The birds of Canada : with descriptions of their habits, food, nests, eggs, times of arrival and departure

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THE

BIRDS OF CANADA:

WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR

PLUMAGE, HABITS, FOOD, SONG, NESTS, EGGS,
TIMES OF ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE.

BY

ALEXANDER MILTON ROSS,

M.D., M.A., F.R.S.L., F.Z.S.

Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature of England ; Fellow of the
Zoological Society of England ; Member of the Imperial Society of
Naturalists of Moscow. Russia ; Member of the Natural History
Society of the University of St. Petersburgh, Russia ; Member of the
Paleontological and Archaeological Society of Charleroi. Belgium ;
Member of the Maloecological Society of Belgium : Member of the
Royal Linnaen Society of Belgium ; Member of the Entomological
Societies of Russia, England, France, Italy. Switzerland, Germany
and Belgium ; Member of the Royal Botanical Society of Belgium ;
Member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science ;
Corresponding Member of the American Entomological Society;
Correspondent of the Royal Museum of Natural History of Belgium ;
Member of the Entomological Society of Canada ; Author of the
“ Birds of Canada,” the “ Butterflies and Moths of Canada,” the
“Flora of Canada.” Monograph on the “Fossils of The Elephas
Americanis found in Canada,” “Canadian Ferns and Wild Flowers” ;
Editor of the ‘ Canadian Ornithologist.” Consul of His Majesty
Leopold II. King of the Belgians, and Vice-Consul of His Majesty
Christian IX King of Denmark, at Toronto.

TORONTO :

Rowsell and Hutchison,

1873.

Entered according- to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one
thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, by Alexander Milton Hoss,
M.l)., M.A., in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture.

TORONTO :

PRINTED BY ROWSELL & HUTCHISON
KINO STREET.

PREFACE

TO THE FIRST EDITION.

My object in presenting this volume to the
public is in some measure to supply a want long
felt by those interested in the study of Canadian
Ornithology.

This work is simply, as the title page states,
a description of the plumage, habits, food, song,
nests, eggs, times of arrival and departure of the
birds of Canada.

The birds described consist of the permanent
and summer residents, and also such birds as
regularly or accidentally stop in Canada during
the spring and autumn migrations.

I have in my collection a specimen of each
bird described, except a few of the sea birds
that frequent the coasts of New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia.

IV

Pi'eface.

The information given as to the food and
habits of our birds may probably interest and
benefit the agriculturist. The great majority of
our feathered visitors are insectivorous, and con-
sequently good friends of the farmer, who should
extend his protecting care to these little insect-
destroyers.

Many of our Canadian birds are extremely
interesting ; and, in beauty of plumage and
sweetness and variety of song, equal, if they
do not surpass, the birds of any other country.

The arrangement and classification, and the
names that are given in this work, are those
which have been sanctioned by modern orni-
thologists.

Toronto, December , 1871.

PREFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

TlIE First Edition of this work having been
exhausted within a few weeks of its appearance,
I have carefully revised this — the second.

Appended is a Classified Catalogue of the
Birds of Manitoba and British Columbia, Pro-
vinces which now form a portion of the Dominion
of Canada.

A Synopsis of the Birds of Canada, with
Common and Technical Names, will be found
at the end of the work.

I am much indebted to those of my scientific
and literary friends who have reviewed this work
favorably or otherwise, especially to the latter,
for many valuable suggestions.

With the hope that this edition will meet with
the same generous approval and patronage as
the first, I place it in the hands of my Publishers.

Evergreen Urove,
Toronto, July, 1872,

A. M. R.

CONTENTS.

Introduction xi

BIRDS OF CANADA.

Order I. — Rctptores (Birds of Prey) . i

Order II. — Scctnsores (Climbers) . . 14

Order III. — Insessores (Perchers) . . 20

Order IV.- — Rasores (Scratchers) . .7 3

Order V. — Grallcitores (Waders) . . 77

Order VI. — Natatores (Swimmers) . . 96 /

Birds of British Columbia and Mani-
toba 127

Synopsis of tpie Birds of Canada —
Scientific Names . . . .131

Synopsis of the Birds of Canada —
Common Names . . . .137

INTRODUCTION.

The Birds of Canada may be divided into two
classes — Granivorous and Carnivorous. Some
of our birds, however, hold a middle nature, and
partake of both. They may also be divided
into six Orders — The Order of Raptores , or Birds
of Prey ; the Order of Scansoresy or Climbers ;
the Order of Insessoresy or Perchers ; the Order
of Rasores, or Scratchers ; the Order of Gralla-
tores, or Waders ; the Order of Natatoresy or
Swimmers ; and again subdivided into Sub-
Orders, Families, and Sub-Families.

Order I. — Raptores or Birds of Prey.

Are mostly birds of large size, having strong
hooked bills, sharp claws, great extent of wing,
and powerful muscles ; the females are generally
larger than the males. Birds of this Order live
in pairs, such as Eagles, Hawks, Buzzards, and
Owls.

X Introduction.

Family FALCONIDAL — The Falcons. — The
birds of this Family are characterized by a robust
and strong form ; short bill, curved downward ;
round nostrils ; wings long, pointed, adapted for
rapid flight. The claws are strong, large, and
very sharp. Plumage, generally mottled-grey,
black, brown, and white.

Family Strigid/E.— The Owls. — The Owls
have a large head, short and heavy form, and
some have tufts of feathers that somewhat resem-
bles the ears of quadrupeds. Their flight is slow,
but strong, and without noise ; their eyes very
large ; bill, powerful and curved ; legs, feathered
to the toes. Plumage, soft and mottled.

Order II. — Scansores or Climbers.

Birds of this Order have their toes in pairs —
two in front and two behind — which especially
facilitate climbing. The Cuculidce, or Cuckoo
Family, and the Picidce , or Woodpecker Family,
belong to this Order.

Family Cuculidal — The Cuckoos. — The
Cuckoos are characterized by a long clinical and
slender bill ; tail, has ten feathers of graduated

Introduction.

xi

length ; wings, long ; plumage, olive-green above,
white beneath ; toes, two in front, and two
behind.

Family Picid^E. — The Woodpeckers. — The
Woodpeckers have a strong, straight bill; tongue,
long ; tail feathers, pointed and shafted ; toes,
two in front, and two behind ; wings, short and
rounded.

Order III. — Insessores or Perchers.

This Order embraces a greater number of
species than any other, and comprehends all
those birds which live habitually among trees,
with the exception of birds of prey and climbing
birds. All true perching birds have three toes
before, and one behind.

Family Hirundinid^e. — The Swallows. —
The Swallows have a short, triangular bill ; large
mouth ; wings, long ; tail, more or less forked ;
legs, short and delicate ; toes, three in front, and
.one behind ; plumage, bright metallic blue above,
white or reddish beneath.

Family Caprimulgid^e'.— The Goatsuckers. —
The three .members of this Family that visit

xii Introduction.

Canada, are characterized by a Very short tri-
angular bill ; gape, large ; the inner toe with
three joints, the others with four; plumage, soft,
lax, and mottled like the Owls.

Family Colopteridae. — The Flycatchers. —
The birds of this Family are noted for their
activity and courage. The bill is sharp, strong,
broad, and slightly bent down and notched.
Wings and tail, about the same length. Three
toes in front, and one behind. Plumage, shaded
black and gray.

Family Turdidae. — The Thrushes. — The
Thrushes have the wings and tail rounded, and
rather short, with one exception, that of the
Brown Thrush, which has a very long tail. The
plumage is brown above, and white-spotted with
black and brown' beneath.

Family Sylvicolid^e. — The Warblers. — The
birds of this Family are quite numerous, small
in size, with sharp and short bills ; plumage,
variable ; legs, long and slender, hind toe shorter
than the middle one ; claws, curved and sharp.

Family Fringillidae. — The Finches. — All
the birds of this Family are characterized by

Introduction .

xm

short and stout bills ; wings, long and pointed ;
legs, black and slender; toes, three before and
one behind ; plumage, very variable.

Order IV. — Rasores or Scratchers.

Comprises birds which live mainly upon the
ground, and feed principally upon berries, buds,
tender leaves, and grain ; such as Doves, Grouse,
Partridges, and Turkeys.

Family Tetraonid^e.— The Grouse. — The
legs are densely feathered ; toes, naked ; tail, has
sixteen feathers, sometimes eighteen ; plumage,
black, brown, and mottled.

Order V. — Grallatores or Waders.

Birds of this Order live near the water, and
comprise the Herons, Cranes, Bitterns, Plovers,
Snipes, Phalaropes, Sandpipers, and Rails.

Family Ardeid^e. — The Herons.— The birds
of this Family have very long and strong bills ;
legs, very long and slender, middle toe con-
nected with the outer by a basal web ; head,
crested ; throat, tufted with long feathers.

XIV

Introduction.

Family Charadrida*. — The Plovers. — The
Plovers live on the shore ; bodies, round ; bills,
slender, of variable length ; feathers, compact ;
wings, long and sharp ; tail, stiff, short, and
broad ; legs, slender and delicate, and corres-
pond with the bill and proportions ; plumage,
brownish-black, with circular spots.

Family Scolopacidye. — The Snipes. — The
Snipes . have* full and round bodies, large head
and eyes, short and rounded wings, and short
legs. The tail has twelve feathers.

The Sub-Family Tringmce , embraces the
Sandpipers, who have rather long bills. The
wings are long and pointed.

The Sub-Family Totanince , have the bill as
long as the head, or longer ; the toes are gene-
rally connected by a basal membrane ; wings,
long ; legs, long and strong ; tail, slightly
rounded.

Order VI. — Natatores or Swimmers.

Birds of this Order are especially fitted for
aquati# life, and comprise the Ducks, Geese,
Swans, Cormorants, Gulls, Grebes, Loons, and
Terns ; Petrels, Auks, Sheldrakes, Gannets,
Guillemots, and Puffins.

Introduction.

xv

Family Anatidjs. — The -Swimmers. — Web-
footed Birds. — The Sub-Family Cygnince , the
Swans, have a very long neck and bill ; the
nostrils are situated in the middle of the bill ;
plumage, white ; bill and legs, black ; feet,
webbed.

The Sub-Family Anserine?, the Geese, have a
large red or orange-colored bill ; feet webbed.

The Sub-Family Anatince , the River Ducks,
are characterized by a long and broad bill, and
somewhat pointed tail.

The Sub-Family Fuligulince , differ from the
preceding in having much larger feet, and a
membranous plate attached to the hind toe ; the'
legs also, are set further back.

The Sub-Family Mergince , have a very slender
and narrow bill, terminated by a curved nail ;
edges, serrated ; tail has eighteen feathers ;
head, crested.

Family Laridal — The Gulls. — Bill, short and
straight ; body, full ; wings, long ; neck, short ;
feet, webbed ; tail, generally even ; hind toes,
small and elevated.

XVI

Introduction.

Family SteriNjE. — The Terns. — Tho Terns
have slender, straight, and long bills, curved and
pointed ; tail, forked ; feet, webbed ; wings, very
long and pointed.

Family Colymbim:. — The Divers. — Have
long, pointed, and compressed bills ; toes, long
and webbed ; legs, situated far behind ; tail,
short; wings, short.

The Sub-Family Podicipince , the Grebes, have
short wings ; sides of the head, tufted ; plumage,
soft ; bill, long and compressed ; tail, a mere
tuft of soft feathers.

Family Alcid^e. — Sub-Family Alcince. — The
A2iks. — The Auks are characterized by a short,
broad, and strong body ; wings, short ; tail,
short ; bill, about as long as the head, and
hooked at the base ; legs and feet, stout and
strong ; toes, webbed.

Many species of birds that were quite common
in Canada at the beginning of this century, are
now rarely seen, and several have become extinct
in comparatively recent times.

BIRDS OF CANADA.

Order I. — (§M$ Of §5«JJ.)

Family FALCONIDJE.
Sub-Family FALCONING. — The Falcons.

'PEREGRINE FALCON, oe DUCK HAWK.

Falco anatum. — The Peregrine Falcon.

This bold and spirited falcon arrives in Canada
about the last of March, and remains until late
in the fall. Color, above, bluish cinereous, with
transverse bands of brownish-black ; underneath,
yellowish-white, with spots of black on the breast
and abdomen ; bill, light blue ; legs and toes,
yellow. Length, twenty inches. Its food con-

2

Birds cf Canada.

sists principally of ducks and other water-fowl.
Nests, on a high rocky cliff; eggs, four, of a
reddish-brown color, covered with dark blotches.

SPARROW HAWK.

Tinnunculus sparverius .—The Sparrow Hawk.

The Sparrow Hawk is a summer resident
of Canada. Color, above, light rufous or cinna-
mon ; underneath, pale rufous, spotted with
black ; quills, brownish-black, with white bars ;
legs, yellow ; bill, light blue. Nests, in a hollow
tree ; eggs, four, of a yellowish-buff color,
covered with spots of reddish-brown. Feeds
upon small birds, mice, and squirrels.

Falco colnmbarius. — The Pigeon Hawk.

This bird arrives in Canada about the middle
of March. Length, fourteen inches. Color,
above, bluish-slate ; forehead and throat, white ;

Birds of Canada.

3

under-parts, pale yellowish-white, every feather
with a line of brownish-black ; legs, yellow ;
quills, black ; bill, blue. Nests, in low fir-trees ;
eggs, three ; dull yellowish-brown, with reddish-
brown spots. Feeds upon sparrows, robins, and
other small birds.

Sub-Family Accipitrin^:. — Tke Hawks.

Astur atricapillus . — The Goshawk.

This hawk is frequently a resident of Canada
throughout the year. Length, twenty inches.
Color, above, dark ashy-blue ; underneath, white,
mottled with ashy-brown ; feet, yellow ; bill,
black ; iris, reddish-orange. Builds its nest
upon the branches of a large tree, near the
trunk ; eggs, three or four in number, of a dull
bluish-white, slightly spotted with reddish-brown.
Feeds upon ducks and other water-fowl, as well
as pigeons, blackbirds, and squirrels.

Accipiter Cooperii. — Cooper’s Hawk.

This pretty hawk is fifteen inches in length.
Color, above, dark ashy-brown ; underneath,
transversely barred with light rufous and white.
This bird is the smallest of the so-called “ Hen
Hawks.” It feeds upon poultry and small birds.
Usually builds its nest in the tops of tall pines ;
eggs, four in number, of a bluish-white, with
light brown spots. This hawk is a summer
resident of Canada.

4 Birds of Canada.

Accipiter fuscns. — The Sharp-shinned Hawk.

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is twelve inches in
length. Color, above, brownish-black ; under-
neath, light rufous, with transverse bands of
white. Legs, slender ; tail, ashy-brown, tipped
with white. Feeds upon sparrows and other
small birds. This is one of the earliest arrivals
.of spring, and remains until the last of November.
Nests, in a tree ; eggs, four, bluish-white.

Sub-Family Buteonin^e. — The Buzzard Hawks.

Buteo borealis. — The Red-tailed Hawk.

This fine hawk is a resident of Canada through-
out the year. Length, twenty-four inches. Color,
above, dark umber brown ; underneath, pale
yellowish-white, with lines and spots of reddish-
brown ; tail, bright rufous, tipped with white.
Feeds upon domestic fowls, partridges, and rab-
bits. Nests, in a large tree; eggs, three in
number, of a yellowish-white, with dark blotches.

Buteo lineatus. — The Red-shouldered Hawk.

The Red -shouldered Hawk is eighteen or
nineteen inches in length. Color, above, brown ;
underneath, orange-red ; tail, brownish-black ;
feet, yellow. Nests, in a tree ; eggs, five, pale
blue, with dark reddish spots. This hawk re-
mains in Canada throughout the year. Feeds
upon squirrels, poultry, and small birds.

Birds of Canada. 5

B. pennsylv aniens. — The Broad-winged Hawk.

The Broad-winged Hawk is eighteen inches in
length. Color, above, umber-brown ; underneath,
white, with reddish spots ; tail, dark brown. This
bird is a common resident of Canada during the
summer. Nests, in the top of a tall tree ; eggs,
four or five, of a yellowish-white color, with light
brown spots. Its food consists of small birds,
reptiles, and squirrels.

Archibuteo lagopus. — The Rough-legged Hawk.

This bird is twenty inches in length. Color,
light brown, mottled with reddish-brown and
white. Frequently remains in Canada through-
out the year. Nests, in a tall tree ; eggs, four
or five, of a bluish-white color, blotched with
brown.

A. sancti johannis. — The Black Hawk.

The specimen in my collection measures
twenty- four inches in length. Color, glossy
black, with a brownish tinge about the head
and neck. Tail, black, with bands of white.
Frequents marshes and swamps. Nests, in the
top of a large tree ; eggs, five, of a dirty white
color. Remains in Canada throughout the
year.

6

Birds of Canada.

Sub-Family MILVIN.E. — The Kites.

Circus hudsonius. — The Marsh Hawk.

The Marsh Hawk is one of our most common '
summer hawks. It arrives here from the south
about the first of May. Color, bluish-cinereous
above ; beneath, reddish-white. Nests, on the
ground ; eggs, four or five, of a dirty white color.
Feeds upon field mice, principally, and the num-
ber of these destructive little animals which it
devours during the breeding season is almost
incredible. It is consequently entitled to the
protection of the farmer.

Birds of Canada.

7

Sub-Family Aquiline. — The Eagles.

Halicztus leucocephalus. — The White-headed

Eagle.

This noble bird is frequently met with on the
high shore of Lake Ontario throughout the year,

WHITE-HEADED EAGLE.

8

Birds of Canada.

and is often seen in the Ottawa region, near the
interior lakes, and in the vicinity of the Rideau
canal. Feeds upon wild fowl and small animals,
and is equally partial to fish. The nest of this
species, formed of large sticks, sods, moss, and
hay, is usually found in a lofty tree, in a swamp
or morass, and, as it is increased or repaired
every season, becomes of great size ; eggs, two
or three, of a yellowish-white color, with brown
patches. General color, brownish-black ; head
and tail, white ; bill, feet, and iris, yellow.

Aquila canadensis. — The Golden Eagle.

This magnificent eagle is rarely met with
except in the interior of Canada, The general
color of the plumage is deep brown, mixed with
tawny on the head and neck, the feathers on the
back being finely shaded with a darker hue.
Feeds upon young fawns, raccoons, rabbits, and
large birds. Usually nests on the sides of steep
rocky crags ; eggs, three in number, of a dull
white, with patches of bronze.

Pandion carolinensis. — The Fish- Hawk.

This common and well known hawk is a summer
resident of Canada. Color, above, umber-brown ;
beneath, white ; bill and claws, bluish-black.
Nests, in a large tree, on the margin of the
lakes or rivers; eggs, three in number, of a
reddish-cream color. Feeds entirely upon fish.

Birds of Canada.

9

Family STRIGID^E. THE OWLS.
Sub-Family Buboninye. — The Horned Owls.

GREAT HORNED OWL.

Bubo virginianus. — The Great Horned Owl.

The Great Horned Owl is a permanent resi-
dent of Canada. It is very destructive to domestic
fowls, and consequently very obnoxious to the
.2

IO

Birds of Canada.

farmer. Length, twenty -two inches. Color,
brownish-black, mottled with ashy-white. The
nest of this owl is frequently built in the top-
most branches of tall pines, and sometimes in
the top of a stub ; eggs, three or four, of a yel-
lowish-white.

Scops asio. — Mottled Owl, or Screech Owl.

This owl feeds upon mice and squirrels, small
birds, and beetles. Length, ten inches. Color,
pale ashy-brown. Breeds in Canada, Nests, in
a hollow tree ; eggs, four or five, white.

Otns Wilsonianus , — The Long-eared Owl.

The Long-eared Owl feeds upon small birds.
It rears its young in nests which it finds, seldom
making one for itself ; eggs, four or five, of a
dirty white color. This owl lingers about moun-
tain streams. Its cry is prolonged and plaintive.
Breeds in Canada. Length, fifteen inches. Color,
brownish-black, mottled with ashy-white.

Brachyotns Cassinii. — The Short-eared Owl.

This Owl is a permanent resident of Canada.
Length, fourteen inches. Color, light brown,
mottled with gray. Builds its nest upon the
ground ; eggs, four in number, pure white.
Feeds upon mice and small birds.

Birds of Canada. 1 1

Sub-Family Syrnin^e. — The Gray Owls.

Syrnium nebulosum. — The Barred Owl.

This is one of our most common owls. Length,
twenty inches. Color, light ashy-brown. Feeds
upon small birds, mice, and reptiles. Nests, in
high trees ; eggs, three in number, white. Re-
mains in Canada throughout the year.

Syrnium cm ereicm.-—Y he Cinereous Owl.

This is the largest member of the owl family.
Length, thirty inches. Color, ashy-brown, mot-
tled with ashy- white. Head, large ; eyes small.
Feeds upon rabbits, squirrels, and other small
animals. It is a rare visitor to this part of
Canada. This owl breeds in the far north.

Nyctale Richardsonii. — The Sparrow Owl.

This pretty little owl is a regular winter visitor.
It is eleven inches in length ; the color, above,
white ; legs and bill, light yellow'. Breeds in
the north-west. Nests, in a tree ; eggs, four in
number, pure white. Its food consists of mice
and small birds. Seeks its prey by night.

Nyctale acadica. — The Saw-whet Owl.

This species is a permanent resident of Canada.
It is the smallest of the family, being only eight
and a-half inches in length. Color, above, red-

12

Birds of Canada.

dish-brown ; beneath, ashy-white, with spots of
rufous. It builds its nest in a stump or hollow
tree ; eggs, four in number, pure white. The
food of this owl consists of bats, mice, and small
birds.

Sid-Family Nycteinin^e. — The Day Owls.

The Hawk Owl is a permanent resident of
Canada. It possesses many of the characteristics
of a falcon. Length, eighteen inches ; the color,
pale ashy-brown ; throat, white ; a large brown
spot on each side of the breast. This bird seeks
its prey by day as well as by night. Nests, in a
tree ; eggs, two in number, pure white.

Snrnia ululu. — The Hawk Owl.

Birds of Canada.

13

SNOWY OWL.

Nyctca nivea. — The Snowy Owl.

This beautiful owl is a regular fall and winter
visitor in Canada. It is twenty-seven inches in
length ; the plumage is pure white, with a few
spots of dark brown on the back and wings. Its
food consists principally of rabbits, birds, and
fish, which it obtains by daylight as well as by
twilight. The Snowy Owl flies with great rapi-
dity, often capturing ducks and other water fowl
upon the wing, Breeds in the arctic regions.

14

' Birds of Canada.

Order II.— JfratWAMiS.

Family CUCULID.E. THE CUCKOOS.

Coccygus americanus. — The Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is a rare visitor in
Canada. It is eleven inches in length. Color,
above, olive-green, tinged with ash near the bill ;
beneath, white ; tail, olive-green, with a border
of black tipped with white ; upper mandible,
black ; lower, yellow ; quills, orange-cinnamon.
This bird breeds in the United States. Its nest
is built in a low tree or shrub ; eggs, four, of a
bright green color. The song of this , cuckoo is
discordant and harsh, and may be represented
by kow-kow , kow-kow. Its food consists of in-
sects and the eggs and young of other birds.

Coccygus eryth roph thalmus. — The Black-billed
Cuckoo.

This species is a regular summer visitor. It
arrives about the tenth of May, and remains
until the first of September. In size, color, and
characteristics, it closely resembles the preceding
bird. It differs only in having both mandibles
black. This cuckoo breeds in Canada. Nests
in a barberry bush or low tree ; eggs, four, of a
bright green color.

Birds of Canada.

15

Family PICID2E. THE WOODPECKERS.

\

Sub-Family PiciNAL
Pirns villosus. — The Hairy Woodpecker.

The Hairy Woodpecker is a permanent resi-
dent, of Canada. Its food consists principally
of insects and their larvae. Color, black and
white, spotted. Length, eleven inches. Nests,
in a hole in a tree ; eggs, five, pure white.

Picus pub escens. — The Downy Woodpecker.

This woodpecker is six inches in length. Color,
above, black, with a white band down the back ;
two white stripes on the side of the head ; the
lower parts white. Nests, in a hole in a tree ;
eggs, six, pure white. The food of this bird
consists entirely of insects and their larvae.

Picoides articus. — The Black-backed, Three-toed
Woodpecker.

This species is a permanent resident of Canada.
Its habits do not differ from those of other wood-
peckers. Back, black ; wings, spotted white and
black; top of head, saffron color. Nests, in a
stump ; eggs, four, pure white.

Sphyrapicusvarius. — Y ellow-bellicd Woodpecker.

This pretty bird is a summer resident of Canada.
It is often seen in orchards, especially in apple-
trees. Feeds upon insects and their larvae. Back

6

Birds of Canada.

and wings, spotted black and white ; top of head
and throat, red ; belly, yellow. This bird is a
friend to the farmer, as it destroys immense
numbers of insects. Nests, in a decayed tree in
the woods ; eggs, five, pure white.

Centurees carolinensis. — The Red-bellied
Woodpecker.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a common
summer resident of Canada. It possesses all
the active and noisy habits characteristic of its
family. Length, ten inches. Color, above, black,
crossed with white ; wings, black, tipped with
bars of white ; head, neck, and shoulders, glossy
red ; cheeks and under sides of the neck, pale
buff ; breast and abdomen, yellowish-ash, stained
with bright red ; legs and feet, bluish-green ;
iris, red. Nests, in a hollow limb ; eggs, four,
pure white. This species seldom appears about
orchards or open grounds ; but it often visits
corn fields in search of grain, of which it is
particularly fond. Its principal food is insects,
which it obtains from decayed trees after the
manner of other woodpeckers.

Picoidcs hirsntus . — The Banded Three-toed
Woodpecker.

This woodpecker is a permanent resident of
Canada. Length, nine inches. Black, above ;
white, beneath ; quills, spotted with white ; top

Birds of Canada.

i;

of the head, spotted with white ; the crown of
the male, with a yellow patch. Nests, in a stump
or decayed tree ; eggs, four, creamy-white.
Hylatoimis pileatus. — The Pileated Woodpecker.

This beautiful woodpecker is seldom seen in
the settled portions of Canada, although it is
frequently met with in the interior. It is the
largest and most powerful of the woodpecker
family. General color of body, wings, and tail,
greenish-black ; a narrow white streak just above
the eye to the occiput ; crown of head, bright
red. Length, eighteen inches. Nests, in a hole
in a tree or stub ; eggs, five in number, pure white.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.

Melanerpes crythrocephalus. — The Red-headed
Woodpecker.

This bird is one of our regular visitors. It
arrives here from the south about the middle
a

i8

Birds of Canada.

of May. Its habits are the same as those of
the other species, except that he is a great
lover of fruit and grain. It is, however, a
question whether he is not a greater friend
than enemy to the farmer, as he kills great
numbers of insects. Back, black ; belly, white ;
head and neck all round, crimson. Length, ten
inches ; bill aird feet, black. Nests, in a hole in
a stub or tree ; eggs, four in number, pure white.

GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER.

Colaptes auratus. — Golden-winged Woodpecker.

The Golden-winged Woodpecker is one of our
best known and most beautiful summer visitors.

Birds of Canada.

19

It is twelve inches long ; the wing six inches.
The top of the head, and the upper part of the
neck, bluish-ash ; a red crescent on the nape ;
the other upper parts, olive brown, with trans-
verse bands of black ; the lower parts, yellowish
white, tinged with a brownish, and ornamented
with circular black spots, and with a black cres-
cent on the breast ; the shafts and under surfaces
of the wings are gamboge yellow. This elegant
bird arrives in Canada from the south about the
twentieth of April, and returns late in the fall.
Nests, in a hollow tree ; eggs, six, pure white.
Feeds upon insects, berries, and grains.^

20

Birds of Canada.

Order III.— (IgMfaeW.)

Family TROCHILID.E. THE HUMMING
BIRDS.

Trochilus colubris. — The Ruby-throated
Humming Bird.

This beautiful little bird arrives here from the
south about the last of May. Nests, in a tree ;
eggs, two, pure white. Its food consists of in-
sects and the juice of sweet-scented flowers.

Family CYPSELIDHL THE S WIFTS.

Chctnrce pelasgia. — The Chimney Swallow.

This swallow arrives here about the last of
May. Leaves for the south about the first of
September. Color, sooty-brown. Nests, in hol-
low trees or unused chimneys ; eggs, five, pure
white. Feeds upon insects.

Birds of Canada .

Family HIRUNDINIDiE. THE
SWALLOWS.

BARN SWALLOW.

Hirundo americana. — The Barn Swallow.

The general color of this swallow is steel-blue
above ; beneath, light chestnut ; tail, forked.
Receives its name from its frequently attaching
its nest to the rafters in barns. Feeds upon
insects.

H. lunifrons. — The Cliff Swallow.

The Cliff Swallow is black, above ; white,
beneath ; tail, green. Builds its nest under pro-
jecting cliffs ; eggs, six, white, with a purplish
tint. Feeds upon insects.

22 Birds of Canada.

H. riparia . — The Bank Swallow.

This is the smallest of the swallows. Color,
above, grayish-brown ; beneath, pure white. It
takes its name from its habit of making deep,
winding holes in sand banks, in which it builds
its nest ; eggs, four, pure white. Feeds upon
insects.

H. bicolor. — The White-breasted Swallow.

This well-known swallow arrives here about
the middle of May. Color, above, metallic-
green ; beneath, white. Nests, in a hole in a
tree or stub, and sometimes in a martin’s box ;
eggs, four, white. Feeds upon insects.

P rogue purpurea. — The Purple Martin.

