawa, Ont.
LATCHFORD, Hon. F. R.
Osgoode Hall,
Toronto, Ont.
UaTHE, G. H.,
180 Cartier Street,
Ottawa, Ont.
LAVAL UNIVERSITH,
Bibliotheque,
Quebec, P.Q.
LAWRENCE, A. G.,
City Health Department,
Winnipeg, Man.
LEECHMAN, I).,
National Museum,
Ottawa, Ont.
LEES, W. A. D.,
P.O. Box 138,
Wetaskiwin, Alta.
LEFEBVRE, O.,
Quebec Streams Commission,
New Court House,
Montreal,P.Q.
LEM, A. H.,
5814 Larch St.
Halifax, N.S.
LEwoNn, E.,
West Lorne, Ont.
LEONARD, Mrs. R. W.,
Springbank,
St. Catherines, Ont.
LEOPOLD, ALDO,
New Soils Building,
University of Wisconsin,
Madison, Wis., U.S.A.
LEWIS, GRACE L.,
Dominion Bureau of Statistics,
- Ottawa, Ont.,
LEWIs, HARRISON F.,
c-o National Parks of Canada
Ottawa, Ont.
Linpsay, R. V.,
61 Brookfield Street,
Toronto, Ont.
LuoybD, Hoyss,
582 Mariposa Avenue,
Rockcliffe Park,
Ottawa, Ont.

85

LuLoyp LIBRARY,
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.
LLoypD, WiLMor,
582 Mariposa Avenue,
Rockleiffe Park,
Ottawa, Ont.
Locipr, SHELLY,
Royal Ontario Museum,
Toronto, Ont.
Los ANGELES MusruM,
Exposition Park,
Los Angeles, Cal., U.S.A.
Lowe, C. W.,
University of Manitoba,
Winnipeg, Man.
Lunn, W. H.,
Hillier, Ont.
Lyon, W. L.,
124 Washington Street,
Waukegan, Ill., U.S.A.

M

MACAULAY, T. B.,
109 Westmount Boulevard,
Westmount. P.Q.
MACDERMID, Miss A,
Box 383,
Renfrew, Ont.
MacDonaLpD CoLLEcE,
Institute of Parasitology,
Quebec, P.Q.
MAcINTOSH, CLAIRE H..
253 Robie Street,
Halifax, N.S.
Mack, H. G.,
c/o Gibson Manufacturing Co.,
Guelph, Ont.
MacLocuuin, Miss A. BE.
43 Inglewood Drive,
Hamilton, Ont.
MAcLULICH, D. A.,
Royal Ontario Museum
of Zoology,
Queen’s Park.
Toronto 5, Ont.
MACNAMARA, CHAS.,
Arnprior, Ont.
MAGEE, M. J.,
603 South Street,
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., U.S.A.
MANITOBA NATURAL History Socimty
317 Simcoe St.,
Winnipeg, Man.
MANITOBA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,
Kennedy Street,
Winnipeg, Man.
MANITOBA UNIVERSITY,
Science Library,
Fort Garry Site,
Winnipeg, Man.
MARCOTTE, ABBE LEON,
St. Charles Seminary,
Sherbrooke, P.Q.
MarrTIn, N.,
274 St. Clarens Avenue,
Toronto, Ont.
MASSACHUSETTS, COMMONWBHALTH OF,
State Library, State House,
Boston, Mass., U.S.A.
McCass,.T. T.,
Barkerville P.O., B.C.
McDONALD, D.,
Deputy Minister of Game and
Fisheries,
Parliament Buildings,
Toronto, Ont.
McDouGat.t, E. G.
Royal Ontario Museum,
Toronto, Ont.
McCELHINNEY, Dr. M. G.,
252 Lisgar Street,
Ottawa, Ont.
McFADDEN, R. W.E.,
4 Hart Street,
Brantford, Ont.
McGanHgEy, Miss PEARL,
193 O’Connor Street,
Ottawa, Ont.
McGEE, Mrs. T. D.
12 Marlborough Ave.
Ottawa. Ont.
McGiLL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,
3459 McTavish Street,
Montreal, P.Q.

86

McILWRAITH ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB,
c/o Wm. Girling,

530 English Street
London, Ont.

McILWRAITH, T. F.,

50 St. Leonard’s Avenue,
Toronto 12, Ont.

McKECcHBNIE, S. W. C.,

765 Granville Street,
Vancouver, B.C.

McKInnon, Mrs. J.S.,

24 Jeanne d’Arc Street,
Hull, P.Q

McLaInB, L. 8.,

Entomological Branch,
Department of Agriculture,
Ottawa, Ont.

McMaster UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,
Westdale,

Hamilton, Ont.

McNairren, N. A.,

332 Bay St., South,
Hamilton, Ont.

MEMORIAL COLLEGE LIBRARY,
St. John’s, Newfoundland.

MEREDITH, R.,

46 Dalhousie Street,
Quebec, P.Q.

MpRRIMAN, R. O.,

101 Clergy Street West,
Kingston, Ont.

MiOHIGAN STatm COLLEGE,
Library,

East Lansing, Mich., U.S.A.

MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,
Ann Arbor, Mich., U.S.A.

MILLEN, Miss C.,

190 Coltrin Road,
Rockeliffe Park,
Ottawa, Ont.

MILLER, G. A.,

180 Belmont St.,
Ottawa, Ont.

MILNEs, H.,

22 Bay Street,
Woodstock, Ont.

MINArD, Miss R.,

154 Pretoria Avenue,
Ottawa, Ont.

MINNESOTA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,
University Farm,

St. Paul, Minn., U.S.A.

MITCHELL, Mrs. O. ge
24 Wychwood Park,
Toronto, Ont.

MONTREAL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE,
Atwater and Tupper Streets,
Westmount, P.Q.

MONTREAL UNIVERSITY,
Botanical Laboratory,

St. Denis Street,
Montreal, P.Q.

Morris, Dr. ROBERT T.,
Box 554,

Stamford, Conn., U.S.A.

MousL.ey, H.,

4073 Tupper Street,
Westmount, Montreal, P.@.

Munro, J. A.

Okanagan Landing, B.C.

Mourip, A.

University of Michigan.
Ann Arbor, Mich., U,S.A.

Murpenuy. Miss L.,

1535 Summerhill Avenue,
Montreal, P.Q.

N

NATIONAL PARKS OF CANADA,
Department of Interior,
Ottawa, Ont.

NATURE,

c/o Macmillan & Co. Limited,
St. Martin Street,
London, we. 2, England.

NBEDLUER, A. W .F
Ellerslie, P.E. I.

NEWCOMBE, W. A.,

138 Dallas Road,
Victoria, B.C.

New LISKEARD PuBLIC LIBRARY,

New Liskeard, Ont.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

Newton, H. E.,
P.O. Box 935,
Victoria, B.C.
New YorK BOTANICAL GARDBN,
Bronx Park,
New York, N.Y., U.S.A.
NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE OF FOREST.
RY,

Syracuse, N.Y., U.S.A.
New York STATE LIBRARY,
, Albany, N.Y., U.S.A.

NEw York ZOOLOGICAL Socigty,
185th Street, Bronx,
New York, N. Ya, US

NICHOLS, C. K.,

31 Ethelbert Place,
Ridgewood, N.J., U.S.A.

NIcHOLsS, D. A.,

National Museum,
Ottawa, Ont.

Nicou, Couin,

152 Woisey Avenue,
Montreal West, P.Q.
NorMAL SCHOOL,
c/o The Librarian,
London, Ont.
NORMAL SCHOOL,
Elgin Street,
Ottawa, Ont.

Normal School,
Peterborough, Ont:

Norton, Mrs. Harry A.,
Edgewater Farm,
Ayers Cliff, Que.

oO °

OBERHOLSER, H. C.,
2805 18th Street N.W.,
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
O’ConnoR, J., L.,
Dominion Observatory,
Ottawa, Ont.
OuIO STATE UNIVERSITY,
Library,
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.
ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLHGR,
Library,
Guelph, Ont.
ONTARIO LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY,
Library,
Toronto, Ont.
OSLO ZOOLOGICAL MusBuM,
Library,
Oslo, Norway.

P

PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY
Ottawa, Ont.
PATON, H.,
P.O. Box 2646,
Montreal, P.Q.
Pauuson, C. W. G.
c-o Sir R. G. Ellis, Bart.,
10 King’s Bench Walk,.
Temple) London,
England.
PPRARSE, THEED,
P.O. Box 158,
Courtney, B.C.
PEARSON, DR. T. GILBERP,
1974 Broadway,
New York, N.Y., U.S.A.
PENNSYLVANIA "BIOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS,
University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A.
PENNSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY, LIBRARY,
34th Street & Woodland Avenue,
Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A.
PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION,
South Office Building,
Harrisburg, Pa., U.S.A.
PETERS, ROBERT,
Red Willow,
Alberta.
PETROLIA HIGH SCHOOL,
Petrolia, Ont.
PHELPS, FRANK M.,
312 Fifth Street,
Elyria, Ohio, U.S.A
PHILLIPS, JOHN C.,
Wenham, Mass., U.S.A.

(VoL. XLVIII

PORBILD, A. E.,
Aklavik, N. W.T.
Porsiup, Dr. M. P.,
Director, Den Danske Arktiske
Station,
Disko, Greenland.
PORBILD, R. T.
1516 Trafalgar Street,
Vancouver B. C.
POTTER, LAWRENCE B.,
Gower Ranch,
East End, Sask.
PREBLE, FE. A.,
Biological Survey,
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
PREUSSISCHE STATS-BIBLIOTHEK,
Unter den Linden 38,
Berlin, N.W. 7, Germany.
PRINCE, Pror. FE. E.,
321 McLeod Street,
Ottawa, Ont.
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,
Princeton, N.J., U.S.A.
PRITCHARD, A. L.,
Pacific Biological Station,
Nanaimo, B.C.

Q

QueBec Society PROTECTION OF BIRDS,
c-o Mrs. C. L. Henderson,
1536 St. Mathew Street,
Montrea]
QUEENS UNIVERSITY,
Douglas Library,
Kingston, Ont.

R

RABBITS, GOWER,
P.O. Box 5258,
St. Johns, Newfoundland.

Racry, Miss. H. S.,

30 ° ebert Street,
Quebec, P.Q.

RACEY, KENNETH,

3262 First Avenue,
West Vancouver, B.C.

Racry, THOMAS,

193 Walnut Street,

Winnipeg, Manitcba
RAND, AUSTIN L.,

74 State St.,

Seneca Falls, N.Y., U.S.A.

RAWSON, Dr. D.S.,
Department of Biology,
University of Saskatchewan,
Saskatoon, Sask.

RAYNES, G. W.,

209 Miller Ave.,
Portsmouth, N.H., U.S.A

RICHARDSON, H.,

182 Rusholme Road,
Toronto, Ont.

Ricker, Miss H.S.,

94 Park Street,
Truro, N.S
RICKER, WM. E.,
Pacific Salmon Research Station,
Veddar Crossing B.C.
RIDLEY COLLEGE,
Upper School,
St. Catherines, Ont.

Roserts, T. 8.

University of Minnesota,
St. Paul, Minn.

RONAYNBE, JOHN,

Pemberton Meadows, B.C.

Ross, F. D.,

P.O. Box 370,
Quebec, P.Q.

ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE,
198 College Street,
Toronto, Ont.

RUSSELL, LoRIs S.,

National Museum,
Ottawa, Ont.

5

Sanson, N. B.,
Banff, Alta.

SARNIA COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE,
Sarnia, Ont.

May, 1984]

SAUNDERS, W. E.,
240 Central Avenue,
London, Ont.
SCIENCE LIBRARY,
Science Museum,
South Kensington,
London, S. W, 7.
Scott, E. N.,
Box 955,
Port Colborne, Ont.
Scott, W. L.,
383 Stewart Street,
Ottawa, Ont.
SENCKENBERG BIBLIOTHEK,
Victoria Allec 8,
Frankfurt-onM ain,
Germany.
SETON, ERNEST T.,
Seton Village,
Sante Fé, New Mexico, U.S.A.
SHAW, CLIFFORD,
Bulyea, Sask.
SHaw, W. T.,
1002 Cambridge Avenue,
Fresno, Cal., U.S.A.
SHEPPARD, R. W.,
1805 Moreland Ave.,
Niagara Falls, Ont.
SHERMAN, Miss A. R.,
National,
via McGregor, Iowa, U.S.A.
SHERWOOD, E. S.,
140 Wellington Street,
Ottawa, Ont.
SHIRAS 38RD, GEO.,
4530 Klingle Street,
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
SHuTT, Dr. F. T.,
Warrington Drive,
Ottawa, Ont.
SIFTON, Dr. H. B.,
10 Rathnally Ave.,
Toronto, Ont.
SKINNER, M. P.,
1316 Harding Street,
Long Beach, Cal., U.S.A.
SMALL, Dr. H. B.,
150 Laurier Avenue West,
Ottawa, Ont.
SMART, Miss E.,
300 Acacia Ave.,
Rockcliffe Park.
Ottawa, Ont,
SMILEY, A. K.. Jr.,
Mohonk Lake, N.Y., U.S.A.
SMITH, Miss BE. A.
136 Stanley Avenue,
Ottawa, Ont.
SMITH, FRANK,
79 Fayette Street,
Hillsdale, Mich., U.S.A.
SMITH, NAPIER,
153 Westminster Avenue North,
Montreal West, P.Q.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,
U.S. National Museum,
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
SNELL, C. H.,
Red Deer, Alta.
SNYDER, L. L.,
Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology,
Toronto, Ont.

SociETE PROVENCHER D’HISTOIRE Na-
TURELLE DU CANADA,
38 Sherbrooke Street,
Quebec, P.Q.
SOPER, J. D.,
Department of Interior,
N.W.T. & Yukon Branch,
Ottawa, Ont.

SPEECHLY, Dr. H. M.,
609 Medical Arts Building,
Winnipeg, Man.

SPEIRS, J. M.,
17 Wolfrey Avenue,
Toronto 6, Ont.

SPENCER, G. J.,
Department of Zoology,
University of British Columbia,

ancouver, B.C.

SquiIrEs, Mrs. NATHAN C.,
Fredericton, N.B.

STEPHENS, Dr. T. C.,
Morningside College,
Sioux City, Iowa, U.S.A.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

STERNBERG, CHAS. M.,
Geological Survey,
Ottawa, Ont.
STEWART, Dr. D. A.
Manitoba Sanatorium,
Ninette, Man.
SWEDISH RoyAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE,
Stockholm, Sweden.

T
Tarr: €.-6:
4134 Old Orchard,
N. D. G.

Montreal, P. Q.

TAVERNER, P. A.,

National Museum,
Ottawa, Ont.

TAYLOR, B. W.,

Director of Fish Culture,
Room 206, Biological Building,
Montreal, P.Q.

TERRILL, LEWIs M.,

24 Prince Arthur Avenue,

St. Lambert, P.Q.
THACKER, T. L.

Little Mountain,

Hope, B.C.

THEXTon, H.,

10 Regent Street,
Ottawa, Ont.

THOMPSON, STUART,

286 Wychwood Avenue,
Toronto, Ont.

THOMSON, M. M.

Dominion Observatory,
Ottawa, Ont.

THOMSON, Pror. R. B.,
Botanical Laboratories,
University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ont.

THORNE, H. M.,

c/o B. L. Thorne,
3027 6th Street West,
Calgary, Alta.

TORONTO FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUuB,
Treasure,

C. G. Brennand,
229 Forman Avenue,
N. Toronto, Ont.

TORONTO UNIVERSITY,
Department of Geology,
Toronto, Ont.

TORONTO UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,
Toronto, Ont.

TOWNSEND, Dr. CHAS. W.,
Ipswich, Mass., U.S.A.

TOWNSON, JOHN,

2104 Queen Street East,
Toronto, Ont.

Tuck, JOHN R.,
11126-90th Avenue,
Edmonton, Alta.

Turts, R. W.,

Wolfville, N.S.

TURNBULL, J. F.,

R.R. No. 3,
Orillia, Ont.

TURNER, Dr. G. H.,

Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.

TYRRELL, J. B.,

930 Canadian Bank of Commerce
Building,

25 King Street West,

Toronto 2, Ont.

U

USSHER, R. D.,
Nancy Lake Farm,
King, Ont.

Vv

VAN CLEAVE, H. J.,
Department of Zoology
University of Illinois,
Urbana, 1ll., U.S.A.
VANCOUVER NATURAL History So-
CIETY,
c—-o W. F. Connor,
3222 W. 36th Street,
Vancouver, B.C.

87

VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY,
Main and Hastings Ave.,
Vancouver, B.C.

VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
Victoria, B.C. ;

Ww

WALKER, BRYANT,
1306 Dime Bank Building,
Detroit, Mich., U.S.A.
WALKER, Dr. E. M..,
67 Alcina Avenue,
Toronto, Ont.
WALSH, M. J.
167 Queen Street,
Ottawa, Ont.
WANLESS, Mr
6 Teraulay Street,
Toronto, Ont.
WarREN, F. R.,
1511 Wood Avenue,
Colorado Springs, Col., U.S.A.
WARREN, Miss. K.
“Elmhurst”
Warren, Ont.
WARWICK, F. W.,
36 Blenheim Street,
Galt, Ont.
WASHINGTON STATE COLLEGE LIBRARY
Pullman, Wash., U.S.A.
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY,
Puget Sound Biological Station,
Seattle, Wash., U.S.A.
WEEMS, F. C.,
23 Wall Street,
New York, N.Y., U.S.A.
WENZEL, JOHN.
5 Water Street,
Stratford, Ont.
WESTMOUNT PUBLIC LIBRARY,
Westmount, P.Q.
WHELEN, R. V.,
Smoky Falls,
via Kapuskasing, Ont.
WHITE, Mrs. E. F. G.,
185 Wurtemburg Street,
Ottawa, Ont.
WHITE, ED. F. G.,
185 Wurtemburg Street,
Ottawa, Ont.
WHITEHEAD, A. B.,
302 Grande Allée,
Quebec, P.Q.
WHITEHuURST, Miss K. E.,
110 Prospect Avenue,
Westboro, Ont. ~
WHITEHURST, Miss P.,
Westboro, Ont.
WICKENDEN, R.T.D.
6 Pretoria Ave.,
Ottawa, Ont.
WICKSTEED, MIss W.,
412 Sparks Street,
Ottawa, Ont.

- WILLEY, PRoF. ARTHUR,

R.R. No. 1,
Mille Isles,
St. Jerome, P.Q.
WILLIAMS, Dr. M. Y.,
University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, B.C.
WILSON, Miss ALICE E.,
Geological Survey,
Ottawa, Ont.
WILSON, Miss E.,
Acacia Avenue,
Rockcliffe Park,
Ottawa, Ont.
WILSON, Dr. M. E.,
Department of Mines,
Ottawa, Ont.
WINNIPEG PUBLIC LIBRARY
Main Branch,
William Avenue,
Winnipeg, Man.
WINSON, J. W.,
Huntingdon, B.C.
WINTEMBURG, W. J.,
16 Grosvenor Avenue,
Ottawa, Ont.
Wniro BOoLoTNAJA,
14, Maskwa,
U.S.S.S., Russia

88 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST [VoL. XLVIII
Woop, Dr. C. A., Wricut, H. H., Y
Authors’ Club, Royal Military College,
2 Whitehall Club, Kingston, Ont. YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,
London, S.W.I., England. WRIGHT, J. FRANK, New Haven, Conn., U.S.A.
Woop, Cou. Wo., Geological Survey, YEOMANS, Miss A.,
59 Grande Allee, Ottawa, Ont. 212 Coronation Bldg.
Quebec, P.Q. WRIGHT, Miss S. E., Montreal. P.Q.
Wricut, Dr. A. H., 88 Victoria St. Young, C. H.,
Zoological Laboratory Ottawa, Ont. National Museum,
Cornell University, WyLIk, Mrs. T. C., Ottawa, Ont.
Ithaca, N.Y., U.S.A. Lisgar and O’Connor Sits.
WRIGHT, G. M., Ottawa, Ont. z
213 Hilgard Hall, WyYNNE-EDWARDS, V. C., ZOOLOGICAL Society, LONDON
University of California, McGill University, Regents Park,
Berkeley, Cal., U.S.A. Montreal, P.Q. London, N.W. 8, England.

Perc

EXCURSIONS OF THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ CLUB, 1934

MAY 5—McKay Lake and vicinity. Take Lindenlea O. E. R. car and meet
at Butternut Avenue and Maple Lane at 3 p. m. Leaders—Mr.
Hoyes LLoyD and others.

MAY 12—Ottawa River, Hintonburgh. Take Somerset O. E. R. car to
Parkdale Avenue, walk to north end of Parkdale, and meet at
riverside at 3 p.m. Leaders—Dr. HARRISON F. LEWIS and others.

MAY 19—Fairy Lake. Take Hull E. R. car at Chateau Laurier for Wright-
ville, and meet at Wrightville terminusat 8p.m. Leaders—Mr.C.
E. JOHNSON, Dr. RALPH DE LurRyY, Mr. Hoves LuLoyp and others.

MAY 26—Britannia. Take Britannia O. E. R. car, and meet at terminus
at 3 p.m. Leaders—Dr. R. M. ANDERSON and others.

JUNE 2—Richmond — Franktown — Perth—Carleton Place. Route will
follow old stage road to Perth. Meet National Museum 2.30. Bring
lunch. Leader—Dr. M. E. WILSON.

JUNE 9—Pink’s Lake. Meet Old Chelsea 3 p. m. sharp. Bring lunch.
Leaders—Miss PEGGY WHITEHURST and others.

JUNE 16—McKay Lake. Microscopic aquatic life. Meet at outlet bridge
on Driveway, McKay Lake, 3 p.m. Leaders—MEssrs. W. E.
HARRIS, DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, and others.

JUNE 21—Dominion Experimental Farm. By invitation of the Director,
Dr. E. 8. Archibald. Meet at Observatory 4.20 p.m. Tea on
lawn at 6 p.m. This is a joint meeting with the Ottawa and
Westboro Horticultural Societies.

JUNE 28—Hiawatha Park. Meet Laurier Ave. E.,at Goulburn Ave. 3 p.m.
Leaders—MR. ARTHUR CROWSON and others.

JUNE 30—Long Lake, Buckingham. Meet at Printing Bureau 3 p.m.

Bring lunch or eat at Daly’s Inn, 50c. Bring Bathing Suits. -

An excellent opportunity to study nocturnal animal habits.
Leader—F. J. FRASER.

Give your active support on the above dates by bringing your car
along with you.

F. J. FRASER. Phone: Office Q. 2742. Res. R. 281

SS eE—S—_—ST—_———T—T—E———™T—_E—eS—E—E—S FS SES

J

_ NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF
MANITOBA
1929-30

President Emeritus: C.E. BAsTIN; President: G. SHIRLBY
Brooks, Past Presidents: H. M. SPEECHLY, M.D., C. W.
Lows, M.Sc., A. A. McCousrey, J. B. WALLIS, M.A.,
et W. JACKSON M.Sc., A. M.Davipson, M.D., R. A
hfe M.Sc.; Vice-Presidents: Mrs. L. R. SIMPSON,

L. BrotEy, W. H. Ranp, Dr. R. S. Kirk, B. W.
cciawucen A. BuRTON GRESHAM, Treasurer: A.
LAWRENCE; Auditor: R. M. THOMAS; Social Convenor:
Mrs. A. J. SHARLE; General Secretary: NORMAN LOWE,
_ 317 Simcoe St., Winnipeg; Executive Secretary: J. HADDOW.

, Section Chairman Secretary
Ornithological L. T. S. NorRIs-E.Lyz, B.A. A. H. SHORTT
Entomological A. V. MITCHENER, M.Sc. Miss M.F. PRATT
_ Botanieal Mrs. I. M. PRIESTLY Mrs. H. T. Ross
Geological Miss C. J. EGAN, iets oe STOKES

_ Iehthyological FERRIS NEAVE, M.Sc. G. D. RUSSELL

Mammalogical V. W. JACKSON, M.Sc. J.

Microscopy 5
Zoology R. A. WARDLE, M.Sc.
C. W. Lowe, M.Sc.

- Botany

Meetings are held each Monday evening, except on holiday
_ from October to April, in the physics theatre of the University,
Winnipeg. Field excursions are held each Saturday after-
noon during May, June and September, and on public holidays
during July and August.

P: KENNEDY

H.CHAS. PEARCE

THE HAMILTON BIRD PROTECTION
SOCIETY

(Incorporated)

“Aon, President: W. EB. SAUNDERS, London, Ont.; President:
x He Rev. CaLvin McQussTon; Vice-President: R. OWEN MERRI-
one mA, M.A., Kingston, Ont.; First Vice-President: Dr. H. G.
at ARNOTT; Second Vice-President: Mrs. F. E. MACLOGHLIN;

Recording Secretary: J. ROLAND BROWN; Secretary-Treasurer:
MIss_ Nina Duncan; Assistant Secretary- Treasurer: Miss E.
IN; Junior Committee: Miss M. E. GRAHAM; Pro-
ue Committee: Rev. C. A. HEAVEN; Extension Committee:

s

| MeILWRAITH ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB,
LONDON, ONT. |

Mr. EDISON MATTHEWS, 554 Central nes London
ice-President: Mr. E. D. BRAND, 148 William Street,
Ont.; Recording Secretary: MR. VERNON FRANKS, 195
i ‘Ave. -» London, Ont.;
or: Mr. W. G. GIRLING, 530 English St., London,
igration Secretary: Mr. E. M. S. DAB, 297 Hyman
London, Ont.; Members qualified to answer questions:
AUNDERS, 240 Central Avenue, London, Ont.;
\TSON, 201 Ridout Street South, Pendens Ont.;
VERT, 461 Tecumseh A venue, London, Ont.; E. M.S.
97 tee Street, London, Ont.

“JOHN DAVIDSON, F.L. igen ae E.,

-President: Pror. M. Y. Wit

-F. Connor, M.A., 3222 W. 36th

; First Assistant Secretary: Miss

tant gle Mr. VERNON WIE-

H. Bain, 2142 Collingwood.

leads Mrs. McCrimmMon;

Situ, Mr. J. D. TURNBULL,

I P T, Mr. R. J. CUMMING; Au-
ELWOOD, Ww. i woupe

t 8 p.m., ‘Auditorium, Normal School, 10th

; Enable ear unless: Cee ee announced, -

ACF

Un versity of B.C.;
Ho norary Aah é

i First Vice-President;
I geeeecaent: Dr.C. J. BASTIN:
eae 3262 West Ist Ave.

Corresponding Secretary and

Afiliated Societies

_ PROVINCE OF QUEBEC SOCIETY FOR THE

PROTECTION OF BIRDS INC.

OFFICERS & COMMITTEE:

Past Presidents:. Mr. L. MclI. TERRES Mr. NAPIER SMITH:
Mr. W. S. Hart; President: Mrs. C. L. HENDERSON; Vice-
Presidents: Mr. H. A. C. JACKSON, Miss M. S. NICOLSON;
Vice-President and Treasurer: Mk. HENRY MOUSLEY; Secretary:
Miss M. SEatH; Curator: Miss HoPpE MCLACHLAN. Committee:
Dr. W. W. BEATTIE, Mrs. C.F. DALE, Mr. J. A. DECARTE,
Mr. W.S. Hart, Mrs. H. Hipsert, Miss K. D. MALCOUR-
ONNE, Miss P. B. MATTINSON, Miss EDITH Morrow, MIés
L. Murpay, Mr. R. A. OUTHET, Mr. NAPIER SmitH, MR
L. Mcl.SpAcKMAN, Mr. L. McI. TERRILL, MR. G. J. C.
TIGAR, V. C WYNNE-EDWARDS.

Address all pon nC ne Ea to the Society at P.O. Box 1185
Montreal, P.Q., Canada

SeIeTE PROVANCHER D’HISTOIRE
' NATURELLE DU CANADA

»

Patron Honoraire: Son Excellence, LE TRES HONORABLE
CoMTE DE BESSBOROUGH, P.C., -C.M.G., Gouverneur-
cenael du Canada; _ Vice-Patron Honoraire: HONORABLE

H. CARROLL, Lieutenant-Gouverneur de la Province
ae Québec; Bureau de Direction pour 1934: Président: EDGAR
RocHETTE, C.R., M.P.P.; ier vice-président:+G. STUART
AHERN; 2iéme vice-président: Dr. J.-E. BERNIER; Secrétaire-
trésorier: Louis-B. LAvoIE; Chef de la section "acientifique:
Dr. D.-A. DeERY; Chef de la section de Pieroni éducation-
nelle: -ALPHONSE DESILETS, B.S.A.; Chef de section de
protection: ADRIEN Fase: C.R.; Chef Poe la
d'information scientifique pratique: JAMES F.
: A. W. eee RB. MEREDITH, N.P.,

4
Secrétaire-trésorier: LOUISs-B. LAVOIE
- 38, rue Sherbrooke, Québec.

THE TORONTO F IELD-NATURALISTS’
CLUB

OFFICERS FOR 1938-34.

Honorary President: Dr. A. P. COLEMAN; President: ARNOTT
M.PATTERSON; Hon. Vice-Presidents: Hon. G. H. CHALLIES.
Mr. J. H. FLeminc, Dr. N. A. POWELL; Vice-President: MR.
F. P. Ips, Secretary-Treasurer: J. P. OUGHTON, Chairman o}
Conservation Committee: _ Mrs. S. L. THompson; Council—
Dr. E. M. WALKER, S. L. THompson, Pror. J. R. DyMoND
C. S. FARMER, Pror. T. F. McILWRAITH, DR. NORMA
ForD, MAGISTRATE J. E. Jones, L. T. OWENS; RUPERT
Be ae F. C. Hurst, Dr. T. M. C. TAYLOR, C. G. BRENNAND;
Dr. P. CLARKSON, S. B. BOE READE. Leaders: Birds—
Moca $s. L. THOMPSON, L. L. SNyDER, J. L. BAILLIE, JR.
Pror. T. F. McILwralita, R. Vv. Linpsay, R. M. SpPEIRs,
F. H. Emery, T. SHORTT, HUBERT RICHARDSON, R. J,
RUTTER. Mammals—Pror. A. F. COVENTRY, MESSRS. = i
C. Cross, D. A. McLuuicn. Reptiles and Amphibians—
Messrs. E. B. S. Locimr, WM. LERAY. Fish—Pror. J. R.

Dymonp, Pror. W. J. K ARUN ESS Insects—Dr. EB.
M. WALKER, DR. ee Forp, Mr. F. P aed Fete aR ie
R. B. THOMSON, H. B. SIFToN, Dr. T.M.C. TAYLOR;

Mr. W. R. W ATEN, ' MR. L. T. OWENS. ones toe E.
M. WALKER, J. P. OUGHTON. Geology—Dr. A. P. COLEMAN:
Pror. A. MCLEAN.

We would ask the Officers, and more
particularly the Secretaries, of all the
Affiliated Societies to assist us in our
task of building up the circulation of
this magazine. By securing every
member as a subscriber we can truly
_make this magazine into one of the
leading Natural History publications
of America. Piaaes

Apply101 CLERGY STREET, W.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY of JOHN MACOUN, M. A.

These are attractively bound, and contain a

wealth of information concerning Canadian

Natural History and Exploration. The author |

was a former President of the Club and this is a
Memorial Volume

PRICE $3.00. = 305 pp.

WILMOT LLOYD
582 Mariposa Avenue

FOR SALE:—

COMPLETE SET OF THE CLUB’S
PUBLICATIONS
1879-1932

_ This is a rare opportunity. For particulars
address the Treasurer—

WILMOT LLOYD
582 Mariposa Avenue

FORM
OF

ee eee eee eee

BEQUEST

ww ewe ee en cw enceeccaseece

FOR SALE

A Complete Set of — :
LIFE HISTORIES OF ©
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS”

BY

A. C. BENT

The very scarce ‘‘Diving Birds” volume
is newly bound in red buckram, top edge
gilt, other edges uncut, gilt lettered spine.

The other volumes are in the original
paper wrappers, edges uncut as issued. _

KINGSTON, ONT.

Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa |

Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa

I do hereby give and bequeath fo The ‘Otaws Field- |
Naturalists’ Club of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada the ‘sur

Special profusely? “illus me eben of , The,
‘‘Naturalist’’, 86 pages, 31 illustrations. aeseeys
Canadian should know this prize essay. oe

PRICE FIFTY CENTS

WILMOT LLOYD
582 Mariposa Avenue Rockeliffe Park,

WILMOT LLOYD, _ : S
Treasurer, ‘Ottawa’ Ficld-Naturalists? club,
582 Mariposa Avenue,

Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa.

Enclosed please find $2.00 as lineenBei 1ip
The O.F.-N.C, and Subscription to eee Canadian
_ Field-Naturalist for the year 1933. F

Name

Address

an eeewececcecccareccocce:

City, Prov. or State. se te Beas — one

100 Doll

es Resesnend ae!
3. High seein

se, CHO

35) 3H3

VOL. XLVIII, No. 6 SEP 7 . 1934 SEPTEMBER, 1934

‘ ( “ =|
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SSS

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Entered at the Ottawa Post Office as second-class matter

THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ U

,

Batrons: sh see i
THEIR EXCELLENCIES THE GOVERNOR GENERAL AND COUNTESS OF BESSBOROUGH

President: M. E. WILSON. Lc se
1st Vice-President: HERBERT GROH © 2nd Vice-President: -P. A. TAVERNER ~
Secre’ary:; GRACE S. LEWIS, _ Treasurer: a LLOYD, 582 Mariposa Ave., —

344 Lisgar Road, Rockcliffe Park. -Roekcliffe Park.

(i f | | Tor AN NR SEER CO ;
Additional Members of Conteit: PF. i Aucock, R. M. ANDERSON, M. E. Cowan, H. G:- Cie cae
ARTHUR CROWSON, R. By DeLuryY, F. J. FRASER, A. HALKETT, C. E. JoHNson, A. G. KINGSTON, _
E. M. KinpLeE, W. H. LANCELEY, A. LAROocQuE, DouGLAS LEECHMAN, HARRISON F. Lewis,
Hoyes Luoyp, MARK G. McELHINNEY, A. E. PoRSILD, E. E. Prince, L. S: RUSSELL, J. DEWEY _
Soper, C. M. ‘STERNBERG, E. F. G. WHITE, PEGGY Wuireuurst, R. T. D. WICKENDEN, W. J.
WINTEMBERG, and the following Presidents of Affiliated Societies: G. SHIRLEY BRooKS, CALVIN _
McQuESTON, EDISON MATTHEWS, JOHN DAVIDSON, M. Y. WILLIAMS, C.L. Payee oN: W. STUART
ATKINSON, ARNOTT M. PATTERSON. oa eee fe

Auditors: A. G. Kincston and Harrison F. Lewis. ere

- Editor:
DouGLAS LEECHMAN Se
National Museum, Ottawa, Canada.

Associate Editors: ge

I CENNESS Ohne Sek Anthropology ClepE Lp Arent gr BLS Herpetology —
BPOR EY ios imi cle GG abe weer aie ona ee eee eraire A Botany _R.M. ANDERSON......... ees Mammalogy —
OR GATCHFORD 20) ccs = oe Conchology AG CETUNTSNANG ce 5): Oe as M arine Biology —
ARTHUR GIBSON.........2e+005: Entomology PAW TAVERNERS sis cie oa cee aces Ornithology — a
Mey SANCOCK: .Sicirak Case ctw causes ee Geology BsMAKINDIE 3 ueteaies Geese Felponlay
_ CONTENTS | é
, «! ‘PAGE
Malte Oscar: Malte 25 eo Raat ade eat et oee erates MA Ree cern aa cata ee sR ie ene cere ah 80:5
M. O. Malte as a Systematic Baraat By M.L. Fernald....... Upttgh GREENE Tih aio en eeneeT Ee a) on
An Ontario Sand-Fall. By Hoyes Lloyd.................00ccceeeaee FE rat USELESS Oa Seer Oe
Some 1931 Bird Notes from London, Ontario. By E. M.S. Dale ........ is raga aes Re Cae ee ke
Some Notes on the Praying Mantis. By OLB: Hutchings PRS co eh Pair aR M Ge ADR A. ae Seeyanee aan ae
Notes on Birds of the Labrador Peninsula in 1931, ae and 1933. By Harrison Fr ewa
Notes and Observations:— ee ce a
Ajuga genevensis L.—Erect Page | in Canada. By Herbert Gon Fas Suen eee . Be edi tee
Was the Introduction of the Muskrat to Graham Island, Queen Charlotte Island Unwise? :
"By WO Pritchard! 0 OSes ca ie tke Aa nan eit ae dese ence ae pment yer gis
The White-Tailed Jack Rabbit in Manitoba. By J.R. Dyinond Bee GaeR La ONE
Black Crappiesin British Columbia. By J ohn Lawson ‘art. 00. ean aren

The official publications of THE OTTAWA Store thee CLUB have
since 1879. The first were The Transactions of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club, ‘18
ii two volumes; the next, The Ottawa Naturalist, 1886-1919, thirty-two volumes; ‘and t
# been continued by The Canadian Field-Naturalist to date. The Canadian Field-Nat
issued monthly, except for the months of June, July and August. Its scope is the yub
# of the results of original research in all REET of Natural History. pees

te Price of this volume A numbers) ae 00; atnele copies 25¢ cack a ae

IO
SO

The Canadian Field- Naturalist

VOL. XLVIII

OTTAWA, CANADA, SEPTEMBER, 1934

No. 6

MALTE OSCAR MALTE

SCAR MALTE was born in Skillinge,
Sweden, on March 8, 1880, his father
being a merchant of that town. His
early education was received from a

Bene (}

private tutor. When he was twelve years
old he entered the collegiate school of Ystad
and in 1899 he became an _ undergraduate
of the University of Lund, where he obtained
the degree of B.A. four years later with

especially high honours not only in his
botanical subjects but also in zoology, chem-
istry and physics. In 1910 he received the
degree of Licentiate of Philosophy, again
carrying honours in systematic botany and
plant physiology. In the same year he success-
fully defended a thesis for the degree of Ph.D.
This paper was entitled Embryological and
Cytological Investigations in Mercurialis annua
and comprised 96 pages with 3 plates. From
the time Dr. Malte received his B.A. degree
until he left Sweden for Canada his time must
have been very fully occupied. For six years he
acted as “amanuensis” at the Botanic Garden of
Lund, being responsible for the correct naming
of the plants growing in the garden, which
was no mean undertaking. During the same
period he was Curator of the herbarium of the
Botanical Exchange Club of Lund, and was one
of a committee responsible for the correctness
of the names of all plants exchanged. The
number of species and varieties exchanged
was large, as many as 3,000 passing through
the hands of the committee in a year.:

He obtained in 1903 a special grant for the
study of the marine flora of the west coast of
Sweden, and the following year he was again
successful in obtaining a grant for studying
the myxomycetes of Sweden. During the
summer vacations of 1905-1907 inclusive, and
again for part of the summer of 1910, he acted
as Assistant at the Plant Breeding Station,
Svalof.

In 1910 Dr. Malte decided to join the staff
of the Dominion Department of Agriculture.
Mr. L. H. Newman, who, as Secretary to the
Canadian Seed Growers’ Association, was in

Sweden working at Svalof, wrote as follows:
“From these people (the scientific men of
Sweden) I was able to learn that Dr. Malte
occupied an unusually high place as a scientist,
teacher and citizen. He was exceedingly pop-
ular among both young and old, a fact which
was demonstrated in no uncertain terms at the
farewell banquet which was tendered him at
the University of Lund”.

On his arrival in Ottawa Dr. Malte was
attached to the Seed Branch, Dominion Depart-
ment of Agriculture. During this period he
spent the winter months reviewing the collect- .
ion in the Herbarium of the Department of
Mines, then in charge of Professor John
Macoun. The summer of 1911 was spent in
studying the flora of Canada in the field and
in making large collections of plants in all the
provinces of Canada. In 1912 he received his
appointment as Dominion Agrostologist with
headquarters at the Central Experimental
Farm, Ottawa. The duties of the Dominion
Agrostologist are considerably wider than the
title might indicate, since the division of which
he is in charge is responsible for the improve-
ment and development of all forage crops
suitable to Canadian conditions, which, owing
to the size of the country, must necessarily
vary enormously. In addition to the field work
which was conducted at the Experimental
Farm at Ottawa, Dr. Malte was responsible
for conducting experiments and trials at the
experimental farms and demonstration stations
which are operated by the Department of
Agriculture in every province of the Dominion.
This naturally entailed a vast amount of cor-
respondence, travelling, supervision of staff,
handling of finances and other executive work.