This pretty and interesting bird arrives in
Canada early in April. Color : the old males
are glossy steel-blue all over ; the females are
glossy steel-blue above, and pale brown beneath.
Two broods are raised during the season. Nests,
in a hole in a tree, or martin’s box ; eggs, four
or six, pure white. Early in September the
martins leave for the south.

Birds of Canada.

23

Family CAPRIMULGID^. THE GOAT-
SUCKERS.

WHIP-POOR-WILL.

Caprimulgus vociferus. — The Whip-poor-will.

The Whip-poor-will is a regular summer resi-
dent of Canada. It is ten and a-half inches
long ; bill, short, and bent at the point ; mouth,
very large, and beset along the sides with a
number of stiff bristles, which turn inwards ;
eyes, full and large ; the plumage is variegated
with black, pale cream-brown, and rust color.
The notes of the whip-poor-will are three, and
have a resemblance to the syllables “ whip poor
willf from which it takes its name. It begins
its song soon after sunset, and continues till
late at night ; then remains silent till near the
dawn, when it resumes, and continues tiil sunrise.
During the day it sits in the most retired, solitary,
and deep-shaded parts of the woods, generally
on high ground, where it reposes in silence.

24

Birds of Canada.

When disturbed, it rises within a few feet, and
flies slowly through the woods for thirty or forty
yards, and generally settles on a low branch, or on
the ground. Its sight appears deficient during
the day, as it seems to want that vivacity for
which it is distinguished in the morning and
evening twilight. It does not perch, like other
birds, sitting across the branch, but lengthwise ;
and its hinder toe is capable of being turned
forward as well as backward. It is solitary in
its habits, and is generally seen alone. The
female begins to lay about the second week in
May, selecting for this purpose the most unfre-
quented part of the wood, often where some
brush, old logs, or heaps of leaves had been
lying, and always on a dry situation. The eggs,
usually two in number, greenish-white, are depo-
sited on th”e ground, or on the leaves, not the
slightest appearance of a nest being visible. Its
food consists entirely of night-flying insects.

Birds of Canada .

25

NIGHT HAWK.

Chordeiles popetne. — The Night Hawk.

This is a well known bird. It arrives here
from the south about the middle of May. The
colors of this bird, though plain, have a beautiful
effect from the elegance of their disposition : the
plumage being beautifully freckled, barred, and
spotted with brown, black, grey, and ferrugi-
nous, variously arranged and diversified. The
bill is small, flat, and hooked at the tip; the
eyes are large, full, and black ; the legs are
short, rough, and scaly, and feathered below the
knee. The male is distinguished from the female
4

2 6

Birds of Canada.

by an oval white spot, near the end of the first
three quill feathers. Nests, on the bare ground,
sometimes on a rock ; eggs, two, grayish-white,
spotted with brown and lavender. Its food con-
sists entirely of moths, gnats, beetles, and other
night insects.

C. car o line nsis. — The Chuck-will’s Widow.

The Chuck-will’s Widow closely resembles
the Whip-poor-will in general appearance. This
interesting bird is a very rare .visitor in Canada.
It derives its name from its repeated utterance
of a cry that exactly resembles the words “chuck
will's widow .” Like the other members of the
Goat Sucker Family, this bird seeks its food by
night. Nests, on the ground ; eggs, two, grayish-
white, mottled with buff.

Birds of Canada.

27

SUB-ORDER CLAMATORES.
(SCREAMERS.)

Family ALCEDINID^E. THE KING-
FISHERS.

BELTED KINGFISHER.

Ceryle alcyon. — The Belted Kingfisher.

This bird is a very common summer resident
of Canada. It arrives here about the tenth of
April. The plumage of this pretty bird is bright
blue above, marked with a great number of dark
streaks caused by the blue-black shaft of each
feather. The wings are blackish-brown, bound
with white, and variegated with blue ; the head,
with a crest ; a band across the breast and sides
of the same color as the back ; the tail, with
transverse bands and spots of white. Length,
twelve inches. Nests, in a long winding hole in a
sand-bank; eggs, six, pure white. Feeds upon fish,

2 8

Birds of Canada.

Family COLOPTERID^E. THE FL Y-
CA TCHERS.

Sub-Family Tyrannin.l:. — Tyrant Fly-catchers.

KING BIRD.

Tyrannus carolinensis . — The King Bird.

This brave little bird is a summer inhabitant
of Canada. Color above, dark bluish-ash, the
lower parts white ; the concealed crest, Vermillion
and orange. Its favorite resorts are open fields
or orchards. Feeds upon insects. It is a
courageous little bird, and attacks hawks, crows
and other large birds without the least hesitation.
Nests, in an orchard tree ; eggs, five, of a beau-
tiful creamy-white color, with spots and specks
of brown. Departs for the south, first September.

Birds of Canada.

29

Myiarchus crinitus . — The Great-crested Fly-
catcher.

This bird arrives in Canada about the middle
of May. The nest is placed in a hollow tree or
stub, and nearly always contains the cast-off skin
of a snake, which is coiled at the bottom ; eggs,
four, of a dull cream color, scratched with purple
lines. Feeds upon insects. The general color
of this bird is dull greenish-olive above ; under
parts, bright sulphur-yellow ; head, well defined
crest. Departs for the south first of September.

Sayornis fuscus. — The Phebe Bird.

This very common bird is too well known to
need a description. It arrives from the south
about the last of March, and departs the last of
October.

Contopus virens. — The Wood Pewee.

This is a common summer resident of Canada.
It arrives here about the twentieth of May. Gen-
eral color, dark olive brown ; the lower parts,
pale-yellow. This bird loves the dark quiet
retreats of the forests. Here, sitting upon a
branch, it may be seen watching for insects,
uttering its low melancholy notes. Nests, in a
tree ; eggs, four or five ; light-yellow, spotted
with red on the large end.

30 Birds of Canada.

Empidonax miniums. — The least Fly-catcher.

This active little bird arrives from the south
about the first of May. Color, above, olive-
brown ; beneath, yellowish-white ; length, five
inches. Usually nests in an apple tree; eggs,
four ; creamy-white color. Feeds upon insects
entirely.

SUB-ORDER OSCINES.
(SINGING BIRDS.)

Family TURDID.E. THE THRUSHES.

WOOD THRUSH.

Tnrdns mustelinus. — The Wood Thrush.

This sweet songster is a common Canadian
visitor, arriving here about the twentieth of May.
The Wood Thrush delights in deep, shady places,
where there is a small brook. Its soft, half plain-

Birds of Canada.

3i

tive notes excel in sweetness those of any other
Canadian bird. Color, above, clear cinnamon-
brown ; the under parts are white, tinged with
buff, marked with blackish spots. Nests, in a
low shrub in the deep woods ; eggs, four in
number, of a blue color, tinted with green. Feeds
upon insects.

T. palassii. — The Hermit Thrush.

The Hermit Thrush arrives in Canada about
the middle of May. Color, above, olive-brown ;
beneath, white ; length, eight inches. Nests, in
low trees or bushes ; eggs, four, of a light blue
color. In its habits and song it is similar to the
Wood Thrush. Feeds upon insects.

T. fuscescens. — The Tawny Thrush.

This is a common summer resident of Canada.
Color, above, light reddish-brown ; below, white.
Nests, on the ground ; eggs, four, of a bluish-
green color. Feeds upon insects.

T. Szuainsonii. — The Olive-backed Thrush.

This pretty bird is the least common of all the
thrushes. Color, olivaceous ; breast, white ;
throat and breast, spotted with brown. Nests,
in the deepest recesses of the forest ; eggs, four,
of a reddish-brown color. Feeds on insects.

32 Birds of Canada.

T. migratorious. — The Robin.

This is one of the most common and interest-
ing summer residents. Color, above, olive-gray ;
top and sides of the head, black ; throat, white,
streaked with black ; under parts, chestnut-
brown ; length, ten inches. Its food consists of
caterpillars, earth-vforms, and grubs of various
kinds. Nests, in a tree ; eggs, four, greenish-
blue. The popular prejudice against this bird
is unjust. It is a good friend to the farmer,
and should be protected.

Sub-Family Mimin^e. — Mocking Birds.

Harporhynchus rufus . — The Brown Thrush, or
Brown Thrasher.

This sweet songster is one of our most welcome
visitors. In the pleasant spring mornings, this
bird utters the sweetest melodies from the top-
most branches of some isolated tree. During the
day it prefers low thick bushes. The nest is
made in a clump of low bushes, a few feet from
the ground ; eggs, four to six, of a dull buff color,
sprinkled with brown. General color, above,
light cinnamon-red ; below, pale rufous white.
The Brown Thrasher arrives here about the last
of April, and departs for its southern home the
first week in October.

Birds of Canada.

33

Galeoscoptes car olinensis. — The Cat Bird.

This well known bird arrives in Canada about
the middle of May. Its habits are so well known
that a description is hardly necessary. General
color, dark plumbeous ; the under tail coverts,
dark brown. In spring its song is varied, mellow,
and sweet. It possesses to some extent the
power to imitate the notes, of other birds.
Sometimes it mews like a cat," hence its name.
Nests, in low bushes ;*eggs, four, sometimes six,
greenish-blue. It rears two broods in a season.
About the middle of October the Cat Bird goes
south.

Family SAXICOLIDJE. THE ROCK
INHABITERS.

Sialia sialis. — The Blue Bird.

The Blue Bird, is a common summer resident
of Canada. General color, above, azure-blue ;
beneath, reddish-brown. It is one of the earliest
arrivals, making its appearance about the middle

34

Birds of Canada.

of March. Nests, in a knot-hole or martin’s box ;
eggs, five in number, of a light-blue color. Feeds
entirely upon insects. Leaves for the south the
first of October.

Family SYLVID^F. THE WOOD
INHABITERS.

Regains calendula. — The Ruby-crowned Wren.

This pretty little wren is at once distinguished
by the crown, which has a concealed patch of
scarlet feathers, which are white at the base.
Its song is charming, and harmonious. Arrives
here about the middle of May, on its way north
to breed, and visits us again in September, while
migrating south. Feeds upon insects and their
larvae.

Regains satrapa. — The Golden-crested Wren.

This wren is distinguished from the Ruby-
crowned, by a crest of orange-red, encircled by
yellow. Visits Canada in the spring and autumn.
Breeds north of Ontario. Feeds upon insects.

Regains cnvieri. — Cuvier’s Golden-crested Wren.

This diminutive and beautiful bird differs from
the Regulus Satrapa in having two black bands
on the crown, separated by a white band. This
wren usually accompanies the two preceding
species, in their spring and fall migrations.

Birds of Canada.

35

Family PARIDiE.

Sub-Family Paring. — The Titmice.

Pants atricapillits . — The Black-cap Titmouse, or
Chick-a-dee.

This pretty little bird is one of the few species
that remain with us throughout the year. It
builds its nest in a hole in a stump or tree ;
eggs, six in number, white, with reddish-brown
markings at the larger end. Two broods are
raised in a season. General color, ashy-brown
above, and white beneath ; top of the head and
throat, black ; and the sides of the head between,
white. Feeds ent'.rely upon insects and their
larvae.

P. hudsonicus. — Hudson’s Bay Titmouse.

This bird is a permanent resident of Canada.
Color, olive brown above ; White beneath ; top
of the head, brown ; sides of the head, white.
Length, five inches. Nests in a shrub ; eggs,
four, pure white.

36

Birds of Canada .

Sub-Family SITTING. — The Nuthatches.

Sitta carolinensis. — The White-bellied Nuthatch.

This nuthatch is one of our common summer
birds, and sometimes remains in Canada through
the winter. Color, ashy-blue above ; the under
parts, white ; top of the head and neck, black.
Nests, in a hole in a stump or tree ; eggs, six,
dull white. Feeds upon insects. At night it
attaches its feet to the bark of a tree, and sleeps
with its head downwards.

N. canadensis. — The Red-bellied Nuthatch.

The Red-bellied Nuthatch is smaller than the
preceding species ; the belly, reddish-brown ; in
other respects it is similar to the White-bellied
Nuthatch.

WHITE-BELLIED NUTHATCH.

Birds of Canada .

37

Family CERTHIAD7L. THE CREEPERS.

AMERICAN CREEPER.

Ccrthia americana, — The American Creeper.

This industrious insect-hunter is a permanent
resident of Canada. Color, above, dark brown,
each feather streaked with white ; the under
parts, rusty-brown ; a white streak over the eye.
Feeds upon insects and their larvae. Nests, in a
hollow tree ; eggs, six, dark gray.

Family TRQGLODYTID7E. THE WRENS.

Cistot/iorus palustris. — Long-billed Marsh Wren.

This species lives among the rank vegetation
growing in marshes and inlets to the lakes. Here
it builds its nest, and lays six eggs of a deep
chocolate color. This wren is five and a-half

38

Birds of Canada.

inches long ; the upper parts, dull reddish-brown ;
the under parts, and a streak over the eye, white.
Feeds upon insects. It arrives here about the
middle of May, and leaves for the south about
the last of September.

Troglodytes hyemalis. — The Winter Wren.

The Winter Wren arrives in Ontario about
the first of October, and remains through the
winter, leaving early in the spring for the north,
where it breeds. Color, reddish-brown.

Troglodytes cedon. — The House Wren.

This well known and interesting bird arrives
from the south the first week in May. It lives
entirely upon insects, of which it destroys vast
numbers. This little wren delights in living
near the habitations of men, and builds its nest
in any hole in a tree or stump it finds ; eggs,
six, pale reddish-brown. Color, reddish-brown.

Family SYLVICOLIDjE. WARBLERS.

Sub-Family Sylvicolinal— The Wood
W arblers.

Mniotilta varia. — The Black and White Creeper.

This is a regular summer resident, Nests, in
a low bush ; eggs, four, creamy-white. General

39

Birds of Canada.

color of the male, black ; the feathers broadly
edged with white. All the birds of this family
are insectivorous.^ I have thirty species of the
warbler family in my collection.

Panda americana. — The Blue Yellow-backed
Warbler.

This warbler arrives here about the middle of
April, on its way to the north, and returns south-
ward about the middle of September. Color,
above, blue, with a yellow stripe on the middle of
the back ; beneath, yellowish-white. This species
utters a soft, prolonged twitter : its only song.

Gcotldypis trichas. — The Maryland YellowThroat.

This very pretty warbler breeds in Ontario.
Color, above, olive-green, tinged with brown ;
throat and neck, bright yellow. Nests, in low
bushes ; eggs, four, creamy-white.

G. Philadelphia^. — The Mourning Warbler.

Its note is a little chit, uttered in a soft, pen-
sive tone. General color, ash-gray above, and
black underneath, Breeds in Canada. Nests,
in a low bush ; eggs, four, bluish-white.

G. macgillvraii. — Macgillvray’s Warbler.

This Warbler is five inches long, the wing less
than two and a-half inches ; the head and neck,

40

Birds of Canada.

ash, a narrow frontlet and space around the eye,
black ; the feathers of the forward under parts
really black, but appearing gray from the ashy
tips of the feathers ; the rest of the upper parts,
dark olive-green, and of the lower, yellow. Breeds
in Canada. Nests, in a low bush ; eggs, five,
flesh-colored.

Dendroica virens — The Black Throated Green
Warbler.

The Black-throated Green Warbler is five
inches long, the wings over two and a-half inches ;
the crown and back, olive ; the forehead, super-
ciliary and maxillary stripes, yellow. Breeds in
Canada. Nests, in a bush near the ground ; eggs,
five, bluish white.

D. palmarum.-. — The Yellow Red-poll Warbler.

This bird is five inches long, the wing nearly
two and a-half inches, the crown, sides of the
head, and inferior streaks, yellow ; a white spot on
the end of the tail, superciliary streak and under
parts, yellow. Breeds in the interior of Canada.
Visits Ontario in May and September.

D. tigrina. — Cape May Warbler.

The Cape May Warbler is five and a-quarter
inches long, the wing nearly three inches, the
bill, acute and decurved ; the color, olive above,

Birds of Canada .

41

rump and under parts, yellow ; crown, blackish ;
sides of the head, chestnut. This pretty bird
breeds in northern Ontario.

D. canadensis. — The Black-Throated Blue
Warbler.

This bird is five and a-half inches long, the
wing, two and a-half ; the crown, black ; back,
ash ; maxillary stripe, white. Breeds in Manitoba.
Visits Ontario in the spring and fall.

D. coronata. — The Yellow-rump Warbler..

This Warbler is five and a-quarter inches
long, the wing three inches ; the color, slate blue
above ; throat, white ; head, blackish ; the sides
and rump, with a yellow patch. Breeds north
of Ontario.

D. blackbnrnice.— Blackburnian Warbler.

This is, without exception, the most beautiful
of all the warblers. Color : the back, black ;
throat, bright orange; and a patch on the wing
and outer tail feathers, white. Breeds in the far
north. Remains for a few days in May and
October.

D. castanea. — The Bay-breasted Warbler.

This bird is five inches long; the head, chestnut ;
sides of the head, black ; and belly, white. Like
most of the family, this bird breeds in the north-
6

42

Birds of Canada.

ern part of this continent. During the spring
and fall migrations it stops for a few days in
Ontario.

D. pinns. — The Pine-creeping Warbler.

The Pine-creeping Warbler is five and a-half
inches long, and the wing, three inches ; olive-
green above, and yellow beneath ; two dull white
bands upon the wings. Breeds in northern
Canada. Nests, on the ground ; eggs, four,
bluish-white.

D. pennsylvanica. — The Chestnut-sided Warbler.

This species is five inches long ; the wing, two
and a-half inches ; the crown, yellow, encircled
with white ; sides of the head, black, enclosing a
white patch behind ; and sides of the body, chest-
nut. Breeds in northern Canada. Visits Ontario
in the spring and fall.

D. striata. — The Black-poll Warbler.

This warbler is five and three-quarter inches
long; the wing, three inches; the crown and sides,
black ; the cheeks below the eye, white. Breeds
north of Ontario. Spring and autumn visitor.

D. (Estiva. — The Yellow Warbler.

This species arrives here about the middle of
May, and breeds here. Nests, in a willow or
maple tree ; eggs, four, white, with brown blotches.
General color, yellow.

Birds of Canada. 43

D. maculosa. — The Black and Yellow Warbler.

This bird is a summer resident of Canada.
Builds its nest in the willows that grow in low
marshy grounds ; eggs, four, pure white.

Myiodioctes canadensis. — The Canada Fly-
catcher.

The Canada Fly-catcher is about five and
a-third inches long, the wing, about two and
two-thirds inches ; the back, bluish ; streaks
upon the crown ; stripe on the side of the head
and neck; and breast, black. Breeds in Canada.
Nests, on the ground, or in a low bush ; eggs,
four, pinkish-white.

M. mitratus. — The Hooded Warbler.

The Hooded Warbler is five inches long ; the
head and neck, black ; back, olive-green ; the
front, cheeks, and under parts, yellow. It is
very rarely seen in Ontario. Breeds in the
south. Visits Canada in the spring.

M. minutus. — The Small-headed Fly-catcher.

This little bird is four inches long; olive, above ;
yellow, beneath ; and the wing, with two white
bands. Visits Canada in May and October.

M. pusillus. — The Green Black-cap Fly-catcher.

This Fly-catcher is four and three-quarter
inches long ; the upper parts, olive ; the forehead.

44

Birds cf Canada.

and under parts, bright yellow ; the crown, with
a black patch. Remains here for a few days in
May and August.

Helmitherus vermivorus. — The Worm-eating
Warbler.

The Worm-eating Warbler is five inches long.
Color, olive-green, above ; beneath, brownish-
yellow. Visits Canada during the spring and
summer migrations. Breeds in the far north.

Helmihthopaga pinits . — The Blue-winged Yellow
Warbler.

This bird is four and a-half inches long ; the
wing, two and four-tenths inches, Color, above,
olive-green ; the wings and tail, bluish-gray ; the
crown and under parts, rich orange-yellow. Its
nest is elongated, and attached by its upper edge
to several stout stalks of grass ; eggs, four to six,
pure white, with a few pale red spots at the
larger end. Breeds in Canada.

H. chrysoptcra. — The Golden-winged Warbler.

This beautiful warbler is five inches long ;
upper parts bluish-gray ; head and under parts,
black and yellow. Breeds in the interior of
Canada. Remains in Ontario a fe\v days in the
spring and fall.

Birds of Canada.

45

H. ruficapilla.—’Thc Nashville Warbler.

The Nashville Warbler is over four and a-half
inches long ; the wing, two and three-fourths
inches ; the color, above, olive-green ; beneath,
dull white ; the color, olive-green above ; under
parts, deep yellow. Visits Canada in the spring
and fall.

H. peregrina. — The Tennessee Warbler.

The Tennessee Warbler is four and a-half
inches long ; the wing, two and three-fourths
inches ; the color, above, olive-green ; beneath,
dull white ; the top and sides of the head, ashy-
gray. Breeds in northern Canada. Spring and
fall visitor.

Icteria viridis. — The Yellow-breasted Chat.

This bird is nearly seven inches in length ;
upper parts, olive-green ; under-parts gamboge-
yellow. Visits Canada in May and September.

Setophaga ruticilla. — The Red Start.

The Red Start arrives here about the middle
of May, and leaves about the fifteenth of Septem-
ber. It is five and a quarter inches long ; the
wing two and a half inches ; the general color,
black, the sides of the breast and base of the
quills and tail, reddish-orange, and the abdomen,
white. This is one of the prettiest and liveliest
birds of our forests. The nest is built upon a

46

Birds of Canada.

low bush ; eggs, four to six ; white, sprinkled
with ashy-gray.

Seiurus aurocapillus. — The Golden-crowned
Thrush.

This beautiful bird is a summer resident of
Canada. It arrives here about the last of April,
and departs the last of September. Color, above,
olive-green, with a tinge of yellow ; crown, with
two streaks of black, enclosing a broad orange
stripe ; beneath, white ; the breast and sides of
the body, black. It builds its nest on the ground,
in the form of an old oven ; eggs, five, creamy-
white.

S', noveboracensis. — The Water Thrush, or
Wagtail.

The Water Thrush arrives here about the first
of May ; departs twentieth of September. Color,
above, olive-brown ; beneath, pale sulphur-yel-
low, brightest on the abdomen. It can be found
near brooks, rivers, or ponds, wading in the shal-
low water in search of aquatic insects, continually
wagging its tail. Nests, in a swamp ; eggs, five,
reddish-brown.

Sub-Family Tanagrin.e. — The Tanagcrs.

Pyranga rubra. — The Scarlet Tanager.

This elegant bird is seven and four-tenths
inches long ; the wing, four inches ; the color,

Birds of Canada.

47

bright scarlet, wings and tail black. Nests, on a
low branch of a tree ; eggs, three to five ; dull,
greenish-blue, speckled with reddish-brown and
light purple. This is our most gaudy visitor. It
arrives from the south about the fifteenth of
May, and leaves early in September. This bird
thrives well in confinement, and makes a beau-
tiful pet. Feeds upon insects, berries, and grain.

48

Birds of Canada .

Family BOMBYCILLID^E. THE CHAT-
TERERS.

Sub-Family BOMBYCILLIN.L. — The Wax Wings.

BOHEMIAN CHATTERER.

Ampelis garndus. — The Bohemian Chatterer.

This very rare and beautiful bird appears in
Canada only in severe seasons. Length, seven
and a-half inches ; the wing, four and a-half
inches. The general color, brownish-ash ; pri-
maries and tail feathers, plumbeous-black, the
tail with a terminal band of yellow; the head
and throat marked with black ; the wings with
white ; and the secondaries have red horny tips.

Birds of Canada.

49

They live in numerous flocks, keeping by pairs
only in the breeding season. Their food con-
sists chiefly of the buds and seeds of the pine,
cedar, and juniper. Their migrations extend
from Central Asia to the Arctic regions. They
breed in the northern part of British Columbia
and Alaska.

A. cedrorum. — The Cedar Bird, or Cherry Bird.

The Cedar Birds arrive here in flocks about
the second week in March. They generally
build their nests in orchard trees ; sometimes in
a cedar or other evergreen tree ; eggs, four or
five in number, of a light blue or clay-white
color, with a slight purple tint, with black spots.
Farmers manifest a great deal of ill - feeling
toward this bird, on account of its occasional
fondness for cherries and other small fruit. It
has, however, a much greater relish for cater-
pillars and the larvae of insects, of which it
destroys immense numbers, and thereby more
than compensates for the small quantity of
fruit it eats. The only note of the Cherry Bird
is twee-twee , uttered in a plaintive, soft manner.
The general color is reddish-olive above, passing
into yellow beneath ; the quills and tail, dark
plumbeous and dusky, tipped with yellow. The
plumage is very soft and delicate, and its tints
and shadings beautiful.

5o

Birds of Canada.

Family LANIIDAl

Sub-Family LANUNiE. — The Shrikes.

GREAT NORTHERN SHRIKE.

Colly rio borealis. — -The Great Northern Shrike, or
Butcher Bird.

The Butcher Birch is nine inches long; the
color, above, light bluish-ash ; the under parts,
white ; the wings and tail, black. It feeds prin-
cipally upon insects, sparrows, and other small
birds. It can imitate the calls of other birds,
especially those indicating^ distress ; and has the
cruel habit of impaling its prey on sharp twigs
and thorns, and devouring it at leisure. Hence,
it has derived the name, Butcher Bird. The
nest is usually built in a thorn tree or low
shrub ; eggs, four or .five in number ; of a
dirty lead-colored white, with spots of brown-
on the large end.

Birds of Canada, % I

C. excub itorides. — -The White-rumped Shrike.

The characteristics of this shrike are similar
to those of the preceding species, except that
the tail is shorter and the head larger.

Sub-Family VlREONINyE. — The Vireos.

Vireo olivaceus. — The Red-eyed Vireo.

This is one of our most industrious and inter-
esting little visitors. It is six and a-half inches
long, the wing three and a-half inches. Color,
olive-green, above; white, below; the head, dark
ash ; and iris, red ; a whitish line from the bill
over the eye. The nest is generally suspended
from forked twigs ; eggs, four to six, spotted
with reddish-brown. Feeds entirely upon insects
and their larvae. The Red-eyed Vireo is one of
the earliest singers of spring, and the latest of
autumn. Its notes are loud, clear, and melodious.
Throughout the day he hops from branch to
branch, searching in the foliage for caterpillars
and noxious larvae, Arrives in Canada about
the tenth of May, and departs for the south
early in October.

V. gilvus. — The Warbling Vireo.

This pretty bird is five and a-half inches long;
the color, olive-green, above ; beneath, white,
tinged with yellow. Its song is very mellow and

52

Birds of Canada.

sweet. The nest is pensile, and usually built in
tall trees ; eggs, six ; white, with small red spots
on the large end. Arrives here about the first
of May, and leaves late in September.

V. noveboracensis. — The White-eyed Vireo.

This sweet songster frequents the thickest
bushes. It arrives in Canada about the first of
May, and remains until October. Color, bright
olive-green, above ; white, beneath ; iris, white.
Nests, in a brier or raspberry bush ; eggs, four
in number, reddish-brown. While in search of
insects it sings merrily and sweetly.

V. flavifrons. — The Yellow-throated Vireo.

This is a beautiful and rather uncommon bird
with us. It usually arrives here about the fif-
teenth of May. Color, olive-green above ; throat
and breast, bright sulphur yellow ; the remaining
under parts, white. It is quite impossible to say
too much in favor of this sweet songster. The
nest is built a few feet from the ground, and is
a beautiful specimen of nest-building ; the eggs
are four in number, pure white, spotted with
brown.

V. solitarius. — The Solitary Vireo.

This beautiful and active fly-catcher is five
inches in length. Color, above, olive-green ;

Birds of Canada.

53

underneath, white ; sides, yellowish-green ; top
and sides of the head, bluish-ash. Breeds in
Canada. Nests, in the topmost branches of a
tree ; eggs, four, white.

Family ALAUDIDTL THE SKYLARKS.

SHORE LARK.

Eremophila cornuta. — The Shore Lark.

The Shore Lark arrives in Canada late in the
fall. Color, pinkish-brown ; the feathers of the
back, marked with dusky-brown ; the frontal
band and under parts, white ; neck and throat,
yellow ; a crescentric patch from the bill below
the eye, and along the side of the head, and a
black pectoral crescent. While on the wing
it sings sweetly. Its nest is always built on
the ground ; eggs, four in number, of a faint

54

Birds of Canady,

grayish-brown color. The Shore Lark is one of
our few winter birds ; in March it leaves for the
far north to breed.

Family FRINGILLID^Fl.

Sub-Family COCCOTHRAUSTINAL — The Finches.

\

Pinicola canadensis. — The Pine Grosbeak.

This bird visits us during the severest seasons
only. Its habitat is the extreme northern part
of this continent. Large numbers visited this
section of Canada in the winter of 1867. The
Pine Grosbeak is eight and a-half inches long ;
beak, dusky, very thick at the base, and hooked
at the tip ; head, neck, breast, and rump, rose-
colored crimson ; back, black ; greater wing-
coverts, tipped with white, forming two bars on
the wing ; quills, black, edged with white ; belly,
straw-colored. The female is brownish above,
greenish-yellow beneath ; the top of the head
and rump, brownish gamboge-yellow. Feeds
upon the small buds which shoot out from the
branches of the fir and other trees.

Caipodacus purpureus. — The Purple Finch.

The Purple Finch arrives here about the last
of April, in flocks of a dozen or more. It is six

Birds of Canada.

55

and a-half inches long ; the color, crimson; belly
and under tail coverts, white ; two thin reddish
bands aross the wings. The female is olive-
brown above, and white beneath. Its song is
sweet and warbling. Nests, in a tree, a few
feet from the ground ; eggs, four in number, of a
bluish-green color. Its food consists principally
of the buds and blossoms of fruit trees.