One of the first, and perhaps the most im-
portant piece of work which Dr. Malte under-
took, was the study of the natural hay and
pasture resources of Canada from a botanical
point of view. He was particularly interested
in the genera Poa, Agrostis and Agropyron.
Many of the projects which were initiated by
Dr. Malte are still being carried on. To use

&

90 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

his own words, “vast collections of all kinds
of flowering plants have every year been made,
particularly in the Prairie Provinces and
British Columbia”. In addition to the work
actually pertaining to the position of Agrostol-

ogist, Dr. Malte undertook the determination.

of large numbers of plants from all over the
Dominion. These plants were received from
other Departments, both federal and provincial,
from universities, schools and private indivi-
duals. In the spring of 1920, on the death of
Professor Macoun, he was appointed Honorary
Curator of the National Herbarium. He held
this position until November 1, 1921, when he
was officially appointed as Chief Botanist,
National Herbarium, Department of Mines.
During this short period he classified and
named large collections of plants from the
Hudson Bay region, Lesser Slave Lake, Coast
of British Columbia, Rocky Mountains and the
adjacent plains. While still Dominion Agros-
tologist he co-operated with Professor J.
Macoun and Mr. J. M. Macoun in the prepar-
atfon of the Flora of Ottawa, and with J. M.
Macoun in the compilation of the Flora of
Canada published in 1915. In addition, in co-
operation with Mr. G. H. Clark, Seed Commis-
sioner, he published the revised edition of
Farm Weeds (1909) and Fodder and Pasture
Plants (1918).

When the position of Chief of the Division
of Biology, Department of Mines, was made
vacant by the death of Mr. J. M. Macoun, it
was decided, since the work was entirely of a
botanical nature, to change the classification
of the position to Chief Botanist, National
Herbarium. The appointment of Dr. Malte to
this position met with the undoubted approval
of all the interested people in Canada, for his
reputation as a botanist, in particular as a
systematist, had spread far and wide. His
old friend Professor J. Macoun, father of the
man into whose shoes Dr. Malte had stepped,
wrote, “I consider from every standpoint that
you are the only man in America fitted to take
charge of the work that my son has left behind
him. As regards fitness for the position, it is
so plain to the public that it leaves me nothing
to say, but knowing: your scholastic attainments
and your knowledge of Canadian field botany;
I am free to say that no other man in America
is so well fitted for the position as you are”.

As Chief Botanist Dr. Malte made each year
collecting expeditions to different parts of
Canada, even to the Arctic Circle. He was
especially interested in the Graminee and was
largely responsible for the commencement of a

[VoL. XLVIII

small industry growing and harvesting the
seeds of Agrostis tenuis, A. canina and A.
stolonifera var. compacta, in the provinces of
eastern Canada.

He was never too busy to give generously
of his time and attention to the numerous
serious students of botany who sought his aid
in matters relating to their science.

He was an active member of a number of
societies listed below:—

The Linnean Society of London, England.

The Botanical Society of America, Cam-
bridge, Massachusetts, U.S.

The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club.

Fifth International Botanical Congress, Cam-
bridge, England.

Fourth International Congress
Sciences.

Canadian Forestry Association.

Professional Institute of the Civil Service of
Canada.

Canadian Society of Technical Agriculturists.
Canadian Geographical Society.
Glenlea Golf & Country Club (Honorary

Member).
W. R. W. & H. F. .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Investigations on peculiar bodies found in
the cells of orchidaceous plants. (Appendix to
the Proc. Royal Academy of Sweden, Stock-
holm, 1902.)

. Epilobium hirsutum L. x montanum L. A.
new at (Botanical Notices, Lund, Sweden,
1903.

Alchemilla pratensis L. in Sweden. (Botan-
ical Notices, Lund, 1908.)

The Structure of the Nucleus in the Family
tahun (Botanical Notices, Lund,
1908.

Embryological and Cytological Investiga-
tions in Mercurealis annua L. (Lund, 1910.)

Synopsis of his lecture on “Variation in
Plant Life, its Biological Significance and
Practical Value.” ( Ottawa Naturalist 26: 26,
1912.)

Seed Types in Forage Plants. (Reprint from
Proc. American Breeders’ Association, 8: 528-
536, 1912.)

Report of the Agrostologist, M. O. Malte.
(Canada. Experimental Farm. Reports for
1913-1921.)

Awnless Brome Grass versus Western Rye
Grass. 38 pp. (Canada. Experimental Farm.
Exhibition Circular 10. Ottawa, 1914.)

Sweet Clover—The Truth. 4 pp. (Canada.
Experimental Farm. Exhibition Circular 14.
Ottawa, 1914.)

Summary of Results: Forage Plants, 1913.
32 pp. (Canada. Experimental Farm. Bulletin
76, Ottawa, 1914.)

Growing field, root, vegetable and flower
seeds in Canada. By M. O. Malte and W. T.

of Flant

es
nd

perk

September, 1934]

Macoun. 13 pp. (Canada. Experimental Farm.
Bulletin 22, 2d series. Ottawa, 1915.)

Hybridization in the genus Viola. By M. O
Malte and J. M. Macoun. ( Ottawa Naturalist
Bee d4d,) 161, 1915.)

Summary of Results: Forage Plants, 1914.
25 pp. (Canada. Experimental Farm. Bulletin
84. Ottawa, 1915.)

A Summary Review of the Results of
Alfalfa Experiments. (Agr. Gazette of Canada,
June, 1915, pp. 518-520.)

Flora of Canada. By J. M. Macoun and M.
O. Malte. (Canada Year Book, 1915, pp. 48-55.)

Alfalfa Growing in Eastern Canada. 4 pp.
(Canada. Experimental Farm. Exhibition Cir-
cular 10. Ottawa, 1916.)

Fodder and Pasture Plants. By G. H. Clark
and M. O. Malte. 14 pp. (Canada, Department
of Mines, Museum Bulletin 26. Biological series
6. Ottawa, 1917.)

Flora of Canada. By J. M. Macoun and M.
O. Malte. 14 pp. (Canada. Department of
Mines, Museum Bulletin 26. Biological series
6. Ottawa ,1917.)

Farm Weeds. By G. H. Clark and M. O
Malte. Ottawa, 1919. Illustrated.

Obituary of James Melville Macoun, C.M.G.
The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 34: 38, 1920.

Breeding Methods in Forage Plants. (Proc.
Western Canadian Society of Agronomy, Dec.,
1920, Vol. 1, pp. 64-75.)

Variation and Inheritance in Red
( Scientific Agriculture
NGGeoLO 2M: )

The 1000-Kernel Weight of Seed in Reiation
to Experimental Error. ( Scientific Agriculture,
3: 69-71, 119-122, 1922.)

Report of the Chief Botanist, M. O. Malte,
Geological Survey of Canada. (National Mu-
seum of Canada, Annual Report, 1922 to 1931.)

The First Fifty Years of the Arnold Arbor-
etum. (The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 37:
28, 1923.) ’

Review of “Les Lycopodinées du Québec -
leurs formes mineures”. (The Canadian Field-
Naturalist, 41:18, 1927.)

Review of “Sur Quelques Composées nou-
velles rares ou critiques du Québec oriental’.
‘The Ccnadian Field-Naturalist 41: 19, 1927.)

Review of “Etudes floristiques sur la région
du lac Saint-Jean”. (The Canadian Field-Nai-
uralist, 41: 20, 1927.)

Commercial Bent Grass ( Agrostis) in Can-
ada. Ottawa, 1928. (Reprinted from Annual
Report of the National Museum of Canada for
1926. pp. 105-126. Plates.)

Review of “Grasses of Indiana”. (The Can-
adian Field-Naturalist, 44: 96, 1930.)

The so-called Agropyron caninum (L.)
Beauv. of North America (National Museum

of Canada, Annual Report, 1930, pp. 27-57.
Plates.)

Review of “Flore-Manuel de la Province de
Quebee (The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 46:
96, 1932.)

Clover.
2: 79-83, 125-132, 157-

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 91

Epipactis Helleborine (L.) Cr. found at Ot-
tawa, The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 47: 12,
1933.)

Critical Notes on Plants of Arctic America
Rhodora 36: 172, 1934.)

M. O. MALTE AS A SYSTEMATIC
BOTANIST

By M. L. Fernald, Fisher Professor of Natural
History, Havard University.

To me the death of Dr. Malte, just as he was
reaching the point of great promise in his
botanical work, is a tragedy. Coming to Can-
ada with a ground-work in Systematic Botany
which all educated Swedes so early acquire and
with a special training at the University of
Lund (where he had been Assistant in the
Herbarium) which had fitted him for work on
the floras of northern regions, Malte began his
career in Canada at the Central Experimental
Farm.

His doctor’s thesis at Lund had been a study
in embryology and cytology (published in
1910) and as early as 1902 he had published in
Sweden a paper on cytology. Consequently
the change, when he took up work at the
Central Experimental Farm, was a_ rather
drastic one, for his publications there had to do
primarily with forage plants, and especially
with the grasses of Canada.

Malte had scarcely established himself in the
field of agricultural botany when the untimely
death of the late J. M. Macoun made it ad-
visable to transfer him from the Experimental
Farm to the National Museum at Ottawa,
where he started on a third career. The
traditions of the Botanical Section of the Mu-
seum (formerly the Botanical Section of the
Geological Survey) were those of exploration
and work upon Geographic and Systematic
Betany, primarily of the vascular plants.

Malte’s training in Sweden and his natural
contacts with the active group of Scandinay-
ian botanists led him to concentrate his studies
upon the arctic and subarctic floras of Canada.
Although his field work extended from New
Brunswick to Vancouver and he took over from
J. M. Macoun the work upon the Flora of the
Ottawa District, his heart was in the arctic
work and he seized every opportunity to go on
government boats on their cruises about Hud-
son Bay and through the Arctic Archipelago.

Collaborating with the late Prof. Ostenfeld,
who, at the University of Copenhagen, had
himself been a pioneer in drawing together the

92 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

vast scattered material on the arctic flora, and
also engaging the co-operation of the distin-
guished Greenland scientist, Dr. Morten P.
Porsild, Malte plunged into the work on arctic
floras with a zeal and unflagging industry
which all his friends at Ottawa quickly
recognized. It soon became evident that,
although some others might feel that the
work on the natural vegetation and the
agricultural possibilities of more habitable
regions of Canada might well be _ stressed,
Malte had found the field in which his greatest
interest lay. For many years, partly with
Ostenfeld and partly alone, he studied, revised
and monographed the technical groups of
vascular plants in the arctic regions of North
America, a work in which his native language
and his facility in other languages of Europe
were invaluable aids.

The pioneer work on arctic floras carried on
chiefly by expeditions from European centers
and the very extensive literature on technical
groups of the North in the works of Russians,
Scandinavians, English and other European
scientists made it necessary to check with pre-
cision the diverse results and to establish a
co-operation by correspondence with the bot-
anists at the centers where these older collec-
tions were preserved. Trips to the botanical
museums of Europe and of the United States
were made when possible for exact checking of
identities, and the great files of manuscript
which Malte had worked out give indubitable
evidence of his industry and of the precision
and caution of his work.

As I stated at the opening of this note,
Malte’s death is peculiarly tragic: the critical
scholarship which he had developed and the
very accurate notes on and revisions of north-
ern plants which he had worked out had not
reached completion at his death. Approx-
imately one-half the manuscript on the arctic
flora seems to have been completed except for
minor details. Such matter in this extensive
manuscript as proves to be entirely new and
original is being drawn into final form so that
at least a portion of Malte’s scholarly con-
clusions can be salvaged.

From what I knew of him and his intense
zeal in his work, I cannot help feeling that he
was severely handicapped by two primary con-
ditions which might have been altered. In the
first place, he was isolated from others work-
ing in the same vast field, and it was only
rarely (when he visited the larger botanical
centers) that he came in touch with the fellow-

[Vou. XLVIII

ship of others whose work in his special sub-
ject had reached the same degree of technical

detail. In the second place, Malte was forced
at times to be his own servant. This is a
common condition in too many scientific

establishments, but, surely, when a man of real
intellectual genius is forced to do the routine
work which should fall to the lot of a
technical assistant, it must be said that
he is being handicapped in a way which
would not be tolerated in a successful business
house. Vast sums are spent by our govern-
ments and our educational institutions on sub-
jects which have a practical appeal, but it is
certainly a very short-sighted policy which
loads upon a man of schclarship, ability,
industry and genius the routine work which
demands no special intellectual training.

In spite of the tremendous disadvantages
under which he worked, Malte retained a
cheerful and lovable spirit which all his friends
recognized. It is possible that the temper-
ament which could be always sweet and un-
resentful is just the one upon which imposi-
tions could be forced. One very important
lesson should be drawn from Malte’s willing-
ness to load himself with routine when the
important scientific work for which he was
trained and which he yearned to do was being
neglected; this is the imperative meed of
providing the competent and thoroughly train-
ed specialist with sufficient routine help.

Although Malte’s scientific publications are
few, while the potential scientific results were
many, his quick insight into the possibilities
and the limitations of conditions in the North
gave us a new technique in the collecting and
preparation of specimens which is invaluable.
Formerly, expeditions into remote territory
found it necesary to burden themselves with
vast bulks and weights of drying papers or
“blotters” with which to prepare specimens.
These bibulous papers had to be removed from
the presses with clock-like regularity, and it
often required 1 to 2 weeks of time-consuming
routine properly to dry out a press of spec-
imens. This cumbersome method was radically
changed, for in his arctic trips Malte devised a
short-cut which reduced the weight carried and
the fruitless drudgery required and materially
improved the specimens. Landing at a port
for a short period, his technique was to gather —
everything in sight, putting each species into
a separate paper or other separator and throw-
ing all the collections into large burlap bags.
When these were brought back to headquarters
they were quickly sorted, laid out in the thin

i

September, 1934]

specimen-sheets and dried between corrugated
pasteboards (cut to size) without any of the
driers or blotters which convention has pres-
cribed. Care was necessary in the original

laying out of the specimens, but after that

nothing was needed but to stack the presses
of specimens between corrugated boards in a
dry and warm place, preferably in a current
of warm air, and leave them until it was con-
venient to remove the specimens which, in 12 to
24 hours, were thoroughly dried, compactly
pressed and usually with natural, rather than
altered, colouring.

THE CANADIAN FIERLD-NATURALIST 93

This vast improvement over the old tech-
nique has been rapidly adopted by those who
are looking for advance, and it is mentioned
here merely as an indication of the direct
methods and the keen imagination which Malte
displayed in all his work.

His loss is not merely a personal one to the
many friends who loved him and who delight-
ed in his genial personality, but also to the
science of Botany in Canada and throughout
the northern countries where his work strongly
overlapped that of many contemporaries.

AN ONTARIO SAND-FALL
By HOYES LLOYD

N Friday evening, December 15, 1933,
at 4.30 p.m., it being then almost
dark and snowing heavily I went
from my office to the National

a6)

Museum. Upon arrival there I mentioned to

the editor of The Canadian Field-Naturalist
that the sleety snow which was falling looked
“like sand. He asked if it really was a fall of
sand and, since I was not sure, his query
made further observation desirable.

On Saturday, December 16th, the icy crust
of the snow was obviously pink or reddish
pink in colour, its strange appearance being
particularly marked in the open woods at my
home, near Ottawa, and especially where paths
had been shovelled exposing the pure white of
the snow beneath. The colour was entirely in
the uppermost inch.

On Sunday, December 24th, a square foot
of crust was cut from an open space in my
garden and was taken to the chemical lab-
oratories of the Central Experimental Farm
for examination. Mr. C. H. Robinson, Acting
Dominion Chemist, has reported on it as fol-
lows:

“Pounds per acre suspended matter _._... 9.16

Pounds per acre suspended matter

Bibel TOMUION ice Flee se Nk gee
Pounds per acre mineral matter
insoluble in hydrochloric acid 5.91
Pounds per acre mineral matter

soluble in hydrochloric acid _......... 1.36

Microscopic appearance—yellowish, very .

fine sand, becoming white and transparent
on extraction with acid.

Analytical data on extraction with acid
and microscopic appearance identify this
material as very fine weathered sand.”

The loss on ignition would include natural
organic matter as well as soot from fuel burned
in the locality.

The whole question was referred to the
Dominion Meteorological Service, Department
of Marine, and through the Director, Mr. J.
Patterson, I have received the following state-
ment prepared by Mr. Andrew Thompson of
that Service.

“The fall of dust occurring at Ottawa in
the late afternoon of December 15, 1933,
was probably part of the dust fall that
observers have reported taking place on the
same day at Copper Cliff, Sudbury, North
Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sparrow Lake, Mus-
koka, and at Montreal and Beauceville, Que-
bec.

“Although dust has been reported now,
over an area extending 600 miles from east
to west and 75 miles north to south, it is
quite probable that the notes in the Dec-
ember reports from our climatological sta-
tions in Northern Ontario and Quebec will
indicate dust fell over a considerably great-

-er area. However at the present time a
conservative estimate of the surface covered
by dust would be 35,000 square miles. As-
suming that this surface was covered with
dust at the rate of 9 pounds per acre as
found at Ottawa, the total amount of dust
would weigh approximately 100,000 tons.

“Mr. C. D. Ferguson, Copper Cliff, Ont.,
has given the following account of the dust

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

fall occurring there. ‘On December 15th
last a hail and snow storm commenced about
eight a.m. and continued off and on until
shortly after twelve noon. Up until nast
mid-forenoon the hail and rain was white
and clean. There then fell a very thin layer
of mud-covered snow and hail. The hail
which was in fair-sized ice crystals was
distinctly stained a clay-like or mud colour.
Also the layer of coloured snow was dis-
tinct and was not intermingled with the
.clear newly-fallen hail and snow beneath.’
Mr. E. D. Clipsham of Sparrow Lake, Mus-
koka, sent me the mud collected in a square
yard of snow falling about noon December
15th. A chemical and microscopic analysis
of this sample has been made by Duncan
R. Derry of the Geological Department of
the University of Toronto, who has kindly
given a short report of this analysis.

“Microscopic Appearance.— ‘The material
consists of a very fine dusty sand most of
the fragments of which lie between .03 to
.003 mm. diameter. Most of the grains
are well rounded considering their small
size.

Minerals. — Quartz is the commonest of
the larger grains, in some cases stained
or coated with iron oxide. Feldspar also
occurs but less commonly. Glass occurs
but forms only a small proportion of the
whole. A green mineral may be chlorite.
A yellowish brown mineral occurring
rather commonly has not been identified.
The finer material probably consist mainly
of clay particles.

Organic Remains. — Diatoms of at least
two species were seen. These are not
common but a few have been found in
nearly every examination. Other micros-
copic organic fragments are suspected
but not positively identified. Some plant
fragments, including part of the seed case
of a grass, have been found. Not much
weight is placed on these, however, as
they might have been of local derivation,
which could not be the case for any of
the other materials.

Conclusions as te Origin—From the above
examination it would appear that the
material which fell with the snow is
dust picked up by high winds or tornadoes
in some district beyond the limits of the
snow-covered area where it fell. On the
day in question (December 15, 19338)
southerly winds prevailed. There had

[VoL. XLVIII

been, just previous to this, tornadoes,
in Louisiana, Texas and other Southern
States. It seems probable, therefore, that
the dust was picked up by one of these
and carried north by the southerly winds
at a high elevation, until it was precipitat-
ed with snow in eastern Canada.

‘The suggestion that the dust is of
voleaniec origin does not seem tenable.
Volcanic dust consists largely of glass and
the fragments are typically angular. Al-
though a little glass does occur in the
sample in question this is subordinate to
the other minerals. The glass may have
been voleanic originally but has probably
formed part of a sand since its expulsion.
Finally the presence of diatoms, which
live in bodies of water, and the tests of
which occur in many sands and clays, is
an almost certain proof that the material
could not be of volcanic origin.’

“An examination of the weather maps
and especially the winds on the previous day
indicates the probable direction from which
the dust came. The synoptic map for 8
p-m. December 14, 1938, shows there had
been strong southerly winds over Texas
and the Gulf states with several destructive
tornadoes reported in this region in the
newspapers. The northern limit of the warm
air was a line from Lincoln, Nebraska, east-
south-east to Knoxville, Tenn. In the synop-
tic maps for December 15, 8 a.m. just 12
hours later, the warm air at the earth’s
surface had advanced about 500 miles north-
easterly to a line through London, Ont.,
Cleveland, and the midpoint of Lake Mich-
igan. At heights of five to twenty thous-

'and feet above the earth’s surface, warm

air extended considerably north of this line
causing snow at many stations in Ontario
and Quebec. This warm air current appears
to have carried with it a large amount of
dust which could easily have been carried
up to great heights in the tornadoes reported
from southwestern United States.”

“Such falls of: earth and dust are not
uncommon in. America and Europe. On
November 13, 1933, a considerable fall of
dust was reported at Buffalo, N.Y., and on
January 23, 1933, dust was reported falling
with snow by numerous observers from Co-
balt, Ont., to Lake St. John, Quebec.”

It occurs to me that this widespread fall

involving the dispersal of surface soil of one
part of the continent over a distant section,

September, 1934]

aside from the facts themselves, contains many
interesting natural history implications. If
seven or eight pounds of soil per acre could
be scattered over a wide section in Ontario
after having been picked up by the wind in
the Southern States could not great quantities

Tue CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 95

of bacteria, seeds, spores, and other living
plant materials be seattered similarly miles
from their home locality at the same time?
Definite indication that this could occur is
contained in the report of the findings of
Duncan R. Berry.—5 March, 1934.

SOME 1931 BIRD NOTES FROM LONDON, ONTARIO
By E. M. S. DALE

N The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 46 :106,
May, 1932, we gave an account of the
f interesting and unusual records made
by the Mellwraith Ornithological Club,
London, Ontario, during the year 1930. In view
of the fact that the succeeding years have also
produced some interesting events, it is proposed
to deal, in this article, with those occurring dur-
ing 1931, to be followed, perhaps, at a later date
by those in 1982. Some of these happenings
have already been recorded in the pages of the
Naturalist. In such cases it will not be necessary
to give particulars again and only reference will
be made to the note with the date of the num-
ber in which the article appeared.

In order of date the first unusual record was
made on March 22nd when a Glaucous Gull and
an Iceland Gull were observed at Port Stanley,
on the north shore of Lake Erie, some thirty
miles south of London. <A note on this was
published in the Naturalist, 46:49, February,
1982, “Iceland Gull on Lake Erie”. by W. E.
Saunders.

Karly April is the time we look for migrating
aucks, and owing to the fact that there are no
bodies of water large enough, or sufficiently pro-
tected, to make them feel safe, they usually keep
pretty well on the move and it is necessary to
be very alert to see and identify all the species
which pass through. Some ten or twelve varie-
ties are fairly regular and are noted in larger or
smaller numbers each spring even though the ponds
and rivers are rather too small to be very at-
tractive. One of the rarer ducks listed in 1931
was the Greater Scaup, one having been observed
at the “Ponds” on April 5th. It was in company
with a Lesser Scaup and the difference in the
colour of the head was seen in splendid light with
the aid of a telescope. On April 7th another
(or possibly the same one) was noted at the
same place.

The Gadwall is another of the rarer ducks,
in fact one which has been on the county list
for only a very few years. On April 9th a flock
of five was found at the “Ponds”. They were
rather wild and we had difficulty in getting close
enough to them to observe them satisfactorily.
The white speculum, pointed wings, swift flight,
colour and size, left little doubt, however, as to their
identity. On April 11th there were three, and on
April 12th one, at the same place, This is the
greatest number of occasions, also the largest
number of birds of this species observed to date.

On April 10th we had a splendid view of two
pairs of Shovellers at the ‘“‘Ponds’’. They were
at the north side and the intervening shoulder
of a hill concealed our approach so that they did
not see us until we were very close. They did
not become greatly alarmed even then but swam
quietly out into the open water giving us every
opportunity to observe them at leisure. This
is only the fourth or fifth occasion that this
species has been reported from Middlesex county.

Although early April is, as has been already
mentioned, the time of the main flights, smaller
numbers continue to drift in from time to time,
sometimes even up until the end of May. One
of the rarities that arrived during this period
was the White-winged Scoter. Two birds were
found at the “Ponds” on May 7th, by C. G.
Watson, constituting our first spring record for
the species. The next day he saw one at the
same place also, but whether it was one of the
birds of the previous day or a different one we
cannot, of course, tell.

The next bird to be mentioned is the Pectoral
Sandpiper which appeared in most unusual num-
bers during the spring migration. While fairly
common in the autumn these birds have been
rarely noted in spring, we understand, at any
place in Ontario. Mr. W. E. Saunders has cov-
ered this occurrence in his article “Spring Rec-

96 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

orda of Pectoral Sandpipers at London, Ontario”,
which appeared in The Canadian Field-Natur-
alist, 46:190, November, 1982.

Henslow’s Sparrow, which we had found along
the lake shore near Port Bruce in 1930, was
found in 1931 in quite a number of localities
in our own county. First noted near Komoka on
May 16th, they were, later in the season, seen
or heard at some four or five other places in
various directions from the city. Although the
song of this species is insignificant and might
very easily be overlooked, we hardly think this
has been the case but rather that the numbers
noted in 1931 indicate an extension in the range.

During the winter of 1930-1931 a Carolina
Wren was reported by a correspondent in Inger-
soll and we went down several times to see
(and hear) it. Later in the season, on May 17th,
one was in full song at Wonnacott’s farm, about
14 miles west of London. It is several years
since one of these birds has been reported from
our district.

On May 19th a Black Tern visited the “Ponds”.
This is also a species that favours us with only
a passing visit once in every two or three years.
It is a thandsome bird and the unusual and
striking colours make it a very welcome sight.

The warbler season usually produces something
of interest and 1931 was a year of very special
note. On the morning of May 24th we went
to the “Golden-wing Woods”, about five miles
west of the city, (London), arriving about 7
o'clock. It was fine and bright although there
was a cold north wind blowing. We found birds
in good numbers, however, towards the south
and east where they received some shelter and
warmvh. After going pretty thoroughly over
the bushes there we struck north and while
following a path through an open piece of woods
trying to get a satisfactory look at a small fly-
catcher, we happened upon a male Hooded Warb-
ler. The species was one that two of the party
had never seen before but we were familiar with
its appearance from coloured plates and one
look at the striking head pattern left no doubt
as to what it was. It remained in the low
branches of the trees where we found it, for five
minutes or more, and gave us every opportunity
of examining it thoroughly. It sang several times,
finally flying away uttering a loud chip as it
did so. This is the second record for this species
for the county.

Our find of the “Hooded” was however, de-
cidedly outclassed by the taking of a maleKentucky

(VoL. XLVIII

Warbler by A. A. Wood at Strathroy the next,
dey, May 25th. There are only three Canadian
specimens of this bird, two of them having been
taken in Middlesex County. An account of this
appeared in The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 46:
209, Itecember, 1932, “A Kentucky Warbler at

' Strathroy, Ontario’, by A. A. Wood.

Vne next rare warbler was the Yellow-breasted
Chat on May 27th. One of these is recorded
about every second or third year, usually re-
maining for a day or two and then passing on.
The 1931 bird, however, was again seen on June
15th evidently having decided to stay. The wood
where it was found is locally known as the “Gold-
en-wing Woods” and with one exception all the
Chats from the London district have been found
within its confines.

The Prairie Warbler is a very rare and irregular
visitor never having been known to nest or even
spend the summer here, although, as in this
particular instance, one is occasionally seen at
a date rather late for a migrant. The 1931 visitor
was first heard on June 19th and again on July
Ist. Subsequent trips to the locality, however,
failed to produce the bird, whose song is quite
characteristic and easily recognized.

On June 26th a Clay-coloured Sparrow was
located just outside the south-eastern boundary
of the city beyond the Vauxhall bridge. Its pres-
ence was immediately made known and as it
remained in the vicinity for a number of days
the majority of the active field men of the Bird
Club were able to see it. The ‘“Clay-colour”
is now reported nearly every year from some
point in Western Ontario and it is_ possible
that this species, too, may in time increase its
range spreading eastward until it is of reg-
ular cecurrence.

After some rainy weather, W EE. Saunders
found, on August 11th, a small pool at which
some waders had gathered. Included in the
number was one Stilt Sandpiper, a very rare
bird in our vicinity, or at any rate one that
is very seldom identified or reported. Unfort-
unately the pool was a very temporary one and
did not yield any other records of interest.

As an “extra” at the Bird Club corn roast on
September 19th an adult Black-crowned Night
Heron flew along the the river near Byron bridge
alighting in a tree on the opposite shore a few
hundred yards up-stream from our camp fire.
This was the only record of this bird for the
year, in marked contrast to 1930 when quite a
pumber were noted at about the same locality.

September, 1934]

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 97

SOME NOTES ON THE PRAYING MANTIS

By C. B. HUTCHINGS
Assistant Entomologist, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, Ont.

HE FOLLOWING INQUIRY was receiv-
ed at Ottawa in August from a farmer
at Ameliasburg, Prince Edward County ;
“Will you please identify the enclosed

Is it harmful and what are its habits?

insect?
My son found it in the garden and another one

The boys say they have
I do not remem-

on the binder-table.
noticea quite a number about.
ber ever seeing one before”’.

In reply, he was informed that the specimen
was a Praying Mantis, Mantis religiosa L., and
was a beneficial insect. While not a native of
Canada it had been reported previously from
Kingston and that district.

Shortly after this the Belleville newspaper In-
ieligencer of August 19th, gave an account of
several mantids being picked up on the streets
at the lights; and on that same day notice ap-
peared in the Peterboro Examiner that a strange
insect, identified as the Praying, Mantis, had been
found on one of the city streets.

About this time a letter came from Mr. A. B.
Baird, in charge of the Parasitic Laboratory at
Belleville, offering me specimens of the Praying
Manis for exhibition purposes. He said “this
insect has become increasingly abundant during
the past four or five years, and two years ago
it was so numerous in Prince Edward County that
cne farmer brought in over 100, which he collected
while putting on a load of hay. This year it was
again reported in large numbers there and also
in the lower part of Hastings County, particular-
ly around Belleville where large numbers could
ke collected in a single evening feeding on May-
flies and other insects around the lights and light-
ed windows of garages and stores on Front Street.”

It would appear from the foregoing that this
species of Mantis is able to withstand the On-
tario winters and has now become well established
in that province.

I understand that attempts have been made to
breed the Mantis in the Eastern States of Ameri-
ca, but without success, these insects not being
able to survive the winters there.

The Mantide are classified under the raptorial
or grasping Orthoptera. They are exclusively

predacious in habit. From a point of size, they
are large insects, some species attaining a length
of four inches. The head is so attached as to
be capable of being moved freely from side to
side. The prothorax is very long and bears the
grasping legs, the fore ends of which double
over on to a row of spines on the underside of
the thighs, something after the style of the ~
folding blade of a pen knife, forming a very
efficient instrument for holding the prey. The
eggs are deposited in masses and overlaid with
a thick silky material which quickly dries and
hardens. The cases are usually found attached
to twigs and small branches of shrubbery.

On account of their peculiar attitudes and
motions they have earned for themselves odd
names such as soothsayers, camel crickets, devil
horses, prophets, mule killers, rear horses. The
term “mule killer” has been given on account
cf the absurd superstition that the dark coloured
saliva they eject is fatal to the mule; that of
“rear horse” because of the long slender prothorax
which gives them a resemblance to tiny giraffes.
Their most popular name is “praying mantis” on
account of the strange habit of clasping the front
legs together before their meek-looking faces,
and raising these as in an attitude of prayer,
which makes them appear very pious fellows.
Such, however, is not the case. They are exceed-

ingly ferocious, stealthy and hard fighters, and

will engage in mortal combat with any insect
that comes their wav.

The mantis are mainly found in the Tropics
where they reach their greatest development and
include some remarkable forms.

In the United States there are about 15 or 20
species, for the most part found in the South.
The common species, Stagomantis carolina L.,
is native to the states of New York, Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio. It attains a length of 2% to 3
inches, and is often to be seen about barns, sheds
and houses, quietly waiting for some unwary
insect to come within its reach Then with one
quick motion it seizes its prey and devours it
greedily. Another species is Paratenodera sinensis
Saus., the Chinese mantis, which has become
established near Philadelphia. It is one of the
larger kinds and reaches a length of 4 inches.

98 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

A Buropean species, Mantis religiosa L., was
introduced into New York State in 1899. It has
since become well established near Rochester and
is quite common there. It is this same species
which is now being found in Prince Edward
County and, in all probability, it became original-
ly from New York State from where it gained
entrance into Canada likely with the traffic
across Lake Ontario.

The Mantis feeds on caterpillars, flies, crickets,
grasshoppers and other insects. It prefers to
take its prey alive rather than eat dead insects.
I had a large specimen under observation for
three months this summer. We kept her in a
glass jar where she remained quiet most of the
time, resting on some small twigs. She was fed
on house flies, moths and an occasional cricket.
When these were introduced into the jar she
became very alert and soon pounced upon them
and despatched them greedily, nipping off the
wings before starting to eat. It made no differ-
ence what end of the unfortunate victim she be-
gan on, it was all the same. After the meal she
would clean herself, carefully preening the spines
of the front legs and removing any small bits of
food that remained there. Sometimes we put
her out on the table near a fly and watched her
impale it with a lightning-lhke blow. She had
the habit of scratching her head with her front
feet. This was very comical and caused us
much amusement. Towards the last it was diffi-
cult to find flies for her and after ten days with-
out food she gradually weakened and died.

{VoLt. XLVIYI

I recently came across an extract from a book
written this year by Léon Binet, Professor of
Physiology, of the Faculty of Medicine in one
of the universities of Paris. Under the heading
Dramatic Nuptials he writes, ‘The males of cer-
tain spiders and insects are devoured by the fe-
male during the last stage of nuptials. Typical in
this respect are the habits of the praying mantis”,
and he goes on to quote several interesting ex-
periments he made:—A female mantis was put
into a small cage and a male then introduced.
As he approached the former she immediately
attacked him and snapped off his head. Behead-
ed but not discouraged the gallant male continued
his courting. Marriage took place, but on the
morrow he was devoured by his wife.

In another case, a second female was intro-
duced into a cage with a male and female already
there. The intruder immediately separated the
couple, engaged in a fierce struggle with her
rival and subdued her. The terrified male retired
into a corner from where he watched the intruder
calmly devour his mate. When she had finished
she turned her attention to the male. The ogress
forcel him to come out of his retreat, snapped
off his head, married and then devoured him.

The famous French naturalist, Henri Fabre,
reports a case of a female Mantis which killed and
ate no less than seven males, one after the other.

Truly the female of the species is more deadly
than the male!

NOTES ON BIRDS OF THE LABRADOR PENINSULA IN 1931, 1932 and 1933
By HARRISON F. LEWIS

HE PERIODS that I spent on the south-
ern shore of the Labrador Peninsula,

or north shore of the Gulf of St. Law-
‘ # rence, between Shelter Bay and Blane
Sablon in Saguenay County, Quebec, during
the years mentioned in the title of this paper
were as follows:
1931—June 19th to August 1st.
1932—June 10th to September 1st.

1933—June 10th to August 31st.

Daily records of ornithological observations
were kept during these periods, in accordance
with my usual custom. From these records
the following notes have been extracted and
prepared for publication.

The names of species which have not hitherto
been recorded in the Labrador Peninsula are
marked herein with a *.

In the summer of 1932, particularly in the
latter part of July and in August, there was a
very pronounced and unusual scarcity of small
fish, especially of the capelin (Mallotus villo-
sus L.), alone much of the coast referred to.
As a result, presumably, of this scarcity, the
Gulls of the region, which are accustomed to
use these small fish to a large extent as food
for adults and young, suffered severely. They
could not substitute offal from the cod-fishery
for the small fish, as they sometimes do, be-
cause the cod, which are themselves feeders
upon capelin and other small fish in these

September, 1934]

waters in summer, were also scarce and few
were being taken by the fishermen. At every
low tide in daylight hours adult Herring Gulls
(Larusa rgentatus smithsonianus) and Great
Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus) were to be
seen on sheltered shores, seeking sea-urchins,
winkles, and other shell-fish, whose shells they
broke open by dropping the creatures upon
bare rocks from a height of a few feet, so that
they might secure and devour the contents.
Apparently they obtained enough food by this
means and by eating wild berries of various
kinds to keep themselves from starving, but
not enough for the needs of their growing
young, which died in large numbers, as did
also the young of Ring-billed Gulls (Larus
delawarensis) and Caspian Terns (Hydro-
progne caspia imperator) . P
About the end of the first week in August
conditions for these birds had become so bad
on the coast between Harrington Harbour and
Fog Island, where I was at the time, that
very few living young of Herring Gulls and
Great Black-backed Gulls could be found on
the numerous islands on which these birds
had nested, while dead young of these species
were scattered over the islands everywhere.
In a colony of 400 or more adult Ring-billed
Gulls on a small island near Pointe au Maurier,
which is in the region just refered to, large
numbers of dead young were seen lying about
on August 6th, although more than 100 young
of this colony were still alive on that date.
From the little piles of fresh berries which
the parent birds had just brought to their
young, as well as from the nature of the
excrement of the latter, it was evident that
these young Ring-billed Gulls were at that
time being fed chiefly on ripe fruits of bog
bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L., varieties).
The dead young Gulls of all three species
mentioned usually showed many severe wounds
on the back of the head, apparently caused
by blows from the beaks of other Gulls.
Similar marks were frequently seen on those
young Gulls that remained alive. Residents
of that coast commonly believe that, when,
owing to a general scarcity of their staple
food, the parent Gulls find themselves unable
to provide sufficient nourishment for their
young, they deliberately kill some or all of the
latter by striking them on the back of the
head with their beaks, thus lightening their
own labours in supporting a family and putting
their off-spring out of misery. It is, however,
well known that if, at any time, young Gulls
stray from the territory of their own parents

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 99

into the territory of other adult Gulls in the
same colony, the birds on whose territory they
thus trespass frequently drive them away, and,
in so doing, strike them recklessly on the back
of the head, with a severity that is often fatal.
When food is scarce, the hungry young Gulls
are probably tempted to trespass on their
neighbours’ territories far more often than
usual and to beg food from adults other than
their own parents, while, at the same time,
the adults may be more irritable than usual
in preventing trespass on their territories and
in guarding for their own yopng whatever
food they succeed in bringing home. These
conditions, together with a lessening of the
powers of resistance of the young as a result
of insufficient nourishment, may bring about
a great increase in the mortality of young
Gulls that is incidental to their being struck
for trespassing. It is also possible that the
young birds may strike one another severely
when quarreling over their slender supply of
food.

In the summer of 1933 capelin were abund-
dant along the coast in question and the Gulls
that nested there raised large numbers of
young with little loss from any cause.

The spring of 1983 was unusually late and
cold on the north shore of the Gulf of St.

-Lawrence and in consequence the termination

of the spring migration was delayed. The
observation of an Eastern Yellow Warbler
(Dendroica szxstiva ezxstiva) and a “Yellow-
bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) on
June 24th on Cove Island, a bare sub-arctic
island about 13 miles’southwest of Harrington
Harbour and 4 miles from the mainland, is
believed to indicate that the migration was
still incomplete on that date, as these individ-
uals were presumably transients, since this
island. has no environment suitable for the
nesting of these species.

Phalacrocorax carbo carbo. EUROPEAN Cor-
MORANT.—The privately protected colony of
this species on the cliffs of Lake Island, near
Cape Whittle, continues to show an encourag-
ing increase. The following is a record of the
numbers of occupied nests of these birds that
TY counted in this colony on the respective
dates stated.

June 15, 1930 63
June 29, 1931 70
July 7, 1932 97
June 238, 1933 #12

1 See Can. Field-Nat.,45:113, where, owing to a typographical
error, the year is written ‘‘1900’’.

190

A new colony of this species has begun on
Cliff Island, in St. Mary Islands Bird Sanct-
uary, 20 miles northeast of the Lake Island
colony, of which it is probably an off-shoot.
The nests in the new colony are placed on
ledges on a vertical cliff about 50 feet high.
European Cormorants were first observed to
nest at this place in 1930, when several nests
were built. These, being too far down on the
face of the cliff, were all destroyed by the sea
during a storm. They were not replaced that
year. The poor judgment shown in placing
these nests where they could be destroyed in
this way suggests that this new colony was
founded by inexperienced birds, which had just
reached breeding age and were nesting for the
first time. They could not have nested on
Cliff Island previously, as the island is ob-
served closely at frequent intervals during the
summer by the caretaker of the bird sanctuary
in which it lies.

In 1931 there were 4 occupied nests of
European Cormorants on Cliff Island. All of
them were built high above the sea, where
they were safe from the waves, but accessible
to man. They received the protection of the
bird sanctuary and were not disturbed in any
way, and the young in them were reared safely.

The next year this colony contained 5 oc-
cupied nests, which were in positions similar
to those used in 1931, and which young were
successfully raised. As individuals of. this
species do not breed in the first year after
that in which they are hatched, the additional
pair of birds that nested here in 1932 could
not have been hatched in this colony on Lake
Island, which is the only other colony of this
species known to be on this coast.

In 1933 the Cliff Island colony contained 13
occupied nests, in which young were raised.
The increase in the colony in this year, as
compared with its size in 1932, was 8 pairs,
or 16 breeding birds, and, as less than that
number of young were reared in this colony
in 1931, it is evident that in 1933 the increase
again included birds not hatched in the colony

It may be pointed out that the colony of
European Cormorants on Lake Island is still
far below its size of a century ago and that
there are still many unoccupied ledges on the
cliff on which it is built, so that the establish-
ment of the new colony on Cliff Island cannot
be due to over-crowding in the older colony.