Chrysomitris tristis. — The Yellow Bird.

This is a well-known and common summer
visitor. Color, bright yellow ; crown, wings, and
tail, black. The nest is usually built in the
branch of a tree, twenty feet from the ground ;
eggs, four or five, white, tinged with blue, and
spotted with reddish-brown. Arrives here in
flocks early in May. In the fall its color is
changed to a greenish-olive, resembling the
female. About the last of September they
gather in flocks and move southward.

C. pinus. — The Pine Finch.

The Pine Finch arrives in Canada late in the
fall, and remains throughout the winter. It
frequents the pine forests. Feeds on the seeds
contained in the pine cones. Color, above,
brownish-olive ; beneath, whitish, streaked with

5 6 Birds of Canada.

dusky brown ; tail, forked. Breeds north of
Ontario.

Curvirostra americana. — The Red Crossbill.

The Red Crossbill is six inches long ; the
color, dull red ; the wings and tail, blackish-
brown. This bird is an inhabitant of the pine
forests of the far north, and usually visits us
during the winter. Its food consists of the seeds
of the pine and hemlock, which it detaches from
the cones and husks that enclose them with its
peculiarly shaped bill, which is crossed.

Curvirostra leucoptera. — The White-winged
Crossbill.

This bird has all the general characteristics of
the Red Crossbill, but is readily distinguished by
the white bands across the wings.

BEgiothus linaria. — The Lesser Red-poll.

This is a common winter visitor with us. It
is four and a-half inches long ; the color, above,
light yellowish, each feather streaked with dark
brown ; the crown, crimson ; upper parts of the
breast, tinged with light crimson ; white, under-
neath. Few birds manifest a more affectionate
disposition than the little Red-poll. I have often
seen a dozen or more sitting on a branch, feeding
each other, and exhibiting other marks of kind-
ness and affection. This bird breeds in the arctic
regions.

Birds of Canada. 57

Plectrophanes nivales. — The Snow Bunting.

This is another very common winter visitor in
this part of Canada. They move in large flocks,
and are sometimes accompanied by Red-polls
and Shore Larks. Color, above, black and white ;
underneath, white; head and rump, yellowish-
brown. They breed in Lapland and other parts
of the far north.

P. Lapponicus. — Lapland Bunting.

This Bunting breeds in Lapland. Head and
neck, black, with a red crescent on the hind
neck ; rest of upper parts, black ; lower parts,
white. Visits Canada during the fall migrations.

Sub-Family Spizellin^. — -The Sparrows.
Passerculus savanna. — The Savannah Sparrow.

This sparrow arrives here about the middle of
April. Is five and a-half inches long ; the upper
parts streaked with dark brown, the crown with
a medium stripe of yellowish-gray ; eyelids, yel-
low ; the forepart of the breast, streaked ; the
under parts white. Nests on the ground ; eggs,
four to six, pale blue, mottled with purplish-
brown. Departs for the south early in October.
All the birds of this family feed upon insects
and seeds. Two broods are raised in a season.
It is a fine singer.

8

58 Birds of Canada.

Pooccetes gramineus. — The Bay-winged Bunting.

The Bay-winged Bunting is six and a-quarter
inches long ; above, yellowish-brown ; the fea-
thers streaked abruptly with dark brown ; be-
neath, yellowish-white ; the breast and belly
streaked with brown ; the wings, light chestnut-
brown. Nests, on the ground ; eggs, four to six,
bluish-white, with reddish-brown blotches. It
arrives the first week in April, and leaves for the
south the last of September. The Bay-winged
Bunting sings, for an hour at a time, in a sweet,
tender strain.

Cuturniculus passerinus. — The Yellow- winged
Sparrow.

This sparrow arrives in Ontario about the first
week in May, and leaves early in September.
It is about five inches long ; the feathers above,
brownish-rufous ; the crown, black, with a yel-
lowish-brown stripe ; the end of the wing, bright
yellow ; the lower parts are brownish-yellow.
Nests, on the ground ; eggs, six, dull white,
sprinkled with brown. Two broods- are raised
in the same season.

Zonotrichia leucophrys. — The White-crowned
Sparrow.

This bird visits us during the spring and
autumn migrations. It arrives here from the

Birds of Canada.

59

south about the middle of May, and returns
from the north, where it breeds, in October.
The song of the White-crowned Sparrow is
clear, musical, and plaintive. This bird is over
seven inches long, the wing three and a-quarter
inches ; the head above the upper half of the
loral region, and a line through and behind the
eye to the occiput, black ; a patch upon the
crown, white ; general color, pale ash above,
and white beneath. Feeds on insects, seeds,
and berries.

iT. albicollis. — The White-throated Sparrow.

The White-throated Sparrow is seven inches
long ; the crown with two black stripes, sepa-
rated by one of white ; a broad yellow stripe to
the middle of the eye, and white behind it ;
upper part of breast, dark ash ; edge of wing,
yellow ; the back, rufous-brown ; the belly, and
two bands across the wings, white. This beau-
tiful sparrow arrives in Ontario about the first
of May. Its song is indescribably sweet and
musical. I have frequently heard it at night,
when passing through the woods. Its food con-
sists of seeds, berries, and insects. They collect
in small flocks about the middle of October,
and leave for the south. Nests, on the ground ;
■eggs, four, grayisl>-white.

60 Birds of Canada.

Junco hyemalis. — The Snow Bird.

The general color of this bird is grayish or
ashy-black ; the breast, belly, and second exter-
nal tail feathers, white ; the third tail feather,
white, margined with black. Length, six inches.
This well-known bird arrives here in large flocks
during the winter, and is quite tame. Their
migrations extend from the arctic circle to the
Gulf of Mexico. Numbers of these birds remain
here through the summer ; they build their nests
in stumps, or in a clump of moss ; eggs, white,
spotted with reddish-brown and grayish-white.
There is a widespread impression that the Snow
Bird of winter is the Chipping Sparrow of the
summer. I am satisfied it is a mistake. The
Chipping Sparrow differs in plumage and size
from the Snow Bird.

Spizella monticola. — The Tree Sparrow.

*

The Tree Sparrow is six and a-quarter inches
long ; the feathers of the back, dark brown
centrally, then rufous, edged with white. The
head, chestnut ; the under parts are white, with
a blotch of brown on the chest. This bird
breeds in the northern forests.

S. pusilla. — The Field Sparrow.

The Field Sparrow arrives here about the
twentieth of April, Inhabits the pastures and

Birds of Canada. 6 1

low woods. General color, rufous red, the under
parts white, tinged before with yellow. Nests,
upon the ground ; eggs, four in number, of a
grayish-white, with blotches of lavender. The
Field Sparrows collect in flocks about the first
of September, and leave for the south.

5. sociallis. — The Chipping Sparrow.

This is one of our most common sparrows.
It arrives here the last of March, and leaves for
the south in October. It is five and a-haff
inches long. Rump, back of neck, and sides of
neck and head, ashy ; crown, chestnut ; fore-
head, black, separated in middle by white ; a
white streak over the eye ; the under parts,
white. Builds its nest in low bushes ; eggs, four
in number, greenish-blue, with dark brown spots.
Feeds upon seeds, berries, and insects.

Melospiza melodia. — The Song Sparrow.

The Song Sparrow is rufous-brown above ;
the under parts, white ; the breast and sides of
the body and throat, streaked with dark rufous.
This sparrow is one of our most common birds,
and one of the sweetest songsters of the sparrow
family. It makes its appearance here about the
middle of March. The nest is usually built on
the ground, or in a low bush ; eggs, four or five
in number, bluish-white, and variously marked.
Two broods are raised in the season.

62 Birds of Canada.

M. palustris. — The Swamp Sparrow.

This sparrow arrives from the south about the
middle of April. It prefers low, swampy locali-
ties, and is seldom seen in the open fields. This
sparrow is six inches long ; the crown, chestnut ;
forehead, black ; ash-colored streak on the side
of the head and back ; under parts, whitish,
tinged with ashy. The nest is built at the foot
of a tuft of long grass ; eggs, four in number,
grayish-white, spotted with brown. Its food is
grass-seeds, berries, and insects. The Swamp
Sparrow has no song. Departs for the south
about the tenth of October.

Sub-Family Passerellin^e. — The Buntings.

Passerella iliaca. — The Fox-colored Sparrow.

This sparrow is seven and a-half inches long.
Head, neck, rump, and middle of the back, dull
ash color ; each feather blotched with brownish-
red ; the tail, bright rufous ; the under parts of
the breast, sides, and throat, spotted with rufous.
Nests, under a low bush ; eggs, four or five, of a
greenish color, with blotches of brown.

63

Birds of Canada.

Sid-Family Spizin^e.

Emberiza americana. — -The Black-throated
Bunting.

The Black-throated Bunting is a rare spring
visitor. Length, six and a-half inches ; sides of
the head, and sides and back of the neck, ash ;
middle of the breast, yellow ; under parts, white,
with a black patch upon the throat. Breeds in
Pennsylvania and Virginia.

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.

Guiraca ludoviciana. — The Rose-breasted
Grosbeak.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak arrives in Canada
about the first of May, and remains until October,
when it goes south. General color, above, glossy

64

Birds cf Canada.

black ; a broad carmine crescent across the
breast, auxiliaries, and under wing coverts ; the
rest of the under parts, white. The song of this
beautiful and solitary bird is mellow, plaintive,
and loud. Perched upon the topmost branches
of a tree in the thickest of the wood, it wafts
forth its tender and affecting song for hours at a
time. Its food consists of berries and buds. The
nest is often built in a low shrub or tree ; eggs,
three or four in number, of a greenish-blue color,
covered with fine spots of umber-brown.

G. coorula. — The Blue Grosbeak.

The prevailing color of this extremely beautiful
and graceful bird is a brilliant blue. Length,
seven and a -half inches. Habitat, British
Columbia, Manitoba, and the extreme western
part of the United States. A very rare visitor
in Canada.

Coccothraustcs vcspertina.—T he Evening
Grosbeak.

This Grosbeak is another rare visitor from the
western part of this continent. Head and neck,
black; remaining upper parts, yellow; abdomen,
yellowish-olive ; bill, stout.

C. cardinalis. — Cardinal, or Red Bird.

The general color of this gaudy bird is Ver-
million ; a black band around the upper part of

Birds of Canada.

65

the throat and the base of the bill. Length, eight
and three-quarter inches. Habitat, Virginia and
the Carolinas. Occurs very rarely in Canada.

Cyanospiza cyanea. — The Indigo Bird.

This beautiful bird is five and a-half inches
long. The color, bright ultra-marine blue ; wing
feathers tinged with dull bluish-brown. This
bird prefers the skirts of the forests. Its song
is sweet and interesting. Nests, in low bushes ;
eggs, six ; color, blue, with purple spots. It
arrives from the south about the twentieth of
May, and returns late in September. Feeds on
insects and berries.

Pipilo erythropthalmus. — The Ground Robin, or
Chewink.

This is a common visitor. It arrives in the
vicinity of Toronto about the twentieth of May;
the males arriving about ten days before the
females. For two or three hours after sunrise,
the Chewink sits perched upon the top of a
small tree or bush, and sings with mellow sweet-
ness, which cannot fail to interest the hearer.
Nests, on the ground, beneath a tuft of grass ;
eggs, four in number, of a flesh color, withal ark
spots. Two broods, and sometimes three, are
raised in the season. They collect in flocks about
the last of October, and leave for the south.

9

66

Birds of Canada.

THE BOBOLINK.

Family ICTERID.E.

Sub-Family Agelaeinal — The Starlings.

Dolichonyx o ryz ivo rus. — -T h e Bobolink.

This well-known and beautiful bird arrives in
Canada about the last of May. Length, seven
and three-quarter inches. Color, black, beauti-
fully marked with cream color and white. The
female is yellowish beneath ; above, dark brown.
The male assumes the color of the female in the
fall. Its cheerful, loud, and jingling song is
heard in every meadow in the summer, from
morning until evening. Nests, on the ground ;
eggs, four to six, of a light ashy-blue color, with

Birds of Canada.

67

spots of dark brown. This bird feeds on insects
and seeds. Early- in September they collect in
large flocks and move southward.

Molothrus pecoris . — The Cow Bird.

The Cow Bird is eight inches long. The
breast, neck, and lower half of the breast, light
brown ; the rest of the body, bright black.
During the summer, this bird frequents pasture
fields, where cattle are grazing. It builds no
nest, but secretly deposits its eggs in the nests
of other birds — usually in the nest of a Sparrow
or Blue Bird. It lays but one egg in each nest,
of a light grayish-blue, with brown spots. The
Cow Bird feeds on insects principally. About
the last of October they collect in large flocks,
and leave for the south.

Agelaius phceniceus. — The Red-winged
Black Bird.

This bird arrives here in small flocks about the
last of March. General color, lustrous black ;
the shoulders, vermillion or bright crimson.
Nests, in a low bush in a swamp or meadow ;
eggs, four in number, of a, light blue color,
marked with brown spots. About the twentieth
of October the Red-winged Black Birds collect
in large flocks, and leave for their southern home.
Their food consists of the seeds of aquatic grasses
and grain, of which they are extremely fond, to
the injury of the farmer.

68

Birds of Canada.

MEADOW LARK.

Sturnella magna. — The Meadow Lark.

0

The Meadow Lark is one of our most common
and beautiful summer visitors. It arrives here
about the fifteenth of March. General color,
above, dark brown, with streaks of brownish-
white ; beneath, yellow, with a black pectoral
crescent. Nests, on the ground ; eggs, four or
five, pure white, slightly sprinkled with reddish-
brown blotches. Its food consists principally of
insects, worms, beetles, and grass seeds. Leaves
for the south about the first of November.

Sub-Family ICTERIN^E. — The Orioles.
Icterus spiLrius. — The Orchard Oriole.

The Orchard Oriole is seven and a-quarter
inches long ; the head, neck, and tail, black ;
under parts, brownish-chestnut ; a narrow white

Birds of Canada.

6 9

line across the wings. Nests, in orchard trees or
upon willows ; eggs, four to six, bluish-white,
sprinkled with dark brown. This oriole is a rare
visitor in Ontario. Feeds upon fruit, caterpillars,
and insects.

I. baltimore. — The Baltimore Oriole, or
Golden Robin.

This beautiful and well-known bird is one of
our regular summer visitors. It arrives here
about the middle of May. General color, black ;
the rump, upper tail coverts, lesser wing coverts,
the terminal portion of all but two tail feathers,
and the under parts, orange-red ; the edges of
quills, and a band across the tip of the greater
coverts, white. The nest of this oriole is a beau-
tiful piece of nest-architecture, and is usually
constructed on the outer drooping twigs of elm
or orchard trees ; it is a pendulous cylindric
pouch, of six or seven inches in depth ; eggs,
four or five, of a flesh color. The song of this
beautiful bird is loud, full, and mellow. About
the middle of September the Golden Robin
leaves for the south.

Sub-Family Quiscalin^e. — The Grackles.
Scolecophagus ferrugineus. — The Rusty Grackle.

This bird arrives here about the last of March,
and retires to the low swampy thickets surround-

I

70 Birds of Canada.

ing marshes. General color, black, with purple
reflections. Nests, in low bushes near the water ;
eggs, four, bluish-white. It feeds upon the seeds
of aquatic grasses, insects, and worms.

Quiscalus versicolor. — The Purple Grackle.

The Purple Grackle arrives in Ontario about
the middle of April. General color, steel-blue,
with varied reflections of purple and bronze.
Nests, in a tree in or near a marsh or pond ;
eggs, four, light brown. Food consists of grubs,
worms, and grains. These birds prove very
injurious to the farmers in the fall, as they
collect in large flocks, and visit the corn-fields,
destroying great quantities of grain.

Family CORVIDAE.

Sub-Family CORVINYE. — The Crows.

Corvus americanus. — The Crow.

This bird has a very unenviable notoriety. It
is an enemy to the farmer, and very destructive
to small birds, as it feeds upon their young.
Agricultural societies should offer a premium for
its destruction.

Corvus corax. — The Raven.

This interesting bird has become very rare
in Canada. A few specimens are occasionally

Birds of Canada.

7i

seen in the vicinity of Niagara Falls and the
Welland Canal. The Raven is twenty-six inches
in length ; the bill is large and strong ; the
plumage, deep glossy black. This species is
found in every part of the world. Its food con-
sists of dead animal matter, and, like the common
crow, it devours the eggs and young of other
birds.

Sub-Family Garrulin^e. — The Jays.

BLUE JAY.

Cyanurus cristatus. — The Blue Jay.

This elegant bird often remains in this section
of Canada throughout the year. It is, without
exception, our most beautiful bird. The head is
handsomely crested, with loose silky plumes ;
bill, black ; legs, brown ; the whole bird is of a
fine blue color, the under parts, with the wings
and tail, marked by bars ; neck, encircled with

72

Birds of Canada.

black ring. It has the cruel habit of destroying
the young of other birds. Its nest is usually
built in a small cedar or pine tree ; eggs, four in
number, of a light green color, spotted with
brown. The Blue Jay is one of the noisiest
birds of our forests, its notes being discordant
and harsh.

Perisorens canadensis. — The Canada Jay.

This Jay is a rare visitor in Ontario. Its
habitat is Labrador and eastern Canada. Nests,
in a fir-tree ; eggs, four, of a light gray color.
The head, neck, and breast, are white ; rest of
upper parts, ashy-plumbeous ; beneath, light
gray. It resembles the Blue Jay in motions and
note, and is equally rapacious and destructive.

V V'

Birds of Canada.

73

Order IV. —QWVtS. (gmtihm. )
SUB-ORDER COLUMB7E.

Family COLUMBID^E. THE DOVES.

Sub-Family Columbine.

Ectopistes migratoria. — The Wild Pigeon.

This well-known bird is a resident of Canada,
except in the most severe cold weather. Its
migrations are made solely to obtain food. They
pass from one section of the continent to another
in immense flocks. The nests are usually built
in the forked branch of a tree. I have often
seen thirty or forty nests in one tree. The eggs
are two in number, pure white, with a slight red
tint. Feeds upon grain and seeds.

Zenaidura carolinensis. — The Carolina Dove.

The Carolina Dove is an irregular summer
visitor in Canada. Color, above, blue, overlaid
with olive-brown ; under parts, light reddish-
brown ; breast, purplish-red ; bill, black ; feet,
yellow. This dove sits upon the ground during
the night. Nests, in a tree ; eggs, two in
number, pure white,

10

74

Birds of Canada.

SUB-ORDER GALLIN7E.

Family TETRAONID.E. THE GROUSE.

Tetrao canadensis. — The Canada Grouse, or
Spruce Partridge.

This well-known bird is a permanent resident,
and may be found in large numbers in the back
settlements of Canada. It is stately and grace-
ful in its movements. General color of the head,
neck, and body of the male bird is transversely
barred with dusky and gray brown ; over the
eyelids is a bare red space ; nostrils covered with
black, with a small white spot on each side, and
one beneath ; throat, breast, and belly, black ;
the latter spotted with white, except the middle ;
sides of the body barred transversely with gray-
brown and dusky ; the feathers with a white
stripe near the tip ; under tail coverts, black and
white ; tail, black, tipped with rufous ; feathers
of the tarsi, gray-brown ; claws, gray ; beak,
black. Nests, upon the ground ; eggs, eight or
ten in number, of a light buff, with brown spots.

Birds of Canada.

75

RUFFLED GROUSE.

Bonasa /umbellns. — The Ruffled Grouse, or
Partridge.

This Partridge is a permanent resident of
Canada. It is often found in the open woods
and evergreen thickets in well settled districts.
When walking it struts with a haughty step,
elevating its ruff, and spreading its pretty tail.
The habits of this Partridge are solitary ; it is
seldom found in coveys of more than six or
eight together. General color, above, reddish-
brown ; the back, with light brown ; beneath,
white, barred with dull brown ; the feathers of
the ruff, black ; tail, grayish, with a black bar
near the end. Nests, upon the ground, at the
foot of a bush, or under an old log ; eggs, eight
to twelve, of a yellow-white color.

Tetrao phasianellus . — The Sharp-tailed Grouse.

Habitat, British Columbia and Manitoba.
Accidental in Canada. Color, above, yellowish-

76

Birds of Canada.

red and brownish-black ; throat, reddish-white,
with dusky spots ; breast and sides, covered with
dusky spots ; abdomen, white.

Family PERDICID^E.

Sub-Family Ortygiill.

Ortyx virginianus. — The Virginia Partridge,
or Quail.

The Virginia Partridge is brownish-red, above ;
underneath, white ; the head marked with white
and black. Length, ten inches. Nests on the
ground ; eggs, white, ten or more in number.
This beautiful Partridge has become almost
extirict in Canada. It is often called “ Bob
White,” on account of its peculiar cry.

Family PHASIANID.E.

Meleagris gallopavo. — The Wild Turkey.

This magnificent fowl is a permanent resident
of Canada. Color, copper-bronze, with green
reflections, each feather with a black margin ;
tail, chestnut, barred with black ; head, livid-
blue, and the legs, red. In other respects it
resembles the domestic turkey. The great
beauty and size of this bird, and the fact of its
being the origin of all the domestic varieties,
render it a most interesting species.

Birds of Canada.

77

Order Y. — (WMmS.)
SUB-ORDER HERODIONES.
Family ARDEID^E. THE HERONS.

GREAT BLUE HERON.

Ardca herodias. — The Great Blue Heron.

The Great Blue Heron is a regular summer
visitor in Canada. It usually arrives here about

78

Birds of Canada .

the twentieth of April, and remains until the
tenth or fifteenth of October, when it leaves for
the south. The general color of this heron is a
delicate gray ; throat and neck, white, with
patches of dark bluish-gray ; a black line over
the eye; a pendant tuft at the junction of the
neck and breast ; a long plume of a bluish-black
color. This bird is extremely shy, and is ap-
proached with difficulty. It frequents marshes
and the borders of lakes and rivers, and feeds
upon reptiles and fishes. When standing erect
the Great Blue Heron will measure from four
and a-half to five feet ; its beak is seven to eight
inches in length, very strong, and can be used
with terrible force as an offensive weapon. The
nest of this bird is usually built in the top of a
large tree ; eggs, four or five, of a pale green
color.

Ardetta exilis. — The Least Bittern.

This bird is a frequent summer visitor to the
marsh, east of Toronto. It is solitary and noc-
turnal in its habits. General color, dark green,
above, and purplish-brown on the sides and
underneath. Length, thirteen inches; wing, four
and a-half inches. Nests, in low bushes on the
margin of ponds or marshes ; eggs, four in num-
ber, of a greenish-yellow color. Feeds upon
small reptiles and fish.

Birds of Canada.

79

GREAT BITTERN.

Botaurus l en tight os us. — T h e Great Bittern,
or Stake Driver.

The Great Bittern arrives in Canada about the
middle of April, and remains until late in Octo-
ber. The general color of this bittern is a rich
brownish-buff, covered with streaks and mottlings
of black, brown, gray, and chestnut. Nests, on
marshy ground ; eggs, four or five, pale brown.
Its food consists of reptiles and insects.

Butorides 'virescens. — The Green Heron.

The Green Heron is eighteen inches long ;
above, dark green ; wings and tail, green ; legs,
yellow ; belly, ashy-brown ; head, has> a crest of

8o

Birds of Canada.

glossy-green feathers. This Heron is occasion-
ally seen in Canada in the spring. Nests, in
trees in swampy woods ; eggs, four in number ;
of a pale light blue color. Feeds upon crabs,
frogs, and worms.

Nyctiardea Gardenii . — The Night Heron.

The Night Heron arrives in the vicinity of
Toronto about the fifteenth or twentieth of April.
General color, above, steel-green ; wings and
tail, ashy-blue ; under parts and sides, a lilac
color. Length, twenty inches ; the bill is
slightly arched, strong, and black. During the
day this bird is often seen perched upon the
top of a tall tree in a swamp, but when night
approaches it begins its flight in pursuit of food,
which consists principally of insects, frogs, lizards,
and fish. The nest of the Night Heron is built
in a tree ; eggs, four ; of a greenish-yellow color.

Family GRUID^E. THE CRANES.

Grus canadensis. — The Sandhill Crane.

The Sandhill Crane is an accidental visitor ;
a few specimens are occasionally seen during the
spring and autumn migrations. Breeds in Mani-
toba and British Columbia. Length, fifty inches ;
beak, four inches ; top of the head covered with
a red skin ; neck, gray ; belly, breast, sides, and
thighs, ash color ; tail, deep ash color ; legs and
bare part of the thigh, black.

Birds of Canada. 8 1

Crus americana. — The White Crane.

This magnificent bird occasionally visits West-
ern Canada. It is fifty-two inches in length ;
the plumage, pure white. Its migrations extend
from South America to the arctic circle.

Ibis falcinellus. — The Glossy Ibis.

This beautiful bird is an accidental visitor.
Head, glossy green, with purple reflections; neck,
back, breast, and abdomen, dark chestnut ; part
of breast shaded with green ; sides, dusky, tinged
with green ; edge of wings, dark red, upper parts,
dark green, glossed with purple. Breeds in Vir-
ginia and Florida.

SUB-ORDER GRALLiE.

Family CHARADRIDAT THE PLOVERS.

Charadrius virginicus. — The Golden Plover.

This Plover passes through Canada about the
last of April, on its way north to breed. About
the first of September, they again visit Canada in
small flocks while migrating southward. Color,
above, brownish-black, with irregular spots of
golden-yellow ; beneath, black, with lustrous
brown. Nests, in the grass; eggs, four, of a
light buff color,
ll

82 Birds of Canada.

EEgialitis vociferus . — The Kill-deer Plover.

The Kill-deer Plover is a summer resident of
Canada. Color, above, light brown ; rump,
rufous ; black band on the breast ; and around
the neck a black ring ; beneath, white. It is
called “ Kill-deer from its note. Nests, on the
ground ; eggs, four, light buff color.

EE. montanus. — The Mountain Plover.

The Mountain Plover is an accidental visitor
in Canada. Length, nine inches. Color, grayish-
brown. Breeds in Manitoba and British Columbia.

EE. Wilsonius. — Wilson’s Plover.

This bird is occasionally met with in Canada
late in the fall. Breeds in Delaware, Virginia,
and the Carolinas. Color, ashy-brown above,
the feathers edged with pale ashy ; band on the
breast, brownish-black ; bill, black ; legs, yellow.
Length, eight inches.

EE. semi-palmatns. — Semi-palmated Plover.

This Plover breeds north of Ontario. Spring
and fall visitor. Color, above, light ashy-brown ;
beneath, white. Length, seven inches.

EE. meloaus. — The Piping Plover.

The Piping Plover arrives from the south
about the last of April. It is a regular summer

Birds of Canada.

33

visitor in Canada. Color, above, light brown ;
beneath, white ; length, eight inches. Nests, in
the sand ; eggs, four, light buff.

Squatarola Helvetica. — The Black-bellied Plover.

This Plover breeds north of Ontario. Arrives
in Canada in September, in flocks. In their
habits they closely resemble the Golden Plover.
Color, above, white ; beneath, black ; sides of
the neck and rump, ashy ; bill and legs, black.
Length, eleven and a-half inches.

Family H^MATOPIDIMl. THE
O YSTER-CA TCHERS.

ITcematopus palliatus. — The Oyster-catchers.

This species is a rare visitor in Canada. Plead,
neck, upper part of breast, quill feathers, and
latter half of tail feathers, deep shining black :
the rest of the plumage is pure white ; bill,
three inches long, and flattened sideways.

IT. niger. — Backman’s Oyster-catcher.

The general color of this bird is dark brown ;
head and breast, brownish-black. It is occasion-
ally shot, in the fall, on the island opposite
Toronto.

84

Birds of Canada.

Strepsilas interpr.es . — The Turnstone.

The Turnstone breeds in Manitoba. Visits
Canada in small numbers in the spring and fall.
Color, black, rufous, and white, above ; abdomen,
white ; head and neck, marked with stripes of
brownish-black.

melanocephala. — The Black Turnstone.

This species is an accidental visitor. Color,
darker than the preceding. Length, eleven inches.

Family RECURVIROSTRIDiE. THE
A VO SETS.

Rccurvirostra americana. — The American Avoset.

The Avoset is quite accidental in Canada. On
the shores of the Caspian and the salt lakes of
Tartary they are very abundant. Specimens
have been shot late in the fall on the island,
opposite Toronto. Length, seventeen inches ;
The head and neck, pale reddish-brown ; back
and quills, black ; other parts, white. The bill,
which is three inches long, turns up like a hook,
and is flat, thin, and sharp.

Family PHALAROPODIDyE. THE
PHALAROPES.

Phalaropus hyperboreus. — The Northern
Phalarope.

The Northern Phalarope is an occasional
spring and fall visitor in Canada. Breeds in

Birds of Canada.

85

Manitoba ; nests, on the ground ; eggs, four in
number, of a brownish-drab color. This beauti-
ful little bird is a swimmer as well as a wader :
its motions, while swimming and wading, are
exceedingly graceful and interesting. The migra-
tions of this species extend from Manitoba to
the Gulf of Mexico. Head and neck, sooty-
ash color; wings, back, and tail, brownish-black ;
abdomen, white ; legs and bill, dark ; throat and
breast, white ; and the neck, with a ring of bright
ferruginous.

P. Wilsonii. — Wilson’s Phalarope.

Wilson’s Phalarope is also an occasional visitor
in Canada. Color, dark above ; white, beneath ;
a stripe of bright reddish-brown around the neck,
running upwards to the back.

P . fulicarius. — The Red Phalarope.

Several specimens of this rare and beautiful
bird have been shot near Toronto this fall. Gene-
ral color, deep slate, streaked with brownish-
yellow, and reddish-chocolate.