I have published elsewhere’? a record of a
European Cormorant, banded as a nestling,

§ Bird- Banding, 2: 83.and 128.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

[VoL. XLVIII

that returned when adult to nest in the colony
in which it was hatched. The founding and
early growth of the colony on Cliff Island

provides instances of a different course of »

action by individuals of this species.

Clangula hyemalis. OLD-squaw.— On July
10, 1933, I saw, on a pond on Grande Passe
Island, near St. Augustin, two adult females of
this species and an adult male in the so-called
“winter” plumage. Residents of the vicinity
tell me that the Old-squaw nests frequently
on this island, but I have yet to obtain proof
that it does so.

Somateria mollissima dresseri. AMERICAN
EIDER. — This species continues to be an abun-
dant breeder on this coast, although, on ac-
count of a scarcity of small fish in the
summers of 1931 and 1932, especially in the
latter year, unsually large numbers of dcwny
young Eiders were eaten by Great Black-back-
ed Gulls, which are driven by hunger to prey
upon these young Ducks when their usual food
supply of capelin and other small fish is scarce
or wanting. In the summer of 1933 capetin
were plentiful and both Gulls and Eiders
throve. >

A commercial eider-down industry was be-
gun on a small scale under government super-
vision, in this region in 1933. One important
feature of the system adopted is the leasing
of groups of islands by the provincial govern-
ment to private individuals, resident locally,
for the purpose of attracting Eider Ducks and
gathering eider-down on such leased areas.
It is believed that this arrangement will
provide increased protection for breeding Hider
Ducks along this coast. Actual experience
with these new conditions in 19383 gives

‘support to this view.

An unusual display of courage and combat-
iveness by a mother Eider was observed near
Pointe au Maurier on July 17, 1981. An adult
Great Black-backed Gull succeeded in seizing
a small young Eider Duck from a family

group, consisting of an adult female duck with.

her young, that had been scattered in a shelter-
ed channel by the pasage of the motorboat
in which I was traveling. He alighted with
his prey on the summit of a gently-sloping
insular rock which was about ten feet wide
and rose about a foot above the water. After
such an occurrence it is usual for the mother
of the victim to turn her attention to gather-
ing her remaining young together and sheph-
erding them away from the vicinity, while
she utters a series of indignant croaks, but

September, 1934]

this particular mother duck seemed to be filled
with fury. Without an instant’s hesitation,
she splattered over the water to the edge on the
rock on which the marauding Gull stood and
ran at full speed up the slope, with head
lowered and beak outstretched, to attack it.
The Gull did not defend itself, but immediately
flew away, and the Duck followed it no further
As our motorboat was rapidly drawing from
the scene of action, I was unable to observe
whether or not the mother duck’s attack caus-
ed the Gull to release the duckling that it had
seized.

Oidemia americana. AMERICAN SCOTER.—A
flock of Scoters that were feeding on sandy
bottom close to shore at Musquarro on July
4, 1932, was studied carefully at leisure with
X6 binoculars and the individual birds in the
flock were identified without difficulty. There
were about 50 American Scoters, most of
which were drakes, although several were
females. Eight White-winged Scoters (Mela-
nitta deglandi) and about 20 Surf Scoters
(Melanitta perspicillata), which are much more
common species than the American Scoter
along this coast in summer, made up the rest
of the flock.

Circus hudsonius. MArsH HAwK—One_ was
seen by me at the Agricultural Illustration
Station at the mouth of Cross River, about 7
miles west of Harrington Harbour, on August
22, 1938. I was also shown the decaying rem-
ains of one that had been killed with a stick
at the same place about two weeks earlier.
This Hawk had struck down an adult Plymouth
Rock hen. When a woman with a stick in
hand, rushed up to it, as it guarded its prey,
it kept one foot firmly planted on the hen’s
head and defiantly stood its ground, with the
result that it was slain at the first blow. The
hen, it may be noted, recovered from the
attack, except that it lost the sight of one eye.

The Marsh Hawk has apparantly not been
recorded hitherto on this coast east of Natash-
quan, where it was found by Dr. C. W. Towns-
end in 1912,° and where I frequently observed
it in May, 1928. The mouth of Gross River is
about 100 miles east of Natashquan.

Lagopus lagopus albus. WiLLOw PTARMIGAN
—On Grande Passe Island, near St. Augustin,
two cock birds of this species were seen, some
distance apart, on July 10, 1933. Residents
of the vicinity told me that Willow Ptarmigan
nest annually on this island.

3 Auk, 30:6.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 101

Fulica (sp. ?). Coot.—On August 8, 1932,
I flushed a Coot from a pond on Fog Island.
The bird flew to the salt water and alighted
on it near the shore of the island. I studied
it for about ten minutes at short range with
X6 binoculars, but, as it was in a bird sanc-
tuary, I could not collect it. It was easily iden-
tified without question as a Coot, the dark head,
neck, and shoulders, the gray wings and body
plumage, the white line on the rear edge of
the spread wings, and the white bill and
frontal shield being seen very clearly, but it
must remain uncertain whether this bird was
an American Coot (Fulica americana americ-
ana) or a European Coot (Fulica atra atra),
as none of the slight difference between these
two very similar species were observed. Both
of them have been recorded with certainty,
based on specimens collected, from eastern
Labrador, the American Coot by Wells W.
Cooke* and the European Coot by Dr. O. L.
Austin, Jr.°

In June, 1928, Mr. Frank G. Jones, and other
residents of Wolf Bay, near Cape Whittle, on
the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence,
described carefully to Dr. Arthur A. Allen and
me a strange bird that had been found at
Wolf Bay in the late autumn or early winter
of 1927. Unfortunately, this specimen, which
had been saved in the flesh to show to me
in the spring, had been found and destroyed
by the dogs of the settlement a short time
before my arrival, but the description given
us was so clear that Dr. Allen and I agreed
that the bird must have been a Coot, although
we received no information that would enable
us to decide whether it was the European bird
or the American. It should be noted, however,
that it was found at about the time when the
two specimens of European Coot recorded by
Austin were taken on the eastern coast of
Labrador, which is the time of the great and
extraordinary flight of Lapwings (Vanellus
vanellus), with a few other Europeon Birds, to
Labrador and Newfoundland.

Apart from this Coot found at Wolf Bay
late in 1927 and the one that I saw on Fog
Island on August 8, 1932, I know of no other
occurrences of any Coot on the north shore
of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Charadrius melodus. PtrPING PLOVER. — A
pair of Piping Plovers which, by their notes
and actions of distress, indicated that they

{ Auk, 33: 164.
5 Auk, 46: 208.

102

had a nest or young in the vicinity, were seen
by me on a sandy flat southeast of Natas-
quan village on June 29, 1932. It would appear
that the small breeding group of this species
first discovered at Natashquan by Dr. C. W.
Townsend and A. C. Bent in May, 1909, is
still maintaining itself.

*Philohela minor. AMERICAN WoOoDCOCK.—
As I was walking slowly and carefully through
a dense growth of waist-high vegetation, made

up chiefly of angelica (Angelica laurentiana
Fernald), cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum
Michx.) and nettle (Urtica viridis Rydb.),

that hid the mouths of many Puffin burrows on
the upper part of Bald or Gun Island, in
Betchouane Bird Sanctuary, about 17 miles
east of Havre St. Pierre (formerly Esquimaux
Point), on July 27, 1933, an American Wood-
cock suddenly sprang straight up out of the
mass of vegetation, some 6 or 8 feet from
me, in the direction away from the sun. On
whistling wings it flew about 50 yards at a
height of about 10 feet, then dropped down
into the dense cover. Efforts to flush it a
second time were futile, as might have heen
expected, for in that dense plant growth,
hiding rough and uncertain footing, the Wood-
cock could move about on foot much more
rapidly than I could, and would remain un-
seen while it travelled in this way. Although

THE CANADIAN FIBLD-NATURALIST

[VoL. XLVIII

my view of it, when it flushed as described
above, was brief, the bird was close to ine in
favourable light and its shape, colour, size,
long bill, and manner of flight were all so
clearly observed and are so distinctive that
I have no doubt at all as to its identity.

his is the first definite record of the Amer-
ican Woodcock in the region of the Labrador
Peninsula, although Townsend and Allen in-
clude this species hypothetically in their list
of “Birds of Labrador”. °

Calidris canutus rufus. AMERICAN KNOoT.—
A group of three individuals of this species
was seen on June 13, 1933, on the shore of
Bald Island, in Betchouane Bird Sanctuary,
mentioned above. These birds were clearly
observed with X6 binoculars at a distance of
30 feet, and their size, clear rufous under-
parts, light-coloured upperparts, and bills es-
timated at the time to be between 1% and 1'/s
inches, in length, were carefully noted. When
they flew their dark-barred upper tail-coverts
and a light streak along the middle of each
wing were seen.

This species is rare on the north shore of the
Gulf of St. Lawrence, and this is my only
observation of it in that region.

8 Proc. Boston Soc, Nat. Hist., 33: 347.

To be Concluded

NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS

Ajuga genevensis L. — ERECT BUGLE, IN
CANADA — Two straggling patches of this un-
familiar plant were found on June 15, 1934,
in an old pasture adjoining the building of Mr.
Wilfred Cass, L’Orignal, Ont. In company with
Mr. John McLeod, District Weed Inspector for
Eastern Ontario, an extensive infestation of
Leafy Spurge believe to have originated in a
neighbouring garden, was being visited. The
presence in this pasture also, of such escapes
from cultivation as Purple Columbine and
Moneywort lends colour to the suspicion that
all alike were introduced through the _ horti-
cultural efforts of the same enthusiast.

The strict upright habit, bright blue spikes
of flowers, and distinctive leaves at once pro-
claimed something new. The colony formation
suggested spread by creeping rootstocks, which
on digging was found not to be the case.

Each plant in these few square yards possessed
its own tuft of roots. The stems measured
only a few inches in height, but in the other
colony clustered closely along a stone fence,
were nearly a foot high.

In the botanical manuals the range of this
adventive European species is given as Maine
cr New England to New York and Pennsyl-
vania. Another species, Ajuga reptans L. is
known from Quebec, where it was reported,
“Sparingly introduced in fields near Montreal.
(MacLagan)’’, in Macoun’s Catalogue of Can-
adian Plants, 1884. If other localities are
known in Canada for either of these species,
any report on them for incorporation in the
Canadian Weed files, would be gratefully

received.—HERBERT GROH, Central Experimental
Farm, Ottawa.

September, 1934]

WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MUSKRAT TO
GRAHAM ISLAND, QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS,
UNWISE?— In the spring of 1933, during an investi-
gation of the seaward migrating fry of pink salmon,
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, an occasion arose which
drew the writer’s attention rather forcibly to
the question of the introduction of Muskrats tu
Graham Island. Apparently these animals
were first brought to a place near New
Massett by Mr. A. D. Hallett. Since he has
left the area, no definite data can be found
as to the exact time and number of the
introduction. Fairly reliable information,
however, shows that about fifteen individuals
were released in late 1924 or early 1925.
Since that year other persons have made
introductions in a purely private capacity.
About the latter it is difficult to obtain spe-
cific details. The important feature in any
event is that from comparatively small be-
ginnings, the species has spread widely and
increased greatly in numbers.

On the night of April 25, the men in
charge of the fence which had been established
by the Biological Board of Canada for the
enumeration of pink salmon fry, reported that
a Muskrat made five or six sallies from be-
neath the river bank to the fence, rested
against the screens and ate ravenously of the
small fish. This behaviour was continued al-
most every night for several weeks in spite
of the efforts which were made to frighten
the animals away.

Our surprise was great that these animals
should have spread in such a comparatively
short time over rough country at least thirty
miles from the nearest point of introduction
known to us. That they should resort to
fry as a regular article of diet was interesting
in that it showed that unwittingly another
name had been added in this area to the list
of salmon enemies which was already long.

It might be noted as well that reliable re-
ports have been forthcoming of damage to
dykes in the Tlell River area. These struc-
tures were raised by the farmers to prevent
inundation of their meadows by salt water.

In view of the observations reported herein,
the question naturally arises as to whether
the introduction of Muskrats to this new area
was wise. Perhaps if the behaviour reported
is general throughout the new environment,
the revenue received from the exploitation of
the species for its pelts, will not compensate
for the damage done in the various respects.
—A. L. PRITCHARD, Pacific Biological Station,
Nanaimo, British Columbia.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

103

AN EscaPED RED-BREASTED GOOSE, Bernicla
ruficollis FROM JAMES BAy.—An interesting
specimen came in to the National Museum
of Canada this summer (1933), forwarded
by Corporal E. S. Covell of the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, in the shape of a high plum-
aged Red-breasted Goose, one of two, reported
as male and female, taken about May 30, near
Moosonee (né Moose Factory) at the bottom
of James Bay, Ontario. From a “record”
standpoint a disappointment lay in the fact
that upon its leg was a numbered aluminium
band asserting that it came from the Kellog
Bird Sanctuary, Augusta, Michigan. On in-
quiry at the Sanctuary it appears that it can-
not be determined just when these birds es-
caped from the enforced tenancy of their
Michigan home to wander freely over the wilds
of the continent but they were known to have
remained there at least until the April previous
to capture and had enjoyed something over a
month of freedom.

The bird received was in perfect plumage
with feathers unbroken, unworn and clean,

without apparent trace of domestication and

seemed to be a perfectly normal, healthy wild
bird. If it had not been for the band on the
leg this specimen would certainly have been
considered as basis for an addition to the
American bird-list—P. A. TAVERNER, National
Museum of Canada, Ottawa.

THE WHITE-TAILED JACK RABBIT IN MANI-
TOBA. — The Royal Ontario Museum of
Zoology has received from Mr. Sam Waller
of Gypsumville, near Lake St. Martin, Mani-
toba, a specimen of the White-tailed Hare,
Lepus townsendii campanius Hollister. Mr.
Waller reports that these animals have been
working their way northward during the last
few years. About three years ago they were
reported at Fairlord, twenty-two miles south
of Gypsumville and this year appeared in the |
latter area. In January, 1934, they had reach-
ed a few miles north of the latter place.—

J. R. Dymonp.

BLACK CRAPPIES IN’ BRITISH COLUMBIA.
—The present record of Pomoxis sparoides
(Lacépéde) from Hatzic Lake, a backwater
of the Fraser River near Mission, is believed

to be the first from British Columbia.
On June 14, 1933, three specimens
were submitted to the Pacific Biological

104

Station for indentification by Mr. A. G.
Bolton who reports them to be abundant in
that body of water. They probably represent
the result of transplantation, although no
record of the introduction is at hand. The
following particulars confirm the identification
and indicate that there may bea slight retarda-
tion in growth rate in Crappies in the Fraser
sloughs as compared with those from the

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

{VoL. XLVIII

central States (Hile R. 1981.
of Fishes in Indiana. Dept. Conservation State
of Indiana, Pub. 107. Luce W.M. 19338. A
survey of the Fishery of the Kaskaskia River.
Ill. Nat. Hist. Surv. Bull. Vol. XX, art. III,
(White Crappie). This appearance may be in
part the consequence of no growth having
taken place during the season in which the
fish were captured._JoHN LAwsoN Hart, Pacific
Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C.

Rate of Growth

Length to
Total end of Head in Depth in
length vertebral length length Dorsa) rays} Anal rays Scales Sex Age
A poluan B B
208 170 3.1 2.3 VII, 16 Wal 18 39 Female Iv?
177 145 3.1 Pas) VII, 15 VI, 20 Al Female III
165 1380 Past) 2 VIII, 14 VI, 17 41 Female III

_ NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF
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1929-30

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oooaoaoaoaoaoaaoaoaEaEaEaEaEeEeEeEoeoaeaeaEeEEEE—————
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e353 379
VOL. XLVIII, No. 7 OCTOBER, 1934

=

PEG a

7 oa hy
: eC ae hae
= : in
ze | at af VIX
hb} | { | v \\
\

ISSUED OCTOBER 1, 1934
Entered at the Ottawa Post Office as second-class matter

THE OTTAWA FIELD be ny

Patrons:
THEIR EXCELLENCIES THE GOVERNOR GENERAL AND COUNTESS OF BESSBOROUG

as President: ‘M. E. VLGON. 3

let Vice-President: HERBERT GROH Qnd Vice-President: Pp, A. TAVERN
etary: GRACE §. LEWIS, Treasurer: WILMOT LuoyD, 582. Mariposa A
844 Lisgar Road, Rockcliffe Park. . -Rockeliffe ra

Pip the.

Additional Members of Council: FJ. Atcock, R. M. ANDERSON, M. E. Cowan, H. G. CRAWFO!
ARTHUR CROWSON, R. E. DELUuRY, F. J. FRASER, A, HALKETT, C. E. JOHNSON, A. G. Kinest¢
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ATKINSON, ARNOTT M. PATTERSON. os pues

Auditors: A. G. KINGSTON and HARRISON FE. ey

+

Editor:
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN-
National Museum, Ottawa, Canada.

Associate Editors: : Laocdee
D. JONNBSS........... seceee-- Anthropology OS OEYDEY Lil PATO 0) sarg ea ae oa oe:

aliens (a ateotn She Sins efein siamese weeeeee... Botany R. M. sare aaslaseg ial rps

F. R. LATCHFORD....... Spee ities Conchology A. G. HUNTSMAN............Marine I

ARTHUR GIBSON.............20- Entomology RP. A. TAVERNER...../........-.Orm

F. J. ALCOCK..... TOR eee ae sce Geology E. M.Kinone. .
CONTENTS

¢-Wild Life in the Thelon River Area, Northwest Territories, Canada. Notes by the ee J ohn
TOT ie io cig coals BOS Ahh es ah Aa Sear eh ais Ries are nS ue ee ae elle er Pie ae |

Animal Parasites of North-East Canada. By I. W. Parnell, B. AY (Cantab,) PRIDE. 8 meas
Notes on Birds of the Labrador Peninsula in 1981, 19382 and 1933. By Harrison F. Lewis. ee

_ Note on the Age of Land Shells in the Marl Deposits of ei Lake near "Ottawa, Ontario.
By Gis Pairbatrnes 00). olin cee ne tenga eenanna re, Chines Siesta oe ean

Notes and Observations:— : Nig ee SRY
Unusual Migration of Willow Ptarmigan i in Central Alberta during ie Winter of 1938-84.

By Frank L. Farley....... nae aiar tah |a< eeinie Niu ieee te eva aee nie a ele Rie eater CieiOre ciara iste

The official publications of THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ CLUB have
; since 1879. The first were The Transactions of the Oitawa Field-Naturalists’ Club, 1
two volumes; the next, The Ottawa Naturalist, 1886-1919, thirty-two volumes; and
_ #? been continued by The Canadian Field-Naturalist to date. The Canadian Field-N:
‘issued monthly, except for the months of June, July and August. Its scope is t
: of the results of original research in all mache: of uel History. i

The Meniberahif Committee of The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club i is
increase the subscription list of The Canadian Field-Naturalist. We are, the
who is truly interested in the wild life of our country to help this masuact
the leading Natural History publications in America. ie

Subscriptions ($2.00 a year) should be forwar ded ae: i 2: oe geri

The Canadian Field-Naturalist

VOL. XLVIII

OTTAWA, CANADA, OCTOBER, 1934

No. 7

wR

<

WILD LIFE IN THE THELON RIVER AREA, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES,

CANADA
Notes by the late JOHN HORNBY

The late Mr. John Hornby was well known
as a traveller in Canada’s northern lands for
about two decades. Qn one of his trips in the
Thelon River country, lasting from the early
summer of 1924 until the autumn of 1925, he
was employed by the Department of the
Interior as a part -time investigator, in order
that his observations, especially respecting
wild life, might be placed on record. In his
report Mr. Hornby did not confine himself to
the period above mentioned but in some cases
recorded what he had observed as far back as
1908. The portions of this report dealing with
wild life are here published with the
permission of the Department of the Interior.

NOTES ON WILD LIFE
Barren Land Caribou—Rangifer arcticus.
(Richardson)

N summer, Caribou to a great extent
feed on any available’ grasses
and in winter chiefly on moss.
Evidently the latter is not entirely
cleaned up in any special area for the follow-
ine year or even later in the same year
Caribou may again be seen feeding on the
same area. Although these mammals still
wander in herds their habitat is now becom-
ing more restricted. The largest bulls, when
at the peak of their condition at the end of
September, weigh about 300 pounds. The
back fat, which is the fat cut from the back,
weighs 25 pounds.

The migrations of the Caribou appear to be
irregular and these irregularities are caused
by interferences with instinctive migrational
courses, by natives, by large lakes not being
frozen over, or by sections of the country
having been burnt; otherwise I find that the
migrations would be as regular as the seasons.
On one occasion I noticed that thousands of
Caribou had halted at the edge of Dease River,
Great Bear Lake area, and then turned back
on account of glare ice. However there are
very few places where the Caribou cannot go,

since they swim across lakes and rivers at
the swiftest points, go up and down steep
places and even cross lakes on glare ice.

Unlike most other species of deer the male
and female Caribou may be seen together at
many times of the year but it is only because
they happen to be moving in the same direc-
tion. As a rule it is the third week in August
before the skins are good and the animals
fat. The young Caribou are very small but
can swim perfectly and travel very quickly.
Black Flies [Simulium sp.] at this season are in
myriads and keep the Caribou constantly on
the move when they may be seen travelling
for days in small bands ranging from ten to
several hundreds. During the summer, bull
Caribou are always to be found along the
barren points of the lake and high ridges and
on the islands close to Hunter’s Bay, Great
Bear Lake, where they get some respite from
the flies.

In July the Mosquitoes [Culicide| are bad and
at the beginning of August the Black Flies
troublesome. By ithe end of August Mosqui-
toes have disappointed but the Black Flies last
well into September, although they are not
so bothersome as the nights are drawing in
and the weather is colder. During the first
real cold spell about the beginning of October
the mating season commences. The Caribou
at that time congregate in countless herds at
the edge of the woods on the barrens and
the bull Caribou, which are magnificient look-
ing animals, come out of the woods. After
a little fighting and the consequent clipping
of the horn tips they generally move off in
a north-easterly direction in small bands
of one bull and from 2 to 20 cows following.
Towards the end of October and the beginning
of November the bull Caribou go into the
woods either singly or in small herds. Shortly
the old bulls cast their horns. At the end
of November most of the Caribou, especially

106

the females and young, move southwards by
many circles back into the barren lands and
again in December large bands are moving
southwards into the woods. The females
and young in large numbers remain outside
the woods all winter but most of the bulls go
into the woods, although during very stormy
weather they cannot detect strange sounds
and, being frightened, they leave the woods
for large lakes or open places. By the month
of May there are no Caribou in the woods and
the bulls travel northwards in bands of 2
to 20 or larger, scattering out for the summer
when they may be seen wandering about aim-
lessly in ones and twos. Winter or summer
they are constantly on the move. The wounded
and sick endeavour to pass the summer on
islands or close to water in order to escape
pursuit from the Wolves [Canis lycaon tundrarum].
I do not think the Caribou move north and
south in one large continuous mass, but that,
there are many distinct immense herds, which
in their north and south migrations, according
to seasons, scatter out in the different local
ities.

In 1909 Caribou came in large numbers
very close to the Mackenzie River between
Norman and Wrigley and at the same time
were exceptionally numerous at Fort Rae and
were close to Fort Smith.

In the Thelon Area in 1924 and 1925:

September

1-12 NoCaribou seen between Great Slave Lake
and Artillery Lake.

13 Two bull Caribou seen on east side of
Artillery Lake opposite Timber Bay.

14 About four females seen on east shore
above Beaver Lodge.

16-28 A few bulls and also females with

young were seen in separate bands
between Trout Creek and Casba River.

30 Plenty of Caribou, both bulls and cows,
north of Artillery Lake,

October
1- 4 A few Caribou seen close to Casba
River
5 Two bands of Caribou, each band con-

sisting of one bull, three or four fe-
males and young.
Ug Saw about fifty Caribou going south-
west, cows and calves.
Bull Caribou travelling slowly south-
west.

18-29

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

4- 7

10-20

21-26

26-30

1-26

8-28

IeAly/

al7

18-20

22

25-28

29
31

[Vou. XLVIII

November

Caribou extremely numerous along
shore of Artillery Lake, southwards to
edge of timber; the ice not yet strong,
Caribou apparently waiting to cross
and go southeast.

Caribou in large numbers turned and
went north.

Caribou in very large numbers from
the edge of the timber to north of
Artillery Lake, thousands in the ag-
gregate.

Many Caribou travelling southwards;
at times several hundreds were to be
seen on the ice moving towards Crystal
Island.

Caribou moving northwards either
turned by the Indians who were hunt-
ing them or else by other Caribou
coming’ from the south.

DECEMBER
Caribou seen feeding and moving in
northerly direction, chiefly females and

young, although occasionally a band of
bulls.

JANUARY, 1925

The movement noted
continued. :
Caribou were plentiful on the north-
east side of Artillery Lake, for the
most part females and young. ‘The
bulls have gone to the woods and at
this time they were in large numbers
in the wooded country southeast of
of Artillery Lake.

FEBRUARY

Along Hoarfrost River, Caribou ex-
ceedingly plentiful. Along Artillery
Lake, Caribou very scarce.

Female Caribou and young always to
be seen moving generally eastward.

MARCH

Female Caribou passing eastwards in
small numbers.

Female Caribou very plentiful between
Artillery Lake and Casba River.
Female Caribou always to be seen on
Casba River.

Female Caribou very plentiful. Wolves
plentiful.

Female Caribou very plentiful, small
bands going east.

A few bulls were seen.

Females and young continually passing
and going east.

in December

October, 1934]

10-22

22-30

16-19 .

25 26

27

APRIL

Female and young moving northwards
in large numbers.
Occasionally saw bulls travelling north.

MAY

Saw twenty bulls going north.
Between Casba River and Campbell Lake
occasionally saw few bulls going north.

JUNE

Close to Campbell Lake saw plenty of
Caribou going north.
Saw forty-six bull Caribou bunched up
ready to cross the ice and go north;
also saw two other bands.
Saw few bull Caribou close to Smart
Lake going north.
On Smart Lake saw a few bull Caribou
going north.
Saw a few bull Caribou along south
shore.
Saw plenty of bull Caribou
south shore of Sifton Lake.
Saw a few bull Caribou going north.
Below Sifton Lake saw a few bull
Caribou.
On a small lake below Sifton Lake saw
one bull Caribou.

JULY

South of Lake Dubawnt saw three bull
Caribou.
Below the fourth portage on Hanbury
River saw one bull on south shore.
About five miles below the forks of the
Thelon and Hanbury Rivers we met the
Caribou migrating southwest, chiefly
females and young.
Large number of Caribou passed on
west shore while at the same time
bands of Caribou were passed on the
east shore, many of which were bulls.
During the two days there were
between 5,000 and 10.000 at the least.
We passed Caribou singly and in small
numbers following up the river driven
frantic by the flies.
Large numbers of Caribou passed
during the night and early in the morn-
ing following the east shore of the
river or going south. Cows and young
and also bulls.

AUGUST
Just below Lookout Point
small bull Caribou.
Just before reaching Beverly Lake saw
one Caribou.

around

Saw one

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

it

19

21

23

107

East of Beverly Lake on the islands
saw several Caribou. They were all
young females and also young cows.
All were poor and many were crippled.
At the narrows of Aberdeen Lake at
the south side saw one bull Caribou and
two very young Caribou. One young
Caribou was very reluctant to leave the
camp.

Below Aberdeen Lake and south shore
of river one crippled Caribou followed
by two small Caribou was seen close
to the river.

Below Schultz Lake at the head of the
river saw one bull Caribou. It was
about three years old and in very good
condition.

25-29 Saw plenty of Caribou along the banks

aq

the river.
and young.

SEPTEMBER

Caribou were fairly numerous on the
south side of Baker Lake just at its
outlet. About two weeks previously I
was informed that large numbers of
Caribou had been seen crossing the
River close to Baker Lake.

They were chiefly females

Musk-Ox — Ovibos moschatus (Zimmermann)
1908 I saw seven Musk-oxen north of Fort

Confidence, Great Bear Lake.

1910 I got two which Indians had killed on

OTE

1922

1D

20

24

25

Caribou Point, which lies between Dease
River and McTavish Bay. About this
time Musk-oxen were fairly plentiful to
the north of Great Bear Lake.

I observed fifty-three Musk-oxen east of
the Coppermine River.

When at Artillery Lake there was a
small herd close to Walmsley Lake.

1925 IN THELON AREA
JULY

Saw eleven Musk-oxen close to Helen
Falls south of Hanbury River. They
were a long way off and it was difficult
to determine how many cows there
were among them.
Saw herd of eleven which passed at
some distance south of the river and
went in a northerly direction.
Camped above Grassy Island—saw
three bull Musk-oxen on Grassy Island.
Saw two bull Musk-oxen on north shore
above Grassy Island and three on is-
land.

108 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

26 Saw sixteen Musk-oxen above Grassy
Island. First of all saw fourteen Musk-
oxen with which was one large bull and
the rest were cows, yearlings and four
calves. Shortly after, two more came
along, one was a young bull and the
other a yearling vow.

26 Also saw one bull on Grassy Island and
another a short distance below on the
north shore.

28 Saw two large bull Musk-oxen on north
shore about forty miles from the forks
of the river.

30 Opposite Lookout Point at the mouth
of and up the valley of Finnie Creek
(this hitherto unnamed creek I have
named in honour of Mr. O. S. Finnie)
I saw signs of Musk-oxen.

29 About ninety miles from forks of Han-
bury and Thelon Rivers saw one bull
Musk-ox.

AUGUST

3 About six miles above the place that
Tyrrell calls the “crossing place of
deer” I saw one bull Musk-ox slowly
walking along the shore. The “crossing
place of deer” is at. the edge of the
timber, especially Grassy Island. The
grazing was plentiful and the willows
thick and high. It appeared to be an
ideal place for the Musk-oxen which
hitherto seemed to be undisturbed for
they showed no fear, only curiosity.
This area would make an_ ideal
sanctuary for wild animals and birds.
Not only white men but also natives
should be prevented from entering this
district. | Musk-oxen feed entirely on the
grasses, dwarf birches and saxifraga. They
are not moss eaters. Back from the river,
although grazing is plentiful, it is ex-
ceedingly short and could never be call-
ed a grassy prairie.

MoosE — Alces americana (Clinton).

River.
TUNDRA WoLF—Canis lycaon tundrarum Miller.

The Tundra Wolves vary greatly in colour
from pure white to dark and the latter rarely
belong to the timber. Large and not fero-
cious, they are among the finest animals we
have, but unfortunately they have a bad name
_and there is every desire to slaughter them

all. Now it is a question if all the Wolves

No signs of Moose on the Thelon

{[VoL. XLVIII1

were killed off, would the Caribou increase or
would they die off through weakness? The
Wolves must undoubtedly kill off the weak and
sick Caribou and consequently only the hardy
ones are left to reproduce. In summer Wolves
can be met with almost everywhere in the
barrens. After the mating season they go
off in pairs. They have their young in any
suitable spot, generally facing south on the
side of a ridge in a sandy place in a den
about one yard from the entrance and some-
times only under a small spruce tree. In
winter when Caribou are numerous Wolves
are also fairly plentiful.

I have never found the Tundra Wolves
travelling in larger packs than seven. Once,
however, after a large slaughter of Caribou
T counted 41 wolves but they had only collect-
ed in passing and were eating up the remains.
In that country, exvecially in winter, there is
nothing that a Wolf will not eat but they are
not dangerous, for on several cecasions I have
had Wolves come within a few inches during
the night.

In the winter of 1924 — 1925 Caribou were
very plentiful and Wolves were scarce. Prob-
ably most of the latter had followed the larger
bands of Caribou into the woods. Their mat-
ing season begins at the end of April and
their young are born about the first of June.
During the months of March, April and May,
there were many Wolves seen going north
and although only one den was found we saw
many Wolves along both the Hanbury and
Thelon Rivers. Most of them were white in
colour but I saw one dark specimen at the
edge of the woods on the Thelon River. No
doubt Wolves procure ample food in summer
by following river banks.

WOLVERINE—Gulo luscus (Linnaeus).
Only three were seen around Casba River.

RED Fox—Vulpes fulva (Desmarest)

There were a few Red Foxes along Artiilery
Lake in the woods to the west and one, which
was caught on the east shore, was given to
me.

WuitE Fox—Alopex lagopus innuitus (Merriam).

White Foxes were very plentiful all fall and
winter around Casba River. It was possible to
see them almost daily during the longer days.
The last White Fox seen was on Smart Lake.
On the Thelon River we only saw one track
of a Fox.

October, 1934!

MACKENZIE OR NORTHERN VARYING HARE—
Lepus americanus macfarlani Merriam.)
These Hares are very plentiful at the edge
of the timber and also to the north of Artillery
Lake. On Hanbury Lake we saw one young
Arctic Hare, [Lepus arcticus andersoni Nelson,
1934].

GROUND SqQuIRREL—Citellus parryii parryii (Ri-
chardson).

There were a few around Artillery Lake but
very plentiful onthe Hanbury and Thelon Rivers.
Two specimens were procured on the Hanbury
River.

BACK’s LEMMING—Lemmus trimucronatus (Ri-
chardson).

They were very plentiful north of Artillery

Lake and on the Thelon River they were very

Scarce.

GrRizzLy BEAR—Ursus richardsoni Swainson.

I saw in two places signs of where one of
these bears had eaten a Musk-ox. None, how-
ever, was seen during my stay on Great Bear
Lake. I procured several of these bears. They
were not at all uncommon to the east and
south of McTavish Bay.

FISH—1924-1925

TrouT—[Salmo spp.]

October—Both the Lake and Salmon Trout
were caught in nets at the northwest end
of Artillery Lake.

July 9—On Hanbury River below the 4th
portage caught three Trout weighing respec-
tively 6, 1%, and 8 pounds.

July 11—Again in same place caught four
Trout, of which one weighed 12 pounds, in a
net and two Trout on hooks.:

July 13—Below McDonald Falls we caught
three.small Trout.

July 14-17—Caught five Trout below Dick-
son’s Canyon.

July 18—Below the small falls past Helen
Falls (Hanbury River) we caught a few large
Trout, two of which weighed twelve pounds
each.

July 21—Caught two small Trout five miles
below the forks of the Thelon and Hanbury
River.

August 18—Caught one Trout just above
Aberdeen Lake.

August 22—Just above Schultz Lake caught
two Trout, one of which was a Sea Trout.
Below Schultz Lake and in Baker Lake plenty

of Trout were seen.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

109

WHITEFISH—I[Coregonus spp.|

October—A few Whitefish caught at north
west end of Artillery Lake.

July 9—On Hanbury River below the 4th
portage caught one Whitefish, weight 2
pounds.

July 11—In same place caught two more
Whitefish.

August 18—In river below Aberdeen Lake
caught twenty Whitefish.

August 22—Above Schultz Lake two White-
fish.

TULLIBEE—|Argyrosomus tullibee (Richardson.)]
October—Plenty of Tullibee caught at north
west end of Artillery Lake.

SUCKERS—|Northern Sucker Caiastomus catastomus
(Forster) or Gray Sucker Moxostoma lesueuri
(Richardson) |.

October—One Sucker caught at north-west
end of Artillery Lake.

July 14-17—Several large Suckers caught in
Hanbury River below Dickson’s Canyon.

BACK’s GRAYLING— [Thymallus ae
chardson) J.
July 14—Caught a few below Dickson’s
Canyon.
July 18—Below Helen’s Falls these Grayling

are very plentiful.

signifer

BIRDS—1924-25

1925 Common LooN—Gavia immer (Brun nich)
Very scarce, only seen twice on lower reach-

es of Hanbury River and also below Grassy
Island.

June & July 1925 YELLOW-BILLED Loon—Gavia
adamsi (Gray)
These Loons very common from Campbell
Lake to Schultz Lake. Several nests were
found.

Paciric Loon—Gavia arctica pacifica (Lawrence)
Very plentiful both on the Hanbury and
Thelon Rivers.

RED-THROATED LOON—Gavia stellata (Pontoppidan)

Fairly common on both Hanbury and ‘Thelon
Rivers. Nest and eggs procured east of
Sifton Lake.

1924 KED-BREASTED MERGANSER—Mergus ser-
rator (Linnzus)
These were seen both on the Hanbury and
Thelon Rivers during the months of June and
July.

110

MALLARD—Aunas platyrhynchos Linnaeus.

I thought I saw some Mallards about ninety
miles from the forks of the Hanbury and
Thelon Rivers.

PINTAIL Duck—Dafila acuta tzitzihoa (Vieillot)
One pair seen on Sifton Lake and another
on the Hanbury River.

LONG-TAIL OR OLD-SQUAW Duck — Clangula
hyemalis (Linneeus)

This is a very common Duck in the north
country but few were seen between Artillery Lake
and Baker Lake, some were seen just before
we reached Campbell Lake. Along the Han-
bury and Thelon Rivers and the small lakes
adjoining these Ducks were occasionally seen
during the months of June and July.

Snow Goose—Chen hyperboreus (Pallas)

May—A few flocks seen going north between
Artillery Lake and Campbell Lake.

July 25, 1924—WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE—Anser
albifrons gambeli (Hartlaub).
From Smart Lake to Hanbury Lake they
were often seen in pairs and above Sandy
Lake, young were seen.

COMMON CANADA GOOSE — Branta canadensis
canadensis (Linnzus)
On the lower reaches of the Thelon River
they are not uncommon.

July 28, 1924—Hutchins’s GooseE—Branta can-
adensis hutchinsi (Richardson)
These geese are very plentiful along the
Thelon River from Grassy Island to Baker
Lake. They breed there in large numbers.

May 30, 1924—WHISTLING SwaNn—Cygnus co-
lumbianus (Ord).
Between Artillery Lake and Campbell Lake
saw a few Swans going north.
July 28, 1924—About forty miles below the
forks of the Hanbury and Thelon Rivers saw
two Swans with young.

May 24, 1925—-LiTTLE BRowN CRANE—Grus can-
adensis canadensis (Linnzus)

Saw one Crane, either a Sandhill or else
Little Brown Crane between Casba and Camp-
bell Lakes.

August 4—Saw close west of Beverly five
Sandhill Cranes, Grus mexicana.

1924 WILLOW PTARMIGAN—Lagopus lagopus albus
(Gmelin).

About the first snowstorms these birds

begin to go south. Travelling along the east

shore of Artillery Lake from September 16

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

[VoL. XLVII1

to the end of the month we almost daily saw
these Ptarmigan going south. A few flocks
stay till late in the winter wherever there
are large willows. At the beginning of May
they appeared again at the head of Artillery
Lake and were daily to be observed passing
in large numbers. Along the banks of the
Hanbury and Thelon Rivers they nest but
never in large numbers.

Rock PTARMIGAN—Lagopus
(Gmelin) .
These are smaller birds than the Willow
Ptarmigan, in summer they are generally to
be seen on the higher ground. They are not
quite so numerous as the others. They mig-
rate about the same time but always during
the winter can be seen in the barren lands.
They feed chiefly on the dwarf birches on the
ridges close to the banks of Hanbury and
Thelon Rivers. In the summer we occasion-
ally saw a few pairs. —
Both Willow and Rock Ptarmigan are white
in winter but few obtain their beautiful sum-
mer plumage.

rupesiris rupestris

1925—Marsy Hawk —Circus hudsonius (Linnzus)
Seen in October northeast of Artillery Lake.

1921-1922—GoLDEN FAGLE—Aquilla chrysaetos
canadensis (Linnzus)
I found a pair nesting north of Fort Reli-
ance on the Lockhart River.

NORTHERN BALD HAGLE—Halizetus leucocephalus
alascanus Townsend.

On the islands in Hornby Channel in Great
Slave Lake, 1921-1922, | saw two nests. No
Eagles were seen on Hanbury or Thelon
Rivers.

1925—GyRFALCON—Falco spp.

Both the White Falco islandus and also the
Gray Gyrfaleon Falco rusticolus were seen in
the late fall and early spring north of Artill-
ery Lake. Some of these birds stay all winter.

Duck Hawk—Falco peregrinus anatum Bonaparte.

These hawks were plentiful, from below
Sifton Lake, they were found nesting in the
cliffs and high banks along the Hanbury and
Thelon Rivers.

1921-1922 Snowy OwL—Nyctea nyctea (Linnzus)

To the north of Artillery Lake these were
very plentiful and remained till December.

Hoyt’s HorNrep LARK—Octocoris alpestris hoytt
Bishop
Also numerous in the same districts as the
Longspur, Calcarius lapponicus.

October, 1934]

CANADA JAY — Perisoreus canadensis canadensis
(Linneus).
They are numerous up to the last woods on
the Artillery Lake. Few were seen on the
Thelon River.