Family SCOLOPACID^E. THE SNIPES.

Philohela minor. — The Woodcock.

This well-known bird arrives here early in
March. Color, above, variegated with reddish-
black and ashy ; underneath, rufous ; legs, pale
red ; bill, dark brown. Nests, on the ground,

86

Birds of Canada.

beneath a log or bush ; eggs, four ; of a yellow-
ish-drab color, with dark brown blotches. Early
in November the Woodcock leaves for the south.

WILSON’S SNIPE.

Gallinago Wilsonii. — Wilson’s Snipe.

Wilson’s Snipe is a well-known summer visitor
in Canada. It arrives about the tenth of March.
Feeds upon earthworms principally. Nests, on
the ground ; eggs, four, of an olive-drab color,
slightly marked with brown spots. General color,
above, brownish-black, marked with light rufous,
yellowish-brown, or ashy-white ; underneath,
white. Late in the fall this snipe goes south.

Birds of Canada.

87

Macrorhamphns griseus.— The Gray Snipe.

The Gray Snipe’ is dark-ashy above ; pale
reddish and black on the back ; rump and upper
tail coverts, white ; under parts, pale red and
brownish-black. This snipe arrives here about
the twentieth of April. Breeds in the north, and
again visits Canada about the first of September.

M. scolopaccus. — The Greater Longbeak.

This snipe is an irregular visitor in Canada.
Length, twelve inches ; color, above, brownish-
black, and yellow ; beneath, wood-brown, with
spots of umber.

Sub-Family TRINGIN/E.- — The Sandpipers ,

T r,inga canutus. — The Gray-back, or Robin
Snipd.

The Gray-back is a spring and fall visitor. It
is the largest of the Sandpipers. Upper parts,
light gray, with irregular spots of black ; under
parts, light reddish-brown. Breeds in the north.

T. Cooperii. — Cooper’s Sandpiper.

This Sandpiper occasionally visits Canada
during the spring and fall migrations.

T. inaritima. — The Purple Sandpiper.

This pretty bird is frequently seen in Canada
in the fall. Breeds in the far north. Head and
upper parts, smoky-brown, with a purple tinge ;
under parts, white.

88 Birds cf Canada.

T. siLbarquata. — The Curlew Sandpiper.

The Curlew Sandpiper is a very rare visitor in
Canada. Upper parts, brownish-black, spotted
with bright yellowish-red ; under parts, dark
yellowish-rufous.

T. alpina. — The Red-backed Sandpiper.

This species visits Canada during the spring
and autumn in large numbers. Upper parts,
dark ash color ; abdomen, white ; breast, pale
ash, with streaks of brown.

T. maculata. — The Jack Snipe.

The Jack Snipe is a regular spring and fall
vititor, usually arriving in Canada early in May
and about the middle of September. It is com-
monly called “ Grass Bird,” by which name it is
generally known.

T. Wilsonii. — -The Least Sandpiper, or Peep.

This Sandpiper is the smallest of the family.
It arrives in Canada about the middle of May,
and soon leaves for the interior of the country,
where it breeds.

T. Bonapartii. — Bonaparte’s Sandpiper.

Bonaparte’s Sandpiper is light ashy-brown,
above ; darker on the rump ; under parts, white.
Arrives here in small flocks during the spring
and fall migrations.

Birds of Canada .

89

Calidvis arenaria. — The Sanderling, or
Beach-bird.

The Sanderling breeds in Manitoba. It has
all the characteristics of the Sandpipers. Upper
parts, light ashy ; under parts, pure white ; no
hind toe ; front toes rather long ; bill, straight
and rather thick. It visits Canada in small flocks
early in September.

Ereunetes petrificatus . — The Semi-palmated
Sandpiper.

This Sandpiper is six and a-half inches in
length, and has the feet semi-palmated. In other
respects it resembles the Least Sandpiper.
Breeds in Manitoba. It is accidental in Canada.

Micropalma himantopns . — The Stilt Sandpiper.

The Stilt Sandpiper is an occasional visitor
during the fall migrations.

Sub-Family TOTANIN^E. — The Stilts.

Symphemia semipalmata. — The Willet.

The Willet is dark ashy above ; rump and
under parts, white. Breeds in Canada. Nests,
on the sandy beach of an island ; eggs, four in
number, of a pale olive color.

12

90

Birds of Canada .

Gambetta melanoleuca. — The Greater Yellow-legs,
or Tell-tale.

This species breeds in Manitoba. Visits
Canada in the spring and fall. Entire upper
parts of the body, cinereous ; under parts,
white ; neck and legs, long ; legs, yellow.

G. jlavipes. — The Yellow-legs.

The Yellow-legs is well-known in Canada as
a spring and fall visitor. It is smaller than the
preceding bird. Breeds in the northern part of
this continent.

Rhyacop]iiliissolitarius.-^T\\<z Solitary Sandpiper.

The Solitary Sandpiper is frequently called
“ Wagtail,” from its habit of nodding its head
and tipping up its tail. Remains in Canada
through the summer. Upper parts, greenish-
brown, with spots of ashy-white ; under parts,
white ; bill, curved upward from the middle.

Tringoides macularius . — The Spotted Sandpiper.

The Spotted Sandpiper arrives in Canada in
large flocks early in April, and remains through
the summer. Nests, in the sand ; eggs, four in
number, of a yellowish-buff color. Upper parts,
brownish- olive-green, with irregular spots of
brownish-black ; under parts, white.

Birds of Canada . 91

Actiturus Bartramius. — The Field Plover.

The Field Plover breeds in Canada. Fre-
quents grain fields and meadows. Upper parts
brownish-black, with a greenish lustre ; under
parts, pale yellowish-white ; middle tail feathers,
greenish-brown ; legs, light yellow. Nests, on
the ground ; eggs, four, of a creamy-drab color.

Tryngites rufescens. — The Buff-breasted
Sandpiper.

This species is frequently seen in Canada
during the fall migration. Breeds in the arctic
regions. Legs, long ; upper parts, pale ashy-
brown, with a yellowish tinge ; under parts, light
yellowish-red.

Limosa fedoa. — The Marbled Godwit.

The Marbled Godwit is a spring and autumn
visitor. Bill, long, curved upwards ; wings, long ;
tail, short ; legs, long ; upper parts, brownish-
black and pale reddish ; under parts, pale rufous,
with lines of brownish-black.

Z. hudsonica. — The Hudsonian Godwit.

This bird is an irregular fall visitor. Color,
brownish-black above ; underneath, yellowish-
red ; feathers, tipped with white ; length, eighteen
inches ; bill, three inches.

92

Birds of Canada.

LONG-BILLED CURLEW.

Numenius longirostris. — The Long-billed Curlew.

The Long-billed Curlew is a regular spring
and fall visitor in Canada. Bill, very long, and
curved downwards ; upper parts, pale rufous,
with lines of black on the neck and sides ; legs,
bluish-brown.

N. hudsonicus. — The Short-billed Curlew.

The Short-billed Curlew is also a spring and
fall visitor. Bill, smaller than the preceding ;
head, above, brownish-black ; other upper parts,
brownish-black, tinged with ashy.

N. borealis. — The Esquimaux Curlew.

This Curlew is not often seen in Canada, as it
merely remains for a few days during the spring
and fall migrations. They breed in the far north.
It is easily distinguished from the other two by
its smaller size, and its small and weak bill.

Birds of Canada. 93

Sub-Family Rallin^e. — The Rails.

R alius elegans. — The Marsh Hen.

The Marsh Hen occasionally visits Canada in
the spring and autumn. Upper parts, olive-
brown ; underneath, chestnut.

R. crepitans. — The Clapper Rail.

The Clapper Rail is a summer resident of
Canada. Color, above, light ashy-olive ; neck
and breast, tawny ; abdomen and sides, brownish-
black. Nests, on the ground, in or near a marsh ;
eggs, seven, of a creamy-drab color.

R. virginianus. — The Virginia Rail.

This species visits^Canada in the spring, and
remains until September. Upper parts, olive-
brown, with stripes of brownish-black ; throat,
white; breast, \ bright rufous. Nests, in low
meadows ; eggs, eight, of a deep buff color.
Food consists of insects and worms.

P orzand\carolina. — The Carolina Rail.

The Carolina Rail arrives in Canada about the
tenth of April, and frequents the marshes and
meadows. Upper parts, greenish-brown, with
bands of black ; the sides of the neck and breast,
bluish-ash ; bill, greenish-yellow ; legs, green.
Nests, on the ground ; eggs, eight in number, of

94

Birds of Canada.

a yellow-drab color, with an olive-tint. In Oc- .
tober, or early in November, this species collect
in flocks and leave for the coasts of Florida and
Louisiana.

P. jamaicensis. — The Little Black Rail.

This pretty little Rail is an occasional fall
visitor in Canada. Length, five inches. Color,
blackish-brown.

P. noveboracensis. — The Yellow Rail.

This bird is a summer resident of Canada.
Nests, in the grass ; eggs, fourteen or fifteen,
pure white. The upper parts are yellow-ochre
color, with stripes of brownish-black ; neck and
breast, reddish-yellow ; abdomen, white.

Crex pratensis. — The Corn Crake.

The Corn Crake is accidental in Canada.
Color, blackish-brown. Length, ten inches. Bill,
greenish-black.

Fulica americana. — The Coot.

The Coot is fourteen inches long. Upper parts,
dark slate color, with an olive tint on the back
and rump ; head, black; abdomen, white. Breeds
in Canada. Nests, in a bog, or near a muddy
pond ; eggs, twelve, of a light buff color.

Birds of Canada.

95

PURPLE GALLINULE.

Gallinule martin ica. — T h e Purple Gallinule.

The Purple Gallinule is twelve inches long.
Upper parts, dark olive-green ; bill, bright red,
tipped with yellow ; under parts, bluish-purple ;
legs, yellow. An occasional visitor to the marsh,
east of Toronto.

96

Birds of Canada.

Order Vf.—^atatorcs. (fuimmmi.)

SUB-ORDER ANSERES.

Sub-Family Cygnin^e. — The Swans.

Cygnus americanus. — The American Swan.

This magnificent bird is rare in the eastern
part of Canada ; in the west it is occasionally
met with in the vicinity of the river St. Clair.
Several beautiful specimens were obtained near
Goderich in the summer of 1870. The adult
bird is pure white ; the bill and legs, black ; the
tail has twenty feathers. The young birds are
brown, with a reddish tint. Breeds in the north-
west. Nests, on the ground ; eggs, eight in
number, of an olive-green color. This swan is
fifty-four inches long. -

C. buccinator. — The Trumpeter Swan.

This beautiful swan is an accidental visitor,
rarely seen east of Toronto. It is sixty-two
inches long. Pure white ; the bill and legs,
black* Its notes are loud and sonorous. Breeds
in the north-west.

Birds of Canada. 97

Sub-Family ANSERINE. — The Geese.

Anser hyperboreus. — The Snow Goose.

The Snow Goose is an occasional visitor in
Canada. It is two feet eight inches in length,
and its extended wings are five feet. The bill
of this bird is very curious, the edges having
each strong projecting teeth; and the tongue,
which is horny at the extremity, is armed on
each side with thirteen long and sharp teeth.
The upper mandible is bright red ; the lower,
white. The head, neck, and body of the adult
bird are pure white ; the quills are white for
half their length, the rest, black ; the legs are
deep red. The Snow Goose inhabits the arctic
regions, occasionally migrating to Canada and
the more temperate climes of Virginia and
Maryland.

A. Gambelli. — The White-fronted Goose.

The White-fronted Goose is an accidental
visitor. It is smaller than the Snow Goose.
Color, grayish ; forehead, white ; bill and legs,
red. The tail has sixteen feathers. Breeds in
the far north.

A. frontalis. — The Brown-fronted Goose.

The Brown-fronted Goose is occasionally seen
.in Canada. It inhabits the frozen regions of the

13

98

Birds of Canada .

north. It resembles the White-fronted Goose in
general appearance. The forehead, however, is
dark brown instead of white.

CANADA GOOSE.

Bernicla canadensis. — The Canada Goose,
or Wild Goose.

The Canada Goose is a well known spring and
fall visitor, passing here in flocks, in March or
April, for the northern part of this continent,
where it breeds, and remains until the hard frosts
begin, when they leave for a more temperate
climate. Immense flocks of these geese can be
seen almost daily on their way to the south,

Birds of Canada.

99

during the last of October and through the
month of November. Each flock is usually
attended by an old gander, who every now and
then calls out his well known “ honkf which is
replied to by several members of the flock. The
Canada Goose is thirty-five inches long. The
upper parts, brownish ; the lower, a pale brown,
with a Tinge of purple-gray or smoky-brown;
head, neck, bill, and feet, black ; a patch of
white on the cheek, behind the eye. Tail, of
eighteen feathers.

B. leucopareia. — The White-cheeked Goose.

The White-cheeked Goose is smaller than the
Canada Goose, and much darker in color. It is
distinguished by a white cheek. Accidental in
Canada. Habitat, British Columbia.

B. brenta. — The Brant.

This bird closely resembles the Canada Goose
in its habits. It is twenty-four inches long. Bill,
feet, head, tail, and neck, black. On each side
of the middle of the neck is a small white cres-
cent, streaked with black ; the belly, gray, pass-
ing into white behind.

Sab -Family ANATIN^E. — The River Ducks.

Anas boschas. — The Mallard, or Green-head.

This well known duck breeds in Canada.
Nests, in a meadow, or near a pond ; eggs, ten

IOO

Birds of Canada.

or twelve, of a yellowish-white. The Green-head
is the original of our domestic duck.

A. obscnra. — The Black Duck, or Dusky Duck.

The Black Duck is the most abundant of all
our ducks. Breeds in Canada. Nests, near a
pond or stream ; eggs, six, white. General color,
bluish-brown, tinged with black.

Dafila acuta. — The Pintail Duck.

This beautiful duck is a well known visitor in
Canada. Head and neck, pale brown ; sides of
the breast and part of the back, white, tinged
with pale buff ; tail, pointed, the two middle
feathers five inches longer than the others, and
black ; legs, pale lead color. Breeds in the far
north.

Nettion carolinensis. — The Green-winged Teal.

This pretty fowl is very abundant in Canada
in the spring and fall. It frequently breeds here.
Nests, on the ground, in close proximity to a
pond or stream ; eggs, seven or eight in number,
of a dusky- white color. This Teal is about
fifteen inches in length ; the head is dusky ; the
top of the head, cheeks, and neck are chestnut-
red ; the throat is black ; a broad green band
extends from the eye to the nape ; the lower
part of the neck, back, and sides, are alternately
striped with lines of white and black ; the breast
is reddish, and spotted ; the belly, a yellowish-
white.

Birds of Canada. ioi

Querquedala discors. — The Blue-winged Teal.

The Blue-winged Teal is a regular spring and
fall visitor. This species is smaller than the
preceding ; the bill is long, and of a dark dusky
slate color ; the front and upper part of the
head are black ; from the eye to the chin is a
large crescent of white, the rest of the head and
half the neck are of a dark slate, richly glossed
with green and violet ; remainder of the neck
and breast is black or dusky ; belly, pale brown,
barred with dusky, in narrow lines ; back, deep
brownish-black, each feather waived with large
semi-ovals of brownish-white ; lesser wing coverts,
a bright light blue. Habits similar to those of
the Green-winged Teal.

Q. cyanoptera. — The Red-breasted Teal.

This pretty fowl occasionally visits our waters
in company with the other Teals.

Spatida clypeata. — The Shoveller, or Spoonbill.

The Spoonbill breeds in the north-west. Visits
Canada in the spring and autumn. Head and
neck, green ; forepart, and sides of the breast,
white ; rest of under parts, purplish-chestnut.

Chaulelasmus streperiLS. — The Gadwall, or
Gray Duck.

This species breeds in the far north. Visits
Canada during the spring and fall migrations.

102

Birds of Canada.

Head and neck, brownish-white ; forepart of
breast and back, blackish ; underneath, plum-
beous-gray.

Mareca americana. — Baldpate, or American
Widgeon.

This beautiful fowl breeds in Manitoba. Visits
Canada in company with Teals and Canvass-
back Ducks. Head and Neck, gray, spotted
with black ; a broad green patch around and
behind the eye ;• top of the head, nearly white.

Aix sponsa. — The Summer Duck, or Wood Duck.

This bird is, without exception, the most beau-
tiful of all our ducks. It builds its nest in a

Birds of Canada.

103

hollow tree, or on a limb that hangs over water ;
eggs, twelve or thirteen, of a yellowish-white
color. The Wood Duck is easily domesticated,
and becomes quite tame, breeding, and soon
acquiring all the habits of the common duck.
Head and crest, greenish-purple, with white lines;
throat, white ; breast, reddish-brown, marked
with white ; wings and back, green, with purple
reflections ; sides, ashy-gray ; abdomen, white ;
tail, purplish-green above, .brown beneath; the
whole plumage beautifully variegated with pur-
ple, green, chestnut, white, and ashy.

Siib- Family FULIGULINJE. — The Sea Ducks.

Fidix collaris. — The Ring-necked Duck.

This duck is distinguished by a chestnut
collar around the middle of the neck. Color,
above, black ; beneath, white. Frequents the
Lower St. Lawrence in the fall.

F. marila. — The Scaup Duck, or Blue Bill

The Scaup Duck breeds in the north-west.
Visits Canada during the spring and autumn
migrations, in small flocks. Head, neck, shoul-
ders, back, and tail, black ; under parts, white ;
bill, blue ; legs plumbeous ; iris, yellow.

104 Birds of Canada.

F. affmis. — The Little Black-head Duck.

This pretty and well known bird sometimes
breeds in Canada. It is often called “ Blue-bill
Coot ” by our sportsmen. Head, neck, shoulders,
lower part of back and tail, black ; belly, sides,
and inner wing surfaces, pure white ; wings,
blackish, with purple reflections.

Ay thy a americana. — The Red-head Duck.

This fine duck is generally very abundant in
Canada. It breeds here. Head and neck, for
more than half its length, brownish-red ; rest of
neck and body anterior to the shoulders, and
lower part of the back, black ; beneath, white.

A. vallisneria. — The Canvass-back Duck.

This much esteemed Duck is becoming quite
rare in Ontario, where it was, a few years since,
abundant. This duck is twenty-three or twenty-
four inches long ; beak, large and black ; the
head and part of the neck, of a rich, glossy red-
dish chestnut, ending in a broad span of black
that covers the upper part of the breast ; back,
scapulas, lower part of the breast, and belly,
white ; tail, short and pointed ; legs and feet,
pale ash. Breeds in northern Canada.

Birds of Canada. 105

Bucephala islandica. — Barrow’s Duck.

This duck breeds in the arctic regions. Visits
Canada late in the fall. Head and neck, violet-
blue ; a large white patch anterior to the eye ;
lower neck and under parts, white ; a narrow
white patch on the middle wing coverts ; rest of
upper parts, black.

B.americana. — The Golden-eye, or Whistle Wing.

This duck breeds in Canada. Nests, in a tall
dead tree, or in the top of a stub ; eggs, six or
eight, of a greenish-blue color. Head and upper
part of neck, green ; back and tail, black ; under
parts, white.

v

B. albeola , — The Buffle-head, or Dipper.

This is a common and well known bird. It
breeds in Canada. Nests, in the holes of dead
trees ; eggs, six, of a yellowish-blue color. Color,
above, black ; beneath, white ; in front of the
eye and on the sides of the collar behind, rich
green ; a patch of white on each side of the head.

Histrionicus torqitatus. — -The Harlequin Duck.

The Harlequin Duck breeds in the far north.
Visits Canada in the fall. Head and neck, dark
blue ; sides and upper parts, light blue, becoming
darker near the tail ; under parts generally white.

14

io6

Birds cf Canada.

Harelda glacialis. — The Long-tailed Duck, or
Old Wife.

This duck is a frequent visitor during the
spring and fall migrations. Breeds in the north-
ern part of this continent. Head, neck, and
breast, blackish-brown ; sides of the head and
body, bluish-gray ; under parts, white.

Melanetta velvetina. — The Velvet Duck, or
White-winged Coot.

The Velvet Duck is a regular fall visitor,
usually arriving in October. General color,
black ; a white patch around and behind the
eye, and a large white speculum on the wing.

Pelionetta perspicillata. — The Surf Duck.

The Surf Duck breeds in the northern part of
Canada. Color, black, with a greenish lustre ;
a white patch on the top of the head.

Oidemia americana. — The Black Scoter.

The Black Scoter is an irregular visitor in
Canada. General color, black.

Sanatoria mollissinia. — The Eider Duck.

This well known duck breeds in abundance in
Labrador and in northern Canada. During the

Birds of Canada.

o 7

fall and early winter it is occasionally shot near
Toronto. Color, above, white ; beneath, black ;
forehead and sides of the head, black.

vS. spectabilis . — The King Duck, or King Eider.

This is a more northern species than the
preceding. It is seldom seen in Ontario. Speci-
mens are occasionally obtained in the Gulf of
St. Lawrence. Length, twenty-one and a-half
inches. Body and wings, black ; throat, white ;
top of head, bluish-ash ; sides of , the head,
green.

Sub-Family ErismaturinJe.

Erismatura rubida. — The Ruddy Duck, or
Dipper.

The Ruddy Duck is a spring and fall visitor.
Length, sixteen inches ; color, chestnut-red
above ; grayish-white below ; top of head, black.
Visits Canada during the fall migrations.

E. dominica. — The Black-masked Duck.

This species is an accidental visitor in Canada.
Its habitat is Labrador, the Lower St. Lawrence,
and Lake Champlain.

io8 Birds of Canada.

Sub-Family Merging. — The Sheldrakes.

Mergus serrator. — The Red-breasted Merganser.

The Red-breasted Merganser breeds in Canada.
The head and neck is dark green ; under parts,
yellowish-white. Head with a conspicuous crest.
Nests, in a marsh, or on an island ; eggs, ten,
light drab.

M. americanus. — The Goosander, or Fish Duck.

This beautiful fowl frequently breeds in On-
tario. It builds its nest on the top of a tall
stump, or on the branch of a dead tree ; eggs,
eight in number, of a pale creamy white. Head
and neck, green ; back, black ; under parts,
salmon color ; wings, white, crossed by a band
of black.

HOODED MERGANSER.

Lophodytes cucullatus. — The Hooded Merganser.

This elegant bird is not so common as the
other Mergansers. It breeds in Canada. Nests,

i

Birds of Canada.

109

in the top of a stub or in a tall pine ; eggs,
twelve or fourteen in number, of a clear white
color. This species is eighteen inches long ; the
head, neck, and tail, black ; the under parts and
centre of the crest, white.

SUB-ORDER GAVUE.

Family PELICANID^E. THE PELICANS .

Pelicanns fuscus. — The Brown Pelican.

The Brown Pelican is fifty-six inches long ;
bill, thirteen and a-half inches ; color, dark.
Several specimens of this fine bird have been
shot in Ontario within the last two years.
They are accidental visitors.

P. erythroidiyiichns. — The Rough-billed Pelican.

This magnificent bird is seventy inches in
length ; the prevailing color, white. It is an
occasional visitor in Ontario.

Family SULID IE. THE GANNETS.

Sida bassana. — The Common Gannet.

This species breeds on the coast of Labrador
and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Visits Ontario

no

Birds of Canada.

in the fall, in flocks of twenty or thirty. Length,
thirty eight inches ; general color, white. Feeds
upon fish, which it obtains by plunging from a
height, often remaining under water for several
minutes. The nest of the gannet is made of
sea-weed and grasses, placed on the rocks near
the sea coast. It lays but one egg, of a pale
green color.

Family GRACULID^:. THE
CORMORANTS.

Gracidus carbo. — The Common Cormorant.

%

This species breeds in Canada. They are
quite common in the interior of the country.
Nests, in the crevices of rocks ; eggs, three of a
bluish-green color. Among the whole of the
web-footed birds which prey on fish, there are
none so voracious as Cormorants. They are
most excellent divers, and pursue their prey
with astonishing facility beneath the surface of
the water, but upon land they are extremely
awkward in their movements, owing to their legs
being placed so far backwards : they, however,
fly with rapidity ; and the tail being rather long,
and furnished with strong feathers, it helps to
support the body while walking. As soon as
winter approaches, they are seen dispersed along
the sea shores, entering the mouths of fresh-water

Birds of Canada.

1 1 1

rivers, and threatening destruction to all the
finny tribe. The Common Cormorant is thirty-
seven inches in length ; the color, bluish-black,
gular sac, yellow, with a broad white band at
the base.

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT.

Graculus dilophns. — The Double-crested
Cormorant.

This species is not so well known as the pre-
ceding. Its habits arc similar to the Common
Cormorant. Breeds in Labrador. The head,
neck, lower part of the back, and entire under
surface, is greenish-black ; upper mandible, dark
brown ; lower, yellow ; iris, green' ; legs and feet,
black ; gular sac, orange ; behind each eye is a
tuft of loose feathers, which form the crest.

1 1 2 Birds of Canada.

Family LARIDAL THE GULLS.

S nb- Family Lestridin^e. — The Skua Gidls.

Stercorar ius parasiticus. — The Arctic Skua.

The Arctic Skua breeds in the northern part
of this continent. During the winter it frequents
the sea coast of Canada. Length, twenty-two
inches ; color, above, brownish-black ; beneath,
white.

S. pomarinus. — The Pomarine Skua.

This species breeds in the far north. It is
much more common than the preceding. Color,
dark brown, tinged with black, above ; beneath,
white. Length, twenty inches. A regular visitor
to the sea coast of Nova Scotia and Newfound-
land.

Sub-Family Larin^e. — The Gulls.

Larus marinus. — The Great Black-backed Gull.

This fine bird is twenty-six inches in length ;
the bill is pale yellow, thick and strong ; upper
parts of the back and wing, black ; all the other
parts of its plumage, white ; legs, pale flesh color.
Breeds in Labrador. Is a fall, and, sometimes,
winter visitor in Canada.

Larus Sabinii. — The Fork-tailed Gull.

This gull frequents the coast of New Bruns-
wick and Nova Scotia. Head and upper part of

Birds of Canada.

Ii3

neck, blackish-gray ; lower neck, lower parts,
and tail, white ; back and wings, bluish-gray ;
tail, long and forked.

L. Rossii. — Ross’s Gull.

The habitat of this pretty gull is the arctic
regions. During the fall and winter a few
specimens are occasionally seen in the Gulf of
St. Lawrence, and on the coast of Nova Scotia
and Newfoundland. Back and wings, grayish-
blue ; neck, lower parts, and tail, white ; bill,
black ; feet, red. Discovered by Sir James
Clark Ross, the navigator.

L. Franklinii. — Franklin’s Gull.

This gull is a rare visitor in Canada. Its
habitat is the arctic regions. Bill and feet,
vermillion ; neck, rump, tail, and under plumage,
white ; black hood on nape ; upper parts, bluish-
gray ; quills, terminated with white.

L. argentatus . — The Herring Gull, or Silvery
Gull.

The Silvery Gull is a regular visitor in Canada.
It is twenty-four inches long ; bill, yellow ; head,
neck, and tail, white ; the back and wing coverts,
bluish-ash ; legs, pale flesh color. Breeds in the
north.

15

1 1 4 Birds of Canada.

L. canas . — The Common Gull.

The Common Gull is the most numerous of
the family. It is seventeen inches long ; bill,
yellow ; head, neck, tail, and whole under side
of the body, white ; the back and coverts of the
wings are gray.

L. glaucus. — The Glaucous Gull.

This gull breeds in the arctic regions. An
accidental visitor in Canada.

L.deacopterus. — The White-winged Gull.

This species breeds in the far north. A rare
visitor.

L. delawarensis. — The Ring-billed Gull.

This gull is a rare visitor in Canada.

L. ebnrneus. — The Ivory Gull.

This beautiful gull is very common in the
arctic regions, and occasionally visits Canada
in the fall and winter.

Creagrus furcatus. — The Swallow-tailed Gull.

This pretty gull is an accidental visitor in
Canada. Its habitat is the Pacific coast.

ChroicocephaliLS atricilla. — The Laughing Gull.

This little gull is a summer resident of Canada.
The head and upper part of the neck is blackish^

Birds of Canada.

US

gray ; lower part of neck and entire under
plumage, pure white ; back and wings, grayish-
lead color. Breeds in Canada. Nests, in marshes;
eggs, three,’ of an olive-drab color.

C. Philadelphia . — Bonaparte’s Gull.

This well known gull is a summer resident of
Canada. Back and wings, clear bluish-gray ;
under plumage, rump and tail, white ; length,
fourteen inches.

Rissa tridactyla. — The Kittiwake Gull.

The Kittiwake Gull occasionally visits Lake
Ontario during the fall. The head, neck, and
under plumage is pure white ; back and wings,
light bluish-gray ; bill, greenish-yellow ; legs,
brownish-black.

Sub-Family Sterin.e:. — The Terns.

Sterna aranea. — The Marsh Tern.

This pretty tern is a regular visitor. Head,
black ; back and wings, light bluish-gray ; under
plumage, pure white ; bill, legs, and feet, black.

N. caspia. — The Caspian Tern.

The Caspian Tern is a fall and winter visitor.
Head, black, glossed with green ; back and

Birds of Canada.

1 1 6

wings, light bluish-ash ; under plumage, pure
white ; bill, and inside of mouth, bright red ;
legs and feet, black ; tail, forked. Breeds in the
northern regions.

S. Wilsonii. — Wilson’s Tern.

This is the most common species in Canada.
Head, deep black, tinged with brown ; back and
wings, light grayish-blue ; breast and abdomen,
clear pearl gray. Breeds on the sea coast of New
Brunswick.