NORTHERN RAVEN — Corvus corax principalis
Ridgway.

In winter the Ravens were scarce. In
spring a few were seen, most of them going
north. Below, Dickson’s Canyon there was
one pair nesting. During the trip they were
occasionally seen.

REDPOLL—Acanthis linarta (Linneus)

Many of these birds were seen nesting in
the vicinity of Hanbury River.

SNOWFLAKE — Plectrophenax nivalis (Linneus)

In the early spring and in the summer these
are to be seen everywhere throughout the
barrens.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

111

LAPLAND LoNnGsPpUR—Calcarius lapponicus
ponicus (Linnzeus)
In the summer these were found in large
numbers nesting in all the open country
between Casba Lake and Baker Lake.

WESTERN SAVANNAH SPARROW — Passerculus
sandwichensis alaudinus Bonaparte
Not uncommon throughout the barrens.

lap-

GAMBEL’S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW—Zonotrichia
leucophrys gambeli. (Nuttall)
These were plentiful during the first week
in June at the north of Campbell Lake on the
islands.

1921-1922— AMERICAN RoBIN—Turdus migratorius
migratorius Linnzus.

A few of these noisy birds were seen in the
woods along the Thelon River.

In these woods it was impossible to note
what birds there were as, owing to the late-
ness of the season, we were compelled to
travel rapidly.

ANIMAL PARASITES OF NORTH-EAST CANADA

By I. W. PARNELL, B.A., (Cantab.) Ph.D.,
The Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Montreal

HE Institute of Parasitology in 1933
commenced a survey of the internal
parasites of domestic and _ wild
animals in Canada with the object
of finding what species of parasites are pre-
sent, which are important, what damage they
are doing, and suggesting steps which may
be taken to prevent this damage. This is
the first compvehensive, planned survey of
internal parasites, which has been undertaken
in any country. The following notes relate
to that part of the survey which was carried
out in north-eastern Canada last summer.
Previous to this practically nothing was
known of the parasitological conditions in
the north, since, except for a few isolated
observations by scientists who had gone to
collect other material and were _ therefore,
more or less uninterested in internal parasites
—no survey had been attempted.

Owing to the climatic conditions difficulties
were encountered and several problems had
to be solved before going north. The first
two of these were to obtain a _ preserving
fluid, such as formalin, which would not pre-

cipitate with cold, and containers which would
withstand the pressure of liquid freezing in
them. With the help of the National Re-
search Council and Standard Chemicals of
Montreal, who made up a special mixture for
us, the first problem was solved. The East-
ern Steel Company of Montreal built a special
corrugated and shaped container, in the test-
ing of which we received generous help from
the Managers of the Ice Manufacturing Com-
pany and Purity Ice Cream Company. One of
the General Steel Wares stock garbage cans
also passed the freezing test.

A passage on the Hudson’s Bay icebreaker
Nascopie was arranged through the _ co-
operation of the Department of the Interior.
Fifty-four gallons of formalin, packed in half-
gallon tins, together with 41 ten and twenty
gallon garbage cans were taken on board,
together with a supply of labels, string, cheese
cloth and typed instructions. Supplies of
preservative and containers were left at
Police and Fur stations in Northern Quebec
and the north-eastern Arctic islands.

112

The collectors at the different posts were
asked to dilute the formalin with eight times
its volume of water in the garbage cans, then
to deposit either the entire carcass of small
animals (with a hole made in the abdominal
wall) or the entrails, of large animals, into
the can; when they were ready to be shipped
back to the Institute, the formalin was to be
drained off, the contents covered with moss or
sacking to prevent excessive drying.

Many of the cans have not yet been received
by the Institute of course, but the Nascopie
and C.G.S. N. B. McLean brought back some
material in ithe fall. This, together with my
own observations and specimens collected
during the trip, form the basis of the notes
which follow.

Many of the men travelling on the Nas-
copie, who knew the North, considered that
the incidence of appendicitis during the last
few years had been high, and since many
surgeons consider that a small worm, the so-
called seat-worm or Oxyuris vermicularis, is
one of the many causes of appendicitis, steps
were taken to find out whether this worm
was common among the Eskimos who may
easily contaminate the food when cooking for
white men. This worm has a direct life
history. The female, which lives in the latter
part of the large intestine, lays only one batch
of eggs and dies; to do this she emerges from
the host, almost always at night, and deposits
her eggs in batches on the skin. With the
eggs is some irritant substance which causes
itching; scratching follows and the eggs get
on to the host’s finger nails; from these, food
can be easily contaminated. With the help
of the R.C.M.P., and the ship’s doctor, we were
able to examine a number of nail scrapings
taken from Eskimos who were being medi-
cally examined for various causes. The
incidence of this worm seems to be_ high.
Although it is usually found chiefly in young
children and very old people, and although
the nail scrapings were taken from Eskimos
of all ages, we saw eggs in scrapings from
Pangnirtung and Lake Harbour in Baffin
Island and from most of the posts on the
south side of Hudson Straits and the east
side of Hudson’s Bay. While the finding of
the characteristic egg in the nail debris is
definite evidence of infection, its absence there
dces not necessarily mean that the host is
free from the worm. It would be desirable
therefore for white men to make sure that
the Eskimos who cook for them keep their

Tue CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

[VoL. XLVIII

nails short and clean. It may also be that
some of the deaths, which are generally put
down to “constipation,” may really be a form
of appendicitis caused by this worm.

Rather more in the realm of speculation is
the part the Trichina worm may play in those
deaths of whole families which are periodically
reported among the Eskimos. These whole-
sale deaths are always ascribed to “ptomaine”
poisoning: without, however, any real evidence.
The Trichina worm has a life history which
is somewhat unusual. The adults — which
are only a few millimetres long—live in the
small intestine and produce living larve. But
instead of passing out of the host in the feces,
these develop within the host’s body, and
migrate to all parts of the muscle tissue;
there they encyst and may live for years, no
further development taking place until the
flesh which contains the encysted larve is
eaten by another mammal, when they become
mature. The adult forms live only about
two months, but during that time they produce
a very large number of larve—so that even
in a mild infection, in a piece of flesh the size
of a ten cent piece, there will be dozens of
larve. Naturally the migration and encyst-
ment of all these larve causes great dis-
comfort and even death. The disease in man
is often diagnosed as ptomaine poisoning,
rheumatism or typhoid. For a considerable
time it has been a by no means uncommon
parasite on the American continent and the
present evidence suggests that it is increasing.
It is, however, not a normal human parasite
but one essentially of flesh-eating mammals,
and a large variety of wild carnivores are
infected. The parasite is holarctic in its dis-
tribution and we have found it already in
Arctic Foxes and Polar Bears. Whether or
not seals and walrus are natural carriers is
a matter still to be decided. There is no
theoretical reason why they should not be.

In the north, the dog is the all important
animal, but this preliminary survey has made
it obvious that their power to work must be
considerably decreased and death not infre-
quently caused by internal parasites.

We have been able to examine some dog
feces from Hast Baffin Island and Moosonee,
Ontario; two dogs from north east Baffin
Island and two and a very young puppy from
the north coast of Quebec. Among this limit-
ed material we have found Hookworms, a fish-
earried tapeworm and _ fish-earried flukes.
among other worms.

October, 1934]

The Dog Hookworm ( Dochmoides or Un-
cinaria stenocephala ) belongs to that family
of worms which has caused the most loss to
man: Hookworm disease in man is regarded
as one of the four greatest diseases in. the
world, and the Rockefeller Foundation alone
has spent literally scores of millions of dollars
on hookworm research and control in man in
the tropics and sub-tropics. The life history
of the Hookworms shows interesting biological
adaptions to the host’s habits. Each female
worm produces many thousands of eggs per
day. These pass out in the feces. where,
under suitable conditions of temperature. air
and moisture, development takes place. Under
optimum conditions the eggs hatch in two
days and there emerge small larve which feed
on bacteria and fecal debris; after another
two or three days, they moult and again start
to feed and grow; in a few more days the
larve again moult. Until this stage, during
which they do not feed outside the host, is
reached they are unable to infect the host
animal. They are now much more resistant to
uNfavourable outside influences than in the
earlier stages and they can withstand consider-
able freezing. They are attracted and ac-
_tivated by heat—and if they get on to the
skin of a mammal they become very active
anc, attracted by the warmth, bore into it
until they reach a blood or lymph vessel; they
are then carried along passively through the
heart to the lungs where they break through
the small blood vessels, ascend into the throat,
are swallowed and thus reach the intestine.
If they are originally swallowed with food,
however, they do not migrate through the
body of the host, but reach maturity directly
in the small intestine. There they feed on
the tissue and blood and when present in any
numbers cause anemia and even death. Luck-
ily, there are two or three efficient anthelmin-
ties against hookworm. One is carbon tetra-
chloride, but this, in the north, raises another
local problem, since, although usually a safe
medicine, in the presence of fat it is poisonous,
and most of the dogs are fed on seal meat,
which, of course, contains a lot of blubber.
Tetrachlorethylene is another drug which
might prove useful as it is much less toxic:

' but a fat diet makes it relatively inert, and
- it is comparatively expensive. Oil of cheno-
podium is probably the most practical as,
mixed with castor oil, it is comparatively safe
for both adult dogs and puppies.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

113

This life history shows how successful control

of this worm may be undertaken, since % is
almost certain that no development of the
free living stages could take place after
October or before June—during which time
the dogs could be put on a careful fish ration
for a few days and then dosed. If this were
done two or three times for all the dogs,
being very careful that none was left undosed,
this parasite could be practically wiped out
in the north, except for infections which may
occur in foxes. We have not yet been able
to see any fox carcases from the far north
and although they probably harbour the
parasite, it is possible that their lack of con-
tact with dogs in the summer would prevent
cross-infections. The dog we saw from Bur-
well was suffering from very typical hook-
worm disease with pronounced anemia. It
is of interest to note that a very closely
related species of hookworm is found in seals
and the relationship between it and the dog-
fox hookworm is not only a question of great
scientific interest but one of considerable
practical importance from the point of view
of both hosts. Other parasites of land
carnivores have been reported from seals and
their relatives in the past but they are still
very incompletely understood and form a pro-
blem still to be solved.

From Stupart’s Bay we received a dead dog
which belonged to an Eskimo, and apparently
had died from an infection of ascarids; eggs of
this species have also been found in feces
from Baffin Island. The life history of this
worm is somewhat like that of hookworms,
except that the eggs do not hatch from their
highly protective shell until they are swallow-
ed by the host animal; the larve then
penetrate the stomach wall and, entering the
blood stream, follow the same migratory
course as Hookworms. In the case we saw,
the dog had evidently received a heavy in-
fection and during the course of the larve’s |
migration through the lungs, they had set up
a fatal pneumonia. Owing to the habit of
migrating through the host’s blood stream,
prenatal infection of puppies can, and fre-
quently does, take place. Oil of chenopodium
with castor oil, as mentioned above, is a very
efficient medicine against: ascarids. These
worms should be removed in early fall, and it
is probable that in north-east Canada, the
cold will be sufficient to prevent many eggs
surviving the winter out of doors, and the
snow should prevent dogs picking up an in-
fection during the winter. Using these med-

114

icines carefully, we believe a considerable
amount of loss in energy and life among that
all important animal, the dog, can be pre-
vented, but it must be remembered that they
are poisonous under certain conditions.

The tapeworm eggs we have found belong
either to the Broad Tapeworm or to a species
closely related to it. This worm, which is
becoming increasingly common in man in
southern and mid-Canada, can produce millions
of eggs every day and live for several years.
The eggs are passed from the host in the
feces and only if they fall into water, does
further development take place. The next
necessity is that they be eaten by a species of
Diaptomous or Cycleps. A metamorphosis
takes place in these animals, which in turn
have to be eaten by fish. In the fish the first
intermediate host is digested and the larve
become free in the intestine through which
they burrow, and encyst in its flesh. If this
happens in a small fish which is eaten by
another, the larve can again bore through
this second intestine and encyst. The final
stage is reached when this fish is eaten by
man, or an omnivorous or carnivorous mammal;
the encysted larva then becomes attached by
its head to the host’s intestines, grows to a
large size, and becomes mature. This tapeworm
is probably a fairly recent immigrant into
Canada, having come over here with Europ-
eans from the Baltic regions, where it is very
common. But it may have been imported by
the Norsemen nearly a thousand years ago,
or by Eskimos even earlier. Owing to the
impossibility of preventing wild animals from
eating fish, it seems doubtful it will ever
be eradicated, but much can be done to
prevent man and domestic animals from be-
coming infected. Thorough cooking of fish
of course, kills all worm infections, and two
or three alternate freezings and thawings
probably kill this tapeworm in its larval
form.

The other important dog parasite we have
identified is a liver fluke; so far we have only
found it in dog feces which we obtained
rather south, about latitude 48°. Its close
relations are common in the Baltic regions,
Japan, China and Siberia, and there it is often
a parasite of man, as well as of domestic
cats and dogs and their wild relatives. In
man, it is often associated with cancer of the
liver; even when cancer is absent, it often
causes a fatal disease. To complete its life
history, it needs two intermediate hosts: a

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

(VoL. XVLIII

snail and a fish. The eggs are again passed
out in the feces, and if they fall into water,
no development takes place until they are
swallowed by a particular species of snail.
In the snail the egg hatches and bores into
its body; there it asexually multiplies, giving
rise to a motile larval form which has
to leave the snail and find a fish. Should it
do so, it encysts on it, usually ‘on a scale, and
not until the fish is eaten by a suitable ma-
mal, is the life cycle complete. Against this
parasite, when harboured by man or dogs,
there is as yet no very efficient treatment, but
in any district where this parasite may be,
cooking is a safe preventive, while skinning
the fish reduces the risk very considerably.

So far the number of wild animals we have
been able to examine has been limited, and
insufficient of any one species to give many
definite facts concerning their fauna and its
distribution.

It is important to remember that many
parasites of man and domestic animals may
be carried by wild animals, Morever there
is evidence that in many parts of the world
parasites of wild animals are gradually being
acquired by domestic ones. This has been well
illustrated in Africa, and even in Canada we
have the familiar example of the large liver
fluke of our native ruminants being passed
to cattle and sheep.

It is a general rule that parasites are
exceptionally severe in unusual or “new” hosts
and this makes it the more important to know
what our wild fauna contains.

Our general experience has shown that at
least three quarters of all wild animals har-
bour parasites and it is seldom realized how
large a number of parasites they may contain.
For instance, we examined two adult snow-
shoe rabbits from the Moose River area this
summer, each with a fairly heavy, but typical,
infection of parasites. We attempted to
estimate the number in one of them. In the
small intestine there were three species of
parasites, none numerous; in the large intes-
tine there were two or three more. different
species which were more numerous—some 400
worms; in the stomach still another species
predominates—a blood-sucking worm about
an inch long, there were between 1,500 and
1,600 of these, making a total of about 2,000
worms in a single rabbit. It is not difficult,
therefore, to imagine the drain on that rabbit’s
health.

October. 1934]

At present no satisfactory method has been
devised of treating wild animals and birds.
But it dces not seem impossible for man to
devise some method which may reduce the
incidence among wild animals. The use of
medicated licks for example, holds out much
promise, even although not yet practicable.

So- far as other wild forms are concerned,
we have only been able to examine a few birds,
chiefly ducks, geese and seagulls; the majority
have been parasitized. In addition we have
been able to examine about 20 lemmings and
they also harbour parasitic worms especially
in the large intestine. These are still under
investigation.

Without the cooperation of the Royal Can-
adian MountedPolice, the Hudson’sBay Company,
and Kevillon Fréres, who wholeheartedly help-
ed, this survey would not have been possible.
As an example, the case of the Hudson’s Bay
Factor in Chimo may be quoted. Mr. Watson
of the Hudson’s Bay Company asked him to
collect for us, and I asked him how many cans
he would fill during the year—I had allowed
two for each post in my estimate of. the
number required—and he offered to fill twelve;
he sent one back full when the Nascopie called
at Burwell a few weeks later. The Hudson’s
Bay Post at Stupart’s Bay also had an op-
portunity of sending back material by the C.
G.S. N. B. McLean, and a really carefully
collected and labelled selection was received.

As stated earlier in this article, the survey
of North Eastern Canada is only part of a
planned Dominion-wide survey which has a
three-fold object :—

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

115

(1) To find what parasites occur in
domestic animals, the localities in which
they do or can occur, and which are of
actual or potential importance, not only
to animals but to man.

(2) To find what parasites occur in
fur animals, game animals and the animals
on which they feed. To ascertain which
of these are actually or potentially im-
portant to domestic animals and to the
economically important wild animals.

(3) To find the importance of parasites
in the causation of fur cycles.

This survey will take considerable time to
complete but it will place our knowledge of
parasites in Canada on a sound and scientific
basis. Parasitology is rapidly being re-
cognized as being of the greatest importance
in connection with all forms of animal life
and it is important that the Dominion with its
important live stock and fur industries, its
national parks and animal preserves and its
irreplaceable wild fauna should be in a position
to utilize the growing volume of information
which is accumulating or the insidious effects
of internal parasites and the methods of pre-
venting their enormous losses. It is impossible
for the Institute of Parasitology to complete
this survey — even imperfectly — without the
co-operation of all interested in animal life in ©
Canada. We have already received most en-
thusiastic assistance from many quarters but
we hope that all students of natural history
will help. We shall accordingly be pleased to
send full instructions to any who will assist in
securing material.

NOTES ON BIRDS OF THE LABRADOR PENINSULA IN 1931, 1932 and 1933
By HARRISON F. LEWIS

(Concluded from Page 102)

Stercorarius parasiticus PARASITIC JAEGER.—
A male in the light phase, judged from its
plumage to be a little more than a year old,
was shot by a fisherman near Blanc Sablon
on August 12, 1933. It was seen by me less
than an hour after it was taken and, in ar-
cordance with the Migratory Birds Convention
Act, was. forfeited to His Majesty. The
specimen has been deposited in the Nationai
Muscum of Canada.

Larus delawarensis. RING-BILLED GULL. — I
have previously published’ a statement of the
colonies of this species on the north shore
of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with the ap-
proximate population of each, as known to me
in 1925. Many changes in the distribution of
the breeding population of these Gulls in this
region have taken place since then and in 1933
it was approximately as follows:

7 Auk, 44: 61.

116 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST [VoL. XLVIII
Colony Adult Population wakes nested in 1924, for the first time, as far
kegashka River and vicinity 1500 as known, on ledges on the face of a low
Pointe au Maurier 650 cliff on Bald or Gun Island, in Betchouane

St. Augustin 612 Bird Sanctuary, about 17 miles east of Havre

j St. Pierre. In that year 23 nests were found,
Total 2762 and on July 28, 15 large young were seen in

In 1925 the total population of all known
colonies in the region was 1190. Probably
some small nesting groups escaped observation
in both 1925 and 1938.

The colony near the mouth of Kegashka
River, which is usually concentrated on one
island for nesting purposes, was scattered
over several islands, in a territory several
miles in diameter, during all except the early
part of the nesting season of 1933, because
the colony was robbed of most of its eggs
early in June, and the birds separated into
groups on various islands for the second lay-
ing. Only about 700 adults remained to lay
again on the original site, but 1500 is consid-
ered a fair estimate of the number of adult
Ring-bills in the colony before it was dis-
turbed.

The colony at Pointe au Maurier was larger
in 1933 than in any previous year in my
experience.

The colony at St. Augustin is situated in
the government bird sanctuary at that place.
Ring-billed Gulls were first known to nest
there in 1930, and the population of this colony
from that year to 1933 has been approximately
as follows:

1930 300
1931 418 (209 nests)
1932 500
1933 612 (306 nests)

The Gulls in this colony have not always used
the same nesting site in successive years, but
I can give no reason for their changing from
one site to another. In some cases the change
made has been from one island to another,
although the distance from one site to the
next one selected was less than a mile in each
instance. In 1933 the nests were grouped on
two islands, not far apart, on each of which,
in accordance with the usual custom of this
species, they were crowded into a restricted
area, while a large part of the space available
on the island was not occupied at all.

The small colonies that existed in Aylmer
Sound and Mecattina Sanctuary in 1925 are
found there no longer.

Rissa tridactyla tridaetyla. ATLANTIC KiTTI-
WAKE.—As I have recorded previously,® Kitti-

& Auk, 42: 279,

the nests and about 35 adult Kittiwakes were
in the vicinity. The strange history of this
nesting group of Kittiwakes in the nine years
that followed is briefly recorded here.

1925. June 4 and 27, about 70 adults, many

nests, no eggs or young. °

1926. July 8, two adults, no nests seen.

1927 June 6, three adults, six nests, no eggs
or young.

1928 June 3, one adult, three nests, no eggs
or young.

1929 June 15, four adults, three nests, no
eggs or young.

19380. June 8, one adult, no record of nests or
contents.

1931 June 24, one adult, two nests, no eggs or
young.

19382 June 20, three adults, two nests, no

eggs or young.
1933 June 18, four adults, three nests, one

with 1 egg and 1 with 2 eggs. July 27,
three adults, one nest with 1 egg (ap-
parently deserted), one nest with 3
large downy young, 1 nest with 1 large
young, partly feathered.

Whatever may be the explanation of the history
of this little colony, as recorded above, I am con-
fident thatthe robbing of nests by man has no part
in it, for Kittiwake eggs are small and not
sought after, and the few that might be laid
on this overhanging cliff would be so difficult
to reach that the special effort necessary would
far outweigh, in an egg-gatherer’s mind, any
temptation they might have for him Besides,
there is no lack of larger and more accessible
eggs in the vicinity, which would divert atten-
tion from any Kittiwake egg's.

If there were a large colony of Kittiwakes
in the neighbourhood, this small colony might
be an overflow, in which abnormal conditions
might be caused by the shifting of birds from
one colony to the other, but the nearest
colonies to this one, as far as I know, are
those at Carosel Island, Seven Islands (140
miles west) and at Gull Bay, Anticosti (92
miles southeast).

® Auk, 44: 60.

October, 1934|

Hydroprogne caspia imperator. CASPIAN
TBRN.—The small colony of this species on Fog
Island appears to be increasing slowly in size.
On July 138, 1932, I counted in it 48 occupied
nests and one pair of large young running
about, so that it would seem that there must
have been at least 49 nesting pairs in the
colony at that time.

On June 21, 1933, I counted in this colony
85 nests with eggs and 380 nest-hollows without
contents. The deposition of eggs in the colony
had not terminated at that time and no doubt
many, though perhaps not all, of the nest-
hollows that I found empty held eggs later in
the season.

Uria aalge aalge. ATLANTIC MuRRE. — The
population of the colony of this species on a
rock in Fog Island Bird Sanctuary, which was
recorded as 2586 breeding birds in 1930”, was
estimated at 2800 breeding birds on July 19,
1931, when an exact count of eggs was impos-
sible, because most of the young had hatched
and were running about. On July 6, 1932, I
counted 1866 eggs and 8 young birds of this
species in this colony, indicating a population
of 3788 breeding birds. Shortly before the
middle of June, 1938, the colony was robbed of
all eggs laid up to that date, but on June 21
of that year I counted in it 1786 eggs, repre-
senting 3572 breeding birds. It is highly prob-
able that many adults in the colony were not
represented by eggs onthe last-mentioned
date, because of the short time that had
elapsed since the robbery, and that the actual
population of the colony was therefore greater
than the number stated.

Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni. RICHARD-
SON’Ss OwL.—At Wolf Bay, near Cape Whittle,
T was shown, on July 17, 1931, an adult female
Richardson’s Owl in the flesh. It had been
shot there on that date by R. A. Johnson,
ef Onconta, New York, who has kindly given
his permission for the publication of this
record. The bird was found on an exposed,
rocky point, a mile or more from the nearest
trees.

Megaceryle alcyon alcyon. EASTERN BELTED
KINGFISHER.—On August 10, 1932, I saw, at
the harbour in St. Mary Islands Bird Sanc-
tuary, an individual of this species that, ac-
cording to local residents, had been there for
several days.

10 Can. Field-Nat, 45: 74.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

‘east of Baie Johan Beetz.

117

On July 9, 1938, in ascending the St. Paul’s
or Esquimaux River, which is the easternmost
large river on the north shore of the Gulf of
St. Lawrence, to a point about 12 miles above
its mouth, I saw 2 Belted Kingfishers several
miles apart. They probably represented two
breeding pairs. A local man familiar with
the river told me that these birds nested
regularly along its course.

Colaptes auratus luteus. NoRTHERN FLICKER.—
A Flicker was heard calling several times, but
was not seen, near the mouth of Cross River,
7 miles west of Harrington Harbour, on Aug-
ust 14, 1932. I have no record of any other
observation of a Flicker on this coast east of
Natashquan.

Iridoprocne bicolor. TREE SWALLOW.—A nest
of this species, on which one parent was in-
cubating, was found on June 21, 1932, only
3 or 4 feet above the ground, in a dead, up-
right tree trunk less than 5 inches in greatest
diameter, standing alone in the open, about a
quarter of a mile inland from the mouth of
the Little Watshishu River, and about 9 miles
As far as I have
been able to ascertain, this is the easternmost
nesting record of the Tree Swallow near the
coast in this region.

Silta canadensis. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.—
The summer of 1933 was marked by another
invasion of the sub-arctic coastal strip of the
eastern part of the north shore of the Gulf
of St. Lawrence by birds of this species. My
notes show the following records of their oc-
currence there:

August 6. Harrington Harbour, 1.

August 11. Lourdes de Blane Sablon, 1
on woodpile.

August 12. Greenly Island, 4 alive and
1 that had been dead but a
short time.

August 18. La Tabatiére, 1.

August 22. Between Harrington Harbour
and Etamamu River, 3.

August 28. Between Etamamu River and

Washikuti, 3, of which 2 were
on the small island on which
Cape Whittle lighthouse
stands.

The keeper of Cape Whittle light told me on
August 23rd that birds of this kind had been
frequent visitors to his island for some time
prior to that date.

Similar occurrences of MRed-breasted Nut-
hatches in this sub-arctic coastal strip were

118 THE CANADIAN FIBLD-NATURALIST

observed by me in 1921, 1923, and 1929, and
the records of them have been published
previously.4. The manner of these occurrences
is such as to make it seem probable that, for
some reason unknown, the birds have sallied
forth to the bare hills and islands of the
outermost coastal region after the conclusion
of their breeding season in the partly forested
interior north of this shore.

The records for Lourdes de Blane Sablon
and Greenly Island, as given above, are the
easternmost records for this species on the
north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
According to Dr. O. L. Austin, Jr.,” there is
no certain record of the occurrence of this
Nuthatch in Newfoundland Labrador, but,
since Lourdes de Blane Sablon and Greenly
Island are only 4 miles west of the boundary
of that region, it is quite probable that records
of the occurrence of this species in it might
have been made easily in August, 1933, had
any competent observers been present then
on the northwest shore of the Strait of Belle
Isle.

*Sialia sialis sialis. EASTERN BLUEBIRD. —
About 7.00 a.m. on June 22, 1931, in the village
of Havre St. Pierre (formerly Esquimaux
Point), I heard the gentle call-note of a Blue-
bird and, a moment later, saw two Bluebirds
in flight. They alighted near me and spent
several minutes in the vicinity and IJ had
plenty of time to observe them in excellent
light, with X6 binoculars, at a few yards’
distance, and so to confirm the identification.
They were both in the dull plumage of the
female. The reddish-brown breast, blue lower
back, gray wings, tail and head, and character-
istic bill were all seen distinctly.

This is the first record of the Eastern Blue-
bird in the Labrador Peninsula.

Bombycilla cedrorum. CEDAR WAXWING. —
Two Cedar Waxwings were seen at Matamek
on July 30, 1931. Two individuals of the same
species were seen at Natashquan, in woodland
between the village and the mouth of the Big
Natashquan River, on June 29, 1932.

The Natashquan record just given is the
easternmost record for this species on the north
shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the previous
most easterly record being one for Baie Johan
Beetz (formerly Piashte Bay).”

u Auk, 39: 516. Auk, 42:86. Can. Field-Nat.. 44:111.

12 Birds of Newfoundland Labrador, Mem. Nutt. Orn. Club
No VII, Cambridge, 1932, p. 169.
3 Auk, 39: 516.

[VoL. XLVIII

Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris. STARLING.—A flock
of five Starlings was seen about sunset on
June 13, 1933, in conifers at the border of a
grassy clearing at Betchewun. They seemed
very shy and wild. Apparently they had gone
to roost for the night, but when I approached
them they flew a short distance to another
tree, then, after a pause, flew away out of
sight.

One Starling was seen near the wharf at
Natashquan on June 17, 1933.”

Vermivora ruficapilla ruficapilla. | NASHVILLE
WARBLER.—One was observed on June 28, 1932,
near the second falls of the Big Natashquan
River. This is the easternmost record for the
species in this region, for it had not previously
been definitely recorded on this coast east of
Baie Joahn Beetz (Piashte Bay), where I
noted two individuals on June 16, 1921.*

Dendroica xstiva exstiva. EASTERN YELLOW
WARBLER.—This species was observed at Blane
Sablon on July 14, 1931 (2 individuals) and
July 18, 1932 (1 individual).

Dendroica castanea. BAY-BREASTED WARBLER.—
On the north side of the Big Natashquan
River, near its mouth, in a rather open growth
of medium-sized white spruces, I heard, on
June 29, 1932, the song of a Bay-breasted
Warbler. I traced it to its source and found
a handsome male of this species feeding near
the tips of the branches of a spruce in such
a way as to display his elegant markings
unusually well, and repeating his song at
frequent intervals. I observed the bird most
satisfactorily for about one minute at a dis-
tance of 30 feet with X6 binoculars.

This is the fourth record of this species in
the Labrador Peninsula and the easternmost
cne for the north shore of the Gulf of St.
Lawrence. It was found by L. M. Turner
at Hamilton Inlet, July 9, 1882'*, by the
present writer at Baie Johan Beetz (Piashte
Bay), June 16, 1921,” and. by P. A. Taverner
at Matamek, June 11, 1928.*

Setophaga ruticilla. AMERICAN REDSTART —
In a letter dated September 1, 1931, Mr. Fred
W. Osborne, keeper of the light on St. Mary
Islands and caretaker of the bird sanctuary
at_ that place, has furnished me with the
following records of this species at his light-
station:

44 Auk, 61: 89.

1 Auk, 39: 515.

16 Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 8: 237.
7 Auk, 39: 515.

18 Can. Field-Nat., 43:79.

October, 1934]

August 25, 1930. A female captured.
September 16, 1930. A male captured.

September 1, 1931. A male captured by

Mr. Osborne in his
bedroom.

In each case Mr. Osborne determined the
identity of the captured bird by comparing
it directly with the coloured illustrations in
a pocket bird-guide. This method is probably
sufficient in the case of this distinctly-marked
species,

Molothrus ater ater. EASTERN COWBIRD. —
On August 6, 1933, I watched an adult male
Eastern Cowbird clearly for some minutes in
favourable light at a distance of 30 to 40
feet near the school-house on Hospital Island,
Harrington Harbour. The coffee-brown head
and neck, black body, wings, and tail, and
stout, conical bill were plainly seen. The bird
was perching and making occasional short
flights in the immediate vicinity of two cows,
which are rather rare animals in this region.

The only other record of this species in the
Labrador Peninsula is that of P. A. Taverner,”

18 Can. Field-Nat., 43 : 78-79.

THE CANADIAN FIBELD-NATURALIST

118

who records 3 or 4 seen, of which 2 were
taken, in the summer of 1928 at Matamek,
286 miles west of Harrington Harbour.

Carpodacus purpureus purpureus. EASTERN
PURPLE FINCH.—I wish to record observations
of birds of this species at Natashquan as
follows:

June 26, 1931. One.
July 23, 1931. One.
June 29, 1932. One.
June 30, 1932. One.

Loxia leucoptera. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. —
This species is fairly common in summer on
the western part of the north shore of the
Gulf of St. Lawrence, as is well known, but
I do not often see it on the eastern part of
that coast. Therefore it seems desirable to
record that I saw 2 individuals on Perroquet
Island, in Bradore Bay, on July 12, 1931. This
island is treeless.

Melospiza melodia melodia. FASTERN SONG
SPARROW.—A bird of this species in song was
observed at Romaine (Gethsemani) on June
21, 1938, and again on July 22 in the same
year.

NOTE ON THE AGE OF LAND SHELLS IN THE MARL DEPOSITS OF
McKAY LAKE NEAR OTTAWA, ONTARIO

By G. E. FAIRBAIRN

HE first mention of land shells in
the marl deposits of McKay Take,
was by Dr. H. M. Ami in 1884 in
Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club, Trans. No.
5, Vol. 2. p. 62, 1883-4 in which he mentions
Mesodon albolabris (Say), Mesodon sayit
(Binney), Mesodon var. dentifera (Binney),
and Patula alternata (Say), and places them
along with the freshwater species, under the
heading of Alluvium (Shell Marl) Deposits,
no mention being made as to how they came
into the marl or at what time they were
deposited.

In a report by F. R. Latchford and P. S.
Porier, March 4th, 1886, in Ottawa Field Natur-
alists’ Club, Trans. No. 7, Vol. II, p. 351, 1885-86,
the authors note that “the shell marl [of
Hemlock (McKay) Lake] is entirely fluvia-
tile in its origin and all land shells found in
it are recent.”

In 1921, E. J. Whittaker made a report on.

the Fossil Mollusca of the Marl Deposits of
the Ottawa District, Bull. 33, Geological Sur-

vey of Canada, Geological Series 40, p. 61, in
which he says: “In addition to the freshwater
species, a few terrestrial molluscs which are
found in the marl beds are included in the
description of the fauna. Such forms, of
course, have been.washed accidently into the
water.” The above excerpts seem to cover
any mention of land shells found in the marl
deposits of McKay Lake and it is noted that
there appears to be a difference of opinion as
to how and when they were deposited.

In view of this difference of opinion, the
writer was attracted to this area for further
study of the marl deposits and believes that
his findings justify record. A small collection
of Polygyra albolabris (Say), P. sayana (Pils.,)
P. monodon (Rackett), and Anguispira alternata
(Say), was gathered from the marl deposits
at McKay Lake in the spring of 1933;
specimens were collected at various depths
from the surface and local conditions noted,

as follows:

120 THE CANADIAN FIBLD-NATURALIST

The species collected are terrestrial, whereas
the marl in which they occur was deposited
under water, and although found associated
with various species of freshwater shells, this
was not their true habitat and they are deriv-
ed from nearby land surfaces and were buried
in the marl at a later period than that in
which it was formed.

This note is an attempt to explain the
presence of these shells in a place where they
could not have lived and the explanation may
be that, the surface of the ground above the
marl having numerous pits and mounds caused
by the burrowing of ground hogs and other
small land animals, these shells have fallen in
and become imprisoned.

In searching for live specimens of the above
species on the same date, it was found that
they were plentiful on the surface of the
marl in pits under small pieces of dead wood
and leaves.

It is believed that on account of the ex-
cellent drainage of the marl caused by the
underlying sand beds the pits become ideal
hibernating places for the larger terrestrial
species, with low loss of life from drowning
in the spring.

[VoL. XLVIII

There would be, however, a number of them
lost through falling into the burrows and
through caving of the pits where they would
remain buried until exposed by further
burrowing or the cutting back of the face of
the sand pits as excavations are carried on
from year to year. From the age of the trees
growing on the mounds over the marl deposits,
it is thought that burrowing has been going
on in this formation for a long time. It is
also noted that the shells collected from the
marl, vary as to the condition of the epider-
mis, from those in which it is well preserved
(as in a live specimen) to those in which it
is completely removed, and also show all
stages of bleaching in contrast to the fresh-
water shells. This may suggest that they
were buried in the marl at different times and
at a much later date than the freshwater
species.

The assumption is that most of the land
shells in the marl are more recent in age than
the marl itself and probably all were introduc-
ed into the marl after the drop in the level
of the lake.

NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS

UNUSUAL MIGRATION OF WILLOW PTARMIGAN
INTO CENTRAL ALBERTA DURING THE WINTER OF
1933-34.—Considerable numbers of Willow Ptar-
migan (Lagopusl. albus) have made their appear-
ance during the present winter in the country
immediately north and east of Edmonton,
no doubt as a result of the deep snows and
extremely low temperatures that have
prevailed in the far-north since early in Dec-
ember. According to official records, un-
precedented cold has been experienced in the
lower Mackenzie region since the commence-
ment of winter, with temperatures of 50° and
60° below zero. Unofficial reports of 70° and
more degrees below zero have been common.
Correspondents in the affected territory refer
to the incursion of Ptarmigan in such terms

f

as the following; “quite plentiful’ “a few
seen” “common and very tame” A dispatch
from Ashmont to an Edmonton newspaper,
dated January 3rd, 1934, states “Numbers of
white ptarmigan have been seen lately, as
many as 25 to 30 being seen in a flock”.
Ashmont is about 80 miles north and some-
what east of Camrose. At Tawatinaw, 60
miles north of Edmonton, Ptarmigan have
been reported several times, while at Atha-
baska, a few miles farther north, quite a
number have been seen. The most southerly
point from which the birds have been reported
this winter is Ardrossan, a hamlet, a few
miles south east of Edmonton. —FRANK L.
FARLEY, Camrose, Alberta.

NAT URAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF
MANITOBA _
he, ng 1929-30 . ;

President Emeritus: C.E. BASsTIN; ‘President: G.
Brooks, Past Presidents: H.~M. SPEECHLY, M.D., C. W.
_ Lowe, M.Sc., A. A. McCousrey, J. B. WALLS, M.A.,
Vv WwW. JACKSON M.Sc., A. M. Davipson, M.D., R. A.
; Vice-Presidents: — set L. R. SIMPSON,
W. H. Ranp, Dr. R. S. Kirk, B. W.
CARTWRIGHT, A. BURTON GRESHAM, Treasurer:| A. G.
_ LAWRENCE; earns R. M. Tuomas; Social Convenor:
Mrs. A. J. SBARLE; General Secretary: NorRMAN LOWE,
$17 Simcoe St., Winnipeg: Executive Secretary: J. HADDOW. —
Section _. Chairman Secretary
rnithological LT S. Norris-E.yeg, B.A. A. H. SHORTT

Entomological oe V. MITCHENER, M.Sc. Miss M.F. PRATT
Mrs. I. M. PRIESTLY — Mrs. H. T. Ross

Geologi __ Miss C. J. EGAN, pp. H. STOKES
hthyological FERRIS NEAVE, M.Sc. G. D. RUSSELL
mmalogical V. W. JACKSON, M.Sc. J. P. KENNEDY

Microscopy e
Zoology R.A. WARDLE, M.Sc.
‘otany C. W. Lowe, M. Sc.

- Meetings are held each Monday evening, except on holiday
Con October to April, in the physics theatre of the University,
Winnipeg. Field
on during May, June and Eases, and on mpuhie, es
uring July a8 August.

THE HAMILTON BIRD PROTECTION
SOCIETY

Teeoreorated)

H.CHAS. PEARCE

~

N Piacecon: Vice-President:
ingston, Ont.; Firat Vice-President: Dr. H. G.
d Vice-President: Mrs. F. E. MACLOGHLIN;
ROLAND Brown; Secretary-Treasurer:.
eee Secretary-Treasurer: Miss E,
iltee: Bibs M. E. peel Pro-

“LON DON, ONT.

4 ee Mr. E ADE BRAND, 148 William Street,
: Ont.; Recording Secretary: Mr. VERNON FRANKS, 195
London, Ont.; Corresponding Secretary and
} Mr R. W. G. GIRLING, 530 English St., London,

Ont. Migration Secretary: Mr. E. M. S. Dae, 297 Hyman
London, Ont.; Members qualified to answer questions:
SAUNDERS, 240 Central Avenue, London, Ont.;
ON, 201 Ridout Street South, London, ce

clits Street, London, Ont.
held the second Monday of the month, excep

R NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

L. S. KLINCK, Ks Di President Univer-
E JoHN DAVIDSON, F.L.S., F.B.S.E.,
ity of B.C.; Vice-President: Pror. M. Y. WILLIAMS,

onor ry Secretary:

2 een Assistant Secretary: Muss
deta :
. H. Ban, 2142 Collingwood
He ian: Mrs. McCRIMMON;
: Miss E. SMITH, Mr. J. D. ‘TURNBULL,
L. Tart, Mr. R. J. CumMING; Au-

ELwaon, Pre 'B. Woops. |
8 p.m., Auditorium, Normal School, 10th
i therwise announced. :

i
y

Se
Vice-President: Dr. C. J. BASTIN:

Ane ‘

excursions are held each Saturday after-
cf ROCHETTE,

. TESSIER.
R. OWEN Mieenes

Connor, M.A., 3222 W. 36th |

Mr. VERNON WIE-—

First. Vice-Pree oe -
~ Rachy, 3262 West 1st Ave. —

- Affiliated Pocictics

PROVINCE OF QUEBEC SOCIETY FOR THE
PROTECTION OF BIRDS INC.