ARCTIC TERN.

N. arctica. — The Arctic Tern.

The Arctic Tern is a fall and winter visitor
in Ontario. Breeds on the sea coast of Nova
Scotia. Head and neck, black ; back and wings,

Birds of Canada. ny

light grayish-blue ; under parts, bluish-gray, of
a lighter shade than the back ; legs and feet,
crimson ; bill, deep carmine.

S.frenata. — The Least Tern.

The Least Tern is an irregular visitor. Breeds
on the sea coast. Length, nine inches ; color,
bluish-gray above ; underneath, white ; bill,
orange ; legs and feet, orange-red.

S. fuliginosd. — The Sooty Tern.

This tern is a regular summer visitor. Head,
neck, and abdomen, black ; back and wings,
plumbeous-gray.

S', paridisea. — The Roseate Tern.

The Roseate Tern is an irregular summer
visitor in Canada.

Rhynchopsnigra. — Black Skimmer, or Sheerwater.

This fowl occasionally visits Lake Ontario in
the spring, retiring south to breed in June.
Color : head, neck, and wings, black ; throat,
breast, and abdomen, white ; legs, scarlet ;
length of the upper mandible, three inches and
a-half ; of the lower, four inches and a-half.
The peculiar formation of its bill, the lower
mandible being one inch longer than the upper,
enables it easily to obtain its food while skim-
ming over the surface of the water.

1 18

Birds of Canada.

Sub-Family COLYMBIN^E, — The Loons.

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER.

Colymbus torquatus. — The Great Northern Diver,
or Loon.

The Great Northern Diver is a resident of
Canada. Nests, on an island, or in a meadow or
marsh, near the borders of the interior lakes ;
eggs, two or three in number, of a reddish brown
color, with an olive tint. This bird is twenty-
eight inches in length. Head and neck, bluish-
green ; upper plumage and wing coverts, deep
glossy black, marked with white spots.

C. septentrionalis. — The Red-throated Diver.

This species is not so common as the Great
Northern Diver, usually arriving here in October

Birds of Canada.

19

from the coast of Labrador, where it breeds.
Color, above, brownish-black, tinged with green ;
underneath, white ; bill, bluish-black; iris, bright
red ; feet, brownish-black.

Sub-Family Podicipin^e.— The Grebes.

Podiceps griseigena. — The Red-necked Grebe.

The Red-necked Grebe breeds in the far
north ; visits Canada in the fall. Upper parts,
blackish-brown ; lower parts, pure white ; bill,
black ; feet, greenish-black. Length, eighteen
inches.

P. cristatus. — The Crested Grebe.

This Grebe is a common summer resident of
Canada. It is chiefly valued for the plumage
of its breast, the flesh being rank and nauseous.
Color, above, umber-brown ; beneath, pure white ;
long tufts on each side of the head, of umber-
brown color. Nests, in a swamp or marsh ; eggs,
four in number, white.

P. cornutus. — The Horned Grebe.

The Horned Grebe breeds in northern Canada.
Visits Ontario in the fall. Color, above, brown-
ish-black ; breast, bright chestnut ; abdomen,
white ; bill, bluish-black ; feet, dark gray.

120 Birds of Canada.

Podilymbus podiceps. — The Pied-billed Grebe.

This species is a common summer resident of
Canada. Upper parts, dark brown ; breast and
abdomen, grayish-white, mottled with dusky
spots.

Family PBOCELLARlDiE. THE
PETRELS.

Thalassidroma L,eaehii. — Leach’s Petrel.

Leach’s Petrel breeds on the sea coast of New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The general color
of this bird is sooty-brown ; bill and feet, black.
Length, eight inches. Nests, in the crevices of
rocks. Lays one pure white egg.

STORMY PETREL.

T. Wilsonii. — Wilson’s Stormy Petrel.

This Petrel is seven inches in length. Color,
deep sooty-black ; tail, green ; wings reaching a

Birds of Canada.

121

little beyond its tip ; tarsus, one and a-half
inches in length. Breeds on the small islands off
the coast' of Nova Scotia. Its habits and gene-
ral color are similar to those of Leach’s Petrel.
This is the bird so much dreaded by sailors as
the harbinger of a storm, and to which they
have given the name of “ Mother Carey’s
Chicken.” It is met with on every part of the
ocean, diving or skimming over the surface of
the rolling waves of the most tempestuous sea.
Captain Sir James Clark Ross, in his “ Voyage
to the Antarctic Regions,” observes that, when
in lat. 470 I f S., long. 58° 50' E., “we were
accompanied on our course by petrels of two
or three different kinds. These birds added a
degree of cheerfulness to our solitary wanderings,
which contrasted strongly with the dreary and
unvarying stillness of the tropical region, where
not a sea-bird is to be seen, except only in the
vicinity of its few scattered islets, which is the
more remarkable where the ocean abounds so
plentifully with creatures fit for their food.”

Sub-Family Puffinus.

Puffinus ciner eus. — Wandering Shearwater.

This bird frequents the sea coast of the
maritime provinces. Upper parts, deep brown ;
lower parts, grayish-white ; bill, yellowish-green ;
feet, light greenish-gray ; length, twenty inches.

16

122 Birds of Canada.

Puffinus major. — The Greater Shearwater.

The Greater Shearwater frequents the extreme
eastern coast of Canada. Length, twenty inches ;
brownish-ash, above ; grayish-white, below ; bill,
compressed near the end ; a straight spur in
place of a hind toe.

Puffinus anglorum. — Mank’s Shearwater.

Habitat, the coast of New Brunswick, Nova
Scotia, and Newfoundland. Upper parts, brown-
ish-black ; lower, white ; bill, greenish-black.
Length, fourteen inches. Breeds in burrows ;
lays one white egg.

Puffinus obscurus. — Dusky Shearwater.

This bird frequents the coast of New Bruns-
wick and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Upper
parts, sooty-black ; lower, white ; bill, light blue.
Length, eleven inches.

Family ALCIDAl
Sub-Family Alcin^l. — The Auks.

A lea impennis. — The Great Auk.

The Greak Auk is becoming very rare : a few
specimens are occasionally seen on the coast of
Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Color : head,

Birds of Canada.

123

negk, and upper parts, black ; lower parts,
white. Nests, on the sand ; eggs, two, reddish-
brown.

A lea torda. — The Razor-billed Auk.

The Razor-billed Auk is seventeen inches in
length. The general form of this bird is short
and heavy ; bill, long ; upper parts, brownish-
black ; under parts, white. Frequents the sea
coast of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Breeds
in the arctic region. They build no nests, but
lay their eggs upon the bare edges of lofty
rocks overhanging the sea. Large numbers of
these birds are killed on the coast for the sake
of their breast feathers.

Mormon glacialis. — Large-billed Puffin.

This bird frequents the Bay of Fundy and
the sea coast of New Brunswick. Bill and feet,
orange-yellow ; sides of the head and lower
parts, white ; a dark grayish color extends to
the lower mandible.

124

Birds of Canada.

ARCTIC PUFFIN,

Mormon arctica. — The Arctic Puffin.

This exceedingly quaint looking bird is twelve
inches in length. It has a very large bill, which
has the appearance of a sheath slipped over both
mandibles ; it is curved towards the point, com-
pressed vertically, and transversely furrowed on
the sides ; the chin and cheeks are white, bor-
dered with gray, the latter much puffed up with
feathers, which makes the head look large and
round. The crown of the head and upper part
of the plumage are black, and a collar of the

Birds of Canada.

125

same color encircles the neck ; the under parts
are white, and the legs are orange. The female
deposits her single whitish-colored egg in a hole
dug out and formed in the ground by her mate
and herself, or in one ready-made by the rabbits,
which they easily dislodge. Puffins are met with
on almost all the rocky cliffs on the coasts of
Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and on many
of the surrounding islands. They are gregarious
and migratory.

Sub-Family URINES. — The Guillemots.

BLACK GUILLEMOT.

Una grylle. — Th$ Black Guillemot.

The Black Guillemot is thirteen inches in
length. Color, black ; a white patch on each
wing. This bird is a resident of eastern Canada
throughout the year. It breeds on the rocky
islands off the coast of New Brunswick ; eggs,
three in number, pure white.

126 Birds of Canada.

Uria lomvia. — The Foolish Guillemot.

This species is seventeen inches in length.
The head, neck, back, wings, and tail, are of a
slate color ; the breast and abdomen, white.
This bird is very common on the coast of New
Brunswick, where they occasionally breed.

Uria Brunswickii. — Large-billed Guillemot.

This Guillemot frequents the coast of New
Brunswick. Color, above, grayish-black ; abdo-
men and edges of the wings, white ; bill, black ;
feet, dusky ; eggs, three, bluish-green, laid in
the sand.

Uria ringvia. — The Murre.

The Murre is the same size as the preceding ;
upper parts, dark brown, with a tinge of ash ;
under parts, white. Frequents the coast of Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick.

Mergulus alle . — The Arctic Sea Dove.

This species is only eight inches in length.
Color, brownish black, above ; white, beneath.
This bird is a winter visitor to the sea coast of
Canada.

BIRDS

OF

MANITOBA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA.

As the Provinces of British Columbia and
Manitoba now form part of the Dominion of
Canada, I append a classified catalogue of those
birds whose migrations extend from South
America, California, and the Great Plains, to
British Columbia and Manitoba, not including
those already mentioned in the body of this
work, whose migrations extend eastward from
the above Provinces.

RAPTORES, or BIRDS OF PREY.

Falco vulgaris — Common Buzzard.

Stix cunicularia — Burrowing Owl.

“ passerinoides — Columbia Day Owl.

INSESSORES, or PERCHERS.

Hirundo thallasima — Violet-green Swallow.
Musicicapce verticalis — Arkansas Ply catcher.

nigricans — Rocky Mountain Fly-
catcher.

Phoebe — Short-legged Pewit.

128

Birds of Canada.

INSESSORES — Continued.

Musicicapce Trailli — Traill’s Flycatcher.

“ pusilla — Least Pewee.

Ptilogonys Townsendi — Townsend’s Ptilogonys.
Turdus ncevius — Varied Thrush.

“ nanus — Dwarf Thrush.

“ montanus — Mountain Mocking Bird.

Cinclus americanus — American Dipper.

Sylvice Audubonii — Audubon’s Warbler.

Townsendii — Townsend’s Warbler.

“ occidentals — Hermit Warbler.

Troglodytes obsoletus — Rock Wren.

“ Parkmanii — Parkman’s Wren

Sialia occidentals — Western Blue Bird.

“ arctica — Arctic Blue Bird.

Pans minimis — Chestnut-crowned Tit.

“ Hudsonicus — Hudson’s Bay Tit.

Fringilla Townsendii — Townsend’s Finch.

“ cinera— Brown Finch.

“ Mortonii — Morton’s Finch.

“ Oregonii — -Oregon Snow Bird.

“ frontalis — Crimson-fronted Finch.

“ bcphrocotis — Gray-crowned Finch.

Enteriza pallida— Clay-colored Bunting.

“ lapponica — Lapland Lark Bunting.

“ ornata — Chestnut-colored Lark Bunting.

Spiza amoena — Lazuli Painted Bunting.
Carduclis psalteri ■ — Arkansas Goldfinch.

Pipilo arcticus — Arctic Ground Finch.

129

Birds of Canada.

I N SESSORES — Continued.

Corydalina tricolor — Prairie Lark Finch.
Coccothraustes melanocephalus — Black-headed
Grosbeak.

vesper tina — Evening Grosbeak.
coerulea — Blue Grosbeak.

Ictents Bullockii — Bullock’s Hangnest.

“ xanthrocephalus — Saffron-headed Black-

bird.

Corvus Nuttallii— Yellow-billed Magpie.

“ Bidlockii — Columbian Magpie.

Garndus Stelleri. — Steller’s Jay.

tdtramarinus. — Ultramarine Jay.
Trochilus Anna — Anna Humming Bird.

rufus — Rufous-ruffed Humming Bird.

SCANSORES, or CLIMBERS.

Picus Imeatus — Lineated Woodpecker.

“ canadensis — Canadian Woodpecker.

“ Harrissii — Harris’s Woodpecker.

“ Gardnerii — Gardner’s Woodpecker.

“ arcticus — Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker.
“ rnexicans — Red-shafted Woodpecker.

RASORES, OR SCRATCHERS.

Tetrao leucurus — White-tailed Ptarmigan.
rupestris — Rock Ptarmigan.
mutus- — American Ptarmigan.
Phasianellus — Sharp-tailed Grouse.

17

130

Birds of Canada.

Tetrao urophasianus — Cock of the Plains.

“ obscuras — Dusky Grouse.

Ortyx plumif era — Plumed Partridge.

Columba fasciata — Band-tailed Pigeon.

GRALLATORES, or WADERS.

Scollopax Drummondii — Drummond’s Snipe.
Hcematopus T ownsendii — T ownsend’s Oyster-
catcher.

Aphriza Townsendii — Townsend’s Surf Bird.
Charadrius montanns — Rocky Mountain Plover.

NATTATORES, or SWIMMERS.

Uria 1' ownsendii- — Slender-billed Guillemot.

“ occidentals — Horn-billed Guillemot.

“ antiqna — Black-throated Guiljemot.
Phaleris nodirostris — Knob-billed Phaleris.

“ cristaletta — Curled-crested Phaleris.

Procellaria tenuirstris — Slender-billed Fulmar.

“ pacifica — Pacific Fulmar.

gigantica — Gigantic Fulmar.

Diomeda fusca — Dusky Albatross.

“ chlorrorhynchus — Yellow-nosed Alba-

tross.

Phalacrocorax resplendens — Violet-green Cormo-
rant.

“ Townsendii — Townsend’s Cormo-

rant.

Fuligula despar — Western Duck.

Anser Hntchinsii — Hutchin’s Goose,

SYNOPSIS

OF

BIRDS OF CANADA.

SCIENTIFIC NAMES.

Order I.— RAPTORES.

Falco anatum.

“ columbarius.
Tinnunculus sparverius.
Astur atricapillus.
Accipiter Cooperii.

“ fuscus.

Buteo borealis.

“ lineatus.

“ pennsylvanicus.
Archibuteo lagopus.

“ sancti johannis.
Circus hudsonius.
Haliaetus leucocephalus.

Aquila canadensis.
Pandion carolinensis.
Bubo virginianis.
Scops asio.

Otus Wilsonianus.
Brachyotus Cassinii.
Syrnium nebulosum.

“ cinereum.

Nyctale Richardsonii.

“ acadica.

Nyctea nivea.

Surnia ulula.

Order II.— SCANSORES.

Coccygus americanus.

“ erythropthalmus.
Picus villosus.

“ pubescens.
Picoides arcticus.

hursutus.

Sphyrapicus varius.
Hylatomus pileatus.
Melanerpes erythroce-
phalus.

Colaptes auratus.
Centurees carolinensis.

132

Synopsis.

Order III.— INSESSORES.

Trochilus colubris.
Chetura pelasgia.
Hirundo americana.
lunifrons.

“ riparia.

“ bicolor.

Progne purpurea.
Caprimulgus vociferus.

carolinensis.
Ghordeiles popetue.
Ceryle alcyon.
Tyrannus carolinensis.
Myiarchus crinitus.
Sayornis fuscus.
Contopus virens.
Empidonax minimus.
Turdus mustelinus.
pallassii.
fuscescens.

“ Swainsonii.
migratorius.
Harporhynchus rufous.
Galeoscoptes carolinen-
sis.

Sialia sialis.

Regulus calendula.
Regulus satrapa.
Regulus Cuvieri.

Parus atricapillus.

Sitta carolinensis.

“ canadensis.
Certhia americana.

Cistothorus palustris.

Troglodytes hyemalis.

“ aedon.

Mniotilta varia.

Parula americana.

Geothlypis trichas.

philadelphiae.
“ Macgillvrai.

Sylvia trichas.

Dendroica virens.

palmarum.

“ tigrina.

canadensis.

“ coronata.

Blackburniae.

castanea.

“ pinus.

pennsyl-

vanica.

“ striata.

“ aestiva.

“ maculosa.

Myiodioctes canadensis.
“ mitratis.

“ minutus.

pusillus.

Helmitherus vermivo-
rus.

Helminthopaga pinus.

“ chrysoptera.
ruficapilla.

Synopsis. 133

Order III. — Insessores. — Continued.

Helminthopaga pere-
grina.

Icteria viridis.
Setophaga ruticilla.
Seiurus aurocapillus.

“ noveboracensis.
Pyranga rubra.

Ampelis cedrorum.
Collyrio borealis.

excubitorides.
Vireo olivaceous.

“ gilvus.

“ noveboracensis.

“ flavifrons.

“ solitarius.
Eremophila cornuta.
Pinicola canadensis.
Carpodacus purpureus.
Chrysomitris tristis.

“ pinus.

Curvirostra americana.

leucoptera.
ZEgiothus linaria.
Plectrophanes nivalis.

Lapponicus.
Passerculus savanna.
Poocaetes gramineus.
Coturniculus passerinus.
Zonotrichia leucophrys.

Zofiotrichia albicollis.
Junco hyemalis.
Spizella monticola.

“ pusilla.
socialis.

Melospiza melodia.

palustris.
Passerella iliaca.
Emberiza americana.
Guiraca Ludoviciana.

“ coerula.

Coccothraustes vesper-
tina.

cardinalis.
Cyanospiza cyanea.
Pipilo erythropthalmus.
Dolichonyx oryzivorus.
Molothrus pecoris.
Agelaius phceniceus.
Sturnella magna.
Icterus spurius.

baltimore.

Scolecophagus ferrugi-
neus.

Quiscalus versicolor.
Corvus americanus.

“ corax.

Cyanurus cristatus.
Perisoreus canadensis.

134

Synopsis.

Order IV.— RASORES.

Ectopistes migratoria.
Zenaidura carolinensis.
Tetrao canadensis.
Bonasa umbellus.

Tetrao phasianellus.
Ortyx virginianus.
Meleagris gallopavo.

Order V.— GRALLATORES.

Ardea herodias.
Ardetta exilis.

Botaurus lentignosus.
Butorides virescens.
Nyctiardea Gardenii.
Grus canadensis.

“ americana.

Ibis falcinellusw
Charadrius virginicus.
vEgialitis vociferus.

“ Wilsonius.

“ semi-palmatus.
“ melodus.

“ montanus.
Squatarola helvetica.
Haematopus palliatus.

“ niger.

Strepsilas interpres.

“ melanocephala.
Recurvirostra ameri-
cana.

Phalaropus hyper-
boreus.

“ Wilsonii.

“ fulicarius.

Philohela minor.

Gallinago Wilsonii.
Macrorhamphusgriseus.

scolopaceus.
Tringa canutus.

Cooperii.

maritima.

“ subarquata.

“ alpina.

maculata.

“ Wilsonii.

“ Bonapartii.
Calidris arenaria.
Ereunetes petrificatus.
Micropalma himan-
topus.

Symphemia semi - pal-
mata.

Gambetta melanoleuca.

“ flavipes.
Rhyacophilus solitarius.
Tringoides macularius.
Actiturus Bartramius.
Tringites rufescens.
Limosa fedoa.

hudsonica.

Synopsis. 135

Order V. — Grallatores. — Continued.

Numenius longirostris.
“ borealis.

“ hudsonicus.

Rallus elegans.

“ crepitans.

“ virginianus.

Porzana Carolina.

“ noveboracensis.
“ jamaicensis.
Crex pratensis.

Fulica americana.
Gallinule martinica.

Order VI.— NATATORES.

Cygnus americanus.

“ buccinator.

Anser hyperboreus.

“ Gambelli.

“ frontalis.

Bernicla canadensis.

“ leucopareia.

“ brenta.

Anas boschas.

“ obscura.

Dafila acuta.

Nettion carolinensis.

Querquedula discors.

“ cyanoptera.

Spatula clypeata.

Chaulelasmus streperus.

Mareca americana.

Aix sponsa.

Fulix marila.

“ affinis.

“ collaris.

Aythya vallisneria.

“ americana.

Bucephala islandica.
Bucephala albeola.
Histrionicus torquatus.
Harelda glacialis.
Melanetta velvetina.
Pelionetta perspicillata.
Oidemia americana.
Somateria mollissima.

spectabalis.
Erismatura rubida.

dominica.
Mergus serrator.

“ americanus.
Lophodytes cucullatus.
Pelicanus fuscus.

“ erythrorhynchus.
Sula bassana.

Graculus carbo.

dilophus.

Stercorarus parasiticus.

pomarinis.
Larus marinus.

“ argentatus.

“ Rossii.

1 3 6 Synopsis.

Order VI. — Natatores. — Continued.

Larus Franklinii.

“ Sabinii.

“ canus.

“ leucopterus.

“ delawarensis.

•“ eberneus.

Creagrus furcatus.

Chroicocephalus a t r i -
cilia.

“ Philadelphia.

Rissa tridactyla.

Sterna aranea.

“ caspia.

“ Wilsonii.

“ arctica.

“ frenata.

“ fulignosa.
paridisea.

Colymbus septentrio-
nalis.

Colymbus torquatus,
Podiceps griseigena.
cristatus.

“ cornutus.

Podilymbus podiceps.
Thalassidroma Wilsonii,
“ Leachii.

Puffinus major.

“ cinereus.

“ anglorum.

obscurus.

Alca impennis.

“ torda.

Mergulus aile.

Mormon arctica.

“ glacialis.

Uria grylle.

“ lomvia.

“ ringvia.

“ Brunswickii.

SYNOPSIS

OF

\

/

BIRDS OF CANADA.

COMMON NAMES.

Peregrine Falcon,
Duck Hawk.

Sparrow Hawk.

Pigeon Hawk.
Goshawk.

Cooper’s Hawk.
Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Red-tailed Hawk.
Red-shouldered Hawk.
Broad-winged Hawk.
Rough-legged Hawk.
Black Plawk.

Marsh Hawk.
White-headed Eagle.

Golden Eagle.

Fish Hawk.

Great Horned Owl.
Mottled Owl, or Screech
Owl.

Long-eared Owl.
Short-eared Owl.
Barred Owl.

Cinereous Owl.

Sparrow Owl.

Saw-whet Owl.

Snowy Owl.

Hawk Owl.

Order I.— BIRDS OF PREY,
or

Order II.— CLIMBERS.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Black-billed Cuckoo.
Hairy Woodpecker.
Downy Woodpecker.
Black-backed Three-
toed Woodpecker.
Banded Three - toed
Woodpecker.

Pileatcd Woodpecker.
18

Yellow - bellied

Wood-

pecker.

Red - headed

Wood-

pecker.

Golden-winged

Wood-

pecker.
Red - bellied

Wood-

pecker.

138

Synopsis.

Order III.— PERCHERS.

Ruby - throated Hum-
ming Bird.

Chimney Swallow.

Barn Swallow.

Cliff Swallow.
White-breasted Swal-
low.

Bank Swallow.

Purple Martin.
Whip-poor-will.
Chuck-Will’s Widow.
Night Hawk.

Belted Kingfisher.

King Bird.

Great - crested Fly-
catcher.

Phebe Bird.

Wood Pewee.

Least Flycatcher.

Wood Thrush.

Hermit Thrush.

Tawny Thrush.
Olive-backed Thrush.
Robin.

Brown Thrasher.

Cat Bird.

Blue Bird.

Ruby-crowned Wren.
Golden-crested Wren.
Cuvier’s Golden-crested
Wren.

Black-cap Titmouse.
White-bellied N uthatch.

Red-bellied Nuthatch.

American Creeper.

Long - billed Marsh
Wren.

Winter Wren.

House Wren.

Black and White
Creeper.

Blue Yellow - backed
Warbler.

Maryland Yellow-
throat.

Mourning Warbler.

Gray-headed Warbler.

Macgillivray’s Warbler.

Black - throated Green
Warbler.

Yellow Red-poll Warb-
ler.

Cape May Warbler.

I Black - throated Blue
Warbler.

Yellow-rump Warbler.

Blackburnian Warbler.

Bay-breasted Warbler.

Pine-creeping Warbler.

Chestnut-sidedWarbler.

Black-poll Warbler.

Yellow Warbler.

Black and Yellow
Warbler.

Canada Flycatcher,

Hooded Warbler,

Synopsis. 139

Order III. — Perchers. — Continued.

Sma 11 - headed Fly-
catcher.

Green Black-cap Fly-
catcher.

Worm-eating Warbler.
Blue - winged Yellow
Warbler.

Golden-winged Warb-
ler.

Nashville Warbler.
Tennessee Warbler.
Yellow-breasted Chat.
Red Start.

Golden - crowned
Thrush.

Water Thrush, or Wag-
tail.

Scarlet Tanager.
Bohemian Chatterer.
Cedar Bird, or Cherry
Bird.

Great Northern Shrike.
White-rumped Shrike.
Red-eyed Vireo.
Warbling Vireo.
White-eyed Vireo.
Solitary Vireo.
Yellow-throated Vireo.
Shore Lark.

Pine Grosbeak.

Purple Finch.

Yellow Bird.

Pine Finch.

Red Crossbill.
White-winged Crossbill.
Lesser Red-poll.

Snow Bunting.
Savannah Sparrow.
Bay-winged Bunting.
White - crowned Spar-
row.

White - throated Spar-
row.

Snow Bird.

Tree Sparrow.

P'ield Sparrow.

Chipping Sparrow.

Song Sparrow.

Swamp Sparrow.
Fox-colored Sparrow.
Rose - breasted Gros-
beak.

Indigo Bird.

Ground Robin, or Che-
wink.

Bobolink.

Cow Bird.

Red-winged Blackbird.
Meadow Lark.

Orchard Oriole.
Baltimore Oriole.

Rusty Grackle.

Purple Grackle.

Crow.

Blue Jay.

Canada Jay.

140

Synopsis.

Order IV.— SCRATCHERS.

Wild Pigeon.

Carolina Dove.

Spruce Partridge.
Ruffled Grouse, or Par-
tridge.

Virginia Partridge, or
Quail.

Wild Turkey.

Order V.—

-WADERS.

Great Blue Heron.
Least Bittern.

Great Bittern.

Green Heron.

Night Heron.

Sandhill Crane.

White Crane.

Golden Plover.
Kill-deer Plover.
Mountain Plover.
Wilson’s Plover.
Semi-palmated Plover.
Piping Plover.
Black-bellied Plover.
Oyster-catcher.
Backman’s Oyster-
catcher.

Turnstone.

Black Turnstone.
American Avoset.
Northern Phalarope.
Wilson’s Phalarope.
Red Phalarope.
Woodcock.

Wilson’s Snipe.

Gray Snipe.

Longbeak.

Gray - back, or Robin
Snipe.

Cooper’s Sandpiper.
Purple Sandpiper.
Curlew Sandpiper.
Red-backed Sandpiper.
Jack Snipe.

Least Sandpiper.
Bonaparte’s Sandpiper.
Sanderling.

Semi - palmated Sand-
piper.

Stilt Sandpiper.

Willet.

Tell-tale.

Yellow Legs.

Solitary Sandpiper.
Spotted Sandpiper.
Field Plover.

Buff - breasted Sand-
piper.

Marbled Godwit.
Hudsonian Godwit.

Synopsis.

141

Order V. — Waders. — Continued .

Long-billed Curlew.
Short-billed Curlew.
Esquimaux Curlew.
Marsh Hen.

Clapper Rail.
Virginia Rail.

I Carolina Rail,
j Little Black Rail.
Yellow Rail.

Corn Crake.

Coot.

I Purple Gallinule.

Order VI.— SWIMMERS.

American Swan.
Trumpeter Swan.

Snow Goose.

Canada Goose, or Wild
Goose.

White-fronted Goose.
Brown-fronted Goose.
White-cheeked Goose.
Brant.

Green-head Duck.

Black Duck.

Pintail Duck.

Green- winged Teal.
Blue-winged Teal.
Red-breasted Teal.
Shoveller Duck.
Gadwall, or Gray Duck.
Baldpate, or American
Widgeon.

Wood Duck.

Scaup Duel;.

Little Black-head Duck.
Red- Head Duck.
Canvas-backed Duck.
Golden Eye, or Barrow’s
Duck.

Whistle Wing Duck.

Buffle-head, or Dipper.

Harlequin Duck.

Long-tailed Duck, or
Old Wife.

Velvet Duck, or White-
winged Coot.

Surf Duck.

Eider Duck.

King Duck, or King
Eider.

Ruddy Duck.

Black-masked Duck.

Red-breastecl Mergan-
ser.

Goosander, or Fish
Duck.

Hooded Merganser.

Brown Pelican.

Rough-billed Pelican.

Common Gannet.

Common Cormorant.

Double-crested Cormo-
rant.

Great Black-backed
Gull.

1 42 Synopsis.

Order VI. — Swim m ers.— Continued.

Herring Gull.

Arctic Skua.

Pomarine Skua.
Glaucous-winged Gull.
Ross’s Gull.

Franklin’s Gull.
Fork-tailed Gull.
Common Gull.
Glaucous Gull.
White-winged Gull.
Ring-billed Gull.
Swallow-tailed Gull.
Ivory Gull.

Laughing Gull.
Bonaparte’s Gull.
Kittiwake Gull.

Marsh Tern.

Caspian Tern.

Wilson’s Tern.

Arctic Tern.

Least Tern.

Sooty Tern.

Roseate Tern.

Great Northern Diver.
Red-throated Diver.
Red-necked Grebe.
Crested Grebe.

Horned Grebe.
Pied-billed Grebe.
Leach’s Petrel.

Wilson’s Petrel.

Greater Shearwater, or
Petrel.

Wandering Shearwater.
Mank’s Shearwater.
Dusky Shearwater.
Great Auk.