OFFICERS & COMMITTEE:

Past Presidents: Mr. L. MclI. TmRRILL, MR. Meas SMITH,
Mr. W. S. Hart; President: Mrs. C. FL HENDERSON; Vice-
Presidenis: Mr. H. A. C. JAcKson, Mr V. C WYNNB-
EDwaAnbs, Vice-President and Treasurer: MR. HBNRY MOUSLEY;
Secretary: Miss M. SEATH;

Committee: Mrs. C. F. DALE, Mr. J. A. DECARI, MR. W.
S. Hart, Mrs. H. Hispert, Dr. A. N. JENKs, Mr. E. L.
JUDAH, Mr. FRAZER KuiItH, Miss P. B. Martinson, MIg8.
L. MurpHY, Miss M. S. Nicousen, Mr. H. Satt, Mr. L.
McI.SPACKMAN, Mr. L. MclI. TERRILL.

Address all SUrRESpORUEneS to the Society at P.O. Box 1185
Montreal, P.Q., Canada 8

SOCIETE PROVANCHER D’HISTOIRE
NATURELLE DU CANADA

Patron Honoraire: Son Excellence, LE TRES HONORABLE
CoMTE DE BeEsssporouGH, P.C., G.C.M.G., Gouverneur-
ae du Canada; Vice-Fatron Honoraire: HONORABLE

G. H. CARROLL, Lieutenant-Gouverneur de la Province
ae Québec; Bureau de Direction pour 1934: Président: EDGAR
C.R., M.P.P.; ler vice-président: G. STUART
AHERN; 2iéme vice-président: Dr. J.-E. BERNIER; Secrétaire-
irésorier: Louis-B. Lavolg; Chef de la section ‘scientifique:
Dr. D.-A.DERyY; Chef de la section de eaceagaads éducation-

nelle: ALPHONSE DESILETS, B.S.A.3; Chef de section de
protection: ADRIEN Samat C.R.: Chef Be la_ section
d'information scientifique pratique: JAMES F. Ross:

Directeure: A. W. ERE oR. MEREDITH, N.P., U. G.

Bee lathe taeorars- Lovis-B. LAVoIn
38, rue Sherbrooke, Québec.

THE TORONTO FIELD-NATURALISTS’
CLUB

OFFICERS FOR 1934-35.

Honorary Prestdent: Dr. A. P. COLEMAN; President: ARNOTT
M.PATTERSON; Hon. Vice-Presidents: Hon. G. H. CHALLIES,
Mr. J. H. FLveMinc, Dr. N. A. POWELL; Vice-President: MR.
F. P. Ipp, Secretary-Treasurer: H. M. HALLIDAY; Council—

- Dr. E.M. Watxker, S.L. THOMPSON, Prog. J.R. Dymonp,

C. S. FARMER, Pror. T. F. McCILWRAITH, Dr. NoRMA
ForD, MAGISTRATE J. E. Jones, L. T: OWENS, RUPERT
Davis, F. C. Hurst, Dr. T. M. C. TAYLOR, C. G. BRENNAND,
R. M. SAUNDERS; Chairman of Conservation Committee: Mrs.
S. L. Tuompson; President of Junior Club: MURRAY SPEIRS;
Vice-President of Junior Club: HUBERT RICHARDSON. Leaders:
Birds— MESSRS. L. THompson, L. L. Snyper, J. L.
Batuurm, JR., Pror. T. F. McCILWRAITH, R. M. SPEtrs,
¥. H. Emery. Mammals—Pror. A. F. Coventry, Messrs. E.
C. Cross, D. A. McLULIc#. Reptiles and Ampkibians-—
Messrs. E. B.S. Locier, WM. LERAY. Fish—Pror. J. R.
Dymonp, Pror. W. J. K. HarkKNEsS. Inzaects—Dr. FE.
M. WALKER, Dr. N. RORus Mr. F. P. IpE. Botany—Pror.
R. B. THomson, Dr. H. B. Sirton, Dr. T.M.C. Taytor:
Mr. W. R. WATSON, aie T, OWENS. Geology—Dr. A. P.
COLEMAN: Pror. A. MCLEAN.

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AUTOBIOGRAPHY of JOHN MACOUN, M.A. CANADA NORTH OF FIFTY SIX
AUTOBIOGRAPHY of JOHN MACOUN, MLA: ByE,M.KINDLE >

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. Rocekeliffe ee

ARTHUR Crowson, R. E. DELurY, F. J. FRASER, A, HALKETT, C. E. JOHNSON, Ane: KINGSTON, —
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Editor:
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Associate Editors:

SRE ASS! TE AUC ACO a RM Me RE ES Botany R. M. ANDERSON........ .Mammalogy

FRE GATCHRORD! 005) 2. ee ia ee Conchology A. G. HUNTSMAN.:..... Pasa Maras Biology

- ARTHUR GIBSON.......... Hae ite Entomology PAU TAVERNER Gree Ornithology

Wed ALCOCK Fit een ar ci ee Geology BE. M.KINDLE.......... ee Aaa Palzontology
CONTENTS

Ichthyological Treasures from the Albatross Expeditions in Canadian Waters. By GaN: Wilby - 121

i

Notes on the Fish Fauna of an Eastern Ontario Shallow Water ene.

Sorex palustris brooksi. A New Water Shrew from ane ouver Island.

& Vascular Plants Collected during the Canadian Hudson Strait ie in 1927. By Frits x

Johansen ...

a tea
ef iaie lai aliel el aeipe:! soe! © aie yieils)iel ba esiay. ei iel: oo) ei)wiike tapas: alle Venveris se teihelsihane opie iw eis\iteliet wl pelkeveit stay bale lay vies

JA. Stevenson Go ec Can a ae PO ee ede KIL LL iat Pullin he nee on}

Anderson ..

Oe ah ve) ial) ay eke) WW ae hw: Cali wile) ire, hos vance, elie ueyy sil eiNele-<) cal, lel e (elie @r.eto\fat we Seis ee m limi ie,

A New Species of Gyraulus from Canada. By Frank C. Baker AE aa wees

Book Reviews: —

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osiesss

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The Ecology of Animals. By Charles Elton—H.L............... a Cen

A History and List of Birds of Middlesex County, OntaiD: ae W. K.. Saunders and.
Bs MoS) Dale Pia Di eee BR a Bene gob aes ahi) Ries era ee 5

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The Canadian Field-Naturalist

VOL. XLVIII

OTTAWA, CANADA, NOVEMBER, 1934 No. 8

ICHTHY OLOGICAL TREASURES FROM THE “‘ALBATROSS” EXPEDITIONS
IN CANADIAN WATERS

By G. V. WILBY
Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C.

SEARCHING the literature for
records of marine fishes taken along
the coast of British Columbia, the
writer became impressed with the
wealth and uniqueness of the data secured by
expeditions of the steamer Albatross of the
United States Fish Commission.

As many of the catch records of the fishes
taken by the Albatross were designated by
dredging and trawling station numbers only,
a careful check was made of the latitude and
longitude of all these stations from the time
that the vessel arrived on the Pacific in March
1888, until her final trip to Japan in 1906.
(Does. 1,72, 549, 604, 621, U.S. Bur. Fish.)

When these positions were located it soon
became apparent that many of the records,
presumably off Washington or Alaska, were
taken along the British Columbia coast and

-actually within the territorial boundaries. For-

ty-three hauls were made in British Columbia
waters or off the coast, from twenty-five of
which fishes were obtained. Included in the
latter was one of the most important hauls
ever made of fishes rarely taken, at station
3342 off the Queen Charlotte Islands at a
depth of 1588 fathoms. Seven species were
taken here, in as many genera, six new to
science, i.e. Raja abyssicola Gilbert, Lampan-
yctus nannochir (Gilbert), Dolloa cyclolepis
(Gilbert), Chalinura filifera Gilbert, Careproc-
tus ovigerum (Gilbert), Derepodichthys ale-
pidotus Gilbert. Although these species were
obtained as long ago as 1889 they have not
been taken since.

The Albatross made six voyages between
1888 and 1906 during which collections were
made in Canadian waters. Besides the dredg-
ing and trawling some fishing was done with
hook and line, seine hauls were taken and

«

THE ALBATROSS
(Illustration copied from U.S.B.F. Doc. 472, 1901.)

122

shore collections were made. Since these are
specifically mentioned as associated with some
bay, harbour, etc., their records do not enter
within the scope of this article.

The first voyage, in 1888, was from Alaska
to Washington (U.S. Bur. Fish. 1901). Twelve
stations were taken west of the Queen Char-
lotte Islands and off the west coast of Van-
couver Island. (Nos. 2860 to 2881.

In 1889 station 3342 was taken in 1588
fathoms off Moresby Island in the Queen
Charlotte group while en route from Alaska
to California. This was the only station taken
but it proved to be one of the richest, as
mentioned above.

In 1891, after a voyage to the Bering Sea,
and before going to the Hawaiian Islands,
twelve stations were taken in the Strait of
Juan de Fuca as the Albatross worked back
and forth across the International Boundary
line from east to west and back. These hauls
were all successful except two.

In June, 1903, (U.S. Bur. Fish. 1904) eight
stations, (Nos. 4191 to 4198), were taken in
the Strait of Georgia between Nanaimo and

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

[Vou.. XLVITII

Bowen Island and six stations, (Nos. 4199 to
4204), were taken in Queen Charlotte Sound
off Fort Rupert before returning to Puget
Sound.

In 1905, during another voyage to Alaska,
stations 4744 and 4745 were taken in Queen
Charlotte Sound and Hecate Strait and upon
the return trip station 4755 was taken off the
mouth of the Fraser river opposite the Inter-
national Boundary line, but no fishes were
caught.

In 1906, (U.S. Bur. Fish. 1907), the Alba-
tross worked station 4758 off Cape St. James,
in 1600 fathoms, while en route to Japan.
One fish was taken, Bathylagus milleri Jordan
and Gilbert.

As the locations of these stations are
obscured by two different methods of record-
ing, and the documents involved are not
readily accessible to all readers, an abstract
has been prepared of the dates, station num-
bers, (underlined if fish were taken), position,
depth in fathoms, type of bottom and locality
of the dredging and trawling done in British
Columbia waters by the Albatross.

ee
nnn

Date Station North West Depth

Bottom

Locality

$$$ $$$

1. 1888 and 1889 inclusive. (U.S. Bur. Fish. 1901).
1888
Aug. 29 2860 Sie 230 ill23 1342 MSO ninewwota W. of Qn. Char. Is.
31 2861 5114 129 50 204 geen N. W. of Cape Scott
2862 50 49 127 36 238 gy. S. P. Fort Rupert
Sept. 24 2873
2874 > 48 30 124 57 40 rky. Swiftsure bank
2875
Can eee [ 48) 32) (2453) 59 bk S. M. Swiftsure bank
2877
2878 48 37 125 32 66 Pe Off Cape Beale
2879 ¥
4 R. N. W. of Barkley Sd.
Pe sbit 43053 1125 450008
2881 49 00 125 48 24 gy. S. N. W. of Amphitrite
Bis
1889
Sept. 3 3342 52 39 1382 38 1588 Gr. OZ. CES: a: W. of Moresby Is.
1891
Aug. 27 3444 48 16 123 29 80 gn. M.P. Off Race Rocks
8445 4816 123 45 100 rky. W. of Race Rocks.
3446 48 18 123 58 100 bn. M. Strait of Juan de Fuca
28 3447 48 80 124 36 116 gy. S. Off Port San Juan

November, 1934] THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 123

ee OOOO—————————e—eeee—————eaqaa>o™™™™”_—_—'

“West

Date Station North Depth Bottom Locality
3448 48 81 124 39 98 gy. S. W. of Port San Juan
3449 48 29 124 40 135 gy. S. W. of Port San Juan
Sept. 1 3456 4831 124 43 1836 gy. S. W. of Port San Juan
2 3459 4824 124 24 123 gy. S. P. S. of Port San Juan
3460 4825 12410 53 gy. S. W. of Jordan River
Sept. 3 3462 48 15 123 35 92 dk. S. rky. Off Race Rocks
4 3465 48 21 128 14 48 rky. E. of Victoria
3466 4818 123 22 56 gy. S. Sh. rky. S. of Victoria
2. 1903 (U.S. Bur. Fish. 1904)
1903
June 19 4191 49 11 123 54 54 fne. dk. S. M. rky Nanaimo Harbour
4192 49 14 123 54 39 gn. M. fne. S. Nanaimo Harbour
20 4193 49 20 123 43 28 Sip hile eae, KE Strait of Georgia
4194 49 19 123 43 111 sft. gn. M. Strait of Georgia
4195 AQ 20 R123 743) 5 14 fne. gy. S. gy. M. Strait of Georgia
4196 49 20 123 44 90 fne. gy. S.
4197 49 22 128 438 90 stk. gn. M. fne. S. Strait of Georgia.
4198 49 19 123 47 157 sft. gn. M. Off Entrance Is.
: 25 4199 50 48 12715 107 sft. gn. M. vol. S. Off Fort Rupert
4200 50 46 12717 111 sft. gn. M.S. Off Fort Rupert
4201 50 45 127 16 138 sft. gn. M. S. brk. Sh. Fort Rupert
; 4202 5045 12724 36 gy. S. Sh. Fort Rupert
4203 50 42 12721 25 vol. §.G. brk. Sh. Spg. Fort Rupert
4204 50 48 12719 £69 gn. M. vol. S. G. Spg. Fort Rupert
3. 1905 (U.S. Bur. Fish. 1906).
1905
June 26 A744 51 21 127 52 56 fne. S. On. Char. Sd.
28 4745 5400 13011 31 gy. S Hecate Strait
Nov. 16 4755 49 06 123 21 120 M. Opp. Intl. Bdry.
4, 1906 (U.S. Bur. Fish. 1907)
1906
May 19 4758 52 02 182 31 1600 S. W. of Moresby Is.

One

The abbreviations used in this article are The following list comprises the fishes
as follows: bk., black; bn., brown; brk., brok- taken at these stations with revised nomen-
en; crs., coarse; dk., dark; fm., fathom; fne., clature, (with original synonymy in brackets),
fine; G., gravel; gn., green; gy., grey; M., references to publications, and station num-
mud; Oz., ooze; P., pebbles; R., rocks; rky., bers. New species marked (n.s.). Only pub-
rocky; S., sand; sft., soft; Sh., shale; Spg.,
sponge; stk., sticky; vol., volcanic.

lished record from British Columbia are mark-
ed (*).

124 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST IVoL. XLVIII

' Name Reference Station Number

RAJIDAE—Skates

Raja stellulata Jordan and Gilbert*.............(Gilbert) 8447, 3466.

Oa Towhavoxewi Keniry, (Caney rol ee aN eee (E. and G.} 4192.

UE ealyyssicola, “Galbert: (N.S. eee: (Gilbert) 3342.
CHIMAERIDAE—Rat fishes
Hydrolagus colliei (Lay and Bennett) —.......... (Gilbert) 3447,

(E. and G.)} 4191, 4197, 4201.
MICROSTOMIDAE—Small-mouthed smelts.
Bathylagus milleri Jordan and Gilbert*........... (G. and B.) A758.
CHAULIODONTIDAE—Viper fishes
Chauliodus macouni Bean (n.s.)* ~..-............... (Bean) 2860.
MYCTOPHIDAE—Lantern fishes
Lampanyctus nannochir (Gilbert)* ................. (Gilbert) 3342.

(Nannobrachium)

Diaphus theta Eigenmann and Eigenmann* ... (Gilbert) 3459.
MACROURIDAE—Grenadiers
Dolloa cyclolepis (Gilbert) (n.s.)* -..-20-2222-22.... (Gilbert) 3342.
(Nematonurus)
Chalinura filifera Gilbert (n.s.)* 20000. (Gilbert) 3342.
GADIDAE—Codfishes
Microgadus proximus (Ayres) .......-..----.-..--..-. (E. and G.) 4202.
(Eleginus navaga)
Gadus macrocephalus Tilesius —.............-...20-2.... (Gilbert } 3447, 3460, 3462.
Antimora microlepis Bean (n.s.)* _....-... (Bean) 2860.

(Gilbert) 3342.
HIPPOGLOSSIDAE—Halibuts
Atheresthes stomias (Jordan and Gilbert) (Gilbert) 38448, 3460, 3466.
Lyopsetta exilis (Jordan and Gilbert) .......... (E. and G.) 4191, 4194, 4197.
Hippoglossoides elassodon Jordan and Gilbert (Gilbert) - 3460.
PLEURONECTIDAE—Flounders
Parophrys vetulus) Girard 23. 2s (Gilbert) 3460.
Lepidopsetta bilineata (Ayres) ..............-..... (E. and G.) 4193,
Errex zachirus (Lockington) _._............. (Gilbert) 3447, 3448, 3456, 3460.
(Glyptocephalus)

DPA nals A) Vneae CE Py cs Se ecru eR wh aid ae (E. and G.) 4201.
Microstomus pacificus (Lockington) —............. (Gilbert) 3447, 3466.
SCORPAENIDAE—Rock fishes
Sebastolobus alascanus Bean* ...2.20.00.02 0) (Hubbs) 2862.

(Gilbert) 3460.
Sebastodes pinniger (Gill) ....82.jo le (E. and G.) 4193.
« alutust) (Gullert) ir eee omen (Gilbert) 3449, 3459, 3462.
7 diploprea) \(Gilbert)*) 3 (E. and G.) 4191.
dy caurinus (Richardson) ~.............. (Gilbert) 3449.
4 nebulosus (Ayres) ai soe (E. and G.) 4204.
COTTIDAE—Sculpins
Icelinz
Tarandichthys filamentosus (Gilbert)* ....... (E. and G.) 4193. _
4s tenuis’ (Gilbert)* 2... (E. and G.) 4198, 4204.
Icelinus borealis Gilbert® _..........-..----...-.--.- (Gilbert) 3460, 3465, 3466.
‘riglops wbeanis Gilbert jlo swe enn noennnD (Gilbert) 3465
Radulinus asprellus Gilbert* 000.0200. (E. and G.) 4191, 4204.
Cottine
Dasycottus,seucer Bean* (220 lee (E. and G.) 4191.
Malacocottus zonurus Bean* _........... (E. and G.) 4198.
Blepsiinze
Nautichthys oculofasciatus (Girard) _........... (Gilbert) 3465.
Psychrolutinz
Psychrolutes paradoxus Giinther __.............. (Gilbert) 3460.

(Psychrolutes zebra Bean)

RHAMPHOCOTTIDAE—Large-headed
sculpins
Rhamphocottus richardsoni Giinther _..__.. (E. and G.) 4197, 4204.

November, 1934] THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST 125

SS ———————eEES=aBa=aanananana9a99@B8E9nanRnRpE_=>pa=S=S===S=S=—=—=—=—=—=—=—=SS—SS

Name Reference Station Number
IS SEE EEE SCE A SE a Sa oct a Jnr SRN ET
AGONIDAE—Sea-poachers :

Hypsagonus quadricornis (Cuvier and (Gilbert) 3465.
Valenciennes)* ...(E. and G.) 4204.
Bathyagonus nigripinnis Gilbert* —.................. (E. and G.) 4191, 4198.
Asterotheca pentacantha (Gilbert)* —.............. (E. and G.) 4193.
(Xenochirus)
Asterotheca alascana (Gilbert)* ___.......20.2........ (Gilbert) 38445, 3446, 3456, 3459.
(Xenochirus)
Odontopyxis trispinosus Lockington ~............... (E. and G.) 4198.
Anoplagonus inermis (Giinther) —..................... (Gilbert) 3465.
(Aspidophoroides)
LIPARIDAE—Liparids
Hipariseseyelopus’ Gunther. 5.2042 te. (Gilbert) 3445.
weeeuucensis Gilbert* ©. ee P ns (Gilbert) 3445, 3459.
Zewdenny1 Jordan -and “Starks™).. 2... (Gilbert) 3445, 3459, 3460, 3465, 3466.
Careproctus ovigerum (Gilbert) (n.s.)* __......... (Gilbert) 3342.
(Bathyphasma)
Careproctus gilberti Burke* —.........00.00000000000...... (Burke) 2862.
uy melanurus Gilbert* —......0000000.000..... (Burke) 2860.
Baraliparis deani-Burke*® (<.!0 2.0.22... (Burke) 4194,

(in E. and G. as Paraliparis holomelas; also
BATHYMASTERIDAE—Ronquils

from 4202 in E. and G. but in Burke as 42038).

Ronquilus jordani (Gilbert)* 2... (Gilbert) 3465.
(E. and G.) 4193, 4197, 4204.

BLENNIIDAE—Blennies

Bryostemma decoratum Jordan and Snyder (Gilbert) 3465.

(Chirolophus polyactocephalus)

ZOARCIDAE—Eel pouts

Lycodes brevipes Bean® -_0...:..2.2....22-00c.-cceeceececeee- (E. and G.) 4201.

Furcimanus diapterus (Gilbert) -.....00...0000000..... (E. and G.) 4198.
_ Bothrocara mollis Bean (n.s.)* _..W......2..0-2..----- (Bean) 2860.

DEREPODICHTHYIDAE—Cusk pouts.

Derepodichthys alepidotus Gilbert (n.s.)* ...... (Gilbert) 3342.

Although the Albatross collections were ‘*/. of our known species, the results of this

successful in taking fish at only 25 stations,
55 species were obtained which represent
about % of the total number of fishes known
at the present time to be in British Columbia
waters. Since there are no other records
published of 34 of these fishes being taken

in this Province, representing approximately

review indicate:

1. A wealth of species actually recorded but
obscured by the method of publication.

2. The possibility of many further valuable
discoveries, especially in deep waters, as in-
dicated by the richness of the comparatively
small number of samples already taken from
such a vast and prolific area.

REFERENCES.

Bean, Tarleton H. New fishes collected off the
coast of Alaska and the adjacent region
southward.

Proce. U. S. Nat. Mus. XIII, p. 37-45. 1890.

Burke, Victor, Revision of the Family Lipar-
ide.

Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., no. 150, p. 1-

199, figs. 1-110. 1930.

Evermann, B. W. and Goldsborough, E. L.
The fishes of Alaska.

’ Bull. U. S. Bur. Fish. XXVI, p. 219-230,
figs. 1-144, pls. XIV-XLII. 1907.

Gilbert, C. H. The ichthyological collections of
the steamer Albatross during the years 1890 —
to 1891.
Rept. 1893 (1895), p. 393-476, pl. 20-35.
Doce. 326 issued Dec. 8, 1896. 1896.
Gilbert, C. H. and Burke, C. V. Fishes from
Bering Sea and Kamchatka. .
Bull. U. S. Bur. Fish. XXX, p. 31-96.
Doc. 754, issued May 6, 1912. 1912.

Hubbs, Carl L. The supposed intergradation
of the species of Sebastolobus (A genus

126

of Scorpenoid fishes) of Western America.
Publ. of Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. No. 216,
1926.

U.S. Bur. Fish. Dredging and other records
of the United States Fish Commission
steamer Albatross, with bibliography re-
lative to the work of the vessel. Comp.
by C. H. Townsend. (Chronological bi-
bliography relative to work of the Al-
batross: p. 501-562).

Report 1900 (1901), p. 387-562, incl. tables,
pl. I-VII (part. fold.).
Doc. 472, issued Oct. 24, 1901. 1901.

U. S. Bur. Fish. Records of the dredgings and
other collecting and hydrographic stations
of the fisheries steamer Albatross in 1903.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

iVoL. XLVIII

Report,
tables.
Doc. 549, issued May 17, 1904.

1903 (1905), p. 128-188, incl.

1904.

U.S. Bur. Fish. Dredging and hydrographic
records of the U.S. fisheries steamer Al-
batross for 1904 and 1905.
Report and special papers, 1905 (1907),
80 p. incl. tables.

Doc. 604, issued Dec. 1 1906. 1906.

U. S. Bur. Fish. Dredging and hydrographic
records of the U. S. fisheries steamer
Albatross for 1906.

Report and special papers, 1906 (1908),
50 p. incl. tables.

Doe. 621, issued Aug. 27, 1907. 1907.

“VASCULAR PLANTS COLLECTED DURING THE CANADIAN HUDSON
STRAIT EXPEDITION IN 1927.
By FRITS JOHANSEN

INTRODUCTION
URING the season (July-October) of
1927, I was attached, as naturalist,
to the Canadian Hudson Strait Expe-

dition. While my main work there
was zoological, as (partly) recorded in The
Canadian Field- Naturalist, 45: 80-83, 1931,

Ottawa, I also collected a number of plants,
at the five localities where I was ashore for
shorter or longer time. These plants have
been kindly identified by the late Prof. C. lal
Ostenfeld of Copenhagen who, together with
the late Dr. M. O. Malte, of Ottawa, was
engaged in a comprehensive study of the
arctic flora. Prof. Ostenfeld informed me in
a letter (dated February 3, 1930) that these
plants from Hudson Strait, 1927, contained
several interesting records. Owing to the
death of Prof. Ostenfeld, and to the scarcity
of published records for plants from Hudson
Strait, I deem it advisable and of interest to
make this collection known.

The five localities are: (1) Port Burwell,
Ungava, on the south side of the eastern end
of Hudson Strait, where I stayed from Sep-
tember 12 to October 3; (2) Lake Harbcur,
on the sovsh coast of Baffin Island (on the
north side of the middle of Hudson Strait),
where I was ashore on August 23; (3) Woke-
ham Bay, Ungava, on the south side of the
middle of Hudson Strait, where I stayed from

August 24 to September 10, and from October
5 to October 15; (4) Eric Cove, (Cape Wol-
stenholme), Ungava, on the south side of the
western end of Hudson Strait, where I was
ashore on August 1-3; (5) Nottingham Island,
in the western end of Hudson Strait, where I
stayed from August 4-17. A summary of my
observations on the natural features of im-
portance to the vegetation at each of these
five localities, together with Prof. Ostenfeld’s
lists of the plants I collected there, follows.
About 110 species in all were secured.

I. Port BURWELL, UNGAVA
See detail-map made by Miles and King in 1910.

This harbour lies upon the west side of
Cape Chidley Island, the latter being separated
by McLean Strait from the mainland of
Labrador-Ungava. A smaller island, at low
tide connected with the main island, forms the
northside of the harbour.

The country consits of gneiss, in the form
of rockbeds or higher cliffs, and as a whole
it is very stony. There are no streams of any
size on Cape Chidley Island, particularly not
in the autumn, but only brooks, running into
or from the various ponds or lakes lying in
depressions among the rocks. The vegetation
is mainly found on such valley stretches,
around the fresh-water bodies or brackish-
water lagoons; and at particularly favor-

November, 1934]

able places it attains the form of shrubbery,
composed of willows, birch, blue-berries, etc.
But even the high cliffs exhibit other colours
than that of stone: the lichens, mosses, a
Crassulaceous plant (Sedum) and a _ fern
( Cystopteris ), etc., enlivening their vertical
faces or crevices with grey, brown, red, or
green colours, glittering in the sun.

The following plants were collected here,
at Port Burwell, in the last half of September,
1927, a total of 52 species.

‘Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh.
*Equisetum variegatum Schleich.
i‘ arvense Linn.
Lycopodium selago L , var. appressum Desv.
*Juncus castaneus Sm.
Eriophorum Scheuchz ri Hoppe.
‘ polystachyum Linn. (=E. angusti-
folium Roth.)
Carex membranopacta Bailey.
Poa rigens Hartm. (=P. arctica R.Br.)
* “alpina Linn.
Trisetum spicatum (L.) Richt.
Salix speciosa Hook. & Arn. (?)
uva-ursi Pursh.
arctica Pall., var.
Polygonum viviparum Linn.
Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill.
Cerastium alpinum Linn.
Stellaria longipes Goldie.
My humifusa Rottb.
Honckenya Halianthus) peploides (L.) Ehrh.
Melandryum apetalum (L.) Fenzl.
Silene acaulis Linn.
*Ranunculus hyperboreus Rottb.
5 eal a eradicatus (Laest.) (=Batrachium
paucistamineum, Tausch., var.)
*Arabis alpina Linn.
Cochlearia officinalis L. var. groenlandica (L.)
Gelert.
Draba alpina Linn.
_* “ lactea Adams. (=D. Wahlenbergii Hart.)
Eutrema edwardsii R. Br’
*Sedum roseum (L.) (=S. rhodiola D.C.)
Saxifraga oppositifolia Linn.
is aizoides Linn.
cernua Linn.
- foliolosa R. Br. (=S. stellaris L. var.
comosa Poir.)
groenlandica Linn. ( =S. caespitosa L.)
Potentilla alpestris Hall. (=P. maculata Pourr.)
otro: (Comarum) palustris (L.) Scop.
Dryas integrifolia M. Vahl.
Oxytropis terre-nove Fernald.
Epilobium (Chamaenerion) latifolium L. (Hook)

6c

“66

66

*Epilobium anagallidifolium Lam. (=E. alpin-

um Linn.)

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

127

Hippuris vulgaris Linn.

Pyrola grandiflora Rad.

Arctostaphylos alpina (L.) Spreng.

Vaccinium vitis-idea L., forma pumilum Horn.

of uliginosum L., var. alpinum Bigel.

Statice armeria L., var. labradoriea Turez. (=
Armeria elongata Hoffm.)

*Veronica alpina L., var. Wormskioldit Roem.
& Sch.

Mertensia (Stenhammaria) maritima (L.) S. F.
Gray.

Campanula rotundifolia Linn.

Taraxacum croceum Dahlst.

Erigeron unalaschkensis (D.C.) Vierh.
uniflorus L., var. unalaschkensis)

(=E.

II. LAKE HARBouR. BAFFIN ISLAND

The place where I was ashore, at Lake
Harbour, was in the outer part of the sailing-

-in to the post, where the “Larch” remained

anchored, between a larger island (with an
Eskimo camp on it) and the “Meta incognita”
part of Baffin Island (also with an Eskimo
camp), from 4 p.m. on August 22 to the nex:
day’s noon.

The coast of Baffin Island here consists of
steep cliffs of gneiss and schists falling down
to the sea; but with much _ vegetation,
particularly around lakes and ponds, in the
shelter of cliffs, and in the grassy gullies
intersecting the coastal cliffs and containing
the outlets from the fresh-water bodies in-
land. At these place, willow bushes some-
times reach almost to the knees, and a little
inland shrubbery of low dwarf birches occurs.
I followed a brook from the coast, up over
the cliffs, to the lake it came from, at about
100 feet elevation, noticing on my way the
progressing erosion, in the form of gravel
débris, of the cliffs, when exposed to the air.
The lake itself had a stony or gravelly bottom,
and no vegetation extending out into it,
though surrounded by a grassy swamp at its
western end, and around its outlet at its
east end.

The following plants were collected here,
on “Meta incognita”, on August 28, a total
of 33 species.

*Lycopodium annotinum L., var. pungens Desv.
Eriophorum Scheuchzert Hoppe.
: polystachyum Linn. (=E.angustifolium
Roth.)
Carex rigida Good.
* “ rariflora Sm.
Poa rigens Hartm. (=P. arctica R.Br.)
Trisetum spicatum (L.) Richt.
Salix arctica Pall. x S. glauca L. (?)

128

Salix herbacea Linn.

Betula glandulosa Michx.

Polygonum viviparum Linn.

Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill.

Stellaria longipes Goldie.

Silene acaulis Linn.

*Ranunculus lapponicus Linn.

Empetrum nigrum Linn , var. hermaphroditum
(Lange) Hagerup

Saxifraga tricuspidata Rottb.

Dryas integrifolia M. Vahl.

Potentilla alpestris Hall. (=P. maculata Pourr.)

Epilobium (Chameznerion) latifolium (L.) Hook.

Hippuris vulgaris Linn.

Pyrola grandiflora Rad.

*Bryanthus (Phyllodoce) ceruleus (L.) Dippel.

Arctostaphylos alpina (L.) Spreng.

Vaccinium vitis-idea L., forma pumilum Horn-
em.

uliginosum L., var. alpinum Bigel.

Diapensia lapponica Linn.

Cassiope tetragona (L.) D. Don.

* — (Harrimanella) hypnoides (L.) D. Don.

Ledum decumbens Lodd. (=L. palustre L., var,
decumbens)

Pedicularis lapponica Linn.

Antennaria alpina (L.) Gaertn.

Taraxacum russeolum Dahlst.

6é

III. WAKEHAM BAY, UNGAVA

The outer part of Wakeham Bay presents
high, steep gneiss cliffs on both sides, inter-
sected by cross-gullies, and hiding longitud-
inal valleys containing watercourses, lakes
and ponds. At the middle part of the bay,
however, a wide valley, divided at its mouth
by a lower rocky hill, comes down to the sea
in the form of a broad, coastal plain, upon
which the buildings of the trading posts of
the Hudson Bay Company and Revillon Fréres
are situated. Behind this lower rocky hill,
most of the valley is taken up by a system
of half a score of lakes, mutually connected,
fed from the surrounding hill slopes, and with
creek outlets in the above mentioned coastal
plain. This chain of lakes stretches all the
way to Joy Bay (the large wide bay east of
Wakeham Bay); three of the lakes draining
into Wakeham Bay, and six or seven of them
into Joy Bay. I covered the whole stretch of
these lakes out and back, on October 10th;
finding that at the bottom of Joy Bay their
creek outlets spread out over extensive mud-
flats, boulder stretches and marshes, an entire-
ly different coast-nature from the higher
tundra-plain in the middle of Wakeham Bay.
Proceeding further up Wakeham Bay one

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

[VoL. XLVITI

passes high steep clifis, alternating with
grassy slopes intersected by brooks; and
finally reaches the bottom of the bay, where
a river comes out among boulder- or gravel-
flats, merging into marshes or higher tundra
further up the wide, cliff-bordered valley here.
I was here on September ist.

The vegetation at Wakeham Bay is better
than at Port Burwell and Lake Harbour; and
particularly luxurious in protected cliff gullies,
river banks or valley stretches, and on the
ruins of old Eskimo stone-houses, situated on
grassy promontories at the bay or along in-
land lakes. At such places a shrubbery of,
willows, birch, blueberries, etc., occurs; though
certain species of plants (eg. Rubus cha-
memorus ) are found only some distance in-
land.

The following plants were collected here,
at Wakeham Bay, at the end of August, and
beginning of September, a total of 70 species.

Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh.
Equisetum arvense Linn.
Lycopodium selago L., var. appressum Desv.
Luzula confusa Lindeb.
** nivalis (Laest.), var. longifolia Beurl.,
var. & typ.
Eriophorum polystachion Linn. (=E. angustifol-
ium Roth,)
Carex rigida Good.
‘« membranopacta Bailey. _
Poa rigens Hartm.
* “ glauca Vahl.
“* alpigena Lindm.
Alopecurus alpinus Sm.
Arctagrostis latifolia (R. Br.) Griseb.
Trisetum spicatum (L.) Richt.
*Puccinellia retroflera (Curt.) Holmb.
Elymus arenarius Linn.
*Tofieldia palustris Huds.
Betula glandulosa Michx.
Salix arctica Pall. x S. glauca Linn. (7)
uva-ursi Pursh.
““ sp. (S. speciosa Hook & Arn.?)
reticulata Linn.
herbacea Linn.
Polygonum viviparum Linn.
Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill.
Silene acaulis Linn.
‘Honckenya (Halianthus) peploides (L.) Ehrh.
Stellaria humifusa Rottb.
‘“« — longipes Goldie.
Cerastium alpinum Linn.
Melandryum affine Vahl.
*Ranunculus affinis R. Br.
*Anemone Richardsonii Hook.

November, 1934]

Papaver radicatum Rottb. nudicaule
Linn.)
Eutrema edwardsii R. Br.
Draba nivalis Liljebl.
“alpina Linn.
*Cochlearia officinalis L., var. arctica Schlecht.
Empetrum nigrum Li, var. hermaphroditum
(Lange) Hagerup.
Sazifraga foliolosa R. Br. (=S.
var. comosa Poir.)
tricuspidata Rottb.
groeniandica Linn. (=S. cexspitosa
Linn.)
hirculus Linn.
aizoides Linn.
cernua Linn.
Chrysosplenium alternifolium L., var. tetrandrum
Lund.
*Parnassia Kotzebuei Ch. & Schl.
*Rubus chamzmorus Linn.
Dryas integrifolia M. Vahl.
Potentilla alpestris Hall. (=P. maculata Pourr.)
Astragalus alpinus Linn.
Oxytropis terre-nove Fernald.
Epilobium (Chamenerion) latifolium (L.) Hook.
Pyrola grandiflora Rad.
Cassiope tetragona (L.) D. Don.
Arctostaphylos alpina (L.) Spreng.
Ledum decumbens Lodd. (=L. palustre L., var.
decumbens Ait.)
*Rhododendron lapponicum (L.) Wg.
Vaccinium vitis-idea L., var. pumilum Hornem.
‘i uliginosum L., var. alpinum Bigel.
Statice armeria L., var. labradorica Turcz. (=
Armeria elongata Hoffm.)
Pedicularis hirsuta Linn.
lapponica Linn.
Mertensia (Stenhammaria) maritima (L.) S. F.
Gray.
Campanula uniflora Linn.
iH rotundifolia Linn.
Antennaria alpina (L.) Gaertn.
Arnica alpina (L.) Olin.
Taraxacum russeolum Dahlst.
Erigeron unalaschkensis (D.C.) Vierh. (=E. uni-
florus L., var. unalaschkensis).

(=P

stellaris L.,

IV. Eric Cove, UNGAVA

The sides of Eric Cove (just east of Cape
Wolstenholme) are formed by cliffs, up to
2000 feet high composed of Precambrian
schists. Here and there, these cliffs are inter-
sected by gullies by which they can be as-
cended; but the bottom of the cove is a wide
expanse of sand and gravel, deposited by the
river coming out here. The buildings of the
Hudson Bay Company are situated upon this
level, coastal plain, which gradually merges

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

129

into a deep valley behind. The above men-
tioned river receives, during its course, a
couple of tributary creeks (one of which comes
down the western river slope through a cliff
gorge up the valley) and many similar brooks;
but there is no lake at its head.

The vegetation is fairly good, particularly
in the swamps and protected places (banks,
etc.) of the river, or in the cliff gullies Jead-
ing up from its slopes, judging from my
excursions several miles up the valley through
which it runs in its middle and upper course.
A detail map of Eric Cove was made by
Hazen in 1912.

The following plants were collected here,
at Eric Cove, during the first days of August,
a total of 56 species.

Lycopodium selago L., var. appressum Desv.
*Luaula parviflora (Ehrh.) Desv.
a confusa Lindeb.
nivalis Laest., var. longifolia Beurl.
Eriophorum Scheuchzeri Hoppe.
ne polystachion Linn. (=E. angusti-
folium Roth.)
Carex rigida Good.
““membranopacta Bailey.
Poa alpigena Lindm.
“ rigens Hartm. (=P. arctica R. Br.)
Alopecurus alpinus Sm.
Arctagrostis latifolia (R. Br.) Griseb.
Hierochloé alpina R. & S.
*Festuca ovina L., var. brevifolia R. Br.
Elymus arenarius Linn.
Salix arctica Pall. x S. glauca Linn. (?)
‘‘herbacea Linn.
Polygonum viviparum Linn.
Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill.
Silene acaulis Linn.
Honckenya (Halianthus) peploides (L.) Ehrh.
_ Stellaria longipes Goldie.
Melandryum apetalum (L.) Fenzl.
sy affine Vahl.
Cerastium alpinum Linn.
*Ranunculus nivalis Linn.
* s Sabinei R. Br.
Papaver radicatum Rottb.
Linn.)
Eutrema Edwardsti R. Br.
*Draba hirta Linn (=D. daurica Df.)
“nivalis Liljebl.
Empetrum nigrum Linn.
Sazifraga foliolosa R. Br. (=S. stellaris L.,
var. comosa Poir.)
nivalis Linn.
i grenlandica Linn. (=S. cespittosa
Linn.)
tricuspidata Rottb.

6c

(=P. nudicaule

130 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

Saxifraga cernua Linn.

Dryas integrifolia Vahl.

Potentilla aipestris Hall. (=P. maculata Pourr.)

Astragalus alpinus Linn.

*Oxytropis Maydelliana Trautv.

Epilobium (Chamenerion) latifolium (L.) Hook.

Cassiope tetragona (L.) D. Don.

Ledum decumbens Lodd. (=L. palustre L., var.
‘decumbens Ait.)

Diapensia lapponica Linn.

Vaccinium vitis-idea L., var. pumilum Hornem.
i uliginosum L., var. alpinum Bigel.

Statice armeria L., var. labradorica Turez. (=
Armeria elongata Hofim.)

Pedicularis hirsuta Linn.
yi lapponica Linn.

Mertensia (Stenhammaria) maritima (L.) S. F.

Gray.

Campanula uniflora Linn.

Antennaria alpina (L.) Gaertn.

Arnica alpina (L.) Olin.

Taraxacum croceum Dahlst.

*Brigeron uniflorus Linn.