Razor-billed Auk.

Little Auk.

Arctic Puffin.
Large-billed Guillemot.
Large-billed Puffin.
Black Guillemot.
Foolish Guillemot.
Murre.

Arctic Sea Dove.

INDEX.

PAGE

Avoset, American . . . . .84

Auk, Great . . . . . . .122

“ Little . . . . . . .126

“ Razor-billed . . . . .123

Bittern, Great ...... 79

“ Least . . . . .78

Blackbird, Red-winged . . . .67

Blue Bird . . . . . . . 33

Bobolink ....... 66

Brant ........ 99

Bunting, Bay- winged . . . . .58

“ Black-throated . . . -63

“ Lapland . . . . .5 7

“ Snow 57

Cardinal, or Red Bird . . . .64

Cat Bird ....... 33

Catcher, Oyster . . , . . .83

“ Backman’s Oyster . . . -83

Cedar, or Cherry Bird . . . -49

Chat, Yellow-breasted . . . -45

Chatterer, Bohemian . . ■ . .48

Chewink . . . . . . • ' 65

Chick-a-dee . . . . . . -35

Coot ........ 94

Cormorant, Common . . . . .110

Crested . . . . .111

144 Index.

PAGE

Cow Bird ....... 67

Crake, Corn . . . . . -94

Crane, Sandhill . . . . . .80

“ White 81

Creeper, American . . . . -37

“ Black and White . . . . 38

Crossbill, Red ...... 56

“ White-winged . . . ' . 56

Crow ........ 70

Cuckoo, Black-billed . . . . 14

“ Yellow-billed . . , . .14

Curlew, Esquimaux . . . . .92

“ Long-billed . . . . .92

“ Short-billed . . .. . .92

Diver, Great Northern . . . .118

“ Red-throated . . . . .118

Dove, Carolina . . . . . -73

Duck, Barrow’s . . . . . .105

“ Black ..... 100

“ Black-masked . . ■ . . .107

“ Buffle-head . . * . . .105

“ Canvass-back . . . . .104

“ Eider ...... 10C

“ Eider, or King Eider . . . jo 7

“ Gadwall’s Gray . . . .101

“ Green-head . . . . -99

“ Harlequin . . . . .105

“ Little Black-head . . . .104

“ Long-tailed, or Old Wife . . . ico

Pintail , . 100

“ Red-head 104

“ Ruddy 10 7

“ Scaup , 103

“ Shoveller ...... 101

Index. 145

PAGE

Duck, Surf . . . . . . .106

“ Velvet, or White-winged Coot . . 106

“ Whistle Wing 105

“ Wood . . . „ . . 102

Eagle, Golden . . . . 8

“ White-headed ..... 7

Finch, Pine . 55

“ Purple . . . . . -55

Flycatcher, Canada 43

“ Great-crested . . . -43

Green Black-cap . . -43

“ Least . . . . .30

“ Small-headed . . .43

Gallinule, Purple ...... 95

Gannet, Common . . . . .109

Godwit, Hudsonian . . . . .91

“ Marbled . . . . . .91

Goshawk ....... 3

Goosander ....... 108

Goose, Brown-fronted . . . . .9 7

Canada . . . . . .98

Snow 97

White-cheeked . ... 99

“ White-fronted . . . . .9 7

Grackle, Purple 70

“ Rusty ...... 69

Grebe, Crested . . . . . .119

“ Horned 119

“ Pied-billed 1 20

Red-necked 119

Grosbeak, Blue . . . . . .64

19

146 Index.

PAGE

Grosbeak, Evening

. 64

“ Pine ....

• 54

Rose-breasted

• 63

Grouse, Sharp-tailed .

• 75

Guillemot, Black ....

. 125

“ Foolish

. 126

“ Large-billed

Gull, Bonaparte’s ....

. 126

. 1 15

“ Common ....

. 114

“ Fork-tailed ....

. 1 12

“ Franklin’s . . . .

. 1 13

“ Glaucous ....

. 114

“ Great Black-backed .

. 1 12

“ Herring . ' .

. 1 13

“ Ivory .

. 114

“ Kittewake ....

. 1 15

“ Laughing . . R .

. 114

“ Ring-billed ....

. 114

“ Ross’s . .

. 1 13

“ Swallow-tailed

. 114

“ White-Avinged

. 1 14

Hawk, Black . . . - .

• 5

Broad-winged .

• 5

Cooper’s ....

3

Duck ....

1

“ Fish

8

“ Marsh ....

. 6

“ Night .....

. 25

“ Pigeon ....

2:

Red-shouldered

' 4

“ Red-tailed

. 4

Rough-legged .

• 5,

Sharp-shinned .

- 4

Index.

H awk, Sparrow .
Hen, Marsh .
Heron, Great Blue
Green
“ Night
Humming Bird .

Ibis, Glossy .
Indigo Bird .

Jay, Blue
“ Canada

Lark, Shore
“ Meadow
Legs, Yellow

Nuthatch, Red-bellied
White-bellied

Oriole, Baltimore
Orchard .
Owl, Barred
“ Cinereous .

“ Great Horned
“ Hawk .

147

2

• 93

• 77

• 79
. 80
. 20

. 81
• 65

. 71

• 72

• 53
. 68
. 90

• 99
. 22
. 108
. 108
. 126

• 36

• 3b

. 69

. 68

. 1 1

1 1

> • • 9

. 12

Mallard
Martin, Purple
Merganser, Hooded

Red-breasted
Murre ....

1 48 Index.

PAGE

Owl, Long-eared . . . . .10

“ Saw-whet . . . . .11

“ Screech 10

“ Short-eared . . . . .10

“ Sparrow . . . . . .11

“ Snowy . . . . . .13

Oyster-catcher 83

“ Backman’s . . . . . 83

Partridge, Ruffled 75

“ Spruce 74

“ Virginia 76

Pelican, Brown 109

“ Rough-billed 109

Petrel, Greater Shearwater, or . .122

“ Leach’s . . . . . .120

“ Wilson’s Stormy . . . .120

Pewee, Wood ...... 29

Phalarope, Northern . . . . .84

“ Red 85

“ Wilson’s 85

Phebe Bird ....... 29

Pigeon, Wild 73

Plover, Black-bellied . . . . .83

“ Field 91

“ Golden . . . . . .81

“ Kill-deer ...... 82

“ Mountain ...... 82

“ Piping ...... 82

“ Semi-palmated . . . .82

“ Wilson’s 82

Puffin, Arctic . . . . . .129

“ Large-billed 123

Index.

149

PAGE

Rail, Carolina . . . . -93

“ Clapper . . . . . -93

“ Little Black . . . . .94

“ Virginia .... . . 93

“ Yellow . . . . . - 94

Raven ........ 70

Red-poll, Lesser ...... 56

Red-start ....... 45

Robin ........ 32

Sandpiper, Bonaparte’s . . . .88

Buff-breasted . . . . 91

Cooper’s . . . . .87

“ Curlew . . . . .88

“ Least ..... 88

“ Purple . . . . .87

Red-backed . . . .88

“ Semi-palmated . . . .89

Solitary . . . . .90

Spotted . . . . .90

Stilt 89

Yellow-legged . . . -85

Sanderling ..... . . 89

Sea Dove, Arctic . . . . .126

Sheerwater, Black . . . . . 1 1 7

Dusky 122

“ Greater 122

Manks . . . .122

Wandering . . . .121

Swan, American ...... 96

“ Trumpeter . . . . .96

Skua, Arctic . . . . . .112

“ Pomarine . . . . . .112

Shrike, Great Northern . . . *50

150 Index.

PAGE

Shrike, White-rumped . . . . . 5 1

Snipe, Gray . . . . .87

“ Gray-back. . . . . -87

“ Jack ....... 88

“ Longbeak .... . .87

“ Tell-tale . ..... 90

“ Wilson’s 86

Snow Bird . . . . . .60

Sparrow, Chipping . . . . .61

“ Field ...... 60

“ Fox-colored . . . . .62

“ Savannah < . . . . .5 7

“ Song 61

Swamp ...... 62

Tree j5o

“ White-crowned . . . -58

White-throated . . . -59

“ Yellow-winged . . . -58

Swallow, Bank . . . . .22

“ Barn 21

“ Chimney . . . . .20

“ Cliff 21

“ White-breasted . . . .22

Tanager, Scarlet ...... 46

Teal, Blue-winged . . . . .101

“ Green-winged . . . . .100

“ Red-breasted . . . . .101

Tell-tale . . . . % .90

Tern, Arctic . . . . . .116

“ Caspian . . . . . . 1 1 5

“ Least . . . . . . .11 7

“ Marsh . . . . . . 1 1 5

Roseate 1 1 7

“ Sooty. . . . . . *117

Index.

1 51

PAGE

Tern, Wilson’s . . . . . .116

Thrush, Golden-crowned . . . .46

“ Hermit 31

“ Olive-backed . . . . . 31

“ Tawny . . . . . 31

“ Wood . . . . . . 30

Titmouse, Hudson’s Bay . . . -35

Thrasher, Brown ...... ^2

Turkey, Wild . . . . . .76

Turnstone . . . . . . .84

“ Black ...... 84

Vireo, Red-eyed . . . . . 51

“ Solitary . . . . . .52

Warbling . . . . . . 51

“ White-eyed . . . . -52

“ Yellow-throated . . . .52

Woodpecker, Banded Three-toed
“ Black-backed .

“ Downy .

“ Golden-winged

“ Hairy

Pileated .
Red-bellied
Red-headed .
Yellow-bellied
Widow, Chuck- Will’s .
Whip-poor-will

Wren, Cuvier’s Golden-crested
“ Golden-crested .

“ House
“ Winter .

“ Long-billed

1 6
15
15
18

15

1 7

1 6

1 7
i5
26

23

34

34

38

38

37

152

Index *

Wagtail, or Water-Thrush .
Warbler, Bay-breasted

“ Black and Yellow .

“ Blackburnian

“ Black-poll

Black-throated Blue
“ Black-throated Green .

“ Blue-winged Yellow

Blue Yellow-backed
Cape May
“ Chestnut-sided

Golden-winged
Hooded
McGillivray’s
Maryland Yellow-throat
Mourning
“ Nashville

“ Pine-creeping

“ Tennessee

“ Worm-eating

“ Yellow .

“ Yellow-rump

Yellow Red-poll .
Widgeon, American

Willet

Woodcock .

Yellow Bird .

PAGE

. 4 6

• 4i

• 43

• 4i

• 42

• 4i

• 40

• 44

• 39
. 40

• 42

• 44

• 43

• 39

• 39

• 39

• 45

• 42

• 45

• 44

• 42

• 4i
. 40
. 102
. 89

• 85

55

OPINIONS

Of those qualified to judge of the
Merits of the Work.

Rev. Egerton Ryerson, D.D., LL. D.,
Chief Superintendent of Education , of Ontario,
says 1 “ I have seen nothing of the kind on the

birds of Canada equal to your excellent book,
either in regard to the number and description
of Canadian Birds, the beauty of the illustrations,
or the mechanical execution of the whole work.
I shall recommend it to be placed on the cata-
logue of Canadian, school, prize, and library
books.”

Rev. John McCaul, LL. D., President of
University College, Toronto, andProfessorof Clas-
sical Literature, Logic, and Rhetoric, says: — “ It is
an excellent manual of Canadian Ornithology.”

J. W. Dawson, LL. D., F. R. S., F. G. S.,
Principal and Professor of Natural History,
University of McGill College, Montreal , says : —

2

“Your interesting book on “Birds” will emi-
nently advance the interests of popular Natural
History.”

Rev. N. Burwash, M. A., Professor of
Natural Sciences and Chemistry , University of
Victoria College , Cobourg , says : — “I have already
recommended your elegant little volume of the
“Birds of Canada” to my class, as a convenient
manual for the study of our native birds ; and I
regard it as a most welcome and valuable sup-
plement to our larger text-books, in which only
Families, or at most Genera, are described.”

*

H. Alleyne Nicholson, M.D., D. Sc., M.A.,
Ph. D., F. R.S., and F. G.S., Eng., Professor of
Natural History , University College , Toronto ,
says : — “ I am much pleased with your work on
the “ Birds of Canada.” It will be of great ser-
vice to all interested in the Ornithology of the
Dominion, and it fills a very decided want. I
am glad to learn that it has met with such a
hearty welcome, and I hope soon to hear of the
appearance of the second edition.”

N. B. Dupuis, M.A., F. B. S., Professor of
Natural History , University of Queen's College ,
Kingston , says: — “I am well pleased with your
work on Canadian Ornithology.”

Daniel Wilson, LL.D., Prof essor of History
and English Literature , University College , To-
ronto, says: — “It supplies such a book of refer-
ence as was much needed, in a neat and handy
form, and I am sure will be highly acceptable to
Canadian Ornithologists.”

John Macoun, M.A., Professor of Botany
and Geology , Albert University , Belleville , says : —
“ I have gone over it carefully, and am satisfied
it will be exceedingly useful. To Canadian
Ornithologists it will always be a welcome com-
panion. I have shewn it to many persons well
qualified to judge of its merits, and all were
pleased with its appearance, and spoke highly of
its contents.”

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

“Thisinterestingworkon Canadian Ornithology
is got up in elegant style mechanically, and reflects
great credit upon the industry and Ornithological
knowledge of the author, who is one of the most
laborious and successful of our Canadian Natural-
ists. This work, which must have cost Dr. Ross
much time and patient observation, will be wel-
comed by all who feel any interest in the Natural

4

History of Canada. How few Canadians in the
rural districts, where birds abound, know much
about their feathered neighbours ! A careful
perusal of Dr. Ross’s little book would give them
a new interest in those beautiful and musical
tribes of the air, —

“ ‘ Who wander through the realms of space,

Free guests of earth and air.’ ”

— Christian Guardian.

“In this little book we have a pleasantly written
account of the characters, habits, food, nests, eggs,
times of arrival and departure of the Canadian
birds. As a contribution to local .Natural His-
tory this work must prove very useful, and it
will no doubt tend to promote a fondness for
Ornithology in particular. * * * The work

deserves, and will doubtless receive, a cordial
reception from the Canadian public.” — Globe.

“ Those of our readers who wish to make
themselves acquainted with the Ornithology of
Canada, will find this book just what they require.
It is beautifully got up.” — Evangelical Witness.

“ Dr. A. M. Ross, the author of this little
work,Jias done good service by his recent con-
tribution to the literature of Canadian Natural
History. The book gives brief descriptions of

5

upwards of three hundred birds, natives of the
country, or regular or occasional visitors, with a
record of the times of arrival and departure of
those who are not permanent residents ; and
these, as every Canadian knows, comprise nearly
the whole number, for the feathered tribes are
very scarce with us in winter, and even the birds
we see at that season are mostly migrants. The
work is well printed on tinted paper, and contains
numerous woodcuts. Dr. Ross, we understand,
has other works in preparation on some in-
teresting branches of Canadian Entomology.”
— Canada Farmer.

“ The work is designed, as the author states in
his preface, to supply in some measure a want long
felt by those interested in the study of Canadian
Ornithology ; and it must be confessed that this
“want” has been well and ably supplied therein
by Dr. Ross. We do not marvel, however, at
the fund of information presented in “ The Birds
of Canada,” as Dr. Ross is a gentleman who has
made ornithology the study of many years. He
has in his collection (which has been made in this
Province) specimens of almost all the birds which
he describes ; and this it is which gives him such
rare advantage in treating accurately and elabo-
rately his cherished subject. The first edition of
the work is drained to the last copy — a fair cri-

6

terion of its popularity and usefulness : but a
second edition will be issued, and tlu^|pa we
hope, will meet with a like reception,” — -Tris/i
Canadian.

-J moofe noitodiaefilo brns tnom

“It speaks well for the gcflgral intprest taken
in our feathered visitors, that a thousand copies
of this carefully written' and well executed little
work have been sold since Christmas, , A more
ambitious work would have doubtless found a
ready sale, and the author evinces every qualifi-
cation for the task. Meantime we cordially wel-
come his elementary treatise. Dr. Ross’s book
is embellished with about fifty illustrations of
the birds of Canada, is well printed, elegantly
bound, and is placed at the moderate price of
one dollar. — Mail.

(The Second Edition.)

John G. Whittier, the Quaker Poet, says : —
“ I am indebted to thee for thy deeply interesting
book on the ‘ Birds of Canada.’ The arrange-
ment and classification seem to me excellent,
and the descriptions very clear and explicit,
Thanking thee for thinking of me in connection
with this pleasant and instructive contribution to
the Natural History of Canada, I am, very truly,
thy friend.”

Hon. Nicholas Stabb, President St. Johns
Athceneum , St. John's , Newfoundland, says: —
“Your very excellent work on the ‘Birds of
Canada ’ should be prized not only by Canadian,
but by all North American colonists.”

Arch. McNeill. Esq., Chairman Charlotte-
town Library, Charlottetown , Prince Edward
Isla7id, says : — “Your valuable work, the ‘Birds
of Canada,’ is eminently calculated to inspire a
love for the study of Ornithology, a subject to
which the great bulk of our people are perfect
strangers.”

The Rev. A. G. Reid, President of the Wes-
leyan Academy, St. Johns, Newfoundland, says :
— “ I regard your valuable and deeply interesting
work, on the ‘Birds of Canada,’ as a most ex-
cellent manual for the student of Natural His-
tory.”

8

“ We welcome with pleasure the 2nd edition
of Dr. A. M. Ross’s ‘ Birds of Canada.’ It is a
valuable contribution to Canadian Natural His-
tory, and deserves a wide circulation among
Canadian readers.” — Christian Guardian , Oct.
9th, 1872.

“ The descriptions of our Canadian birds and
their habits is pleasantly written, and Dr. Ross
gives us a guarantee of the accurate scientific
knowledge he has brought to his work by the
fact that he possesses specimens of all the birds
he describes.” — Montreal Herald.

“ This book,” (the ‘ Birds of Canada,’) “ is a
valuable contribution to the Natural History of
Canada. It gives descriptions of upwards of
three hundred birds under their respective orders,
sub-orders, and families, sufficiently minute as to
be easily recognized by an ordinary observer.
One of the best means of education is to culti-
vate in the young habits of observation, and few
departments of the natural sciences present such
an attractive field as the study of the habits of
our birds, and the place they occupy in the
economy of nature.” — Mo7itreal Witness , May
16th, 1873.

“Who has not longed for a more intimate
acquaintance with the birds of Canada ? We
venture to say not one ; and yet how little is

9

knowiTof tlieniTo the grbat mass of their admi-
rers. iTheTeason of This general ignorance of the
feathered tribes which come to us every year so
mysteriously to cheer and delight us is, the want
heretofore felt of a reliable guide to this study.
This want has now happily been supplied in a
beautiful and excellent work by Dr. Alexander
Milton Ross, of Toronto, which gives a large
amount of valuable and interesting information.
This work is calculated to gratify that curiosity
to know something about our birds which every-
body has in some degree experienced.” — Prescott
Telegraph.

“ The ‘ Birds of Canada,’ 2nd edition, by A. M.
Ross, M.D., F.R.S.L. Eng. This is a handsome
volume of over 150 pages. Dr. Ross is a resi-
dent of Toronto, and is known in Canadian
Literary circles as one of our leading Ornitholo-
gists. All lovers of nature^-Canadians particu-
larly— will read this book with much interest
and pleasure.” — Evangelical Witness, Feby. 26th,
1873.

•3)

■ ■ ^ GTTUa

. • . ' . :

ItlfSViA ■ 3

a o in a l \Vi) > .

THE

BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS

OF

CANADA;

WITH

DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR COLOR, SIZE, AND
HABITS, AND THE FOOD AND META-
MORPHOSES OF THEIR LARVAE.

BY

ALEXANDER MILTON ROSS,

M.D., M.A., F.R.S.L., F.Z.S.

AUTHOR OF THE “ BIRDS OF CANADA,” ETC., ETC.

TORONTO :

Rowsell and Hutchison,

Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one
thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, by Alexander Milton Ross,
M.D., M.A., in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture,

TORONTO :

PRINTED BY ROWSELL & HUTCHISON,
KING STREET.

PREFACE.

The work, now before the reader, has been
prepared with the object of directing the atten-
tion of the student of Natural History, and the
youth of our country, to the attractive and
deeply interesting study of Canadian Ento-
mology.

The want of a work descriptive of our
Butterflies and Moths, that would be accessible
in consequence of its moderate price and
untechnical style, has been keenly felt by
students of Natural History.

My aim has been to familiarize the subject
by plain and brief descriptions ; I have con-
sequently avoided all unnecessary technicalities
and abstruse questions of identity, which would
tend to perplex rather than instruct.

The insects described in this work are repre-
sented by specimens in my own collection,
which has been made in Ontario, Quebec,
and New Brunswick.

iv Preface.

In the classification and selection of names
for our Butterflies and Moths, I have encoun-
tered much annoyance, owing to the existing
chaos of synonymy in Entomology ; but have
selected, both from old and new names, such
as I considered most expressive of the charac-
teristics of the insects described.

No one can be more sensible than myself
of the deficiencies of this work ; yet I hope it
may contribute something toward the progress
of a science which in itself is extremely inter-
esting, and, to an agricultural country like
Canada, of great importance.

Evergreen Grove, '

Toronto, May, 1873.

A. M. R.

CONTENTS.

Introduction xi

•gutterflksi anti potto of Canada.

GROUP I. —Papiliones. — Butterflies i

Group II. — SphingidcB. — Hawk Moths ... 22

Group III. — PhalwncB. — Moths 33

Group I.

PapilionidcB. — Papilio Family 1

Pieridce. — Yellow or White Butterfly Family. 5

Nymphalidce— Nymphalis Family 6

Satyridce. — Satyrus Family 18

Hesperidcz. — Skipper Family 20

Lyccenidce. — Azure Butterfly Family 21

Group II.

Sphingidoe. — Hawk Moth Family 22

ZEgeridce. — Egerian Family 29

Zygoenidoe. — Glaucopidian Family 32

Group III.

Bombycidce. — Silk Worm Family 33

Noctuoelitce. — Owlet Moth Family 54

Geonietridoe . — Geometric! Family 57

VI

Contents.

PAGE.

Pyralidoe. — Delta Moth Family 61

Tortricidos. — Leaf Rolling Family 63

T ineidce. — Tinea Family 65

GENERA.

Group I. — Papiliones.- — (Butterflies).

Papilio 1

Pieris 5

Colias 6

Limenitis 6

Danais 8

Argynnis 9

Melitaea 10

Pyrameis 12

Vanessa 13

Grapta 16

Junonia 17

Satyrus 18

Neonympha 19

Chrysophanes 19

Thecla 21

GroU P 1 1 . — Sphinges. — ( H awk Moth s).

Sphinx

Thy reus

Philampelus

Smerinthus

Sesia

Algeria .

Eudryas .*

- b

26

27

28

29
31

Contents.

Group III —Phalcencc. — (Moths.)

Lithosia

Deiopeia

Calimorpha

Crocata

Arctia

Spilosoma

Leucarctia

Hyphantria

Halesidota

Orgyia

Notodontae

Lagoa -

Limacodes

Psyche

Perophorae

Actias

Platysamia

Callosamia

Telea

Hyperchiria

Citheronia

Eacles

Anisota

Clisiocampa

Hepialus

Xyleutes

Catocala

Brephos

vii

’AGE.

33

34

34

35

35

36

37

37

38

39

40

40

40

4i

4i

43

45

45

47

49

50

50

52

52

53

53

54

55

viii Contents.

PAGE.

Leucanire 55

Agrotis 55

Gortyna 56

Apatela i 56

Anisopteryx 57

Hibernia 58

Ennomos ..; 58

Angerona 59

Nematocampa 59

Chserodes 59

Endropia 59

Amphidasys 60

Acidalia 60

Boarmia... 60

Eupithecia 60

Hypena 61

Aglossa 61

Pyralis 61

Gallerife 62

Pempelhe 62

Anchylopera 63

Carpocapsa 64

Lozotsenia 64

Tinese 65

Instructions for Catching and Preserving

Butterflies and Moths 67

Synopsis of Butterflies and Moths of Canada. 7 1

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Eng'd by Scaddlng, Toronto.

PAGE.

Papilio timius. — Yellow Swallow-tail 2

“ asterias. — Black Swallow-tail 4

Limenitis arthemis. — Circled Emperor 7

Danais arcliippiis. — Queen of Spain Butterfly 8
Argynnis aphrodite. — Silver-spotted Fritil-
lary 9

Militcea tharos. — Drappled Militaea 1 1

Pyrameis cardui. — Painted Lady 12

Pyrameis atalanta. — Red Admiral 13

Vanessa antiopoe . — Camberwell Beauty 14

Milhertii. — Red Empress 15

Grapta interrogationis. — Semi-colon Butter-
fly 16

Hesperia Leonardis. — Leonard’s Skipper.... 20
Sphinx qidnquemaculatus. — Five- spotted

Sphinx 23

Smerinthus excoecata. — Blind Smerinthus ... 27

Scsia thysbe. — Bee moth 28

Thy reus Abbottii. — Abbot’s Hawk Moth ... 25

Philampelis achemon. — Achemon Hawk

Moth 26

liudryas gratae. — Beautiful Wood Nymph... 31
AEgeria cxitosa. — Peach-tree Borer 29

X

Contents.

Deiopeia bella. — Beautiful Deiopeia 34

Actias lima. — Empress Luna 42

T elect polytkemus. — Polythemus Moth 48

Hyperchiria varict. — Peacock Moth 49

Eacles imperialis. — Imperial Moth 51

Callosctmia promethea. — Promethea Moth ... 46

Clisiocampct americanus. — American Tent

Caterpillar Moth 52

Platysamia cecropia — Emperor Cecropia

Moth 44

Tortrix. — Leaf Roller 63

Tinea 65

INTRODUCTION.

The Order of Lepidoptera, or scale-winged
insects, may be divided into three groups, com-
prising all the four-winged insects commonly
known as Butterflies, Hawk-Moths, and Moths.
They differ in size, figure, and color, but are
uniform in having their bodies covered with fine
hair, and their wings, with what, to the naked
eye, appears like dust, but, when examined by a
powerful microscope, are seen to be beautifully
ornamented feathery scales, with microscopic
lines. The tongue, or sucking tube, of nearly
all the insects of this order, when at rest, is rolled
up like a watch-spring, but is capable of being
darted forth in an instant, and of sucking up
with rapidity the nectareous fluids, on which its
gay possessor lives. The insects of this order,
though small in size, are great by their vast
numbers, their varieties of form and color, their
extremely delicate organizations, their remark-
able instincts, and the extraordinary transfor-
mations of their larvse.

Xll

Introduction.

Group I. — |?a))iUcmfSi. — ^UittetfUcs.

The Butterflies are readily distinguished from
the Hawk-Moths, and Moths, by the brilliant
coloring of their wings ;« their thread-like and
knobbed antennse ; the elevated position of their
wings when at rest ; and the fact that they fly by
day only.

Group 1 1. — Jstyluttfleg. —

The insects of this group are the most power-
ful and robust of the order. They are princi-
pally distinguished by their rapid and vigorous
flight, and the large size of many of the species.
They generally fly during the evening or early
hours of the morning. A few species belonging
to this group fly during the bright-sunshine ;
others are called humming-bird moths, on account
of the noise they make in flying, and their habit
of hovering over flowers while they extract the
delicious juices with their tubular tongues. All
the insects of this group have the body thick in
the middle and tapering toward each end : the
wings, long, slender, and pointed. When at rest,
the wings are inclined like a roof, the upper
covering the lower.

Group in.— fKotfcs.

This group is the largest of the order, and
comprises all the lepidoptera that cannot

Introduction.

Xlll

properly be placed in the preceding groups.
The moths are nocturnal in their habits. They
differ in size, color, and figure : their wings
present a great diversity of form. When at rest
the upper wings cover the lower. The females
belonging to a few species are wingless, and are
destined to live only sufficiently long to deposit
their eggs. Some of the species are beautifully
colored, while the greater number are dark-gray,
mottled with black, white, and brown.

Over twenty thousand different species of
butterflies and moths belonging to the old
world, and fully three thousand belonging to
this continent have been identified by entomolo-
gists, and each species is distinguished from its
nearest relation by some modification of structure
best adapted to its peculiar sphere of life.

Metamorphosis of the Larvae of
Butterflies and Moths.

The young of Butterflies and Moths are called
caterpillars. Nearly all the caterpillars of the
Order of Lepidoptera are destructive to vegeta-
tion ; they differ in size, color, and form, and feed
upon leaves, blossoms, buds, seeds, roots, furs,
grease, grain, and woollens. Each female butter-
fly or moth will lay from one hundred to five
hundred eggs, from which the caterpillars are

XIV

Introduction.

produced ; and, by that wonderful provision of
nature, instinct, the insect almost invariably
deposits its eggs on the food necessary to its
caterpillar state. During its life as a caterpillar
it eats voraciously, and almost incessantly,
changing its skin several times before it attains
its full growth, when it exchanges its caterpillar
dress for that of a chrysalis, which it accomplishes
by bursting open the skin on the back, and with-
drawing the fore-part of the body, until it is
emancipated. It is then a chrysalis, apparently
without head or limbs, and remains in this state
for a variable length of time, motionless without
taking food. But during this period of apparent
rest, this total seclusion from the outer world,
the greatest activity prevails within : all the
organs required by the perfect insect are being
developed. Some of these chrysalides are beauti-
fully ornamented with golden spots, from which
circumstance the name of chrysalis is derived.
When the period for the second transformation
arrives the chrysalis swells, and bursts the skin
on the back, from which emerges the gay and
beautiful butterfly to spend its brief life in
sipping the juices of sweet-scented flowers, in
making love to its mates, laying its eggs, and
soon after (providing it escapes its many enemies)
dying a natural death.