V. NOotTTINGHAM ISLAND.

This island consists of gneiss-rocks, much
glaciated, and forming island-like hummocks,
surrounded by plains of boulder-clay
of marine origin, stretching to an elevation of
50-100 feet inland. While R. Bell did not find
any marine shells in the boulder-clay on the
east side of the island, in 1884, I found, in
1927, great quantities of subfossil Mollusc
shells (Mya, Saxicava, Tellina, etc.) on the
south end of the island, in the boulder-clay,
or washed out from it. The _ boulder-clay
plains are often very extensive; and at many
places come down to the sea (particularly at
the head of bights or inlets) in the form of
boulder strewn, sandy, gravel beaches or clay
mudflats, alternating with stretches of rocky
coast. The general nature of the island, as
noticed by me on August 18 from one of the
highest points on the south end (cairn with
record built here), showed rocky ridges and
outcrops intervening with, often extensive,
valleys, partly filled by many lakes and ponds.
There are apparently no rivers of any size
upon the island; only creeks and brooks, con-
necting or running into or out of the various lakes
and ponds. The large lakes are sometimes divided
up by rocky islands or points, and have bould-
er-strewn margins. For botanical, entomolo-
gical, and fresh-water biological collecting,
it is therefore natural to follow the merging
of the sea-eoves into the inland valleys and

[VoL. XLVIII ©

plains, the vegetation being best developed
here. The remains (stone-caches, shelters,
etc.) of former Eskimo inhabitants of the
island, are also found along this route. The
greatest variety in the vegetation is, however,
found near the coast, as proven also by the
more barren nature of the animal life inland,
compared to that nearer the sea. The more
exposed islets off Nottingham have of course,
few species of vascular plants; thus I found
only half a dozen of them on one islet visited
on August 15 (See list below.)

The following plants were collected here,
on Nottingham Island, in the middle of Aug-
ust, a total of 40 species.

Lycopodium selago, L., var. appressum Desv.
Luzula confusa Lindeb.
Eriophorum Scheuchzeri Hoppe.
Alopecurus alpinus Sm.
*Dupontia Fischeri R. Br.
*Puccinellia tenella (Lange) O. R. Holmb. (from
an islet off Nottingham Island only.)
Hierochloé alpina R. & Sch.
Salix arctica Pall. x S. glauca Linn. (7?) (also
from islet off Nottingham Island.)
herbacea Linn.
reticu'ata Linn.
_ Polygonum viviparum Linn.
Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill.
Honckenya (Halianthus) peploides (L.) Ehrh.
(also from islet off Nottingham Island).

Silene acaulis Linn.

Stellaria longipes Goldie.

Cerastium alpinum Linn.

Melandryum apetalum (L.) Fenzl.

Ranunculus pygmxus Weg.

Papaver radicatum Rottb. (=P. nudicaule Linn.}

Draba nivalis Liljebl.

“alpina Linn.
*Cardamine pratensis Linn.
Cochlearia officinalis L., var. grenlandica (L.)
Gelert.

Empetrum nigrum Linn.

Saxifraga grenlandica Linn. (=S. caespitosa
(Linn.) (also from islet off Not-
tingham Island).

tricuspidata Rottb.

hirculus Linn.

rivularis Linn. (from islet off Not-
tingham Island only).

oppositifolia Linn (also from islet off
Nottingham Island).

Chrysosplenium alternifolium L., var. tetrandrum
Lund.

Dryas integrifolia M. Vahl.

Potentilla alpestris Hall (=P. maculata Pourr.)

Astragalus alpynus Linn.

6c

66

November, 1934} THE CANADIAN

Pyrola grandiflora Rad.

Cassiope tetragona (L.) D. Don.

Vaccinium uliginosum L., var. alpinum Bigel.

*Pedicularis lanata Cham. & Schlecht.

Mertensia (Stenhammaria) maritima (L.) S. F.
Gray (also from islet off Nottingham
Island).

*Chrysanthemum integrifolium Rich.

*Matricaria inodora L., var. grand‘flora Hook.

CONCLUSION.

It will be seen from the above that not less
than 40 species of plants were observed only
at one locality, thus emphasizing the floral
variety in Hudson Strait. These forty species
are marked with an asterisk in the lists above
for each locality. Eleven of these were found
at Port Burwell; five at Lake Harbour; nine

FIELD-NATURALIST 131

at Wakeham Bay; eight at Eric Cove; and
seven on Nottingham Island. Collections
made by others in the same area will, of
course, greatly reduce this number of species,
when published. But at present, both these
40 species, and the other 70 odd species, also
collected, form a working basis for future
investigations of the vegetation in Hudson
Strait. In this connection it is greatly to be
wished that the large collections of plants
made there by Canadian botanists may be
published.

For photographs cf the above mentioned
localities, refer to: Report of the Hudson
Strait Expedition 1927-28 , Ottawa 1929, pp.
194-196, 201-203 (Port Burwell); 192-193, 198-
200, 204, 207-208, 210 (Wakeham Bay); 185-

191, 197-198, 206 (Nottingham Island).

NOTES ON THE FISH FAUNA OF AN EASTERN ONTARIO SHALLOW
WATER LAKE

By G. C. TONER and J. A. STEVENSON
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario.

NOWLEDGE of the fish fauna of
eastern Ontario is largely limited to
3 the game and commercial species.

The black basses, the lake trout and
‘the whitefish have an extended literature but
very few of the smaller fishes have been
studied in this part of the province. In a
general way it is known that certain types
of fish are present, but there is no exact
knowledge of where many of the smaller
kinds may be found. Dymond et al (1929)
‘has written of the fishes of Lake Ontario and
Bishop (1931) reported on the fishes of the
Upper St. Lawrence River. Hubbs and Brown
(1929) listed some collections from the east-
ern end of Lake Ontario and the Upper St.

Lawrence. The many small lakes of the east-
ern counties have been almost entirely
neglected.

The present paper is preliminary to further
studies on the lakes in the vicinity of Kings-
ton, Ontario. It is hoped that lakes of the
first and second orders (Chapman 1929, p.
305) will be examined another season. Long
Lake, which is situated three-quarters of a
mile north of the village of Verona, is one
of the headwater lakes of the Napanee River.
It is a typical example of Chapman’s third
order of lakes, that is, a shallow water lake
without a thermocline. Its greatest depth
is about 12 metres but half of it is less than

5 metres in depth. Roughly a mile and three-
quarters in greatest length, its main axis is
north and south. It is separated into three
large arms or bays; with swamps near the
ends, indicating that in former times the lake
was much larger than it is at present. hree
streams enter, and one leaves, the lake.
None of these have much flow except during
high water. Geologically, Long Lake is in a
region of metamorphic rocks overlaid to a
great extent by glacial till and gravel. The.
deepest portion of the lake is towards the
eastern shore where it is borderd by steep,
rocky hills. The land on the west shore of
the lake is gently sloping. Several shoal
areas are present, and in times of low water
two of these appear at the surface as small
islands. }
Shallow water and vegetation are important
factors in the production of fish in a lake.
This is particularly true of the type of lake
that is under review. The literature shows
that these factors are recognized as important
by the aquatic biologists. Adams and Han-
kinson (1926) found that shallow waters have
the most varied conditions, because here are
the greatest changes in temperature and in
light, the greatest. variety of vegetation and
the feeding and breeding grounds of mos? of
the fish and the main habitat of the young
fish. Bensley (1915) says that the environ-

182

mental protection afforded by weeds enables
a variety of smaller fishes and the young of
larger fishes to maintain themselves against
predatory fishes. Predatory forms them-
selves, find in swamp situations, an abundant
and convenient food supply. Klugh (1926)
suggested that the rooted aquatics might be
used as an index to the productivity of a
lake.

The large area of shoal water is productive
of great quantities of vegetations. Emergent
types such as Typha, Zizania, Sagittaria,
Scirpus and floating types such as Nymphea
and Castalia are found in +he shore zone.
These are mainly to be seen aiong the west
and south shores. In deeper water are found
the submerged and free floating types, Elodea
in the mouths of creeks and Potamogeton,
Myriophyllum, Utricularia, Vallisneric, etc,
over the shoals and in water to about 5 meters
in depth.

There are great numbers of small fish of
various species in the lake which form a link
in the food chains of the larger game fishes.
Fry and fingerlings of the game species are
quite common. Both kinds use the weed beds
for shelter as indicated in the seine hauls.
The greatest numbers and varieties were
taken over and among the weeds. Sight
observation showed schools of many hundreds
in similar situations. The guides and anglers
recognize the importance of the outer edges
of the weed beds as the best fishing grounds.
All the large game fish taken during the
survey were from the deeper water at the
edges of the weed covered shoals.

The abundance of the food fishes and the
young of the various species that the angler
eatches suggest that the lake could support
many more game fishes than would seem to
be present. Possibly, the planting of adult
fish would be of advantage as many of the
cyprinids and the smaller sunfish and perch
would be used as food and removed as com-
petitors of the young game fish. A complete
stocking policy for the lake cannot be made
until more data upon its ecology is available
and this will in turn depend on further study
of the lake.

The writers wish to thank Mr. E. Martin
of Kingston for supplying transportation and
the use of his cottage, Dr. Carl L. Hubbs and
Dr. J. R. Greeley of the University of Mich-
igan for identifying many of the fishes and
the guides and residents of the vicinity for
assistance in many ways. The collections

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

[VoL. XLVITI

made during the survey have been deposited
in the Museum of Zoology, University of
Michigan and in the Biological Museum,
Queen’s University. Hubbs (1926) (1929)
and Hubbs and Greene (1928) have been
followed in the naming of specimens.

ANNOTATED LIST.

1. Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill).

The brook trout is found above Long
Lake in a small stream tributary to
Craig’s Creek. A large individual of this
species was taken from the lake by a
tourist in the summer of 1938. This is
the only Salmonide found in these waters.
It is not native to the watershed but was
introduced. aN

2. Anguilla bostorensis Le Sueur.

Eels are quite common with many taken

each summer by anglers.

3. Catostomus commersonni (Lacépéde).
About 1928 large numbers of commen
suckers were found dead in this lake.
Ten adults were taken during the survey.
Several of these were diseased.

4. Mozxostoma aureolum (Le Sueur).

The redfin sucker is a’ common fish
of the watershed and was reported from
Long Lake by reliable observers. Not
taken during the survey.

5. Notemigonus ecrysoleucas (Mitchill).

The golden shiner is one of the most
common fish in the lake. A number were
identified by Dr. Greeley as N. c. auratus.

6. Notropis heterolepis Eigenmann and
Eigenmann.

The black nose shiner is quite common
in the submerged vegetation. Several
were placed in the Museum of Zoology,
University of Michigan.

7. Notropis heterodon Cope.

This species resembles WN. _ heterolepis
very closely and is known by the same
common name. They are quite plensiful
in Long Lake. A number sent to the
University of Michigan were identified by
Dr. Greeley.

8. Notropis cornutus (Mitchill).

Common shiners were in smaller num-
bers than some of the other cyprinids of
the lake. Specimens were identified by
Dr. Greeley as N. c. fontalis.

9. Hyborhynchus notatus (Rafinesque).

The blunt nose minnow was taken over
the submerged vegetation, and in bays
of the east shore. This species and the
golden shiner are regarded as the best
bait for the game fish.

10. Ameiurus nebulosus (Le Sueur).

A number of adult bullhead were taken
in the hoopnes. A yearling was taken
in a seine haul in shallow water. It is
common in the creeks entering and
leaving the lake.

November, 1934)

10

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

RT:

18.

19,

20.

21.

22.

23.

Esox lucius Linnzeus.

The pike in Long Lake are badly dis-
eased. Lesions were found on the fins
and sides of all those taken. These
lesions look like large boils and have a
blood-red raggedy appearance on the
freshly caught fish. In one or two in-
stances of fish found dead, these boils
were the apparent cause of death. It is
hoped that further investigations will be
made on the cause of this disease.
Umbra limi (Kirtland).

The mud minnow was reported present.
Occasionally used as bait in winter fishing
through the ice.

Perca flavescens Mitchill.

One of the most abundant fishes in the
lake. Heavily parasitized by: encysted
trematodes.

Slizestedion vitreum (Mitchill).

Great numbers of pike-perch are taken
by the anglers every year. In former
times these fish were speared while on
the spawning beds. Spearing is now il-
legal and conditions have improved.
Stizostedion glaucum Hubbs.

Included here since a skin of this spe-
cies was seen in the possession of a
licensed guide. Apparently introduced
by mistake for S. vitrewm.

Pecilithys exilis (Girard).

Only one specimen of the Iowa darter
was taken during the survey. It was
found in the sand bay of the eastern
shore. Identified by Dr. Greeley.
Percina caprodes (Rafinesque).

The log perch was taken on the east-
ern shore and appeared to be common.
Specimens from the lake were identified
by Dr. Greeley as P. c. semifasciata.
Helioperca macrochira (Rafinesque).

The bluegill was found in numbers
among the submerged vegetation and in
the creeks and bays of the lake.
Eupomotis gibbosus (Linnzus).

The common sunfish is very abundan’
and every seinehaul took large numbers of
this species. Hoop nets set in the outlet
secured many adults.

Eupomotis gibbosus x Helioperca macrochira.

Hybrids between the common sunfish

and the bluegill were the surprise of the
survey. Dr. Greeley, who identified them,
says that the ratio of hybrids to normal
forms seems to be high in this lake.
Pomoxis sparoides (Lacépéde).

The crappie was not taken by the
authors but was reported present over
the weedy shoals.

Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque).

The rock bass is not as common as
might be expected. Large specimens
were taken in quite shallow water.

Aplites salmoides (Lacépéde).

The large mouth bass is a typical fish
of this order of lake. Fingerlings were
moderately common in the seinehauls

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

133

among the lilypads and along the rocky
shores.
24. Micropterus dolomieu (Lacépéde).

The small mouth bass is common in the
lake and good fishing is to be had during
the season. Some planting of this spe-
cies has been done by the Ontario Depart-
ment of Game and Fisheries.

25. Fundulus diaphanus (Le Sueur).

This species of top-minnow was taken
in the seinehauls along the _ gyavel
and sand beaches of the eastern shore.
Dr. Greeley, to whom a number were
submitted, reports them as intermediates
between F. d. diaphanus and F. d. menona.
It is interesting to note that Long Lake
is apparently in the area where eastern
and western forms intergrade. This has
been observed by the senior author in a
number of different forms and further
collections will probably show still more
of these intergrades.

26. Lota maculosa (Le Sueur).

The ling is common in deep “water
during the summer and moves inshore
during the winter. Numbers have been
taken in the outlet during the cold
weather.

LITERATURE CITED

Adams, C.C. and Hankinson, T.L.

1928, Economics and ecology of Oneida Lake
Fish. Roosevelt Wild Life Annals, 1: 242-
548.

Bensley, B.A.

1915. The fishes of the Georgian Bay. Contr.
Can. Biol., 1911-1914. Fas. 11: 1-51.

Chapman, R.N.

1931. Animal Ecology. New York. 1-464.

Dymond, J. R., Hart, J. L., and Pritchard, A.L.

1929. The fishes of the Canadian waters of

Lake Ontario. Univ. Tor. Stud., Biol.
Ser., Pub. Ont. Fish. Res. Lab., No. 37:
1-33.

Greeley, J. R. and Bishop, S. C.

1931. Fishes, Biological Survey of the Oswe-
gachie and Black River Systems. New
York Cons. Dept. Biol. Sur., No. VI: 54-

93.

Hubbs, C. L.

1926. Check list of the Fishes of the Great
Lakes and tributary waters. Univ. Mich.
Mus. Zool. Misc. Pub., 15: 1-77.

1929. Additions and Corrections to the list.
of the Fishes of the Great Lakes and
tributary waters. Papers Mich. Acad.
Sci. Arts. and Letters, 11; 425-426.

Hubbs, C. L. and Greene, C. W.

1927. Further notes on the fishes of the
Great Lakes. Papers Mich. Acad. Sci.
Arts and Letters, 8: 371-392.

Hubbs, C. L. and Brown, D.E.S.

1929. Materials for a distributional study of

Ontario fishes. Trans. Roy. Can. Inst.,
17: 1-56.
Klugh. A.B.
1926. The productivity of Lakes. Quar. Rev.
Biol., 1: 572-577.

134

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

[VoL. XLVITI

SOREX PALUSTRIS BROOKSI, A NEW WATER SHREW FROM
VANCOUVER ISLAND' 5

By RUDOLPH MARTIN ANDERSON

1 Published with the permission of the acting Director,
National Museum of Canada, Department of Mines,Ottawa.

N MARCH 320, 19384, Major Allan
Brooks, D.S.O., sent in a well-made
skin with accompanying skull of a
(nursing ?)female Water Shrew from

Comox, on the east coast of Vancouver Island,
as a donation to the National Museum of
Canada, suggesting that it was probably the
first definite reeord of the subgenus Neosorex
from Vancouver Island. Further investiga-
tions have not shown any further records of
the Water Shrew from Vancouver Island, and
comparison with about 70 specimens of Water
Shrews from Eastern and Western Canada
and with the literature on the subject shows
that the Comox specimen has characters
differentiating it from any of the named
forms. Ir recognition of the work of Major
Brooks as an artist, collector, and field-natur-
alist in British Columbia, and his valued
services to the National Museum of Canada in
sending specimens to this institution at
various times from 1897 to the present time,
the name brooksi is proposed for the Van-
couver Island Water Shrew.

Be Ut ben
ene

Sorex palustris brooksi new subspecies.
VANCOUVER ISLAND WATER SHREW.

TypeE.—Female adult, skin and skull, No.
12370, National Museum of Canada; Black
Creek, 150 feet altitude, Comox district, east
coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia,
latitude 49° 50’ north, longitude 125° 08’ west;
March 29, 1934; collected by Allan Brooks.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.— Known only from
type locality, on Black Creek, about 14 miles
northwest of Comox, Vancouver Island, British
Columbia.

DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS.—Upper parts glossy
black with sparse, very faint silvery tips on
some hairs; under parts glossy hair brown,
becoming paler on throat, fading to dull
whitish around lips.

CoLouR.— Head, black, and tail uniform
glossy black, with sparse, very faint silvery
tips on some hairs; sides slightly grayish in
colour; under parts glossy hair brown (Ridg-
way’s Colour Standards and Nomenclature) ;
tail dark fuscous above and around tip, under
side of tail whitish near base, gradually be-
coming dusky towards tip.

EXTERNAL MEASUREMENTS.— Type (female):
total length, 150 mm.; tail vertebre, 70.5;

hindfoot, 20.

SKULL.—Skull slizhtly longer than in Sorex
palustris navigator (Baird), the nearest main-
land form; cranium tapering more anteriorly,
higher, and with pronounced sagittal ridge.

SKULL MEASUREMENTS.—Type (female): con-
dylo-basal length, 20.3 mm.; palatal length, 9.0;
cranial breadth, 9.8; interorbital breadth, 4.0;
maxillary breadth, 6.0; maxiliary tooth row,
7.5; mandibular tooth row, 6.0.

COMPARISONS.—Compared with a series of
27 specimens of Sorex (Neosorex) palustris
navigator (Baird) from the mainland of
British Columbia and 18 specimens of the
same subspecies from Alberta, the Comox
specimen is noticeably darker above, being al-
most black with very faint silvery tips on
some of the hairs. The mainland specimens
all look noticeably grayish in comparison.
S. p. navigator specimens have the under parts
smoke gray or pale smoke gray, more or less
glossy or silvery, while brooksi has the under
parts hair brown, giving a dusky appearance,
glossy in certain lights. In dusky colour of
the under parts, brooksi approaches Sorex
(Atophyrax) bendirit bendirti (Merriam) in
appearance, but somewhat lighter in colour
than in any of 6 specimens of bendirii exam-
ined. S. p. brooksi also has the throat and
chin much lighter in colour than in bendirit
specimens examined, in this respect approach-
ing the condition found in Sorex palustris al-
bibarbis (Cope) which ranges from western
New Brunswick through southern Quebec and
Ontario. The skull of brooksi is slightly
longer than in navigator with cranium taper-
ing more anteriorly, higher, and with pro-
nounced sagittal ridge not seen in any female
specimens of navigator, and in only two male
specimens of navigator, the development of
sagittal ridge showing a tendency to approach
the condition occurring in Sorex alaskanus
Merriam which is known only from Glacier
Bay, Alaska.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—One, from the type
locality.

National Museum of Canada, Ottawa

November, 1934]

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

135

A NEW SPECIES OF GYRAULUS FROM CANADA

By FRANK C. BAKER
Curator, Museum of Natural History, University of Illinois.

Gyraulus hornensis nov. sp.

Gyraulus arcticus Baker, Fresh Water Mollusca of
Wisconsin, Vol. 1, p. 381, plate xxii, Fig. 34-37,
1928, Bul. 70, Wis. Geol. Nat. Hist. Surv.; Baker
and Cahn, Freshwater Mollusca from Central
Ontario, Annual Report, National Museum of
Canada, 1929 p 59, 1931 (part). Not Planorbis
Gres (Beck MS) Moller, Index Moll. Greenland,
Pp. 9, .

Shell depressed, the periphery rounded; colour
light corneous, surface shining; sculpture of fine,
oblique lines of growth with very fine spiral
lines, more or less conspicuous; nuclear whorls
small, rounded, spirally striate in sculpture;
whorls about four, rapidly enlarging, the last
somewhat expanded near the aperture, round-
ly angled at the periphery of the last whorl,
the upper part of the body whorl slightly
flattened; spire flat, the whorls coiled in the
same plane; the body whorl may be nearly
in line with the spiral turns or it may be
deflected about a third of the distance from
the aperture; sutures deeply channelled; base
concave exhibiting all of the whorls, the um-
bilical region wide, but the body whorl well
rounded, not flattened or having a reamed-
out appearance; aperture obliquely, ovately
rounded; lip thin, sharp, simple, or slightly
thickened with a callus deposit; parietal wall
with a white callus.

Aperture
Height Gr. Diameter height Diameter in mm.
1.5 4.5 1.2 1.5 Holotype
1.3 4.2 1.0 1:2 Paratype
2.0 4.6 1.5 1.6 Paratype

The last specimen with deflected body whorl.

Type Locatity: Birch Lake, Horn River,
about 75 miles above the Mackenzie River,
Mackenzie District, Canada. Collected by Mr.
E. J. Whittaker, July, 1921.

Types: Museum of Natural History, Univer-
sity of Illinois, No. Z13072a.

This small planorbid was erroneously refer-
ed to arcticus in the Fresh Water Mollusca of
Wisconsin. An examination of a specimen of
Gyraulus arcticus from Greenland named by
Morch, in the U. S. National Museum, shows
that the Greenland species is more nearly
related to Gyraulus deflectus and not like
any member of the parvus group. This specimen
is shown at D in the figures. The new species,
hornensis, is distinguished from its relatives
by the rounded periphery of the body whorl
and the rounded umbilical whorls of the
base, especially the body whorl, these being

flattened or excavated in related species
such as altissimus and parvus. In altissimus
the body whorl is flattened near the upper
part and the aperture is very oblique and
deflected (B in figure); in cyclestomus the
aperture is large and rounded, not oblique,
the shell is much larger (see C in figure), and
the body whorl is almost round.

Hornensis is common in the Mackenzie
River region west of Great Slave Lake as
reported by Mr. Whittaker. It is also abund-
ant in western Ontario and specimens are in
the Natural History Museum from Wisconsin
and North Dakota. It has been confused
with Gyraulus altissimus which appears to be
a composite species as usually recorded, in-
cluding the true altissimus which was first
known from Pleistocene deposits, and a flatter
form with strongly reamed-out umbilical
region. The relationships of these Pleistocene
forms has not yet been satisfactorily worked
out.

Fic. A. Gyraulus hornensis F.C. Baker, sp.
nov., holotype, Birch Lake, Horn River, Mac-
kenzie District.

Fic. B. Gyraulus altissimus (FF. C. Baker )
holotype, Urbana, Illinois, Pleistocene.

Fic. C. Gyraulus cyclostomus F. C. Baker,
paratype, Rosetown, Saskatchewan, Pleistocene.

Fic. D. Gyraulus arcticus (‘Beck’ Moller),
named by Morch, from Julianehaab, Greenland
(U.S. Nat. Mus., 180297). All figures enlarged,
the line indicating one mm.

136 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

[VoL. XLVIII

BOOK REVIEWS

THe EcoLtoGy or ANIMALS By Charles Elton,
Methuen & Co Lid., Publishers, 36 Essex Street.,
London W. C. 2. 97 pp. 3s. 6d.

This handy little volume is one of a
series of monographs on biological subjects
issued by this publisher. The object is to
give a brief but authoritative account of the
present state of knowledge in various depart-
ments of Biology with a view to making
this account available to workers in other
fields. The author has succeeded well in this
aim for the subject of his choice, and teachers,
students and general readers will find much
food for thought in his treatment of the
many ramifications of this section of biology,
and will be saved from having to dig too
deeply into the specialized literature of the
subject for the summary they require. The
chapter headings are “The Scope of Animal
Ecology,” ‘Ecological Surveys,” “Animal
Inter-relations,” ‘Habitats,’ ‘Numbers: Stat-
istics” “Numbers: Dynamics”, and “Hconomic
Problems.”

All of us are caught willy-nilly in the chains
that link together all life on this earth, and
all of us should be interested in the inter-
relations included in the ecological problem.
The author shows how Ecology of animals
affects such wide-spread interests as conserva-
tion, public health, agriculture, fisheries and
many others, touching on each in a very read-
able manner. Because of the lack of adequate
knowledge of this subject man has been mak-
ing very serious errors since the days of the
great plague, and without question he is still
making them. A good start on this all-
embracing field for naturalists is Mr. Elton’s
book.—H.L.

A HISTORY AND LIST OF BIRDS OF MIDDLE-
SEX COUNTY, ONTARIO, By W. E. Saunders
and E. M. S. Dale. Reprinted from Transac-
tions of the Royal Canadian Institute, Vol. XIX,
Part 2, 1933, pp. 161-248 plus index. The
University of Toronto Press, 1933.

Probably no part of Canada has received

as long and as careful a study of its bird-life
as that surrounding London in the southern
extension of the Ontario peninsula. As early as
1882 the senior author collaborated with John
Morden in “A List of the Birds of Western
Ontario” in the ‘‘ Canadian Sportsman and_
Naturalist’. Since then he has been untiring
in developing the ornithology of his area |
and, thanks to a tremendous amount of
enthusiasm and energy, particular personal
qualifications as a naturalist and an ability
to embue others with his enthusiasm, the
succeeding fifty years have produced data
of particular value as well as a crop of
observant assistant naturalists whose in-
fluence on Canadian ornithology has been
marked. Mr. Saunders is today the Dean
of Canadian Ornithology, of whose accuracy.
experience and good judgment there can be
no question. Mr. Dale is a well qualified grad-
uate of the Saunders school and the two make
an admirable team to collect and publish the
accumulated results.

We have long looked for this list and are
gratified at its appearance. It is no dis-
appointment. Pages 161 to 164 are concerned
with a description of the physiographic fea-
tures of the country and the principal places
cited, illustrated by an adequate sketch map
stripped of confusing, non-essential detail, and
an outline of the ornithological history of
the area. Perhaps this latter might have
been extended to advantage. In the text
we get brief glimpses of the Mordens, the
Holmans, the Keays, the Elliots, and others,
and here might have been a good place to
put something on record concerning them
and their work. Following is an annotated
list giving all pertinent data on the occurence
of some 267 species with five hypothetical
and four corrections.

The number of rare, casual or inconspicuous
species cited is indicative of the keenness and
close continuance of observation and the
changes of fauna noted through the years of
the length of time over which it has been
active. Altogether this list is a _ distinct
addition to Canadian ornithology.—P.A.T.

NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF
“apes MANITOBA ;
OS 1929-30.

President Emeritus: C.E. Bastin; President: G. SHIRLEY

_ Brooks, Past Presidents: H. M. SpPEECHLY, M.D., C. W.

Lown, M.Sc., A. A. McCousrey, J. B. WALLIS, M.A.,

V. W. JacKson M.Sc., A. M.Davipson, M.D., R. A.
Vice-Presidents:

WARDLE, M.Sc.;
Brotey, W. H. RAND, Dr. R.S. Kirk, B. W.
A. BURTON GRESHAM, Treasurer: A.

CARTWRIGHT, | -
LAWRENCB; Auditor: R. M. THomas; Social Convenor:

- 817 Simcoe St.,. Winnipeg; Executive Secretary: J. HADDOW.
Section Chairman Secretary
Ornithological L. T.S. Norris-Etye, B.A. A. H. SHORTT

_ Entomological A.V. MITCHENER, M.Sc. Miss M.F. PRATT
- Botanical Mrs. I. M. PRIESTLY Mrs. H. T. Ross
- Geologieal Miss C. J. EGAN, P. H. StoKss
Iehthyological FERRIS NEAVE, M.Sc. G. D. RussELL

_ Mammalogical V. W. Jackson, M.Sc. J. P. KENNEDY
Microscopy ‘ ;

Zoology R. A. WARDLE, M.Sc.
Botany

H.Cuas. PBARCE

THE HAMILTON BIRD PROTECTION
"SOCIETY |
Incorporated) |

Hon. President: W. E. SAUNDERS, London, Ont.; President:
x = CALVIN McQURESTON; Vice-President: R. OWEN MERRI-
_ MAN, M.A., Kingston, Ont.; First Vice-President: Dr. H. G.

a NUNN.

McILWRAITH ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB,
LONDON, ONT. :
President: Mr. EvIson MATTHEWS, 554 Central Ave., London
. _ Gnr.; Vice-President: Mr. E. D. BRAND, 148 William Street,
London, Ont.; Recording Secretary: MR. VERNON FRANKS, 195
Duchess Av-., London, Ont.; Corresponding Secretary and

polar Migration Secretary: Mr. E. M. S. DALE, 297 Hyman
street

London,

-W. E. Saunpers, 240 Central Avenue, London, Ont.;

_G. Watson, 201 Ridout Street South, London, Ont.;
a . CALVERT, 461 Tecumseh Avenue, London, Ont.; E. M.S.
DALE, 297 Hyman Street, London, Ont.

during the summer, A 3

a} hams

VANCOUVER NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

eetings at 8 p.m., Auditorium, Normal School, 10th
and Cambie Street unless otherwise announced. —

Dr. M. Y. WIiams; First Vice-President;
- Laine; Second Vice-President: Dr. C. J. BASTIN:
sasurer: KENNETH Racny, 3262 West Ist Ave.

Be
key

Mrs. A. J. SBARLE; General Secretary: NORMAN LOWE, ~

Treasurer: MR. W. G. GIRLING, 530 English St., London, ~

Ont.; Members qualified to answer questions: |

__ Meetings held the second Monday of the month, excep —

ISH COLUMBIA BIRD AND MAMMAL

| Affiliated Societies

PROVINCE OF QUEBEC SOCIETY FOR THE | |
PROTECTION OF BIRDS INC.

OFFICERS & COMMITTEE: —

Past Presidents: Mr. L. McI. TmRRIuL, Mr. Naripr SMITH,
Mr. W. S. Hart; President: Mrs. C. L. HENDERSON, 1536
St. Matthew St., Montreal; Vice-Presidenis: Mr. H. A. C.
JacKson, Mr V. C. WyYNNE-Epwarps, Vice-President and
Treasurer: Mk. HBNRY Mousiny; Secretary: Miss M. SEATH;
Committee: Mrs. C. F. Date, Mr. J. A. DECARIE, MR. W.
S. Hart, Mrs. H. Hispert, Dr. A.N. JENKs, Mr. E. L.
JUDAH, MR. FRASER KHITH, Miss P. B. MATTINSON, MI6s
L. MurRPHY, Miss M. S. NIcoLson, Mr. C. Salt, Mr. L.
McI.SPACKMAN, Mr. L. MclI. TERRILL.

Meetings held the second Monday of the month except dur-
ing summer. : A

SOCIETE PROVANCHER D’HISTOIRE
NATURELLE DU CANADA

Patron Honoraire: Son Excellence, LE TRES HONORABLE
ComTE’ DE BrEssBoROUGH, P.C., G.C.M.G., Gouverneur-
Général _du Canada; _ Vice-Patron Honoraire: HONORABLE
M. G. H. CarRouu, Lieutenant-Gouverneur de Ja Province
de Québec; Bureau de Direction pour 1934: Président: EDGAR
RocHeTTE, C.R., M.P.P.; ler vice-président: G. STUART
AHERN; 2téme vice-président: Dr. J.-E. BERNIER; Secrétaire-
trésorier: Louis-B. LAVOIE; Chef de la section scientifique:
Dr. D.-A.DERY; Chef de la section de Propagande éducation-
nelle: ALPHONSB DESILETS, B.S.A.; Chef de la section de
protection: ADRIEN FALARDEAU, C.R.; Chef la section
ainformation scientifique et pratique: JAMES F. Rosa:
Ea hededen ag A. -W. AHERN. R. MEREDITH, N.P., U. G.

ESSigR.

Secrétaire-trésorier: Lovuis-B. LAVom
38, rue Sherbrooke, Québee.

THE TORONTO FIELD-NATURALISTS’
CLUB

OFFICERS FOR 1934-35.

Honorary President: DR. A. P. COLEMAN; President: ARNOTT

M.PATTERSON; Hon. Vice-Presidenis: Hon. G. H. CHALLIEs,

Mr. J. H. FLeEminc, Dr. N.A. POWELL; Vice-President: MR.

F. P. Ipe, Secretary-Treasurer: H. M. HALLIDAY: Council—

Dr. E.M. WALKER, S. L. THOMPSON, Prog. J.R. Dymonp,

C. S. Farmer, Pror. T. F. McILwralta, Dr. NORMA

ForD, MAGISTRATE J. E. Jones, L. T. OWENS, RUPERT

Davips, F. C. Hurst, Dr. T. M. C. Taytor, C. G. BRENNAND,

R. M. SauNDERS; Chairman of Conservation Commitiee: Mrs.

S. L. Tompson; President of Junior Club: MURRAY SPEIRS;

Vice-President of Junior Club: HUBERT RICHARDSON. Leaders:

Birds—Messrs. S. L. Tompson, L. L. SNYDER, J. L.

BaILun, JR., PrRor. T. F. McILwrRaita, R. M. SPEIRg,

¥. H. EMERY. Mammale—Pror. A. F. Coventry, Messrs. E.

C. Cross, D.A. McLuticu. _ Reptiles and Amphilians—

Messrs. E. B.S. Locier, WM LERAy. Fish—PRroF. J. R.

DymonD, PRoF. W. J. K. HARKNESS. Insects—Dr. EB.

M. WALKER, Dr. N. Forp, Mr. F. P. IDE. Botany—Pror. |

R. B. THomson, Dr. H. B. Sirton, Dr. T.M.C. Taytor-

Mr. W. R. Watson, Mr. L. T. OWENS. Geology—Dnr. A. P.

COLEMAN: Pror. A. MCLEAN.

Ll =l=[=[l=S=ESh_=Lbh_>—SSS==——EEESSSS SS 7
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Affiliated Societies to assist us in our
task of building up the circulation of —

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make this magazine into one of the
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of America.

oats
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THE OTTAWA FIELD. ELD-NATURALISTS’ CLUB

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THEIR EXCELLENCIES THE GOVERNOR GENERAL AND COUNTESS OF BESSBOROUG f

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McQusEsTon, EDISON MATTHEWS, JOHN DAVIDSON, M. Y. WILLIAMS, C. L. HENDERSON, W. STUART
ATKINSON, ARNOTT M. PATTERSON. Foe

Auditors: A. G. KINGSTON and HARRISON F. Lewis.
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ott:

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SARE CoN EA Ra ne PER Rae SOR ce Nha eS shaat Botany R. M. ANDERSON..............Mammalogy
BORDATCHEORD 4. oe oc ee Conchology — A. G. HUNTSMAN............ Marine Biology 4
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EK; SGALCOCK oe oe Cig eee Geology Rios M. KINDLE Sects eee caice 4 a
CONTENTS lee .
PACE

The ee Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum and Lark Bunting Calamospiza melano-

corys, in Saskatchewan. By F.Bradshaw...................-. PEO abney eae 137
Additional Notes on the Flora of Quebec. By Marcel Raymond): 22/256 oe. pe es Jo ee Be
Some Amphibians and Reptiles of the District around High River, Alberta, 1933. By Roy | ie

Li Rowleree os 2 Saye Bs yk a ee ARNG ea eR as UO ale ale MN ene a 139 4
English Sparrows at Vineland Station, Ontario. By A. D. Hanes. ee tender cee 140-9
~ The Food of Young Spring Salmon in Shuswap Lake, B.C. By W. “AS iGieeend: Ronen cas

Notes and Observations:-— “3 ee Nd te
Unusual Roosting of Tree Spanie By Stuart L. Thompson Sh elA2 23
' (Correspondence from Miss: Betty Smart... 1222. 6. 00 ee
Note on the Songs of the Northern Thrushes. By Harrison F. Lewis...........
Record of Ovalipes ocellatus (Herbst) from Gulf of St. Lawrence. By W. Ta
A Rare Lily found on the Island of Montreal. BY H. C. Dempsey ce leagistie ta ecg aaa ae
Dr. M. O. Malte. By ELE ae aah aces ins cline ae eee ay een eel ae Se Se soe
Correction. By Editor............ MER br Ma eat cay eRe SORE ek eit ah oak eae
Reviews:—. 2d BSS ais ene a eae
The Deformation of the Earth's Crust. By F.J.A...... Pe ie aatin i ses Soe supa ee i en
Hand Book of Frogs and Toads. By: C..B..0 ae ae ou aem
Index, 1934 oe

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a

The Canadian Field-Naturalist

VOL. XLVIII

OTTAWA, CANADA, DECEMBER, 1934 No; 9

THE GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, Ammodramus savannarum AND LARK
BUNTING Calamospiza melanocorys, IN SASKATCHEWAN

By F. BRADSHAW

HE unexpected happenings in bird
study provide the observer with
some of his choicest experiences. To
add a new bird to one’s list is an

important event both to the beginner and the

more advanced student. Quite recently I
recorded making the acquaintance of the
Dickeissel [Spiza americana] after it had

evaded my observations for more than twenty-
five years. This occured while playing golf
near the city limits of Regina, about the last
place one would expect to find such a rare
species, and, virtually speaking, at one’s own
back door.

Golf led to the discovery of another species
that heretofore had been recorded but once in
Saskatchewan, by the late C. G. Harrold, who
took a specimen at Lake Johstone in 1922, and
sent it to England.

From the 12th tee on the Gyro Citizens’
Golf Course, one mile directly west of the
Parliament Buildings, Regina, I sliced a ball
badly into the rough. While tramping aim-
lessly over the hummocky prairie in search
of the ball my attention was arrested by the
notes of a bird that was strange to me. I
was no longer interested in golf and, fortun-
ately being alone, I was free to abandon the
game and devote my time to tracking dewn
the unseen songster. I went in the direction
from where the song came, but when I got
there the song continued and seemed to be
just as far away as ever. This procedure
was repeated several times without my catch-
ing even so much as a glimpse of the singing
bird. I finally concluded it was eluding me

_ by running through the grass, and as the light

was quickly failing I had, with reluctance, to
postpone my search.

The problem was solved the next day, when
a bird was flushed and alighted on a nearby
telephone wire. With the aid of field glasses
one recognized it as a member of the

sparrow family. Its unstreaked, buffy throat
and breast, the buff-coloured median line on
the crown, and the sharp, pointed tail feathers
were clearly noted, but the less conspicuous
markings of yellow before the eye and on the
bend of the wing were not discernible at this
distance. However, by linking up the charac-
teristics noted with the insect-like song of the
bird one had little difficulty in identifying the
bird as the Grasshopper Sparrow, and_ thus
was added one more rare species to my
Saskatchewan list.

T

After definitely making its acquaintance I
was greatly surprised to find that this species
was fairly abundant locally. Every vacant
city block in the west end seemed to harbour
one or more singing males, and there must
have been at least fifty pairs in the vicinity.

Chapman interprets the song of the Grass-
hopper Sparrow as ‘“‘pit-tick, zee-e-e-e-e-e-e-
e-e,” and states furthur that, “under favorable
circumstances the bird can be heard by an
attentive listener at a distance of two hundred
and fifty feet, but the casual observer would
pass within ten feet of a singing bird and
be none the wiser.”

Several times I noted that the song would
be preceded by a jerky quivering of the wings,
and quite often the song described would be
augmented by a faint tinkling warble. An
entirely different note, presumably that of the
female, was heard while searching for the
nest. It was a faint, short, explosive “‘thr-t-ips.”

The species was first observed on June 21.
On July 16 a nest and three young were dis-
covered. Four days later the nest was found
deserted. One dead young close by the nest,
and a tailless female, indicated that possibly
it had been molested. Another nest contain-
ing four fresh eggs was found on July 20,
after many hours of fruitless search during
the preceding month. This nest was located
within thirty yards of a city dwelling that

138 THE CANADIAN FIBLD-NATURALIST

harboured a large cat of bird-killing habits.
In both cases the grassy nests were found
in slight depressions on the ground, in rather
long, fine prairie grasses among which there
was a fair sprinkling of the snowberry bush.