Many of the caterpillars of the moths are
remarkable for the perfection of their silken

Introduction.

xv

cocoons (to which we owe the beautiful material
called silk), with which they enclose their bodies
for the first transformation. Some caterpillars
suspend themselves by a silken thread, and
transform without making a ' cocoon. Others
burrow in the ground, and undergo their meta-
morphosis in the earth ; and a few species
transform in the interior of roots and stems.
In either case they finally burst open the skin
on the top of the back, cast it, and enter the
pupae state. At the proper time the pupae skin
bursts, and the moth comes forth, expands its
wings gradually, until it has gained strength,
and then flies away to enjoy its brief existence.

BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS

OF CANADA.

Group I.—

BUTTERFLIES.

PAPILIONID^E. — Swallow-tail Family.

This family embraces the most conspicuous
butterflies of the group. The hind wings are
extended into a tail-like appendage, from which
they derive their family name.

Genus Papilio.

Papilio turnus. — The Yellow Swallow-tail.

This is the largest and most beautiful butterfly
of those commonly known as “ Swallow-tails.”

2

Butterflies and Moths

It expands five inches. The color is brilliant
yellow, bordered and striped with black ; on the

forward wings are nine yellow spots ; on the
hind wings, six oblong yellow spots. This

THE YELLOW SWALLOW-TAIL.

of Canada.

3

elegant butterfly flies in June, July, and August;
and frequents groves, orchards, and gardens.
The caterpillar is about three inches long, of a
green color; and feeds upon the apple and other
fruit trees.

Papilio troilus. — The Orange Spotted Swallow-
tail.

This elegant butterfly bears a striking resem-
blance to the preceding insect, but is smaller in
size: the spots on the wings are much larger.
The orange spots on the hind angle of the
wings have not the black centre which charac-
terizes the Asterias. It flies in June, July, and
August. The caterpillar is two and a half inches
long ; and feeds principally upon the sassafras
and lilac.

Papilio asterias. — The Black Swallow-tail.

This butterfly expands about four inches.
Color ; rich velvety-black, with a double row of
bright yellow spots on the back, and a band of
bright yellow spots across the wings, and seven
blue spots between the double row of yellow
spots, and 3 brilliant orange spot, \yith a black

4

Butterflies and Moths

centre near the hind angle of the wings. This
butterfly flies in July and August ; and frequents

groves and gardens. The caterpillar is two and
a half inches long, of a pale green color ; and
feeds upon carrots, parsley, and celery.

of Canada. 5

PIERID./E. — White Butterfly Family.

The insects of this family have the wings
rounded, and entire, on the edges ; the inner
edges form a groove, which is a receptacle for the
abdomen.

Genus Pieris.

Pieris oleracea. — The Pot-herb Butterfly.

This delicate and very pretty butterfly is pure
white ; and expands two inches. The first brood
appears in May, and a second in July. It fre-
quents gardens and meadows. The caterpillar
is Light-green ; and feeds upon cabbage, radish,
and turnip leaves.

Pieris rapce — Garden White Butterfly.

This butterfly resembles the preceding insect,
but is inferior in size. The caterpillar is pale-
green, with a yellow line along the back. It
feeds upon the cabbage.

Pieris protodice. — The Cabbage Butterfly.

This species is white, with dark markings on
the upper surface of the wings. It expands
about two inches. Flies from June until August.
The caterpillar is light green ; and feeds upon
the cabbage.

6

Butterflies and Moths
Genus COLIAS.

Colias philodice. — The Yellow Butterfly.

This very common, but very pretty insect fre-
quents the fields and roadsides in large numbers
during the months of May, June, July, and
August. Color : sulphur-yellow, bordered with
black. It expands two and a half inches. The
caterpillar is nearly three inches long, of a pale-
green color ; and feeds upon the leaves of the
clover, hop, and pea.

NYMPHALIDiE.— Nymphalis Family.

The insects of this family have the hind wings
scalloped, and the antennae very slender.

Genus Limenitis.

Limenitis ephestion . — Orange-spotted Butterfly.

This butterfly expands about three inches.
Color : bluish-black ; on the hind edges of the
wings are three black lines, and within the outer
border is a row of spots of a bright orange
color. It flies in July and August. The cater-
pillar feeds upon the cherry and oak,

of Canada.

7

THE CIRCLED EMPEROR.

Limenitis arthemis. — The Circled Emperor.

This extremely beautiful butterfly is at once
distinguished by the rich blue-black color of its
wings, and the broad white curved band, which
crosses both wings. The male has a row of
orange colored spots on the hind wings. It
expands about three inches and a half. Flies in
July and August. The caterpillar feeds upon
the honeysuckle and poplar.

Limenitis misippus.- —The Dark Veinlet.

The prevailing color of this fine insect is
tawny-yellow, with black veins, and a black
border spotted with white. Expands three and
a half inches. Flies in August and September,
and frequents low lands. The caterpillar is light
brown ; three inches long ; and feeds upon the
poplar and willow.

8

Butterflies and Moths
Genus Dan ATS.

The butterflies of this genus have rounded and
entire wings ; the head and thorax are covered
with white spots.

of Canada. g

Danais Archippus. — Queen of Spain Butterfly.

This butterfly bears a striking resemblance to
the Misippus, but is much larger, expanding four
and a half inches. It flies in July, August, and
September ; and frequents low marshy lands.
For several years past this species has been very
common near Toronto. The caterpillar is of a
dark-yellow and white color; and feeds upon the
silk weed.

Genus ARGYNNIS.

The insects of this genus have numerous round
silver-like spots beneath the hind wings.

TIIE SILVER-SPOTTED FRITILLARY.

Argynnis aphrodite. — The Silver-spotted
Fritillary.

This butterfly expands three and a half inches.
Color : tawny-yellow ; under the tips of the fore-

io Butterflies and Moths

wings are seven bright silvery spots, and under-
neath the hind wings are twenty-two or twenty-
four large white silvery spots. The Aphrodite
flies in June, July, and August; and frequents
low lands. The caterpillar is dark-brown ; and
feeds upon the violet.

Argynnis bellona . — The Brimstone Butterfly.

This pretty little butterfly expands two inches
Color : tawny, with two rows of dark spots,
around the hind margin of the wings, and no
silvery spots beneath the wings. Flies in June,
July, and August ; and frequents flower gardens.
The caterpillar is brownish-black ; and feeds
upon violets.

Argynnis rnyrina. — The Black Spotted Fritillary.

This little butterfly expands one inch-and-a-
half. Color : tawny, with a border of black,
around which is a row of black crescent-shaped
spots. Flies in May and June, and a second
brood in July and August. The caterpillar is
dark-brown ; and feeds upon the violet.

Genus Melit.ea.

The members of this genus are generally
smaller than the preceding, and have no silvery
spots beneath the wings.

of Canada.

1 1

Melitcea phceton. — The Black Melitsea.

This butterfly expands about two inches.
Color : black, with a row of orange crescents
around the hind border of the wings, and two
reddish-orange spots on the front wings. Flies
in June and July. Frequents pasture fields and
marshy lands. The caterpillar feeds upon the
plantain.

Melitcea tkaros. — The Drappled Militaea.

The Drappled Militaea expands about an inch
and a half ; the wings are short and broad ; the
color, tawny-orange, with black lines and spots.
Flies from June to August. The caterpillar
feeds upon the plantain.

Melitcea Harrisii. — Harris’s Butterfly.

This species is not so common as the preced-
ing. It expands about one and a quarter inches.
Color: fulvous above, with blackish-brown mark-
ings.

THE DRAPPLED MILITAEA.

1 2 Butterflies and Moths

Genus Pyrameis.

This genus embraces some beautiful insects,
all of which have the wings scalloped.

PAINTED LALY.

Pyrameis cardin. — The Painted Lady.

This common, but pretty, butterfly expands
two inches and a half. Color : tawny, with a
rose tinge, and spotted with black and white on
the hind wings, which are marked beneath, and
have five eye-like spots near the hind margin f
and a white spot in the centre. Flies from
June to August ; and frequents meadows and. low
lands. The caterpillar feeds upon the sunflower,
hollyhock, burdock, and thistle.

Pyrameis Huntera. — The Marbled Cynthia.

This butterfly expands two and a half inches.
Color : tawny, spotted with white and black.

of Canada.

13

The hind wings are marbled underneath, and
have two large eye-like spots near the hind margin.
Flies from July to September; frequents open
fields. The caterpillar feeds upon the thistle.

Pyramids atalanta. — The Red Admiral.

The Red Admiral expands nearly three inches.
Color : black, with a band of reddish-orange
across the middle of the fore wings, and spots of
white near the tips ; on the hind wings is a
marginal red band on which is a row of black
dots. Flies from June to September. Frequents
open fields and roadsides. The caterpillar feeds
upon the nettle.

All the butterflies of this genus have the
wings angulated on the edges.

THE RED ADMIRAL.

Genus VANESSA.

14

Butterflies and Moths .

THE CAMBERWELL BEAUTY.

Vanessa antiopa. — Camberwell Beauty.

This is one of our most common butterflies.
It expands about three and a half inches. Color :
rich purplish-brown, with a broad yellow margin,
near the inner edge of which there is a row of
blue spots. Flies from June to September, and
specimens are frequently seen in October. I
have often found this butterfly in hollow trees
and sheltered places in the winter, in a semi-
torpid state. The caterpillar is black, dotted
with white ; and feeds upon the leaves of the
elm, poplar, and willow.

of Canada.

Vanessa J-albiun.- — The J. Butterfly.

This insect derives its name from a white J-
shaped mark on the under side of the hind wings.
It expands two and a half inches. Color: tawny-
red ; each wing has a white spot between two
black spots, near the outer angle. Flies in July
and August ; and frequents gardens and fields.
The caterpillar feeds upon the leaves of the elm.

THE KED EMPRESS.

Vanessa Milberti. — The Red Empress.

This beautiful butterfly expands about two
and a half inches. The prevailing color is black,
with a wide „ orange-red band near the hind
margin of all the wings. On the hind wings is a
row of rich blue crescents, on the fore wings is a
white spot near the tips, and reddish-orange
spots in the centre of the front margin. Flies
in June and July, and a second brood in August.
Frequents roadsides. The caterpillar is brown ;
and feeds upon the nettle.

1 6

Butterflies and Moths
Genus Grapta.

The butterflies of this family are generally of
a reddish-brown color ; beneath the wings is a
curved line and dot of a golden or silvery color ;
the wings are deeply incised.

THE SEMICOLON BUTTE i> FLY.

Grapta in terroga tion is. — The Semicolon
Butterfly.

This very pretty butterfly is readily distin-
guished by a pale-yellow semicolon near the
centre of the inner surface of the hind wings. It
expands nearly three inches. Color : brownish-
orange, with spots of deep brown. Flies from
June to August; and frequents gardens and road-
sides. The caterpillar feeds upon the leaves of
the elm and grape.

of Canada. 1 7

Grapta comma. — The Comma Butterfly.

The Comma Butterfly is so called from a
brilliant white comma-shaped mark beneath the
hind wings. Color : dark orange, marked with
black and brown. Expands two inches. Flies
in July and August ; and frequents gardens and
roadsides. The caterpillar is reddish-brown; and
feeds upon the leaves of the elm.

Grapta c-argenteum. — The Silver L Butterfly.

This butterfly expands about two inches, and
is tawny-orange above, bordered and spotted
with black ; underneath, gray, with a bright
silvery L spot. Flies in July and August ; fre-
quents gardens and open fields. The caterpillar
is white, spotted with gray; and feeds upon the
elm and hop.

Grapta faunus. — The Cinnamon Butterfly.

The general color of this species resembles the
preceding insect, but is darker and larger in
size, and beautifully marbled underneath.

Genus Junonia.

Junonia ceenia. — The Peacock Butterfly.

This very rare and pretty butterfly expands
three inches. Color : reddish-brown, with two
3

i8

Butterflies and Moths

grayish eye-like spots, encircled with black on the
hind wings; on the front wings are two spots with
a white centre. Flies in August. The cater-
pillar is jet black, covered with small white
spots, and feeds upon the nettle and thistle.

SATYRIDAF — Family Satyrus.

In this family the prevailing color is dark-
brown. Wings entire, with eye-like spots be-
neath. Their flight is quick, and with a jerking
motion.

Genus Satyrus.

Satyrus alope. — The Brown Butterfly.

The color of this pretty little insect is dark-
brown, shaded with light. Expands two and a
quarter inches. Flies from July to September;
frequents open woods and fields. The cater-
pillar is pale-green, with fine stripes of brown ;
feeds upon the leaves of the cherry and plum.

Satyrus Boisduvallii — Boisduvall’s Butterfly.

This butterfly expands two and a quarter
inches. Color : dark and light greenish-yellow,
with four eye-like black spots on the fore wings.

of Canada.

19

Flies in July : frequents hilly lands. The cater-
pillar is light-green; and feeds upon various
grasses.

Genus Neonympiee.

Neonympha eurytris. — The Eurytris Butterfly.

This little butterfly is dark-brown above, with
black eye-like spots on the wings. It expands
one inch and a quarter ; and flies in July. Fre-
quents thick woods and low lands. The cater-
pillar is pale-green ; and feeds upon the leaves of
the wild cherry and various shrubs.

Genus CHRYSOPHANUS.

Chrysophanus americana. — The Copper Butterfly.

This beautiful butterfly expands one and a
quarter inches ; the front wings are reddish-
copper-colored, with small black spots; the hind
wings have a copper-colored band on the border.
Flies from June until September; and frequents
open woods and roadsides. The caterpillar is
light-green ; and feeds upon the sorrel. There are
three broods in the year.

20

Butterflies and Moths

HESPERIAN

HESPERID^E.— Skipper Family.

This family comprises a large number of very
pretty little butterflies commonly called skippers,
from their manner of flying with a skipping, jerk-
ing motion. In some sections of Canada the
Hesperians appear in larger numbers, while in
others they are very rare. They fly from June
until September ; and frequent the borders of
woods, and shaded roadsides. In their habits
and structure they somewhat resemble the moths.
Their prevailing color is reddish-brown, marked
with yellow, black, and white ; they expand from
three-fourths of an inch to two inches and a
quarter ; their feet are six in number. The cater-
pillars of the Hesperians feed upon the thistle
and nettle. They are solitary in their habits :
many of them hide in folded leaves, where they
form a kind of cocoon, and undergo their trans-
formation.

of Canada . 2 1

LYCAlNIDAL — Azure-Butterfly Family.

The family Lycsenidse embraces several deli-
cate and extremelybeautiful little butterflies of an
azure-blue color, marked with minute black spots.
They expand about three-fourths of an inch, and
fly from July to September. They frequent open
fields and hillsides, flying low, and oftentimes
collecting together in numbers of twenty and
thirty, and alighting on the flowers of the clover.
The caterpillars of the Lycsena are green, with
dark stripes.

Genus Thecla.

The insects of this family are distinguished
from the preceding by two thread-like tails on
each wing. They expand about one inch and a
quarter, and are of a dusky-brown and red color.
The caterpillars are green; and feed on the hop
pine, and willow.

22

Butterflies and Moths

Group II. —

HAWK MOTHS.

SPHINGIDiE. — Hawk Moth Family.

This family embraces several of the largest and
stoutest insects of the group. They fly generally
at twilight. Their wings are long, pointed, and
well-suited for rapid flight. Their caterpillars
have sixteen legs. When at rest they assume
a sphinx-like attitude, from which the family
name is derived. They are very large, and
generally green colored. About the beginning
of September they enter the ground for trans-
formation, and the pupa remains there during the
winter. In the following summer the chrysalis
skin bursts, and the perfect insect comes to the
surface of the ground, and flies away in search
of food.

Genus Sphinx.

Sphinx quinquemaculatus . — The Five-spotted
Sphinx.

This insect is one of the largest of the family.
It derives its name from five round orange spots

of Canada. 23

on each side of the body. It expands about five

inches and a half. The prevailing color is gray,
variegated with black. It flies in June, July, and

FIVE-SPOTTED SPHINX.

24

Butterflies and Moths

August. The caterpillar is pale-green ; three
and a half inches in length ; and feeds upon the
potato vine.

Sphinx drupiferarum. — The Plum Sphinx Moth.

The fore wings of this moth are brownish-
black ; the discal dot and outer edge of the
wings are light fulvous color. It expands four
and a half inches. The caterpillar is green ; and
feeds upon the plum tree.

Sphinx gordius — The Apple Sphinx Moth.

This sphinx expands about four inches, and is
of a dark brown color, with a roseate tinge. The
thorax is brownish-black above. Flies in June,
July, and August. The caterpillar is nearly four
inches in length ; and feeds upon the apple.

Sphinx chersis. — The Lilac Sphinx Moth.

This insect closely resembles the five-spotted
sphinx in color, and size, but is reddish-gray
beneath. Flies in July, and August. The cater-
pillar is dark-green ; and feeds upon the lilac.

of Canada.

25

Genus THYREUS.

ABBOT’S HAWK MOTH.

Thy reus Abbottii. — Abbot’s Hawk Moth.

This Hawk Moth expands about three and a
half inches ; prevailing color : chocolate, with
darker variegations. The hind wings are yellow,
with a dark-brown border. Both fore and hind
wings are scalloped. Flies in June and July.
The caterpillar is brownish yellow; and feeds
upon the grape-vine.

4

26 Butterflies and Moths

Genus Philampelus.

Philampelus Achemon. — Achemon Hawk Moth.
The Achemon expands about three and a half

inches ; the prevailing color is brownish-gray,
with triangular? patches of dark-brown on the
thorax, and ?two square patches on each fore-

ACHEMON HAWK MOTH.

of Canada.

27

wing ; the hind wings are pink, near the middle
of which is a deep red spot, and behind a broad
ash-colored border. Flies in July and August.
The caterpillars feed upon the grape-vine,
common creeper, and other indigenous vines.

Genus Smerinthus.

The moths of this family have the wings
scalloped, and notched on the outer edge. The
caterpillars have a stout thorn on the tail.

BLIND SMERINTHUS.

Smerinthus cxccecata. — Blind Smerinthus.

This moth expands two and a half inches ; the
prevailing color is fawn, clouded with brown ;
the hind wings are rose colored in the centre
with a black spot, the centre of which is blue.
Flies in June, July, and August. The cater-
pillars feeds upon the leaves and buds of the
apple tree.

28 Butterflies and Moths

Genus Sesia.

This genus contains several beautiful sphinges,
which are distinguished by their broad fanshaped
tails, and clear, transparent wings. They fly in
the day-time.

TIIE BEE MOTH.

Sesia thysbe. — The Bee Moth.

This pretty insect flies in June and July, and
may be seen on very hot days hovering over
flowers, after the manner of humming birds. The
abdomen of this sphinx is of a reddish color; the
thorax, green ; the legs, white. The caterpillar
has a dorsal stripe, and short recurved horn ; and
feeds upon the lilac.

Sesia dijfinis. — The Green Bee-moth.

The color of this moth is yellowish-green ;
abdomen, black ; legs, black. Flies in July and
August. Its habits are similar to the preceding
species. The caterpillar is green, above; and
dark-red, beneath.

of Canada.

29

yEGERID^E. — Egerian family.

The insects of this family bear a striking
resemblance to bees or wasps. Their wings are
narrow and transparent ; the ‘body large. They
fly by day, especially in the bright sunshine.
The caterpillars of this species live within the
roots and stems of plants, and are white, cylin-
drical, and conical with stout horns. Their
transformation takes place in an oval cocoon
made of the chips they make in boring their
tunnels, cemented by a sticky matter. They
are very destructive to garden shrubs and plants.

ALgerice exitosce. — The Peach-tree Borer.

The wings of this insect are transparent, and
beautifully bordered and veined with light-blue,
which is the prevailing color in both sexes of this
species. It expands one inch and a quarter, and
flies from the middle of June until the last of
November. The female lays her eggs near the

Genus yEGERi^E.

PEACH-TREE BORER.

30

Butterflies and Moths

roots of the tree ; when they are hatched they
penetrate the bark, and greatly injure, and, in
many cases, destroy the trees.

yEgerice tipuliforme. — The Currant-bush Borer.

The body of this borer is blue ; the wings,
transparent, and fringed with black ; across the
tips of the fore wings is a light copper-colored
band. It expands about three-fourths of an inch.
The female lays her eggs in the buds of the
currant bush. When the caterpillar is hatched,
it forms a burrow in the stems several inches in
length, causing them to split open, and the bush
to die.

ALgerice cjicurbitce. — The Squash-vine Borer.

The body of this insect is of an orange color,
with spots of black. It expands one inch and a
quarter. The caterpillar feeds upon the squash
plant.

Adgerice polistiformis. — The Grape-root Borer.

The Grape-root Borer expands about one
inch and a half. Color : dark brown, tinged
with orange. Flies from June until September.
The caterpillar feeds upon the roots of the
grape vine.

of Canada.
Genus Eudryas.

3i

Several pretty moths belong to this family,
and are commonly called Wood Nymphs. Some
of the species are beautifully colored, and the
fore legs densely tufted. The caterpillars feed
upon the grape vine.

THE BEAUTIFUL WOOD NYMPII.

Eudryas gratoe. — The Beautiful Wood Nymph.

The Beautiful Wood Nymph is one of the
prettiest of the family. The fore wings are pure
white, with a broad stripe along the front edge,
and a band around the outer hind margin of a
brownish-purple color ; the hind wings are yel-
low, with a border of purplish-brown. Expands
about two inches. Flies in June, July, and
August. [The caterpillar feeds upon the grape
vine and common creeper.

32

Butterflies and Moths
ZYG^ENID^E. — Glaucopidian Family.

This family forms a connecting link between
the diurnal and nocturnal insects. It comprises
a number of species, which have the body very
slender, the wings pointed and covered with
extremely fine powdery scales ; the head, large
and full ; the anterior, tapering ; the color, green
with variegations of purple and black. They
fly on bright sunshiny days. The caterpillars
are green, and have sixteen feet.

of Canada.

33

Group III— IPttlimtae.
MOTHS.

BOMBYCIDiE, — Silk Worm Family.

This large group of insects, includes several
very large and magnificent moths which have
thick bodies, head small, and the fore legs
covered with hairs. The caterpillars of this
family, with few exceptions, spin cocoons of
silk, from which the silk of commerce is manu-
factured.

Genus Lithosia.

The Lithosians have slender bodies, and
narrow wings, which are beautifully spotted in
some species. The caterpillars are cylindrical,
and covered with short hairs.

Lithosia miniata. — Striped Lithosian.

The fore wings are scarlet, with three slate-
coloured stripes. It expands about one inch
and a quarter. The caterpillar feeds upon
various lichens,

34

Butterflies and Moths

Genus Deiopeia.

Deiopeia bella. — Beautiful Deiopeia.

This very pretty moth expands about one
inch and a half ; the fore wings are deep yellow,
crossed by six white bands, on each of which is
a row of black dots ; the hind wings are scarlet,
edged with black ; the thorax is dotted with
black; the body is white. Flies from July to
September.

Genus Calimorpha.

Calimorpha militaris. — The Soldier Moth.

The Soldier Moth expands one inch and three
quarters ; the fore wings are white, bordered
with brown, with a brown band from the inner
margin to the tip ; the hind wings are white,
without spots ; the body, white ; the head,
yellowish. Flies in July and August. The
caterpillar is dark colored, striped with yellow ;
and feeds upon various plants,

of Canada.
Genus CROC AT A.

35

The moths of this family are small in size,
and of a light-red color.

Genus Arctia.

The Arctians have stout bodies, broad wings,
and feathered antennae.

Arctia Virgo. — Virgin Tiger Moth.

This moth is quite rare in this section of
Canada, (the specimens in my collection were
obtained near Lake Memphremagog, Quebec.)
It emits a most disagreeable odor v/hen caught.
In appearance it is very pretty. The color of
the fore wings is reddish-flesh and buff, marked
with spots and stripes of black ; the hind wings
are vermillion-red, with black blotches. Flies in
July and August. The caterpillar is brown; and
feeds upon the plantain, and other herbaceous
plants.

Arctia phalerata. — The Harnessed Moth.

This beautiful moth expands nearly two
inches. The prevailing color is light-buff ; the
hind wings, red, with several black spots near
the margin ; the fore wings have two longitu-

36

Butterflies and Moths

dinal black stripes, and four black spots, each
somewhat resembling a triangle. Flies in July
and August. The caterpillar is brown, with
tufts of stiff brown hairs.

Arctia Isabella. — The Isabella Tiger Moth.

This moth is by far the most beautiful of the
family. It expands two inches and three-
quarters. The fore wings are tawny-brown, with
spots and dots of black ; the hind wings are
orange-colored. Flies in the latter part of June
and during July. The caterpillar feeds upon
garden plants of various kinds ; is dark-colored,
with stiff hairs. During the winter it remains in
a torpid condition ; in the spring, it makes a
cocoon, and transforms in July.

Genus Spilosoma.

The insects of this family are gray, white, or
yellow, with small black dots and stripes, and
are commonly known as “Millers.”

Spilosoma Virginica. — Virginia Ermine Moth.

This moth is a pure white, with a small black
spot on the fore wings ; on the hind wings are
two black dots ; on the back and sides there is
a row of black dots. It expands about two
inches. Flies in June, July, and August.

of Canada. 37

Genas Leucarctia.

Leucarctia Acrcea. — Salt Marsh Moth.

This insect is more common in New Bruns-
wick than in Ontario. It expands two inches
and a half ; the fore wings, white ; the hind
wings, yellow, with spots of black ; the abdomen
is yellow, and spotted with black. The female
of this species is grayish colored, and some-
what larger than the male. This moth flies in
June and July.

Genus Hyphantria.

Hyphantria textor. — The Weaver.

The Weaver is pure white, without spots, and
expands about one inch and a half. Flies in
July and August. The caterpillar is green, with
a yellowish-tinge, and dotted with black. It
weaves a transparent web over the branches of
trees ; and feeds upon the outer skin of the
leaves of the apple and cherry tree.

Hyphantria cunea . — Spotted Weaver.

This insect is also white, but differs from the
preceding by the black dots which cover its
wings. Flies from the last of June to August.
The caterpillar is brownish-black, dotted with
white.

38

Butterflies and Moths
Genus Halesidota.

The moths of this genus have slender bodies,
long, thin, and yellowish wings, crossed by
streaks of a brown color. The caterpillars have
tufts of hair along the back, and are short and
thick.

Halesidota caryce. — The Hickory Moth.

This moth is of a pale-yellow ochre color, and
expands about two inches. Along the entire
border of the wings are three rows of white
spots. Flies in June and July.

Halesidota tessellaris. — Checkered Tussock-
Moth.

The Checkered Tussock-Moth is a shade
darker in color than the preceding insect, and
the fore wings are crossed by five rows of small
dark spots. It expands two inches and a quarter.
Flies in June, July, and August.

Halesidota maculata. — The Oak Moth.

The general color of this moth is pale yellow
ochre, marked on the fore wings with brown
spots. Flies in June and July. The caterpillar
feeds upon the oak.

of Canada.
Genas Orgyia.

39

The moths of this genus derive their name
from a habit they possess of extending their fore
legs when at rest. The females are wingless,
and differ in color from the males.

Orgyia leucostigma. — White-marked Moth.

The prevailing color of this moth is dark-
ashen gray, on the fore wings are bands of a
brown color ; near the tips of the wings is a
black spot, and a small white crescent-shaped
spot. The females of this species are wingless,
and of a lighter color than the males. The
males fly in August and September. The cater-
pillar of this moth has long hairs extending
over the head and tail. It feeds on the apple
tree.

Orgyia antiqua. — The Vaporer Moth.

The color of this moth is brownish-rust ; on
the outer angle of the fore wings is a white spot,
and two dark-brown streaks. It expands about
one inch and a quarter. The caterpillar has
four yellow tufts on the back ; its head, is
black, and the sides dark, spotted with red.
It feeds upon the thorn and other shrubs,

40 Butterflies and Moths

Genus Notodonta.

Notcdonta unicornis. — The Unicorn Moth.

This moth derives its name from a horn that
arises from the fourth ring of the caterpillar of
this species. The color of the moth is a light-
brown, with dark-brown lines and patches of
greenish-white on the fore wings ; hind wings,
dusky-white. It expands about an inch and a
half, and flies in June and July. The caterpillar
feeds on the apple and plum tree.

Genus Lagoa.

Lagoa crispata. — Common Lagoa Moth.

This insect expands about an inch and a
quarter. Color : orange-slate. The fore wings
are quite short, broad, and are covered with
woolly hairs. The caterpillar feeds upon the
raspberry, blackberry, and apple.

Genus LlMACODES.

Limacodes scapha. — The V-Moth.

This moth derives its name from the lines on
the fore wings so crossing as to form the letter
V. Color : cinnamon-brown. Expands about
one inch and an eighth. The caterpillar is green,
spotted with brown above, and a lighter brown
beneath. Feeds upon the cherry and plum.

of Canada.
Genus Psyche.

4i

The moths of this genus have broad and thin
wings ; bodies, hairy and thick. The females
are wingless. In the caterpillar state they live
in cases made of bits of the plants on which they
feed.

Genus Perophora.

Perophora Melsheimerii. — Melsheimer’s Sack-
bearer.

This moth is reddish-gray, dotted with black.
The caterpillar is reddish-brown, and cylindrical
in form.

6

Butterflies and Moths

of Canada.
Genus Actias.

43

The magnificent moths of this family are
represented in Canada by the beautiful Luna,
“ fair empress of the night.”

Actias luna. — The Empress Luna Moth.