Another flock of this species, of even larger
proportions than the one referred to, was ob-
served forty miles north of Regina, near Harl
Grey, by Mr. F. G. Bard, of the museum
staff. In this area were also observed Baird’s,
Leconte’s and Nelson’s Sparrows, [Ammodra|
mus bairdi, Passerherbulus caudaculus, and Melo-
spiza lincolni].

This year there was a tremendous increase
of Lark Buntings [Calamospiza melanocorys]

[VoL. XLVIII

in the Regina district. Normally it is rather
searce in this area. It was by far the most
abundant species on the prairies adjoining |
the city. In fact, I believe their numbers
would exceed those of all other species
combined. In a_ hundred-mile drive south
of the city they were never out of sight
and quite often one could see a dozen or more
males in one spot. North of the city they
became less numerous after a ten-mile drive,
only one or two stragglers being observed in
the next one hundred miles. A correspondent
reports seeing a few at Jackfish Lake, north
of Battleford, which point appears to be a
long way from their normal range.

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE FLORA OF QUEBEC
By MARCEL RAYMOND

HE FOLLOWING is a summary of
my botanical investigations in Que-
bee during the summer of 1933. For
the results achieved, I am indebted

to Prof. Marie-Victorin of the Universtiy of

Montreal, who sometimes accompanied me

and identified the rare specimens, and also

to Prof. L. Deslaurier (Collége Saint Jean)
who corrected the manuscript.

1. Sparganium androcladum ( Englem. )
Morong. When it was found I was with
Prof. Maryie-Victorin who said that it was
the first time it had been discovered in
the region of Montreal. On the Riche-
lieu River, it grows at Ste. Therese Island
with S. eurycarpum, and is quite common.

2. Potamogeton crispus L. Rare;

same island.

8. Anacharis occidentalis (Pursh) Victorin.
Very common at the same island growing
with A. canadensis.

4. Scirpus Torreyi Olney. This sedge was
nowhere to be found but on the banks
of the Ottawa River. It also forms part
of the flora of Ste. Therese Island, grow-
ing with numbers 1- and 5- near the
bridge.

near the

5. Juncus compressus Jacq. This glaucous
European Juncus is very rare in Ameri-
ca. In Quebec, it was found in the two
following places: (a) Les Plaines d’Abra-
ham (Pease 1904) and (b) Murray Bay
(Malbaie) (Eggleston). The North Amer-
ican area of this plant is therefore: New

York State (two different places, K. M.
Wiegand and A. J. Eames), Newfound-
land (M. L. Fernald and Wiegand), Que-
bee (three different places, Pease, Egg-
leston, Victorin and Raymond).

6. Arisema Stewardsonii Britton. In _ his
most interesting paper ‘“‘Les Spadiciflores
du Quebec’, Contrib. Lab. Bot., Univ.
Montreal, Number 19, Prof. Marie-Vic-
torin wrote that this member of the
family Aracez was attributed to Quebec
by but two doubtful specimens:1.—Cle-
veland, Richmond County, (Chamberlain
and Knowlton, July 26th, 19238); 2.-
Cedar Swamp, Georgeville, (A. S. Pease
12085). On the 25th of May while
collecting on the island, I found large
colonies growing in the woods of Pinus Stro-
bus L. and Betula populifolia Marsh.

7. Polygala paucifolia L. In Quebec this
Polygala was known in the East at the
following places: Mingan Seigniory (D.
N. St. Cyr) and probably in Gaspesia.
At Iberville, (83 miles from Montreal)
there is a sterile colony of this beautiful
“orchid-like” plant. No fruit has been
found in autumn.

8. Polygala viridescens L. (P. sanguinea L.)
Three spots where this plant grows were
also discovered this year, which are the
first in Quebec, namely Iberville, Farn-
ham (near a large bog), and Contrecoeur.

9. Utricularia resupinata B. D. Greene. This
very tiny species was not known in Que-

Decamber, 1934]

bee previously. Prof. Marie-Victorin
found it near Timagami Lake, Ontario.
I have found my specimens in the Lau-
rentian Mountains, in Lake Tiberiade
(Nomingue) where they grew with Utric-
ularia cornuta Michx., Juncus pelocarpus
FE. Meyer, Juncus articulatus L., and the
delicate Lobelia Dortmanna L.

10. Utricularia purpurea Walt. This species
was also unknown in our province. A
sister of Sainte Anne (S. Marie Jean
Eudes) gathered it in the lakes at Raw-
don, growing with Nymphozanthus va-
riegatus (Engelm.) Fernald and Brase-
nia Schreberi Gmel. She found no flow-

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

"139

ers but Brother E. Roy c.s.v. found this
aquatic plant in bloom at Nominingue,
also in the Laurentian mountains.

11. Littorella uniflora (L.) Asch. (L. lacus-
tris L.) One of the rarest plants in Amer-
ica. Brother M. Victorin found it at Na-
tashkwan (North Shore of St. Lawrence
River). Quite common along the Riche-
lieu River with Isoetes.

12. Centaurea maculosa Lam. A _ European
weed actually developing in Quebec. The
first specimens known here are from
Mount Johnson, near the St. Johns—
Marieville highway.

SOME AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF THE DISTRICT AROUND
HIGH RIVER, ALBERTA, 1933.

By ROY L. FOWLER

HE DRY conditions of the last three
vears have materially lessened the
number of amphibians in the district

a around High River. In the prairie
country, the Big Lake, six miles east of High

River, has dried up for the first time since

1895. The Blizzard Lakes, fifteen miles north-

east of town, are now just alkali flats. The

park belt of the foothills, twenty miles west
of town, has not suffered so much from

_ drought; but even there I saw many dried up

swamps this summer.

The following list is probably not complete
as I was unable to put sufficient time on this
work.

SALAMANDER. Ambystoma tigrinum. — The
Tiger Salamander is most commonly met with
in our cellars and roothouses. In the fall of
1932 I saw several Salamanders on roads and
paths. They did not appear to be traveling
in any particular direction, and yet all were
at least half a mile from the nearest water.
This summer, in a pond near the Millarville
school, some boys caught a larval specimen
the gills cf which had not yet begun to shrink.

TOADS.—Toads are~ rather scarce, and only
to be found in the park belt along the foot-
hills. Out on the prairie, along the Highwood
or Sheep Rivers, I have never seen a toad.

Bufo boreas boreas— A ‘Northwestern Toad
was found by my father on his ranch in the
foothills. It was settled down in a little shady

hole and apparently quite comfortable during
the heat of the day. It was not in the timber
but in an open grassy glade.

Bufo hemiophrys. — Mr. Clyde Patch sug-
gested that the Canadian Toad (“Crested
Toad”) might be found in this district. I
have never seen one here nor have I been able
to get in touch with anyone who has.

Frocs. Rana cantabrigensis—The Northern
Wood Frog may be found in any swampy.
place throughout the foothills district west of
here. JI noticed that, though there was no
water in many swamps, the ground was not
sufficiently dry to retard the growth or activity
of these frogs.

Pseudacris nigrita septentrionalis. — The
Northern Swamp Tree Frog is found in the
foothills and on the prairies wherever sufficient
water will accumulate for mating and spawn-
ing. By the middle of April the melting snow
usually makes many ponds and temporary
sloughs in which frogs may be found. By
the end of June these ponds were bone dry.
In August I have seen partly grown frogs
of this species hopping around in healthy con-
dition although the slough bottom was so dry
as to be deeply cracked. The cracks were
several inches wide and eighteen to twenty
inches deep. The little frogs apparently kept
their bodies moist by hiding down in these
eracks during the heat of the day. Fall moist-
ure nearly always makes sufficient mud to

140

render hibernation possible. Late in the fall
I have seen partly grown specimens away
from all water or slough bottoms. I doubt
if these survive.

SNAKES.—Thirty years ago my mother saw
« large black snake coiled in a tree on the
bank of the Highwood River.

Thamnophis radiz.—The Plains Garter
Snake is frequently seen along the Highwood
River. It is seldom met with away from
rivers or other permanent water, although

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

[VoL. XLVIII

last year one came into my house yard, which
is two miles from the river.

Crotalus confluentus confluentus—The _Prai-
rie Rattlesnake has never been seen in this
district, though it is found fifty miles east of
here.

TURTLE.—No species of turtle has been
found here.

I am indebted to Mr. Clyde L. Patch of the
National Museum of Canada, Ottawa, for the
identificaticn of specimens.

ENGLISH SPARROWS AT VINELAND STATION, ONTARIO
By A. D. HARKNESS

ISHING to attract song and plumage
birds to my grounds at Vineland Sta-
ROBE] tion, I constructed and erected nesting
——— boxes for martins, wrens and blue-
birds. The English sparrows which had been
noticeably numerous, now became a decided
nuisance. They built in the martin and blue-
bird houses, killed the young of the bluebirds,
' driving away the adults and engaged in al-

the hens. Hoping to reduce, somewhat, the
number of sparrows in the vicinity, a screen
trap door was fixed on the open front of the
henhouse. This trap could be sprung from
the barn. In this way some _ satisfactory
catches were made during the winter.

As it seemed advantageous to take the
sparrows continuously throughout the year,
a trap was constructed and placed in the hen-

most continuous conflict with the wrens. yard. The trap selected was the Funnel Trap

(Dearborn 1926).

The number of sparrows which have been
taken in the henhouse and by means of the
trap is summarized in Table 1.

During the autumn and winter the hens are
fed for the most part in the henhouse. As
the front is open except in extremely cold
weather, the sparrows flocked in to feed with

Month 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 19381 1982 1933 1934 Total
Ano A 11 43 23 77
February .... .... .... 5 20 25
Marnchge ie aye 3 9 3)
Jo 0) 1 gysle Ege Wa 4 i 10 21 42
1 Ey Peau ete OR al 23 68 11 19 17 15 55 15 223
UN CS er ae es 2 pyre PATS). Palsy alls) 221 219 197 239 214 1954 4
Sy Fee Sh cee wee 529 = 308 65 228 72 36 296 205 46 1780 \
ANS USty ee wa 90 99 11 247 13 69 86 189 754
September ... ... .... 97 5d 12 36 19 80 118 124 itt 558
October) 2.44.2 Was 50 44 Pall 15 53 13 62 112 436
November .... .... .... 68 3 PA RAT 69 118 527
December .... .... .... 42 342 49 98 531
Total per year 1122 904 355 1313 450 4384 892 1090 351 6911

Table 1. Giving the number of sparrows taken per month in the henhouse and by
means of the Funnel Trap from May, 1926, to October, 1934.

December, 1934]

During the winter of 1925-1926 about 230
sparrows were taken in the henhouse of which
80 were taken in one day.

During one calm day in July, 1926, the trap
was emptied three times, yielding a total of
90 birds.

Of the 217 taken in November, 1929, 107
were taken in the henhouse. The 342 in
December, 1929, the 43 in January, 1930, and
the 49 in December, 1932, were all taken in the
henhouse.

No sparrows were taken in the henhouse,
and the funnel trap was not set from Novem-
ber 20, 1927, to June 1, 1928, from November
18, 1928, to April 15, 1929, during February
and March, 1930, from October, 1930, to May,
1931, from October, 19381, to May, 1932, and
from December, 1932, to May, 1933.

It was noted that the trap would catch
sparrows more quickly after one or two had
entered. These first individuals appeared to
act as decoys.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

141

There was at all times a supply of grain
in the funnel and cage of the funnel trap
and yet the daily catch varied greatly. This
is demonstrated by Table 2, which gives the
catch over two periods chosen at random.

The greatest number of birds was taken
during June and July. The majority of these
birds appeared to be young as it was observed
that the bones of their necks and skulls were
notably softer.

An examination of Table 1 shows very little,
if any, falling off in the number of sparrows
being taken. In spite of this there appear to
be fewer in the immediate vicinity; they come
in from the surrounding districts and are
soon captured.

This record has two points of interest. The
number of sparrows taken is indicative of the
abundance of this species at this time and it
gives a very clear idea of what may be ex-
pected in the way of a catch from the opera-
tion of the funnel trap net over an extended
period.

eee
SS °000605050—0—00q0qq09000Neeee——— SSS ee

Funnel Trap

Henhouse

SS EST

Date 1927 No. of Date 1929 No, of Date 1929 No. of
specimens specimens specimens
——__ — — — — — *
Aug. 9 8 Nov. 2 4 Nov. 18 61
” 10-15 0 La i) 19 Pee ae) 11
an sh'G 6 er 12 ears 35
ed alee, 0 ae (5) 1 Dec. 2 22
sane; 5 ined 9 RES 85
pane! 2 HEAL ¥) ners il
oe) 5 re S 9 pL O 110
oa 10 es 8 aia a 11
Pet 0 pepeliz 8 ate ifs) 38
Ni 5 ie 7 20 87
i If! 8 Bd. 21
Ves 2 Jen OU. ft

EEG 6
Table 2. Showing the daily catch by means Literature

of the funnel trap and henhouse over two
periods.

Dearborn, Ned. 1926. The English sparrow
as a pest. Farmers’ Bulletin 493, U.S.
Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

142 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

(VoL. XVLITII

THE FOOD OF YOUNG SPRING SALMON IN SHUSWAP LAKE, B.C.

By W. A. CLEMENS,
Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C.

URING early July in each of the years
1931 and 1932, large numbers of
young Spring Salmon, Oncorhynchus

tschawytscha, were observed in the
shoreward waters of Shuswap Lake, near
Sorrento, British Columbia. In the late
afternoon and evening, these fish were

everywhere breaking water and evidently feed-
ing upon winged insects which were flying
over the surface. By means of a seine, con-
siderable numbers of the salmon were obtained
at various times of the day and on several days
of each year. A random sample has been
measured, weighed, scales examined and
stomach contents studied.

The standard lengths of 44 fish ranged from
5.2 to 8.3 em. The weights varied from 2.7

to 8.4 g.

Examination of the scales showed that the
fish were in the first year and counts of the
scale circuli of 20 individuals gave a range of
from 4 to 11 with an average of 7.

The fish appeared to be in excellent condition
and reports from the outlet of the lake indi-
cated that numbers were commencing the sea-
ward migration.

The food of 64 individuals was examined
and found to consist largely of terrestrial
insects, small Crustacea and midge (Chirono-
mid) larve, pupe and adults. Among the

terrestrial insects were species of Diptera,
small Hymenoptera, a few Aphide and Corix-
dz and other Homoptera and Heteroptera,
add an occasional Coleopteran. Daphnia was
by far the most abundant of the small Crus-
tacea but there were considerable numbers of
Bosmina and Eurycerecus and a few smaller
Cladecera and Copepoda. Only a single small
Gammarus occured. The Ephemeride were
represented by nymphs only and_ chiefly
Ephemera with a few representatives of the
Heptagenine and Betinse. Trichoptera lar-
ve occured in two stomachs and an aduit in
a third.

The results may be summarized as follows:
terrestrial insects in 47 stomachs: Crustacea
in 43; Chironomide in 15; Corixide in 4;
Trichoptera in 3; miscellaneous; Hydracarina,
Arachnida, Aphide, Corethra larve and For-
micida.

Examination of the stomachs of Squawfish,
Ptychocheilus oregonensis, taken during tke
same periods as the salmon, showed that the
Squawfish were feeding to a large extent upon
the salmon (Clemens and Munro, Bio. Bd. Can.,
Prog. Rept. Pac. no. 19, 1984).

The present information concerning the
Spring Salmon is placed on record as a small
contribution to the knowledge of the life-
history of this important species.

NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS

UNUSUAL RoosTING oF TRHE SPARROW.—It is
well known that grouse and some field-loving
birds, such as Snow Bunting and Horned Lark
nestle amid the snow to spend the night.
one would hardly expect a small bird usually
inhabiting sheltered thickets to resort to such
a means of roosting.

On December 26th (19383) at Toronto we
were visited by a snow-storm, borne on a cold
north wind that lasted most of the day. To-
wards evening I went for a walk out into the
open country near my home, more with the
idea of enjoying the storm than hoping for any
bird observations. As I paused near a solitary

But ©

thorn bush well out on the field, I saw a small
bird come flying across the field and settle
in the bush a few feet from me. I was sur-
prised to find it to be a Tree Sparrow. This
species is by no means rare at this time of
year, but to find one lone individual on a
barren snowy field in the fading light aroused
my curiosity. As I watched him he flew to
the weed tops in several places, back to my
bush, to the reeds, then far away across the
field to a discarded tin half-buried in the snow,
and finally returned to my bush. At each
place I noticed he flew down and nestled low
in the snow, and at the bush he crept into
the small bowl-like hollow caused by the

December, 1934]

eddies that had swept the snow clean of the
trunk of the thorn. It was clear with the
gathering dusk that the bird was seeking
shelter for the night, certainly not feeding
for he gave the weed-seeds no _ attention.
His next move was to fly some distance to
another thorn-bush to the north and disappear
near its base. I kept an eye on this bush,
and lingered some time in the neighbourhood;
but as he did not appear, it seemed that he
intended to spend the night at that spot. But
how? What shelter could the open branches
of a thorn-bush on a wind-swept field amid a
snowstorm afford? There was only one other
place—the snow itself. I approached cau-
tiously and found a small hole in the side of
the eddy-formed snow bowl round the trunk.
It looked like a Mic-otus tunnel, but as I
knelt in the snow to peer in, a sparrow’s head
and bill appeared. There was a flutter of
wings and, uttering the familiar cheep, a
Tree Sparrow flew out and vanished in the
gloom.

Examination of the hole showed it to be
clean and freshly made, extending into the
snow some 8 inches, ending abruptly. It was
not a Microtus run for it did not extend down
into the grass. Clearly the sparrow had
burrowed his way into the drift to spend the
night, and during my observations of the last
fifteen minutes he had been seeking a suit-
able spot.

It is difficult to say why one lone Tree
Sparrow should have sought an open wind-
swept field amid a blizzard to find, apparently
with difficulty, a suitable place to roost, es-
pecially when we consider that at the same
moment probably many other Tree Sparrows
were settling down in some dense cedar in
the sheltered ravine at the edge of the field.
But it is just such departures from the usua

that make bird study so _ fascinating,
particularly when such observations come un-
expectedly.

I wonder what we miss when we stay in-
doors?—StTuart L. THOMPSON.

24 Bywater Street,
CHELSBA, S.W.3,
June 3rd, 1938.
D5ar Mr. BILL,

I hope you haven’t forgotten me and our
discussions on birds. I remember the letter
your brother (I think it was) sent you from
England about the birds there. It was useful.
The trouble about coming to a completely new

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

143

country is that you know less than nothing.
I was terribly excited the first time I saw a
chaffinch, and I now know that it is one of the
very commonest birds.

I went to the Natural History Museum, and
that gave me some idea. There was a special
set of the common birds, each in a separate
glass case in their natural surroundings. It
was a marvelous way of identifying, only I
don’t really think the birds were stuffed as
well as ours. There was also a special case
of birds within a radius of three miles from
the heart of London; it was extraordinary,
but there are over a hundred. The ducks and
water birds all come to the ponds in the
parks and behave exactly as if they owned
them. I used to think they were tame birds;
they allow themselves to be approached and
fed, and they waddle across the path to the
green grass and have an unperturbed snooze
among the crocuses or the tulips.

The English birds that I have really be-
come attached to (because I am very pro-
Canada) are the Water Wagtail and the Lap-
wing. The Wagtail is an exciting little bird;
he is so dainty and every move is completely
unexpected. He even flies in loops and
dodges. Have you ever heard the musie on
the piano called “Water Wagtail” by Cyril
scott? It is very like him. He is a bifd
with a real sense of humour. I expect you
know what he looks like. The Lapwing is
very inconsistent. When he is in the fields
he looks very trim and neat—so carefully
groomed and rather dainty with a thin elegant
crest; but when he goes into the air he looks
like a large heavy long-winged bat. He is
rather like one of those gliders without an
engine with very oblong lengthy wings. He
has also a double voice. He makes one
quite thrilling noise like a silver telephone
bell—a very silver sound, but definitely a
telephonish one; the other is a sea-call.

I am very annoyed with the chaffinch. One
morning in the Isle of Skye at dawn he came
to my window, sat in a tree and sang the
most optimistic bubbly kind of song. He
kept it up till I felt optimistic and bubbly too,
and decided to get up and see the sun rise.
Well, I did get up, and when I opened the
front door it was pouring rain. This is just
a warning not to put any faith in a chafiinch.

The thrushes have that throaty song that all
thrushes have’and the blackbird too — he is per-
haps even better; but not to compare with our
wild unattainable mystic hermit thrush. Per-
haps I am prejudiced, because he sings in the

144 THE CANADIAN

deep green woods at dusk in the silence—
the special perfect kind of silence for a singer
like he is—but even so, I think you would
agree with me.

By the way, do you remember how we
both despaired of knowing the differences
between casual grey-cheeked and olive-backed
thrushes? Well, I know a sure way now.
It is their songs. One is a descending one.
There is a very good book called “Wild Birds
and their Music”, by (I think) Frank Schuyler
Mathews. I was able to identify a lot J was
misty about through it. Even if you don’t
know music just the very look of it going up
and down or along and up should be enough.
There is an exciting little Winter Wren on
the side of Kingsmere Mountain who sings a
bubbling, quite long and varied canary song
in a green jungley swamp.

I like the shape of Rooks. They are funnier
than crows, and there is something rather
nice about a rookery.

I am going to Sweden on the 17th of June,
and it will be fun to see what differences there
are in their birds. I hope the same books
will do. They are in so many volumes and
so expensive here. There are no handy
reliable little guides.

I hope this letter hasn’t bored you. You
are, I think, my only real Bird Friend. I
was very sorry to hear you have been poorly
this winter. I hope you are better now.

Yours sincerely,

(SGD.) Betty SMART.

NOTE ON THE SONGS OF THE NORTHERN THRUSH-
Es.—Miss Smart’s comment on the songs of
the Olive-backed and Gray-cheeked Thrushes
indicates quite rightly that these two species,
which look very much alike, are easily distin-
guished by their songs when these can be
heard. Unfortunately, neither of these
Thrushes sings much on migration, though on
their breeding-grounds their songs are
frequent in the season of courtship and nest-
ing.

While I cannot claim either musical training
or ability, it is my impression that each
distinct series of notes in the songs of the
Olive-backed Thrush is an ascending series
and that usually several successive series in
the song of an individual Olive-backed begin
on the same note. Moreover, most of the

FIELD-NATURALIST

[VoL XLVIII

notes of the Olive-backed Thrush are clear
and full-toned and may, I think, be called
flute-like. In this respect they resemble the
notes in the songs of the Hermit Thrush.
Most of the series of notes in the songs of
the Hermit Thrush are, however, descending
series, at least in part, and no two successive
series of notes sung by this species begin on
the same note.

The song of the Gray-cheeked Thrush on
the other hand, while composed of notes ar-
ranged in distinct series, in each of which at
least a part of the notes are often arranged
in a descending order, is not clear or full in
tone, but is rather metallic and grating, show-
ing in this regard a distinct resemblance to
the song of the Veery. The call notes of the
Gray-cheeked Thrush also have a marked
resemblance to the call notes of the Veery.

While the Gray-cheeked Thrush and the
Olive-backed Thrush resemble each other very
closely indeed in appearance, the evidence of
their voices, which is probably valid evidence,
indicates that the relationship between them
is not as close as that between the Olive-
backed Thrush and the Hermit Thrush, or
that between the Gray-cheeked Thrush and

the Veery.— HARRISON F. LEwIs.

REcORD oF Ovalipes ocellatus (Herbst) FROM
GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE.—In September, 1982,
a crab was obtained from lobster fishermen
at Pointe du Chene, in Northumberland Strait.
On examination the crab proved to be
Ovalipes ocellatus (Herbst). The specimen
was a female, with a carapace length of 6.6
ems., the greatest width of the carapace being
8.8 ems. Another specimen was observed at
West Point, Prince Edward Island, in Sep-
tember, 1931. Although apparently not plenti-
ful in Northumberland Strait area, it is prob-
ably not rare since the local fishermen have
a special name for it and call it the “China
Crab,” a name derived from the colour pattern
of its carapace.

Previous to these two records the supposed
range of O. ocellatus has been from Cape
Cod to North Carolina with a record by Leim
from Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy (Rathbun,
1929, p. 21)*.—W. TEMPLEMAN. McGill University,
Montreal.

* Mary J. Rathbun, The Cancroid crabs of Amertea
Builetin 152. Smithsonian Institute, U.S. National
Museum, Washington, 1930.

Mary J. Rathbun, Decapoda. Canadian Atlantic Fauna,
10M 1929. Biol. Board of Canada.

December, 1934]

A RARs LILY FOUND ON THE ISLAND OF MON-
TREAL.—While visiting near Lachine, Quebec, six
years ago, I went for a walk to La Salle’s
‘Windmill on the road to Verdun. On my ramble
down that beautiful and shaded roadway, I
was attracted by a Lily growing in a great
mass by a little runlet that fell over a cliff
across the road. It grew in a great flat
whorl of flowers as large as a saucer with
a stem from one foot to five feet long, flesh
pink in colour, and similar to the “Agapan-
thus” a native of Africa, and a hot-house plant.
I found it afterwards along the shore and the
- whorl of pink flowers gets larger as the plants
reach maturity; the roots are similar te the
African flower not unlike Iris or Flag roots.

I never saw it in my botanising trips in
Muskoka, Parry Sound or Algonquin Park or
the many spots in southern Ontario I had
visited often. It grows in and near water
or ground that is always moist. I noticed it
a week_ago in a swamp on the way to “Bord
a Plouffe” made famous by Dr. Drummond in
his poems.

For want of a better name I called it Aga-
panthus canadensis.

On submitting the plant in flower to Dr.
Douglas Storms, our best authority on botany,
he found it to be Butemus umbellatus L.,
A plant of the related family ‘“Butomacex”
with many ovulated ovaries, rose-coloured
flowers; native of Europe and Asia, has been
found on the shores of the St. Lawrence river
near Montreal.

It would be a beautiful addition to any one
who has a pond or water garden. This lily
seeds and bears lots of fine seeds. I planted
some below McMaster and back of the George
Allan School, and someone may find it later
on.

I brought home some plants for my own
garden and the garden of friends which I
hope will succeed in this warmer climate. It
is a wanderer from Europe.—H. C. DEmpsEy.

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

145

Dr. M. O. MALTE
A final paragraph may appropriately be
added to the biographical note on Dr. M. O.

Malte which appeared in our issue for Sep-
tember, 1934.

He left Ottawa early in July, 1933, to accom-
pany the annual Eastern Arctic Patrol and was
actively engaged in field-work round the
shores of the Ungava Peninsula and the east
coast of Hudson Bay when his final illness
attacked him. Much against his will he was
persuaded that it was impossible for him to
continue on the expedition and he most
reluctantly allowed himself to be transferred
from the R.M.S. Nascopie, then at Charlton
Island, in James Bay, to Moosonee, where he
took train to Ottawa, with a nurse in attend-
ance. Jt was on the train, only a few miles
from Ottawa, that he died on the 12th of
August, 1934. With almost his last words
he sought reassurance that his field notes and
specimens, collected only a few days before,
were safe and would be forwarded to the
National Herbarium in Ottawa—H-F.L.

CoRRECTION.— Through inadvertence the third
paragraph on page 100 of the current volume,
in the issue for September, 1934, was in-
complete as published. It should read as
follows:

“The next year this colony contained 5
occupied nests, which were in positions similar
to those used in 1931, and in which young
were successfully raised. As individuals of
this species do not breed in the first year
after that in which they are hatched, the ad-
ditional pair of birds that nested here in 1932
could not have been hatched in this colony,
where no young were reared before 1981,
but probably were natives of the colony on Lake
Island, which is the only other colony of this
species known to be on this coast.’”—EDIToR.

&

REVIEWS

THE DEFORMATION OF THE EARTH’S CRUST. By
Walter H. Bucher, Princeton University Press,
1933, 531 pp., 100 figs.

Dr. Bucher is professor of Historical Geo-
logy in the University of Cincinnati. In this
volume he has attempted to assemble the es-
sential geological facts that bear on the

pzoblem of crustal deformation. The approach
is by the inductive method and his generaliza-
tions are designated as “laws”. Other con-
clusions of an interpretative nature are listed
separately as “opinions”. For each of the
laws one or more examples are given in suffi-
cient detail to enable the reader to judge for

146 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

himself the nature of the facts generalized
in the “law”. The reader is invited to test
these generalizations from his own field ex-
perience.

The book is one which will be read with a
great deal of interest by every student of
earth tectonics. The general conclusion reach-
ed is that the geosynclinal belts originated as
zones of weakness during periods of tension
when the earth was expanding, and that the
mountain belts were produced by compressive
forces during. succeeding periods when the
earth was contracting. Not only is there
abundant structural evidence that tension, as
well as compression, has produced deformation
of the earth’s crust, but experiments in which
spheres were made to expand and others to
contract gave deformation patterns simulating
those of the geosynclines, and the younger
mountain belts respectively. The cause of
the alternating subcrustal expansion and con-
traction is not discussed in detail but it is
believed to be controlled by fluctuation in the
heat content of the subcrustal body of the
earth.

The chapter titles indicate the subjects dealt
with. They are: 1. The Mobile Belts; 2.
Isostasy; 8. Continental Margins and Intra-
Continental Mobile Belts; 4. The Pattern of
the Mobile Belts; 5. The Diastrophic Cycle;
6. Marginal Deformation; 7. Deformation with-
in the Welts; 8. Special Aspects of Orogenic
Deformation; 9. The Intrusives; 10. Heteroge-
nous Mobile Belts and Faulted Belts of Low
Mobility; 11. Space Relations of Mobile Belts;
12. Time Relations of Mobile Belts; 13. Epeiro-
genesis; 14. Summary and Synthesis; Appen-
dix: Laws; Index.—F.J.A.

HAND Book oF FrRoGS AND ToapDs. By Anna
Allen Wright and Albert Hazen Wright, Prof-
essor of Zoology, Cornell University. The
Comstock Publishing Co., Inc., Ithaca, New
York, 1933: 231 pp., 82 pls., 7 figs. $2.50.

This handbook of the frogs and toads of
the United States and Canada deals with
eighty-six species and subspecies of Salientia.
The seven sets of figures comprise thirty out-
line drawings illustrating structural features.
The eighty-two plates, made up of from three
to nine photographs, show various views of
adult specimens and, in some cases, eggs and
tadpoles. Most of the photographs were made
by the authors, and most of them are of
living specimens.

Only a person who has~

[VoL. XLVIII

attempted to photograph amphibians and rep-
tiles can appreciate the vast amount of time
and patience required to make these hundreds
of pictures. The key to families is quite
workable, though, while admitting they are
unavoidable, it must be said such comparative
terms as “narrower, thinner, and longer”
referring to a previously mentioned species
are sometimes difficult to interpret. Fifteen
pages are devoted to a classified bibliography.

The discussion of most species is carried
out in the following order: common names,
scientific name, range, habitat, size, general
appearance, structure, voice, breeding, notes.
In a few cases the voice or the breeding
habits are unknown. Under “notes” an occa-
sional reference to food occurs. Perhaps a
brief paragraph on feeding could have been
advantageously inserted in the general ac-
count, and possibly the ranges of certain
species could have been more accurately out-
lined. As Bufo a. copet is found. at the
south end of James Bay, it is doubtful if B.a.
americanus can be said to range as far north
as Hudson Bay. The National Museum of
Canada has examples of B. hemiophrys from
Saskatchewan and from Edmonton, Alberta,
and Edward A. Preble took a specimen at
Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. Pseudccris
n. triseriata is common at Ottawa, Ont.

A commendable feature of the book is the
allotment of two full pages to each species,
thus allowing the name, the illustraticn and
part of the text consistently to occupy the
left hand page. The authors make no mis-
take when in the preface they express the
hope that this book will be a guide for teach-
ers, students and younger naturalists. In the
general account many interesting facts of
popular interest are stated. Here we read
that in general all male toads and frogs have
voices, and that some females talk, croak or
scream. The vocal sacs of the males are
described. The eggs and egg-laying are dis-
cussed, and we learn that a bull-frog may lay
20,000 eggs. The development and transform-
ation of the tadpoles, from the egg to a limb-
less, two-legged, three-legged and four-legged
little creature with the structure of the adult,
are portrayed by word and picture.

The splendid illustrations, concise text,
strong binding and flexible covers make the
Handbook of Frogs and Toads an essential
book in any public or private library that has
even a slight trend to either scientific or pop-
ular natural history.—C.L.P.

December, 1934]

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

INDEX TO VOLUME XLVIII

Demure Review by }.2.. 145
Acanthis linavia ........ 111
Acorus Calamus .. .. .. 65
Adams, J.
Flora of Anticosti .. 63
Additional notes on
the Flora of Quebec 138
Ajuga gencvensis ....... 102
7G DUCT OR ee Oe 102
Alberta, Amphibians .. . 139
NED EIIES i. 5° eee a 139
lcammionda, Was 8 9s 17
Alces americana .. .. ... 108
PTE AT EN he cic cts leah 51
UNG = OR CIE ee ee 17
Alopecurus alpinus .... 128
Alopex lagopus innuitus. 108
Amphibians, Alberta .... 139
Ambloplites rupestris... 133
Ambrosia artemtsitfolia . 65
Ambystoma tigrinum .... 139
Ameiurus nebulosus.. .. 132
Ammodramus bairdi .... 138
Ssavannarum .. .. .. 137
Ammophila arenaria.. .. 64
Anacharis occidentalis 138
Anemia in Mink ....... 47
Anas platyrhynchos .... 110
WORD ESE ae os es. oe SG

Anderson, R. M.
Distribution of

Miaiem Ors! oa. 5 ae 61
INeview DY; sua a. | el
Anemone Richardsonu .. 128
Angelica laurentiana ... 102
Anguilla bostonensis .... 132
Anguispira alternata.... 119
Animal parasites of
north-east Canada .. 111

Another bird-eating frog 55
Anser albifrons gambeli 110
Antennaria alpina ...... 128
mAumcosti, lord .0f .¢.. ~ 63
Aplites salmoides.. .. .. 133
Aquila chysactos

canadensis... .. 110
VArabus GQUPInd 2. sokek 127
Arctagrostis latifolia .. . 128

Arctostaphylos alpina .. 127
Arenaria interpres

morinella ..... 65
Argyrosomus tullibee ... 109
Arisaema Stewardsonit.. 138
Arnica alpina .......... 129
Arrhenatherum latius .. 64
Artemisia biennis ...... 65
VASGOVISE SPiNoseaiaie cons oh: 113
Astragalus alpinus ..... 129
Auk, Razor-billed ..... 17
Badger. California ..... 24

Baffin Island, Birds 41, 65, 79
Baker, F. C.-
Gyraulus nov. sp... 37
Two new Lymneas. 69

Bass, Large-mouthed

BieiGKes So) 46. Za, aS

TO CKERL eyes a esate fie 133

Small-mouthed Black 133
BateGrinnells Yume s. ... 24

Fittle Brown ....... 24

Pallid -Lump-nosed.. 24

Silvien=plackalena. 0s 24
Bears iGrizzly= 2... 24, 109
IBeavieiaiaciic aes sae 2!
Bernard, H.

Muskrat and Pike .. 53
Bernicla ruficollis ...... 105
Betula glandulosa.. .. .. 128
Bilbernys, Bosker. screens: 99

Biological Ethics, Review 70
Bandi Gensus mice oe 28 52
Bird Notes from
London, Ont. .. .
Birds, Baffin Island 41, 65, 70
Bluebird, Basterneasa Ls
English, Songs Ofe 143

Wabtad Ome ene mls

Thelon River ...... 105
Birds and a bath ....... 14
Birds and Mammals

from the Kootenay

Valley, B.C. Review 21
Blackbird, Yellow-headed 37

Black-fly ...... 2A kOS
Bluebird, Eastern.. .. .. 118

Whestetn, oceans. 22
Bile oll aac tye chee or 133
POPU so oakbosacece 47
Bilenitiviccs cance aioe tra 47
Robolinkweme aa aeee. 22
Bombycilla cedrorum ... 118
Bonasa umbellus .. .. .. 78
Botany, -oul-arctic) +. =. 126
Botumos umbellatus ... 145

Bradshaw, F.
Grasshopper Sparrow 137
Grasshoppers and

Gillies ieee ore: 68
Brant, American ..16, 25, 42
Branta bernicla ........ 16
bernicla hrota ....- 42
canadensis
canadensis... ..16. 110
canadensis hutchinsi 110
Brasenia Schreberi .... 139
Bromus tnermis .. .. .. 64
Bryanthus coeruleus ... 128
Bufo a. americanus .. .. 146
Ws (GOPCWWe one ek tO
boreas boreas ...... 139
hemiophrys .. .. 139, 146
Bullen eh recteusana coe: 102
Bullhead. ytd Seas ee ee 132
Buntings Wank: ots cee 137
Wazali mash cies ed 22
Caddise flan. Nga saath te ine ee
Caddis-fly-larvze. so)-- + eso! Oo

Calamospiza melanocorys 137
Calcarius lapponicus 110, 111
Calidris canutus rufus..... 102

147
Callospermophilus 1.
tescorum .. 224:
Campanula rotundifolia 63, 127
UNULOTA Wow. by eID
Canadian Snowshoe
Rabbit email: 1932-
Bi) A Paes
Canis latrans .... 78
latrans lestris ..... 24
IYC@Om twee eae 78
lycaon tundrarum 106, 108
Capelin' 3.23.65, fee 98
Cardamine pratensis.. .. 130
Careproctus ovigerum .. 121
Carex membranopacta .. 127
TUQIOG S215 34. arias ee
rariflora .. .. Pee Wars
Caribou, Barren Land .. 105
Mountain .......... 24
Carpodacus purpureus
purpureus .. ... 119
Carun, Carat 2 oe noe
Cassiope hypnoides ..... 128
WONRUGIOMG So ea0knnas 128
Castor c. leucodonta .... 24
Catostomus catostomus ...109
commersonm ....... 132

Census, Christmas Bird 282152
Centaurea maculosa .. .. 139

Cepphus- grylle ....:.... 17
Cerastium alpinum ..... 127
Chalinura filifera ...... 121
Charadrius hiaticula
hiahiculd 2a ee 05
melodus .. .. .. 101
Chat, Yellow -breasted 9G
Chen caerulescens ...... 42
hiyperbored) sa. :5 se 110
Chickadee! see see ee 15
Ncadianae eee sees 17
Black-capped ...... 17
Chestnut-backed .... 22
Chiogenes hispidula .... 64
Chipmunk, Buff-bellied 235, 24
Coeur d’Alene ..... 23
Gray. Eastern’. (208 50
Chironomid larvae ..... ae
Chirostenotes -..........

Christmas Bird Census 28, =
Chysanthemum

integrifolium ... 131
Chrysosplenium
alternifolium ... 129
Cichorium Intybus ..... 65
Cicuta bulbifera ........ 64
Cinclus mexicanus ....- 53
Circus hudsonius ....101, 110
Citellus c. columbianas .. 24
parryu parryi ...... 109

“C.J.N.”, The, Review of 56
Clangula hyemalis 16, 100. 110
Clemens, W. A.
Food of Spring
Salmoniie.s eee az
Clemens, W. A. and
Munro. J. A., Hoge

of Merganser..

148
Clethrionomys g. satur-

TLL SoA te eee ut ee
Cochlearia officinalis ... 127
Colaptes auratus........ 17

auratus lutcus ..... 117
Colour of the bill in

Roseate Terns ...... 54
Colymbus grisegena

holboellt .. .. 38
Conservation, Waterfowl 25
Conservation Ethic ..... }
Coot, American .... 22, 101

Buropean) sek) e oc 101
Coregonus Spp. .---+-:: 109
Conmotrantemoceiaeetner 16

Double-crested ..... 4]

European ....... 41, 99
@orn-srake ave 2-1 ek 65
Cornus canadensis ...-- 64
Corvus brachyrhynchos . 17

BOTUEE Vase oo ackop 1

corax principalis ... 111
Corynorhinus r¢.

Pallescemse Wanker ied:
GOLIESH GSPETar ncrvelelalchers <u> 47
@ougan eee yd i- 24
Cowbird. Eastern .....- 119
@ovoteeases 2 sys mer 78

MiountainGuece se. scr 24
GrabvaShore gen.) eee 47
Crane, Little Brown ... 110

CFvialonlll ecdipooeoa de 110
Grapple en el a EO

Blacks eC en earns 103
(CBE EFOe sis Case bonoes 65
Crossbill, Bendire’s .... 22

White-winged ..... 119
Crotalus confluentus

confluentus .. .. 140

Growie nee oe pioeteele 14

eastermi ctu n ete W
Cryptoglaux acadia .... 17
funerea richardsoni . 117
Gulicidaerspp: 2. ale. LCS
(CVlOIS copasaoouaeex ont 114

Cygnus columbianus ..42, 11°
Cymatogaster aggregatus 47
Cyperus esculentus .. .. 65
Cystopteris fragilis ..... 127

Dafila acuta tsitzihoa. 42, 110
Dale, E.M.S.
Bird-notes, London,

Ont ere 95

Darter, lowa .....----- 133
Deer, Rocky Mountain

MAILERS Terai e Oet

Yellowtailed .. .. .. 24

Deformation of the
Earth’s crust,
Review of, :. 5. 0) 145
Dendroica aestiva
aestiva .. .. 99, 118
castaneat ee se 4.3 118
Derepodichthys
alepidotus .. :.. 121
Diapensia lapponica .... 128
Diaptomus
Dickcissele falc RAN ees LOZ

THE CANADIAN FIGLD-NATURALIST

Dinosaurs .. 7
Do caddis-fly larve “kill
Tes nN ee See ees Aa oe 39
Dochmoides stenocephala 113
Dolloa cyclolepis .. .. .. 121
Doveleienee a Mien wor euanla
Draba alpine). se tee
PIERO ease OD eRe Oe 129
LGCHCAN INA ee teneuerees 127
MIU ASW ee ei 129
Dryas intergrifolia ....- 127
Duckam Blackie: NOW Z5
Eastern Harlequin .. 4°
Hider asttig ee eee Wie Var
Goldén-eyeX. 255.25: 16
Greater Scaup .. .--. 27
Kemow Eider wai neta te
Lesser Scaup .....-. 27.
ong-tailioy et. toe 110
IMME RG Goch bases om 110
Old-squaw 16, 42, 100, 110
Pinta eee: 27. 42, 110
Ring-necked Yi de aaa. 27
Dupontia Fishert ...... 130
DinsG Astonia ee ciere 93

Dymond, J. R.
White-tailed Jack

IRADDIE Me omen cee 103

Basle Goldenin reese 110
Nosthern™ Baldy an bL0
eh ysis Se eee gL OS
FBel-erass 23): SS et Zo
Eider, American. . ici, 27, 100
King hey tiie tonsa: 42
BPider-dowaeeeereera ae 27
Elton, C., Rabbit enquiry 73
Elymus arenarius.. .. .. 128
Empetrum nigrum ...... 128
Empidonax flaviventris . 99

Entosphenus tridentatus. 47
Epilobium anagallidi-

folitum i See, V27,
latifolium ......>-.- 127
limeare. 8 sate (OF,
Equisetum arvense ..... 127
variegatum ......... 127

Erethizon e. epixanthum 24
Erigeron philadelphicus. 65

unalaschkensis ..... 127
UPATLOVUS eee etektel ete 130
Eriophorum ;
polystachyum 64, 127
Scheuchzert ........ 127
viridicarinatum .. .. 64
Esox lucius .. .. Ba lis
Erucastrum gallicum JeeeneelO

Eupomotis gibbosus .... 133
Eutamias amoenus
af finis
amoenus
luteiventris 23, 24, 40
minimum borealis .. 50
ruficaudus simulans 23, 40

23, 40

Eutrema edwardsti ..... 127
Fairbairn, G. E.
Land Shells in Marl 119

[VoL. XLVIII

Falco islandus ........ -» 110
peregrinus anatum 11, 110
rusticolus .. 110

Fanleyantue se: Ptarmigan 120

Fauna, Fish, of Lake ... 131

Eielas “GONMGOLOTA Meee alee

Festuca ovina .......... 129

Finch Eastern Purple .. 119

Fish, Marine, Facific ... 121

Fish fauna of lake .... 131]

Plicker! sae eee ee 17
Northern sae oe 117

Flora, Hudson Strait ... 126
Quebecs eaes kee ee 138
Stib cancticars ieee 126

Bluike: we CES ae ie eee 112
TM Vieira eee wean ates 114

Flycatcher, Olive-sided . 22
Yellow-bellied ...... - 99

Food of the American
Merganser sae 45

Food of Young Spring
Salmon in Shuswap

Bakes) Bi Count eae ae 142
Fowler, R. L.
Amphibians and
Reptilessaanccc awl
Hox mColounedassseeeee Zi
Riedie. wishin ae 108
Wihiitess ae eet keer 108
Fratercula arctica ..... 17
Brog ppb ulle ie eee eS
Northern Swamp
Tree’... Pe SS)
Northern Wood (a eal 3.9
Western Spotted ... 23
Frog, A Bird-eating ... 55
FRR OR Stine sasuce tera ee ee atemkatamens 146
Fulica americana
americana .. .. 101
Gina ainda eee 101
Enlmary yA tlanticu nee sel
Fulmarus glacialis ..... 16
Fundulus diaphanus
diaphanus .. ... 133
diaphanus menona .. 95
Gadwall 95
Gannete tec ta ack ce eee 16
Galbakvanliieeeeree 69
Galium triflorum.. ..:... 65
Gaspereau .. .. mek es) |
Gasterostcus aculeatns
cataphractus .. .. 47
Gavia adamsi .......... 109

arctica pacipa 2s sa.) O09
IMME) ico tae 16, 109
stellata 09
Gilmore, R. M. and Hall,
Byeualee

New mario teense oe
Giltay, L.
Pycnogonida from
de Cue 49
Glaucionetta clangula ... 16
Glaucomys s. fuliginosus 24
Goat(Motntain stun.) sa eee,
Golden- PEViEW uroriaaee eee ae 16
Goldfinch); seas eeees 15

Balen Get eieead Wyeiers tue 22

Decembe~, 1934]

Goase Bite: sje. Zhe 42
Canada qelGae2o. oll 0
Greater Snow ...... 27
ebmtelnin’s).. Fa) 42 110
Red-breasted .. 103
STOWaliec ent etee 42, 110
White-fronted ..... 110

Gopher, Coeur d’Alene
Rocketi iia) 7 24

Goshawk, Eastern ...... 22

Grasshoppers routed by
(CDT (SR PI 68

Grayling, Back’s-<....... 109

Grebe, Holboel’s .. .. .. 38
Bied-billed. -..4.54.0:5 22

Green, H.U.

Gray Eastern
Chipmunts, 075.4 50

Creenlingy) .o20 yah) e Me 47

Groh H., Erect Bugle.... 102
Erucastrum gallicum 10

Grosbeak) (Pine. (0%... 15

Grouse, Ruffed ......... 78

Grus canadensis ........ 110
MEGUCUNG 55) Sosy. 110

Guillemot, Black ........

Ul) Ris EN ae eae 22
emainllans) / ase acs, 69
Glancous, oe so 79
Great Black-backed 17, 99
Herring .. Halden. 79) 199.
dtmalienign hj.) a 79
Ring-billed ...17, 99, 115
Saimersy i.) adhe oth. bs. 81

Grasshoppers routed

De Gusy ne 68

KEDUL ON AUS CHES pe PP 108

Gyraulus cyclostomus
MOV. SP2 i325. : 37

Gyietaicon, (Gray ....4... 110
WVIterh, secaniy se. as 110

Haliaétus leucocephalus

alascanus 110

Teil

E. R. and Gilmore
R. M., New Marmot 57
Hand Book of Frogs and
Toads, Review of .. 146
Hare, Arctic Ahi sis . 109
Mackenzie Varying . 109
Northern Varying .. 109
Matayane lon eS 24.73
Harkness, A. D., English
Sparrow EK SNS 140
Harper, T. A., Arkansas
Renae ey 53
Pact Joe: Black crappie 103
Rawk Duck. 0.) 0 2. I aU}
Marsh . he AIEN 101, 1i0

Pigeon. PR pepe ceca Oa. 22

_ Western Red-tailed 22

Heltoperca macrochira .. 133

Hemigrapsus oregonensis 47

Heracleum lanatum ... 102
Heron, Black-crowned

INI ONE eee genie ce OG

Great Blue

Witte: P23 BN as!)

Herring, Fresh-water ... 51

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NA1URALIST |

Heterodon contortix.. 39, 55
Hexagramidae ......... 47
Fterochloe alpina.. 129
Hippuris vulgaris. . 127;
Histrionicus histrionicus-
histrionicus .. .. 42
Holbo !ell’s Grebe in
Noval Scotian ce. 38
Honckenya peploides ... 127
Hook worm, Dog.. 113

Hornby, J., Thelon River

Raita tay Waals vee eat 105
Hummingbird, Black-
chinned .. 22
Cathopes Gano weaker 22
Ruby-throated 14
IRUPOUSH.: Ahn hee ate 2?
Hurlburt, W. E.,
Massasanga Sian: 55
Hutchings, C. B., Praying
Mantis heed mae oy SO,
Hydroprogne caspia
imperator ... 99, 177
Hyborhynchus notatus 132
Ichthyological treasures
from the “Albatross”
expeditions in Cana-
dian waters... .. .. 121
Illustrations:
The “Albatross” 121
Long-finned Squid . 5, 6
M. O. Malte, opp. .. 89
Marmot skulls .. 59
Mollusca, Sask.
Pleistocene ..... 35
Red Phalarope’s nest 67
~ Willow ptarmigan .. 43
Interesting bird records
for southern Baffin
Island .. 41, 65, 79
Iridoprocne bicolor ..... 117
Ivor, H. R., Meadow
Jumping Mice ...... 8
Jeger, Long-tailed .. 8]
Parasitic annals 81, 115
Jay, Canada .. pees ie ideal
Johansen, F., :
Hudson Strait plants 126
Johnson, C. E., Barn Owl 82
Johnson, R. A., Winter
birds of Nova Scotia 15
N[bhaXetonne Alene maa ACR, 55
Slate-coloured ...... 82
Junco hyemalis hyemalis 82
Juncus articulatus .. 64, 139
castaneus 127
COMpressus ......... 138
pelocarpus 139
Kelly, H. A.
Hog-nosed snake 39
Kennedy, A. H. and Law
R. G. Anaemia in
Mink .. . , 47
Kingbird. Arkansas Ngo 53
Kingsfisher, Eastern
Beltedipan es. ok

Kittiwake, Atlantic ..17,
Knot, American

L., H. F. Review by ....
Labrador, Birds. of ..98,
Lagopus lagopus albus

149

116
102

70
eS

Meee 39, 43. 101, 110, 120

rupestris rupestris 43, 110
Laing, H. M. Bird notes
Lake, Fish Fauna of ... 131
Lampanyctus nannochir . 121
Lamprey .. 47
PAD WANG Vocus eae eae 101
Wark Arctic blorneds “waa

Hoyt’s Horned 110
LaRocque, A.,

Review! by aki oe 56

Valvata lewist

ontariensis .. 39

HE GrUs Spi) Mae 22

argentatus 17, 80
argentatus

smithsomianus .. °

delawarensis .. 17, 99, 115

kumlcnit ise. eae 97

leucopterus .. 79

marinus . 17, 99

thanery Win 79
Lathyrus maritimus .. .. 63
Lasionycteris mnoctivagans 24
Law, R. — and Kennedy,

AY

Pee in Mink 47
Ledum decumbens .. ... 128
Lemming .. 115

Back’s ems ete 0,218 2)
Lemnus trimucronatus . 109
Lemna minor .. Earp ip ts (6)
Leptocottus armatus .... 47
Lepus americanus .. 73

americanus

macfarlam .. 109

arcticus andersoni .. 109

bairdi bairdi .. van, 24

bairdi1 cascadensis .. 24

townsendit

campanius .. ... 103
Leucichthys artedi .. 51
Leucocytozoon anatis ... 27
Lewis, H. F.

Birds of Labrador 98, 115

Red-eyed Towhee .. 53

Songs of thrushes .. 144

Waterfowl

conservation... 25
Lindsay, R. V.

Duck Hawk . 11
Mis eta eS Se 133
Littorella uniflora ea oh!)
Lloyd, A. C., Starling .. 82
Lloyd, H., Ontario Sand

talline 93
Lobelia Dortmanna . NGAP oi (10)
oligo pede en helen 4
Longspur, Alaskas’. 7.22, 22

Lapland 110, 111
Loon, Common .... 16, 109

Pacihichy eet wey a ona OO

Red-throated 109

Yellow-billed .. .... 109

150
ota macvlosa twa ya chee W135
Loxia leucoptera .. .. .. 119
Lugula confusa .... ... 128
CARS eo 88) Bae08 tod (WAS
POGUV LOL Ren Le,
Lycopodium annotinum . 127
selago appressum ... 127
Lymnaea trasku .. .. .. 70
Lymnezas, Canadian .. .. 69
Lynx.. AO Ma dD A aaah
ESTAS Dt ewe a asta OA,
canadensis 2 b. yoru we
McKay Lake Marl .. .. 119
Magpie, American .. .. 22
MevlkeGl Ga ¢5 dofos eo oe UNO)
Mallotus villosus. . Sateen S
Malte, M. O..
Bibliography Bed tc SPS aTEO()
Noteton Wye 3. Varied alld 5
Obituary .... 89
Mammals, Thelon ‘River. 105
Mantis. Chinese.« cs... 97
INOS. Gols po od loo 1) OY
Miantismmelegvas asec ih) 97
Maps:
Distribution of
MiairamOtsipeer suse ko
Epidemics among
Gabbits) sein 76
Rabbit popula Hon: 74, 75
Mati ce 119
Marmot, Brower’s .. ... 57
Okanagan Eloanmyaeen mee:

Marmots, Distribution of 61
Marmota caligata

browert ...... 57, 61
Marmota caligata
caligata.. Bo aol
caligata cascadensis . 62
caligata nivaria .. 63
caligata okanagana 24, 62
caligata oxytona (6
caligata raceyi 58, 61
monax peirensis.. 23, 62
vancouverensis .. .. 63
Marten, Selkirk .. .. 24
Massasauga in Welland
County, Ontario ... 55
Matricaria inodora .. .. 131
SHORICONGRS 65 55 50 OS
May fly Sen poe TAZ
Mentcade “Iupulina Avaty IOF

Megaceryle alcyon alcyon 117
Melandryum affine .. .. 128

CTOs Se oon ean WA
Melamtta deglandi .. 17, 101
DET SPICHiaua yea ee nol
Melospiza georgiana .. . 22
COE os oo ao a USS
melodia melodia .. . 119
Mephitis hudsonica .. .. 24
Merganser, American ..22, 45
Eiooded’. =. -ssaccu r 22
> Red-breasted .. .. . 109
Merganser, Food of .... 45
Mergus merganser
americanus .. .. 45

SARTO? SS G6 ao yk > MOY)

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

Mertensia maritima ..63,
Mesodon albolabris ..
GOW ss ob Nine
var. dentifera
Micropterus dolomieu
SAUIMOTDES MI) eee
Microtus m.-mordax
p. modestus .. ..
tetramerus
Mink .. NE aes
IPAS 46 45
Mink, Nututionalm
JME) Gal G4 4h Be
Minnow, Blunt-nose .. .
Mud ..
Top ..
Mollusca iss

Ibgnacl “55 Bike aha
Molothrus ater ater ANAM ae.
Moose ..

Moris bassana
Mosquitoes
Mouse, Kootenay
Jhamip 11 oa ee
Kootenay Red-
backed Be a
Meadow Jumping ..
Rocky Mountain
Meadow .. ..-.
Sagebrush White-
footed
Moxostoma aureolum
lesueurt ait TANS
Munro, J. A. and Cle-
mens. W. A., Food
of Merganser.. .. ..
Murre, Atlantic ..

ByrtesmanlovGoe os Ge oe
IMGEGIEOE 56 Sd cs os OZ,
Mitask-rateien eee oS

Rocky Mountain
Mustela c. cicognanit ..
Miussell Sn ayn) for,
Mussels, Fossil .. ;
Mustela c. cicognant....

Vv. energumenos .. ..
Myotis 1. lucifugus ..

y. sociabilis .. :
Myriophyllum sp... .. ..
Mytilus edulis .. ..

Neotoma cinerea
drummondi .

cinerea occidentalis

Nettle ..

New Marmot eeava
northern Alaska ....

Nighthawk .. . :

Note on the age of Land
Shells in the smarl
deposits of McKay
Lake near Ottawa,
Ontario . :

Notes on certain recently
described dinosaurs.

Notes on the Alewife ..

Notes on birds of the La-
brador Peninsula in
1931-2=3 eiteoe:

127
119
119
119
133
23
24
24
21

as)

EOS
102

57
22

7
51

vale)

(Vou. XLVIII

Notes-on the distribution
of the Hoary Mar-
mots. .. haus

Notes on the fish fauna
of an eastern Ontario
shallow water lake..

Notes on the nesting of
the Duck Hawk in
Ontario

Notes on the rearing of
captive young Mea-
dow Jumping Mice

Notemigonus crysoleucas

Notropis cornutus
heterodon
heterolepis ..

Nova Scotia gets Willow
Ptarmigan s
Nuthatch, Red- breasted..

Slender-billed

Nutritional anemia in
Mink ..

Nyctea nyctea

Nymphon grossipes

mixtum ..

Nymphozanthus

variegatus

Obituary M. O. Malte ..
Oceanodroma castro
Ochotona princeps ..
Octocoris alpestris hoyti
Odocoileus hemionus .
TLOGKOUS eee
virginianus
ochrourus .
Oenanthe oenanthe
leucorhoa .... .
Oilenia americana ...
Old-squaw .. 16, 42, 100,
Oligocottus maculosus a
On the behaviour of the
Long-finned Squid
(Loltgo peallt)
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

tschawytscha.. ;
Oncorhynchus, Fry of
Ondatra 2. osoyoosensis
Onoclea sensibilis ..
Ontario Sand-fall
Oreamnos americanus ..
Oriole, Bullock’s
Ornithomimus

edmontonicus

elegans
Osprey .
Ottawa Rielde Naturalist’s s

Club:

Council Report .. ..

Excursions

List of Wienivens

Publication Fund .

Reserve fund

Statement of finance
©uselsaWWateraense eee
Ovalipes ocellatus.. .. ..
Ovibos moschatus ..

61

131

December, 1934]

yy lt, UB eh eget Se ace
Richardson’s .. .. ..
Rocky Mountain
Pygmy Fa
Sawewitet. . 3.5: sites
Short-eared ..
Snowy a
Oxycoccus palustris...
Oxyria digyna :
Oxytropis Maydelliana
tevrae-novade .. .. .«.
Oxyuris vermicularis .. .

P..C.L. Review by
Pacific Coast, Fish
Papaver radicatum .. ..
Parasites, Animal .. .. .
Paratenodera sinensis ...
Parnassia caroliniana. .
Kotzebuei .. ..
arnelien ta WV Parasites
Parsnip, Cowie Ni
Passer domesticus ..
Passerculus sand-
wichensis alaudinus.
Passerella tliaca

fuliginosa
Passerherbulus adenine
Patula alternata .. ..
Pedicularis hirsuta ..
LOW. oe Se
lapponica ..

Peewee, Wood .. ..
Pelitna alpina sakhalina
Penthestes atricapillus
hudsonicus
Perca flavescens .. ....
Benrehmene satan °A7 >
Og IAN GR: Erato:
Percina caprodes oe
Perisoreus canadensis
Peromyscus sp
m. artemisiac
Petrel, Madeira ..
Phalacrocorax sp.
auritus auritus ..

carbo carbo .. .. “41,

Phalarope, Red ..
- Phalaropus fulicarius
Philohela minor ..
Phoebe, Say’s
Phoxichilidium
femoratum ..
Picoides tridactylus
fasciatus...
HR Meemen re, i! WA Se
Pike, Common .. .. 53,
eke-pereh 3 6 i ees vse
antag ODE OTA AZ.
Pipilo erythrophthalmus.
Pipit, American ..
Plantago Rugeli y
Plants, Hudson Strait ..
Plectrophenax rivalis
Pleistocene and _ Post-
Pleistocene Mollus-
can Faunas of South-
ern Saskatchewan ..

82
117

22
17
22
110
04
127
130
127
112

146
121
129
111

97

63
129
U0)
102
140

INDI

138

34

\

Plover, Piping

Ringed
Poa alpigena ..

alpina .. .

CUNU GB ey Je is Oe

Lo 1 A ee

TUGIEHUSII A
Poecilithys exilis
Polygala paucifolia ..

viridescens :
Polygonum viviparum
Polygyra albolabris .. ..

monodon 12

sayana
Pomolobus

pseudoharengus .. .
Pomoxis sparoides ..103,
Porcupine, Yellow-haired
Potamogeton ° crispus
Potentilla alpestris ..

palustris

Prenanthes altissima
Pritchard, A. L.

Caddis fly larvae ..

Muskrat .. .. oF

Water Ousel .

Pseudacris nigrita

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

septentrionalis 139,146

Riarmigcanw Rockman es. 110
Willow - 39, 43, 101,
110, 120
Ptychocheilus
oregonensis .. 23, 142
Puccinellia retroflexa 128
NORONG si bo 68 et 130
Puffin, Atlantic .. ps 17
Pycnogonida from the
coast of British
Coliunibiay-) Paleety ene 540
Pycnogonum stearnsi 50
Pyrola grandiflora .. 127
Quebec, Flora 138
Rabbit, Rocky Mountain
Silo wshOem evar nw ee
Rabbit, Snowshoe .. 73, 114
White-tailed jack 103
Rabbits Fluctuation of. 73
Racey, K. Muicrotus
tetramerus.. A
Raja abyssicola .. 121
Rana cantabrigensis .. 139
pretiosa pretiosa 23
Rangifer arcticus .. 105
montanus .. 2. .. 24
Ranunculus affinis Ae 128
eradicatus .. 127
hyperboreus .. l27,
lapponicus .. .. 128
WIVOUS 2. Barn he BMA
MVOMUAIS Bie oe bo GO
reptans . 64
Sabinet 129
Rat, Wood .. 25
Raven, Northern 17, oD 111
Raymond, M.
Flora of Quebec.. .. 138

151
Recent developments in
water fowl conserva-
tion in eastern Cana-
Gane Sis WO
Reclassification, ‘6k the
fossil Unionide
(Fresh-water Mus-
sels) of | western :
Canadawee 1
Redpoll . Bee ee ll
Redstart, American je AS
Reptiles, Alberta 139
Reviews:
Biological Ethics 70
Birds and Mammals
from the Kootenay
valley, B.C. A
Conservation Ethic. 70)
Deformation of the
Harthis crust aan 4 145
Hand Book of Frogs
aud whoadseyey wee 146 ©
ie CaeNee 56
Rhododendron
lapponicum 129
Rhus Toxicodendron .. . 65
Rissa tridactyla
iridactyla '.. 17, 116
Robin, American 111
Rubus chamaemorus 64, 129
Russell, L. S
Molluscan Faunas .. 34
Reclassification of
Unionidae. 4) 23 i
Sagittaria latifolia 65
Salamander .. 139
Salix arctica .. 127
herbacea .. 128
reticulata .. .. 128
Speciosa 27
WUG-UYSI .. .. . 127
SOO She Co) ee eee 47
SALMO SPD. AL nae tea SLOG,
Salmons eink 2 ee SOS
Salmon. Spring, Food of 142
Salmon Eggs .. ; 47
Salvelinus fontinalis .. . 132
Sand-fall in Ontario.. .. 93
Sandpiper, Pectoral .. 22, 95
Red-backed .. 66
Solitary .. - 37
Silt. / 96
Western Solitary 22
Saxifraga aizoides .. 127
COUMUG IOS PNAS Oe Sele
foliolosa .. 127
groenlandica . 127
hirculus .. . 129
oppositifolia . 127
rivularis .. 130
tricuspidata .. 128
Scaup, Greater 95
Scirpus lacustris .. .. .. 64
Torreyi . 138
validus .. .. 64
Sciurus h. richardsoni Pape!
Scoter .. So tae G 17
Nimericanipeee a asi ames Ol
Sidirai sige we Be ens (A
White- winged » «9542 10)

152

Seulpiny ss) s-

Scutellaria galericulata. .

SEMEWORI boo) do 65 bo

Sedum roseum

Senecio aureus
Pseudo-arnica

Setophaga ruticwla .. ..
Shells, Land, in Marl
Shiner, Blacknose
Common ..
Golden
Shovellers .. .... Z
Shrew, Cinereous Tlone
tailed
Dusky .. .
Mountain Wandering
Shrimp :
Sand

Sialia sialis Sallie
Silenenacauliss =) ke ayes
Simulium larve ..
Simulium sp. ae
Sistrurus pate nands He
Sitta canadensis .. .
Skunk, Northern Striped
Smart, B. Letter from ..
Smiley, D.
Bird-eating
Snake, Garter ..

Frog

Miassasaugaleeeh eae
Natl epee sas td bates
Plains Garter
Prairie Rattle
Snowflake .. .. pL Ae
Solidago flexicaulis eee
Somateria mollissima
mollissima @dresseri .
Some additions to the
vascular flora of An-
ticosti Island

Some amphibians and
reptiles of the district
around High River
Alberta

Some notes on ‘hens
Praying Mantis .. ..

Some notes on the winter
birds of Yarmouth
and the Tusket Is-
lands of Nova Scotia

Soper jie/D:

Baffin Island Birds

2 e465)

Sora
Sorex c. cinereus .. .. .

0. navigator .. ..

o. obscurus ..

v. monticola .. ..
Sparganium androcladum
Spanmiow, Baindss 4.

Clay-coloured

Eastern Song

English .. ..

Gambel’s White-

crowned . ae ce

Grasshopper .. .. ..

Henslow’s ie

IWecontes sie wae

Hog-nosed .... me 39, :

139

Lincoln’s ..

Nelson’s ..

Sooty Fox

Swamp.

Aree rg yet yc sreys

Western Savannah ;

Western Vesper..
Sparrows, Trapping beat
Spiranthes

Romanzoffiana ..
Spirontocaris sitchensis.
Spiga antericana ..

Squawish =. ee 23,
Squid, Long-finned ae
Squires, S. K.

Birds and a bath ..
Squirrel, Columbian
Ground ..
Dusky Flying
Groundaie.
Northern Mantled~
Ground
Richardson Red
Stagnicola johnsoni
yukonensis. . Some
Stagomantis carolina ...
Starling ..
Starling, Northern
Record for ..
Statice armeria :.
Stellaria humifusa
longipes ..
Stenonychosaurus
mequalis .. .. ..
Sterna dougalli ..
Stercorarius parasiticus.
Sternberg, C. M.
Dinosatinsne eee
Stevenson, J. A.
Long-finned Squid ..
Stevenson, J. A. and
dione (Gane
FS ligerainiaeees
Stickleback fais
Stisostedion glaucum ...
vitreum
Stone-fly .. Re Av sine
Struthiomimus currelllit.
Sturnus vulgaris .. ..82,
Sucker sCommion! - see) oy
Grayaeer
Northern eet
Rie chime gga ae ner we
Sun fish, Common .. ..
Swallow. Rough-winged
AGEL ye age meee
Swallows .. bs eee
Swan, Whistling Ogle ADS

T., P. A. White Herons.
Tamias striatus griseus.
ADEyDENHOGM SS 66 co ao oe
Biroade yy Atiaeeotanes:
Taraxacum croceum
russeolum..
Taverner, P.A.
Madeira Petrel .. ..
Red-breasted Goose .
Taxidea t. neglecta ..

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

54
115

(Vou. Xo VU

Teal, Green-winged... 22,

Templeman, W.
Ovalipes ocellatus ..
Tern Black .. es uae
Caspian oS:
Roseate BSE Brass
Thamnophis radix .....
Thelon River Fauna .. .
Thlaspi arvense ;
Thomomys f. saturatus.
Thompson, S. L.
Hog-nosed Snake
Tree ‘Spartowl rae
Thrush, Gray-cheeked ..
Hemant ip
Olive- backed .
Thymallus signifer ee
Toad, Canadian ..
Crested
Northwestern
dhoadsieeees
Tofieldia palustris Saris
Toner, G. C. Alewife ..
Toner, G. C. and Steven-
SOnae APG
Fish fauna ..
Towhee, Red-eyed
Townsend, C. W.
Roseate Tern
Trichina ae
Tringa s. cinnamomea ..
Trisetum spicatum ..
sirouitme Peto Crp (I
Brooks +5 ae saa
ANaNS, IRS Who.
Holboell’s Grebe :
Willow Ptarmigan ..
Abuliiheewemee wee Bi 48
Turdus migratorius ee
Turnstone, Ruddy ..
aintlemeea teen UNG
Tusket Istondst NES Sunes
Two new Canadian
Wyimncease-eeen meee
TEWO. CDG 5 an ae
Uncinaria stenocephala. :
Umbra limit .. ;
Winvonicdee eens
Upogebia pugetensis. 3
Uria aalge aalge .. .. .-
VOIPRO ys 38 ws 66 08
Ursus sp.
richardsom
Uritica viridis 3) 35°. ee
Utricularia cornuta .. ..
purpurea ..
resupinata.. ..

Vaccinium spp. Print ae
uliginosum .. .. 99,
Vitis-idaea

Valvata lewisi ontariensis

Vancouver Island bird
NOLES en:

Vanellus aeons: iv

Vascular plants collected
during the Canadian
Hudson Strait ex-
pedition in 1927 .. .

126

December, 1934]

Veery Bs zt,
V ermivora ruficapilla
ruficapilla .

Veronica alpina ..

Vireo, Red-eyed .. .

Vole, Mountain long-
tailed ..

Vulpes sp.

LUO SE
Vulture, Turkey — Re is
Warbler, Bay-breasted

Walaweras, i... ST

Eastern Yellow .. 99,

Hooded ..
Kentucky .. ..
Macgillivray’s aa
Northern Pileated ..
Prairie . ‘

Was the intr oduction a
the Muskrat to Gra-
ham Island, ee
unwise? .. ..

103

Waterfowl conservation
Water-bug . :
Water- shrew, Mountain. :
Water- strider a)
Water-thrush, Northern
Waxwing, Cedar
Weasel, Bonaparte ..
Wheatear, Greenland
White Herons in South-

ern Ontario .. :
Whitefish ..
Wilby, G. V.

Pacific Coast fish ..
Wild Life in the Thelon

River area, North-
west Territories, Ca-
Talay Made. ts Ne:
AWWiolit' sae, t.e/8-1 106:

Wolverine :

W oodchuck, eect
Columbia Dye MHA Ce

Woodcock, American.. .

THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST

25

Woodpecker, Alaska

pee hireestoed: seeZ2,
Arctic Three- toed ae
iRileatedaneaiee

Would a Muskrat atieele
a Pike?

Wren, Carolina ..

Xema sabini ..

Waomomia, IN S. 55 co. 2.
Yellow-legs, Greater ....

Zapus hudsonius

hudsonius ....
princeps ..

Zisania aquatica .. ..

Zonotrichia leucophrys
gambeh .

Zostera marina ..

Zygadenus chloranthus ..

37
22
14

53
96

ed

af _ NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF
sae MANITOBA
oe | 1929-30

PR ae

y . -
¥. JACKSON | M.Sc., A. M. DAVIDSON, M.D.,.-R. A.
fit RDLB, M.Sc.; Vice-Presidents: MRs. bei: SrMeson,
a 1Gy! L. Brotpy, W. H. Ranp, Dr. R. S. Kirk, B. W.:
- CARTWRIGHT, A. BURTON GRESHAM, Treasurer: A. G.

LAWRENCE: Auditor: R. M. THOMAS;

Mrs. A. J. SBARLE; General Secretary: Norman Lowe,
317 Simcoe St., Winnipeg: Executive Secretary: J. HADDow.
Section Chairman Secretary
Orntthological L. T. S. Norris-ELyb, B.A. A. H. SHORTT
Entomological A. v. MITCHENER, M.Sc. Miss M.F. PRATT
Botanical Mis. I. M. PRIESTLY Mrs. H. T. Ross

_ Geological Miss C. J. EGAN, -P. H. Strokes
_ Ichihyological Ferris NEAVE, M.Sc. ~— G. D. RUSSELL
- Mammalogical V. W. JACKSON, M.Sc: J. P. KENNEDY

Microscopy j
Zoology §§ R.A. WARDLB, M.Sc.
Boiany C. W. Lowe, M.Sc. H.CHAS. PEARCE

Meetings are held each Monday evening, except on holiday -
from Octoker to April, in the physies theatre of the University
Winnipeg. Field excursions are held each Saturday after-
noon during May, June and September, and on public holidays
during uly and August. \v

THE HAMILTON BIRD oe
SOCIETY —

Incorporate d)

veotdent: W. E. SAUNDERS, London, Ont.; President:

j Kingston, Ont.; First Vice-President: Dr. H. G.
RN "tT; Second Vice-President: Mrs. F. E. MAcLoGHLIN;
ording Secretary: J. ROLAND BRowN; Secretary-Treaaurer:
Misa aed DUNCAN; Agsisiant Serretary-Treasurer: Miss EB.

me “McEwIN: Junior Committee: Miss M. E. GRanaM: Pro-—
—WCTN Committee: Rav. C. A. HEAVEN; Extension Commitiee:

Cc. Nunn. ; x

‘McILWRAITH ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB,

: LONDON, ONT.

pease: Mr. EDISON MATTHEWS, 554 Central Ave., London

QOnt.; Vice-President: MR. E. D. BRAND, 148 William Street, -

London, Ont.; Recording Secretary: MR. VERNON FRANKS, 195
Duchess Av:.,
_ Treasurer: Mr. W. G. GIRLING, 530 English St., London,
Ont. Migration Secretary: Mr. E. M. S. DALE. 297 Hyman
‘Street, London, Ont.; Members qualified to answer questions:
Ww. BE. SAUNDERS, 240 Central Avenue, London, Ont.;
a WATSON, 201 Ridout Street South, London, Ont.:
CALVERT, 461 Tecumseh Avenue, London, Ont.; E. M.S.
297 Hyman Street, London, Ont. S

etings held the second Monday of the month, excep
ing the Bummer.

ANCOUVER NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

aes President. U.S. Kuink, (D.Sc.), President. Univer-

t B.C: President: JOHN DAVIDSON, F.L.S., F.B.S.E.,
sity of B.C.; Vice-President: Dr. M. Y. WILLIAMS,
‘ eer Dept., Doarreety of B.C.; Honorary Secretary: Mrs.

ecretary: MRS. LAURA ANDERSON, 27nd Assistant
_ Miss Nora Swirt, Honorary Treasurer: A. H.
Collingwood Street, Vancouver, B.C.; Librarian:
GinN. Members of Executice: C.F. CONNor, M. A.
- CumMMING; Mr. J. D. TURNBULL, Mr. CuRTIS JOHNS,
TION: Audifora: HG: SeLWwoop, W. B. Woops.
‘ Sections: Botany: PRoF. JOHN DAVIDSON, Geology:
LOMMER, Photography: Mr. PHivip Timms, Entym-
MR Woorron, Microscopy: Mr. J.A. JOHNSTON, Ornith-
R. J. D. TURNBULL.

and ( ambie Street unless otherwise announced.

ces

SOCIETY

Dr.
Laine: 3 Second Vice-President: Dr.C. J. Bastin::
etic eas Wiest 1st ANG:

Affiliated Societies
Bastin; President: G. SHIRLEY -

Social Convenor: -

CALVIN McQugsTON; Vice-President: R. OWEN MERRI- |

London, Ont.; Corresponding Secretary and .

Dymonp, Pror. W J. K

_ Fartey; 6507 Laburnum St., Vancouver, B.C. First

ee = at 8 p.m., Auditorium, Normal School, 10th

B TISH COLUMBIA BIRD AND MAMMAL el

OMe Y. Wiuiams; First” Vice-President; He

PROVINCE OF QUEBEC SOCIETY FOR THE
PROTECTION OF BIRDS INC.

OFFICERS & COMMITTEE:

Past Presidents: Mr. L. Mcl. paar Mr. Naripr Smita,
Mr. W. S. Hart; President: Mrs. Cans HENDERSON, 1536
St. Matthew St., Montreal; Vice- Presidents: MR. HY OA. Cs
JACKSON, MR Ae C WYNNE-EDWARDS, Vice-President and
Treasurer: Mr. HENRY MOUSLEY; Secretary: Miss M. SHEATH;

ge a Mrs. C. F. DALE, Mr. J. A. DecarRin, MR. W.

. Hart, Mrs. H. Hrppert, Dr. A. N. JENKs, Mr. EB. L.
ae Mr. FRASER KuitH,- Miss P. B. MATTINSON, MIss
L. MurpHYy, Miss M. S. NicoLson, Mr. C. Sart, Mr. L.
McI.SPACKMAN, Mr. L. MclI. TERRILL.

Meetings held the second Monday of the month except dur-
ing summer. :

SOCIETE PROVANCHER D’HISTOIRE >
- NATURELLE DU CANADA

Pairon Honoraire: Son Excellence, t& TRES HONORABLE
COMTE DE BesssorouGcH, P.C., G.C.M.G., Gouverneur-
Coa du- Canada; Vice-Patron Honoraire: HONORABLE

G. H. Carrouu, Lieutenant-Gouverneur de la Provines
ae Québec; Bureau de Direction pour 1934: Président: EDGAR
ROcHETTE, C.R., M.P.P.; ler vice-président: G. STUART
AHERN; 2iéme vice-président: Dr. J.-E. BERNIER; Secrétaire-
irésorier: Louis-B. Lavoin; Chef de la section ‘acientifique:
Dr. D.-A.DERY; Chef de la section de Poa éducation-
nelle: ALPHONSE DESILETS, B.S.A.; Chef de section de
protection: ADRIEN ene ey C.R.; Chef a la _ section
dinformation acientifique pratique: JAMES F. Ross:
Directeurs: A. W. men R. MEREDITH, N.P., U. G.
TESSIER.

Seerétaire-trésorier: Louis-B. LAVoIn
38, rue Sherbrooke, Québec.

THE TORONTO. F IELD-NATURALISTS?
CLUB

_ OFFICERS FOR 1934-35.

Honorary President: Dr. A. P. COLEMAN; President: ARNOTT
M.PatTTERSON: Hon. Vire-Preeidents: Hon. G. H. CHALLIES,

Mr. J. H FLEMING, Dr. N. A. POWELL; Vice-President: Mr.

F. P. Ipe, Secretary-Treasurer: H. M. HALLIDAY; ( ouncitl—
DR. E.M. WALKER, S. L. THOMPSON, PRoF. J. R. DyMonp,
C. S. Farmer, Pror. T. F. MCiLwralrtH. Dr. Norma
ForRD, * MAGISTRATE J. E. oes L. T. OWENs, RUPERT
DAVIDs, F. C. Hurst. Dr. T. M. C. TayLor, C. G. BRENNAND,
R. M. SaunpDErRS; Chairman of Consernn Committee: Mrs.

thie os THOMPSON: President of Junior Club: MURRAY SPEIRS; —

Vice-President of Junior Club: HUBERT RICHARDSON. Leadera:

_ Birds—Messrs. S. L. THompson. L. L. Snyper, J. L.

BAILUIE, JR., PRor. T. F. MCILwRAITH, R. M. SPEIRs,

_ FP. H. Emery. Mammals—Pror. A. F. Coventry, MEssrs. E.

C. Cross, D. A. McLutic#. Reptiles and Amphibianse—
Messrs. E. B.S. Logier, WM LERAy. Fish— Pror. J. R.
HARKNESS. Insects— Dr. E.
M. WALEER. Dr. N. Forpb, MR. F. P: IDE. Botany—PRror.
R. B. THomson, Dr. H. B. Sirton, Dr. T.M.C. Tayior:

Mr. W. R. Watson. Mr.L. T. OWENS. Geology—Dnr. A. P.

COLEMAN: Pror. A. MCLEAN.

We would ask the Officers, and more
particularly the Secretaries, of all the
Affiliated Societies to assist us in our
task of building up the circulation of
this magazine. By securing every

member as a subscriber we can truly
_-make this magazine into one of the

leading Natural History publications

of America.

Ie

AUTOBIOGRAPHY of JOHN MACOUN, M.A. CANADA NORTH OF FIFTY ae

: F By E. M. KINDLE
Bids pal ce metres Cpe y papeitcelait praia oie es Special profusely illustrated number of The

Natural History and Exploration. The author “‘Naturalist’’, 86 pages, 31 illustrations. Every |
was a former President of the Club and this is a Canadian should know this prize essay. =

Memorial Volume PRICE FIFTY CENTS

PRICE $3.00. = 305 PP- : WILMOT LLOYD
WILMOT LLOYD \ 582 Mariposa Avenue Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa

582 Mariposa Avenue - ..Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa

WILMOT LLOYD,
Treasurer, Ottawa’ Field-Naturalists’ Club,

FOR SALE:— | : 582 Mariposa Avenue,

: Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa.
COMPLETE SET OF THE CLUB S Enclosed please find $2.00 as Hendbershins in

PUBLICATIONS The O.F.-N.C. and Subscription to the Canadian
1879-1932 Field-Naturalist for the year 1933.

aes is a rare opportunity. For particulars
address the Treasurer—

WILMOT LLOYD !
582 Mariposa Avenue Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa City, Prov. or State nee SES i

Name AS OAT acne eS ae ey ae as Bite |

Addreee) oi ee eT ae eas Sa

“

I do hereby give and bequeath to The Ottawa Field- | . i
Naturalists’ Club of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada the sum :

FORM

OF Reed fiat. |
—j00 Dollars || |

BEQUEST | : 2 ee

x

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