No description can do adequate justice to the
exquisite beauty of this elegant moth. It sur-
passes all others in delicacy of tint and texture.
The prevailing color is a rich pale green, with a
broad purple border all round ; on each of the
wings is an eye-like spot, which is transparent in
the centre, and encircled by a ring of yellow and
black. The hind wings are prolonged into a tail
of one inch and three quarters in length ; the
body is covered with a soft, downy, white sub-
stance ; the legs are purple-brown. It expands
from five inches to five and a half ; and flies in
June and July. The caterpillar is pale greenish-
blue, with a yellow stripe on each side of the
body, and the back is crossed, between the
rings, by bands of the same color. It measures
about three inches in length ; feeds upon the
walnut and hickory; and constructs its cocoon
by drawing two or more leaves together, and
spinning its cocoon inside, in which it remains
until the following spring, when the last meta-
morphosis occurs, and the perfect insect appears.

EMPEROR CECROPIA MOTH.

of Canada.
Germs Platysamxa.

45

Platysamia cecropia. — The Emperor Cecropia
Moth.

The Emperor Cecropia Moth is the largest of
Canadian moths ; it expands from five and a half
to six and a quarter inches. Color : reddish
rusty-brown ; the hind margins of the wings are
slate-colored ; near the centre of each wing is a
dark red kidney-shaped spot, with a narrow
black edge and a light centre. The hind wings
are rounded ; the fore wings are marked with
a white stripe, which is wavy, and of a brick-red
color on the outer edge ; the same stripe crosses
the hind wings near the margin ; near the tip of
the fore wings is a black spot, with a bluish
crescent. The caterpillar is green ; three inches
long ; and feeds upon the cherry, plum, and
apple tree, and also on the barberry and other
bushes.

Genus Callosamia.

Callosamia prornethea. — The Promethea Moth.

This fine moth expands four inches. Color :
smoky-brown ; the wings are crossed by a wavy
whitish line, with a clay-colored border; neai:
the tips of the fore wings is an eye-like spot
within a whitish-blue crescent. The female

4 6 Butterflies and Moths

moth differs in color, being light reddish-brown,
with the same markings as the male. Flies in

June, July, and August. The caterpillar feed
upon the sassafras tree.

of Canada.
Genus Tele a.

47

T-elea polyphemus. — Polyphemus Moth.

The Polyphemus is named after one of the
mythological giants. It expands from four and
a half to five and three quarter inches. The
general color is dark yellow, clouded and shaded
with black. Near the margin of -the fore wings
is a grayish colored band ; near the shoulders
are two short curved red and white lines ; within
the outer edge of the hind wings is a dark
grayish band, with an outer edge of reddish-
white. In the centre of each hind wing is a
transparent spot, divided by a fine line, and
encircled by rings of yellow and black, the whole
surrounded by a large blue spot shaded into
black. The transparent spot on the fore wings
is smaller than that on the hind wings, and has
no dark surrounding rings. It flies in June and
July. The caterpillar is pale green ; and feeds
upon the oak and hickory. ( Page 4.8 ).

POLYPHEMUS MOTH.

of Canada.
Genus Hyperchirta.

49

PEACOCK MOTH.

Hyperchiria varia. — The Peacock Moth.

The prevailing color of this beautiful insect
is rich sulphur yellow ; spotted on the fore wings
with reddish-purple ; the hind wings, near the
body, and on the hind margin, are bordered
with purple ; near the centre of the hind wings
is a large round blue eye-like spot, with a black
margin. The female differs from the male in
being reddish-brown in color, and in having a
small eye-like spot on the fore wings. Flies in
July and August. The caterpillar feeds upon
the corn, and the leaves of the maple.

6

5o

Butterflies and Moths
Genus ClTHERONIA.

Citheronia regalis. — The Royal Moth.

This magnificent moth is olive-colored on the
fore wings, on which there are several yellow
spots and red lines ; the hind wings are reddish
orange, with two yellow spots before, and a
row of olive-colored spots between, the veins
behind. It expands from five to five and a half
inches. Flies in July and August. The cater-
pillar feeds upon the leaves of the walnut and
hickory. Its metamorphosis takes place in the
ground.

Genus Eacles.

Eacles imperialis . — The Imperial Moth.

The Imperial Moth expands from four to
five inches. The general color is yellow, thinly
sprinkled with fine dots of a brownish-purple ;
near the hind margin of each wing is a
light-purple band. This beautiful moth flies
in July and August. The caterpillar feeds
upon the leaves of the oak. It makes no
cocoon, but burys itself in the earth to undergo
its transformation.

of Canada.

5i

52

Btitterjlies and Moths
Genus Anisota.

Anisota senatoria. — The Senator Moth.

The Senator Moth expands about two inches ;
the wings are ochre-yellow, colored, tinged with
reddish-purple, and crossed by a brownish-purple
band. The fore wings are sprinkled with fine
black dots, and near the middle have a large
white spot. It flies from the last of June until
August. The caterpillar enters the ground for
transformation.

Genus Clisiocampa.

AMERICAN TENT CATERPILLAR MOTH.

Clisiocampa americana. — The American Tent
Caterpillar Moth.

This moth derives its name from the large
tent-like web which the caterpillars of this species
place in apple trees, and under which they remain
when not feeding. As the caterpillars increase
in size they increase the size of their web. They
feed at regular hours ; resting at noon and in
Stormy weather within their tent, The moth is

of Canada.

53

reddish-brown ; the fore wings are crossed by
two whitish lines. It expand's about two inches
and a quarter ; and flies in J uly.

Clisiocampa dis stria.- — The Forest Tent
Caterpillar.

The Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth has longer
wings than the preceding moth; the color is
nearly the same, but the wings have two parallel
dark-brown lines. The caterpillars construct
their tents in the oak and birch trees ; their
habits are nearly the same as the American Tent
Caterpillar.

Genus HEPIALUS.

Hepialus argenteo-maculata. — Silver-spotted
Moth.

This moth expands about three inches ; the
color is dark ashy-gray ; on the fore wings is a
bright triangular silvery spot, and a round dot
near the base. It flies in July and August. The
caterpillar feeds upon the hop.

Genus Xyleutes.

Xyleutes robinice. — The Locust Tree Carpenter
Moth.

The fore wings of this moth are gray, marked
with dark lines and spots. It expands nearly

54

Butterflies and Moths

three inches, and flies in July and August. The
male has a dark yellow spot near the hind
margin of the hind wings. The caterpillars bore
holes in various directions, in the oak and locust
trees ; and spin a thick cocoon.

NOCTUTELITAL — Owlet Moth Family.

Nearly all the moths of this very large family
are dark colored ; fly by night, and enter the
open windows and fly about the rooms, attracted
by the light of the lamp or candle, on warm,
foggy summer evenings. The fore wings are
narrow and small ; bodies, thick ; antennae, taper-
ing. The caterpillars are striped, and taper
toward each end. They build earthen cocoons.
Over two thousand species belonging to this
family have been identified.

Genus Catocala.

The moths of this genus are quite numerous
in Canada. The prevailing color of the fore
wings is gray, mottled with black, brown, and
white ; the hind wings are red, or magenta, with
a median and marginal black band, the outer
edge of which is yellowish-white. They expand
from two and a half to three inches and a

of Canada.

55

quarter; and fly in July and August. The
caterpillars feed upon the leaves of the wild
plum, and other trees.

Genus Brepiios.

The two specimens in my collection, of this
genus, have the fore wings quite broad. Color :
grayish-black, mottled with brown ; the hind
wings are black, with a wide orange-yellow band
across the centre, and a pale yellowish outer
edge. They expand about three inches ; and
flies in July and August.

Genus Leucanee.

The moths of this genus are usually yellowish-
white. The caterpillars are smooth and marked
with fine lines ; they feed upon grasses, and
occasionally prove very destructive to fields of
wheat. During the day they hide in the tufts of
grass, but when night sets in they become very
active in pursuit of food, to the great injury of
the farmer. About the middle of August they
construct earthen cocoons for their transfor-
mation.

Genus Agrotis.

The general color of the moths of this genus
is dark ashy-gray, with two light spots on

56

Butterflies and Moths

the fore wings. They expand from one inch to
one inch and a half ; and fly about the last of
August. Their common name is “Dart Moths,”
which they derive from their manner of flying.
The caterpillars are called cut-worms. They
are very destructive to gardens and fields ;
during the day they lie concealed, and at night
come forth to feed upon tender plants and
leaves. They undergo their metamorphosis in
the ground.

Genus Gortyna.

The moths of this genus are yellowish-black,
with a tawny spot on the fore wings ; the hind
wings are grayish-yellow. They expand from
one to one and a half inches. The caterpillars
are called Spindle Worms ; they are dark yel-
lowish colored, and smooth, with warty spots ;
they live in the roots and stems of plants and
corn, and are exceedingly destructive.

Genus Apatela.

Apatcla americana. — The Gray Maple Moth.

This moth flies in July and August. Color:
light gray. Expands nearly three inches. The
caterpillar is light yellow ; and feeds upon the
leaves of the maple.

of Canada. 5 7

GEOMETRID^E. — Geometric! Family.

The moths of this family are small, have
slender bodies, and very delicate wings, which
are spread horizontally when at rest. Their
prevailing colors are green and yellow of differ-
ent shades. They fly by day as well as night.
The caterpillars are known by the name of
Span Worms, or Loopers, from their peculiar
motion in passing over surfaces, which is pro-
duced by the absence of legs on the basal
rings of the abdomen. In walking, they bring
the hind legs close to the fore legs, which
causes the worm to present the form of a loop.
In some parts of the country they are called
Drop Worms, from their habit of descending
from the branches of trees by suspending and
lowering themselves by a fine silk thread, and
return to the branches by the same thread. They
are generally smooth, and often, when at rest,
stand on their hind legs with the body erect.
They feed upon grain, by burrowing into the
kernel, and feeding upon the soft mealy sub-
stance within. Their transformation takes place
beneath or on the surface of the ground.

Genus Anisopteryx.

Aniso'pteryx vernata. — The Canker-worm Moth.

The wings of the male are large, thin, and
silky. It expands about one inch and a quarter,
8

58

Butterflies and Moths

and flies in September. The females are wing-
less. The caterpillars are called Canker Worms.
They make their appearance on the apple trees
when the leaves first start from the buds, and
commence their destructive ravages. When
they have attained their full size they are one
inch long ; and of a dark-ash color above, and
yellowish beneath. In June they cease eating,
and enter the ground to transform. In Septem-
ber the moths come out of the ground, and
deposit their eggs on the nearest trees.

Genus Hibernia.

Hibernia tiliaria. — The Autumn Moth.

The color of the fore wings of this moth are
dark-buff, sprinkled with fine brown dots, and
crossed by two wavy brown lines : the color of
the hind wings is lighter. It expands one inch
and three quarters. The caterpillar is yellow ;
and feeds upon the apple and elm.

Genus Ennomos.

Ennomos magnaria. — Dusted Sulphur Moth.

This moth expands about two inches and a
quarter. Color : dark sulphur-yellow, dotted
with black ; two dark-brown lines cross the
wings. Flies in July and August. The cater-
pillar feeds upon the elm and ash.

59

of Ca7iada.

Genus Angerona.

Angerona crocataria. — Citron Moth.

The Citron Moth expands about two inches
and a quarter. Color : bright-yellow, with irre-
gular patches of light-brown. Flies in July and
August. The caterpillar feeds upon the straw-
berry plant.

Genus Nematocampa.

The insects of this genus fly in July and
August, and expands from three quarters to an
inch and a half. The two specimens in my col-
lection are light yellow-ochre color, sprinkled
with reddish-brown dots : the wings are crossed
by lines of the same color. The caterpillars
feed upon the strawberry.

Genus Cpeerodes.

Chcerodes transversata. — Maple Moth.

This pretty moth expands from two to two
and a half inches. Color : light yellow ochre.
The margin of the wings are slightly angulated.
Flies in July. The caterpillar feeds upon the
maple.

Genus Endropia.

The moths of this genus have the edges of the
wings deeply notched. The prevailing color is
dark-yellow, dotted with black. The wings are
crossed by lines of brownish-black.

6o

Butterflies and Moths
Genus Amphidasys.

The moths of this genus have the wings small,
white, and dotted with spots of grayish-black.
They fly in July and August. The caterpillars
feed upon the blackberry and gooseberry.

Genus Acidalia.

This genus comprises a larger number of
moths which have whitish-yellow wings, crossed
by narrow bands of a darker color.

Genus Boarmia.

The only specimen I have found of this genus
expands one inch and three quarters. Color :
light-gray, thickly dotted with brown. The
wings are crossed by three brownish-black lines.

Genus Eupithecia.

This genus comprises several small moths
which have long thin fore-wings. The general
color is glossy-gray.

of Canada . 6 1

PYRALIDA2. — Delta Moth Family.

The moths of this family derive their family
name from the form of their wings, which, when
closed, bear a resemblance to the letter Delta,
of the Greek alphabet. The caterpillars are
slender, and usually green.

Genus HYPENA.

Hypena humuli . — The Hop- vine Moth.

The Hop-vine Moth expands one inch and a
quarter. The fore wings are mottled gray, with
a dark gray oblique spot on the tips. Flies in
August and September. The caterpillar is light
green, and very active in its movements. It
feeds upon the common climbing plants.

Genus AGLOSSA.

Aglossa pinguinalis. — The Grease Moth.

The fore wings of this moth are grayish black,
mottled with brown, and crossed by bands of a
lighter shade. The caterpillar is brown, and
feeds upon substances of an oily, fatty nature.

Genus Pyralis.

Pyralis farinalis . — The Meal Moth.

The Meal Moth expands about one inch.
The fore wings are rusty brown, crossed by white

62

Bittterjlies and Moths

lines ; on the base and tip is a brown spot. The
caterpillar is of a whitish color, with a brown
head, and is often found in old flour barrels.

Genus Galleria.

Galleria cereana. — The Wax Moth.

The male Wax Moth is gray colored ; the fore
wings scalloped and streaked with purplish-
brown on the outer edge ; the hind wings are
grayish-yellow and bronzed. The female moth
is larger and darker in color ; she deposits her
eggs at night, while the bees are at rest, either
in the hive or on the outside. The caterpillars
feed upon the wax.

Pempelia grossularia. — Gooseberry Worm Moth.

The color of this moth is light gray. It
expands about three quarters of an inch.
Flies in May and June. The caterpillars are
pale green, and feed upon gooseberries and
currants.

Genus Pempelia.

of Canada.

6 3

TORTRICID/E. — The Leaf-Rolling Family.

LEAF ROLLER.

The moths of this family are quite small ; the
fore wings ornamented with spots and bands,
the hind wings plain, and their inner edges
folded against the side of the body. They
generally fly by night, and rest during the day
on the plant on which the caterpillar feeds.
The caterpillars roll the edges of leaves together
into rolls, which are left open at each end. They
feed upon the buds and tender leaves of various
plants and trees.

Genus Anchylopera.

Anchylopera fr agar ice. — The Strawberry Leaf
Moth.

The fore wings of this moth are reddish-brown
with spots and streaks of black and white. The
female deposits her eggs on the plants, as soon as
the caterpillars are hatched, they fold the leaves
together and feed upon the inner surface. There
are two broods of caterpillars in the year. They
are very destructive.

64 Butterflies and Moths

Genus Carpocapsa.

Carpocapsa pomonella. — The Apple Moth.

The fore wings of this little moth are gray,
with darker lines. The female deposits her eggs
on the apples and pears. As soon as the
caterpillars are hatched, they burrow into the
core of the fruit, which is soon destroyed, and
falls to the ground.

Genus LOZOT^ENIA.

Lozotcenia rosaceana. — -The Rose Moth.

This pretty little moth flies in July and
August ; is light-brown, with bands of rusty-
brown. The male has a fold of scales which
extend to the tip of the fore wings, which are
slightly turned upwards. The caterpillar feeds
on the folded leaves of the rose and strawberry,
which are drawn together by a silken thread.

of Canada. 65

TINEID^F. — Tinea Family.

TINEA.

The Tineids are the smallest insects of the
order, and comprise a great number of species.
They differ from the moths of the preceding
families, not only by their smaller size, but also
by their narrow wings, which are usually rolled
round the body when at rest. The caterpillars
are extremely destructive in many respects.

Genus Tinea.

Tinea flavifirontella. — The Cloth Moth.

The wings of this pretty little moth are long
and slender, and fringed with a delicate silken
fringe. The female lays her eggs in woollens,
upon which the caterpillars feed.

Tinea tapetzella. — The Carpet Moth.

The fore wings of the Carpet Moth are yellow-
ish-white, and black at the base ; hind wings,
dark-gray; head, white. The caterpillar feeds
upon carpets.

9

66

Butterflies and Moths

Tinea granella. — The Grain Moth.

This moth is found flying in granaries during
July and August. The female lays from fifty to
a hundred extremely minute eggs on the grains
of wheat. In a few days the caterpillars are
hatched, and prove very destructive.

of Canada .

67

INSTRUCTIONS

FOR

CATCHING AND PRESERVING

sjlnttfrfliw and Putins.

The articles required for catching and preserv-
ing butterflies and moths are few, simple, and
inexpensive. They consist of

1st. A net (Fig. 1 ), which is
made as follows : — Make a ring
with a diameter of ten inches,

out of brass wire, to which have
soldered a screw two inches in
length to fasten in a socket on
the end of a stick about six
feet long. The bag should be
twenty inches deep, and made

of gauze, or other very light mate-*
rial, which should be sewed to a
narrow border of cotton cloth

placed around the ring. The

whole should be sufficiently light
to easily handle with one hand.

68

Butterflies and Moths

2nd. A small glass stoppered bottle, to hold
chloroform with which to kill the insect after it
is caught.

3rd. A light wood or tin pocket-box, with a
cork bottom, in which to carry the captured
insects home.

4th. A “setting-box,” twelve inches square and
four deep, with a cork bottom, grooved, to hold
the bodies of the insects ( Fig. 2 ), and facilitate

the spreading of their wings into the desired
position.

5th. An assortment of long, slender, and
small headed pins of different sizes.

6th. A cabinet or box, with a glass top and
cork bottom, in which to permanently place the
collection of insects.

When a butterfly or a moth is caught, seize it
by the thorax with the thumb and forefinger,

of Canada.

69

and press it until it is stupified ; this can be
done while the insect is in the net ; (be careful
not to derange the delicate scales with which
the wings are covered), then pour a drop of
chloroform on its head, which will generally kill
it at once, unless it is a large moth ; then pass a
pin through the side of the thorax, and pin the
the insect on its side to the cork bottom of the
pocket-box until you return, when it should be
at once placed in the “setting-box.”

The method of “setting” butterflies and moths
is as follows : Place the body of the insect in
the groove, expand and arrange the wings and
antennse, and secure them with card braces,
transfixed with pins, as in Fig. 2. The insects
should remain in the “setting-box” for ten days,
before they are permanently placed in the
cabinet. But one pin should transfix the insect,
and that should be passed through the thorax to
the extent of half an inch, so that the specimen,
when placed in the cabinet, will be fully one
quarter of an inch from the bottom. A piece of
gum camphor should be kept in the “setting-
box” to prevent the ravages of destructive larvae.

As butterflies have a chosen locality, their
capture is in some respects easy. It should be
remembered, however, that butterflies do not fly
during the prevalence of a north or north-east

7 o Butterflies and Moths

wind, however favorable the locality may be at
other times.

Hawk Moths frequent flowers and flower
gardens during the morning or evening twilight,
and, consequently, should be sought for while
they are on the wing in search of food. From
the buzzing noise they make in flying, and their
habit of hovering over the flowers while they
extract the sweets, they are often mistaken for
humming-birds.

When one of these large-bodied insects is
caught and killed, it is well to slit open the
abdomen, remove the contents, and insert cotton
wool saturated with spirits of camphor.

Moths, in general, fly by night only, and, con-
sequently, must be sought for at night. A plan
I have found very successful in catching them,
is, to mix a little rum or whiskey with some
common molasses, and apply it to the trunks
of trees growing on the skirts of woods and
fields, especially such as have a western aspect.
Do this about sunset, and retire for an hour or
two ; then return with a lighted lamp, approach
the trees cautiously, holding your net in readi-
ness to catch such moths as are hovering about,
or have fallen from the trees intoxicated. Calm,
warm, and dark nights, are the most favorable
for catching moths.

of Canada .

71

SYNOPSIS

OF

BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS

OF CANADA.

Group I.—

PAPILIONIDHa — Swallow-tail Family.
Genus Papilio.

Papilio turnus. — Yellow Swallow-tail.

“ asterias. — Black Swallow-tail.

“ troilus. — Orange-spotted Swallow-tail.

PIERIDAL — White Butterfly Family.
Genus Pieris.

Pieris oleracea. — Pot Herb Butterfly.

“ rapce. — Garden White Butterfly.

“ protodice. — -Cabbage Butterfly.

Genus Colias.

Colias philodice. — Yellow Butterfly.

72 Butterflies and Moths

NYMPHALID^E. — Nymphalis Family.

Genus Limenitis.

Limenitis ephestion. — Orange-spotted Butterfly.
arthemis — Circled Emperor.

“ misippus. — Dark Veinlet.

Genus Danais.

Danais archippus. — Queen of Spain Butterfly.
Genus Argynnus.

A rgynnis aphrodite. — Silver-spotted Fritillary.
bellona. — Brimstone Butterfly.

“ myrina. — Black-spotted Fritillary.

Genus Milityea.

Militcea phaeton. — Black Militaea.

“ tharos. — Drappled Militaea.

“ Harrissii. — Harris’s Butterfly.

Genus Pyrameis.

Pyrameis cardui. — Painted Lady.

“ Huntera. — Marbled Cynthia.

“ atalanta. — Red Admiral.

Genus VANESSA.

Vanessa antiopa. — Camberwell Beauty.

“ J. album. — J. Butterfly.
if Milbertii . — Red Empress.

of Canada.
Genus Grapta.

73

Grapta interrogationis. — Semicolon Butterfly.
“ comma. — Comma Butterfly.

“ c-argenteum . — Silver L Butterfly.

faunus. — Cinnamon Butterfly.

Genus Junonia.

Junonia ceenia. — The Peacock Butterfly.
Geims Satyrus.

Satyrus alope. — Brown Butterfly.

Boisduvallii '. — Boisduvall’s Butterfly.

Genus Neonymppi m.

Nconymphce curytris. — Eurytris Butterfly.

Genus Cpirysoppianus.

Chrysophanus amcricaua. — Copper Butterfly.

HESPERID7E. — Skipper Family.

LYCTENIDyE. — Azure-Butterfly Family.
Genus d HECLA.

10

74

Butterflies and Moths

G roup ir.— $ pMttflw.— gmvfc-fiHMfts.

SP'HINGlDiE.— Hawk Moth Family.
Genus Sphinx. '

Sphinx quinquemaculatus . — Five-spotted Sphinx.
“ drupiferarum. — Plum Sphinx.

£‘ gordius. — Apple Sphinx.

“ chersis. — Lilac Sphinx.

Genus TllYREUS.

'Thy reus Abottii. — Abbot’s Hawk Moth.
Genus PlIILAMPELUS.

Philampelus achemon.- — Achemon Hawk Moth.

Genus SMERINTHUS.

Smerinthus cxceecata. — Blind Smerinthus.

Genus SESIA.

Scsia thysbe. — Bee Moth.

“ diffinis. — Green Bee Moth.

of Canada.

iEGERIDZE. — JEge rian Family.
Genus ZEgerle.

7 5

^Egerice exitosae. — Peach-tree Borer.

tipuliformei — Currant-bush Borer.
cucurbitce. — Squash-vine Borer.
polistiformis. — Grape-root Borer.

Genus EUDRYAS.

Eudryas gratce. — Beautiful Wood Nymph.

ZYG^ENID^E.- — Glaucopidian Family.

76

Butterflies and Moths

Group III

BOM BY C I Dy£. — Silk Worm Family.

Genus Lithosia.

Lithosia ininiata. — Striped Lithosian.
Genus Deiopeia.

Deiopeia bella. — Beautiful Deiopeia.

Genus Calimorpha.

Calimorpha militarise — Soldier Moth.
Genus Croc AT A.

Genus Arctia.

Arctia virgo . — Virgin Tiger Moth.

“ phalerata. — Harnessed Moth.

“ Isabella. — Isabella Tiger Moth.

Genus SPILOSOMA.

Spilosoma virginica. — Virginia Ermine Moth.
Genus Leucarctia.

Leucarctia acrcea. — Salt Marsh Moth.

of Canada. 77'

Genus Hyphantria.

Hyphan tria text or.- — W eaver.

“ cunea. — Spotted Weaver.

Genus Halesidota.

Halesidota caryee. — Hickory Moth.

“ tessellaris. — Checkered Tussock-

Moth.

maculata. — Oak Moth.

Genus Orgyia.

Orgyia leucostigma. — White-marked Moth.

“ antiqua. — Vaporer Moth.

Genus NOTODONTA.

Notcdonta unicornis . — Unicorn Moth.

Genus Lagoa.

Lagoa crispata. — Common Lagoa Moth.
Genus LlMACODES.

Liviacodes scapha. — V-Moth.

Genus PSYCHE.

Genus Perophora.

Perophora Melsheim erii. — Melsheimer’s Sack-
bearer.

7 8 Butterflies and Moths

Genus Actias.

Actias tuna. — Empress Luna Moth.

Genus Platysamia.

Platysamia cecropia. — Empress Cecropia Moth.
Genus Callosamia.

Callosamia promethea. — Promethea Moth.
Genus Telea.

Tclea polythemus . — Polythemus Moth.

Genus HYPERCHIRIA.

Hyperchiria varia . — Peacock Moth.

Genus ClTHERONIA.

Citheronia regalis. — Royal Moth.

Gejius Eacles.

Eacles imperialis . — -Imperial Moth.

Genus An i sot a.

Anisota senatoria. — Senator Moth.

Genus Clisiocampa.

Clisiocampa americana . — American Tent Cater-
pillar Moth.

“ disstria. — Forest Tent Caterpillar.

of Canada.
Genus Hepiola.

79

Hcpiolos argcntco maculata . — Silver-spotted
Moth.

Genus XVLEUTES.

Xyleutes robinice. — Locust-tree.

NOCTUyELITHL — Owlet Moth Family.
Genus LeucaNEE.

Genus Brephos,

Genus Agrotis.

Genus Catocala.

Genus GoRTYNA.

GEOMETRID./E. — Geometrid Family.
Genus ANISOPTERYX.

Jiisopteryx vernata. — The Canker-worm Moth.
Genus Hi BERN I A.

Hibernia tiliaria. — The Autumn Moth.
Genus ENNOMOS.

Ennomos magnaria . — Dusted Sulphur Moth.

8o

Butterflies and Moths
Genus Angerona.

A ngerona crocataria. — Citron Moth.
Genus Nematocampa.

Genus CH/ERODES.

ChcErodes transversata. — Maple Moth.
Genus Endropia.

Genus Amphidasys.

Genus Acidalia.

Genus BOARMiA.

Genus EUPITHECIA.

PYRALIDAC — Delta Moth Family.
Genus Hypena.

Hypena humuli. — The Hop-vine Moth.
Genus Aglossa.

Aglossa pinguinalis. — The Grease Moth.
Genus Pyralis.

Pyralis farinalis . — The Meal Moth.

Genus Galleria.

Galleria ccrcana. — The Wax Moth.

of Canada . 8 1

Genus Pempelia.

Pempelia grossularia. — Gooseberry Worm Moth.

TORTRICIDSE. — The Leaf-Roiling Family.
Genus Anchylopera.

Auchylopera fr agar ice. — The Strawberry Leaf
Moth.

Genus Carpocapsa.

Carpocapsa pomonella. — The Apple Moth.

Genus Lozotzeni^e.

Lozotcenia rosaceana. — The Rose Moth.

TINEID^L. — Tinea Family.

Genus Tinea.

Tinea flaviftrontclla. — The Cloth Moth,

“ tapetzella . — The Carpet Moth.

“ granclla. — The Grain Moth.

11

INDEX OF COMMON NAMES.

A.

PAGE.

Apple Moth 64

Autumn Moth 58

American Tent Caterpillar Moth ... 52

Apple Sphinx 24

Abbot’s Hawk Moth 25

Achemon Hawk Moth 26

B.

Black Swallow-tail 3

Brimstone Butterfly 10

Black Spotted Fritillary 10

Black Militaea 1 1

Brown Butterfly 18

Boisduvall’s Butterfly 18

Blue Butterflies 21

Beautiful Deiopeia 34

Beautiful Wood Nymph 31

Bee Moth 28

Blind Smerinthus 27

84

Index.

C.

Common Lagoa Moth 40

Checkered Tussock Moth 38

Currant-bush Borer 30

Coffee Butterfly 19

Common Butterfly 17

Camberwell Beauty 14

Circled Emperor 7

Cabbage Butterfly 5

Carpet Moth 65

Cloth Moth 65

Citron Moth 59

Canker Worm Moth 57

Comma Butterfly 17

D.

Drappled Militaea 11

Dark Veinlet 7

Dusted Sulphur Moth 58

E.

Emperor Cecropia Moth 45

Empress Luna Moth 43

Eurytris Butterfly 19

F.

Five-spotted Sphinx 22

Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth 53

Index.

85

G.

Gooseberry-worm Moth 60

Grain Moth 66

Gray Maple Moth 56

Green Bee Moth . 28

Garden White Butterfly 5

Grape-root Borer 30

H.

Harris’s Butterfly 1 1

Hickory Moth 38

Harnessed Moth 35

Hop-vine Moth 59

Imperial Moth 58

J.

J Butterfly 15

L.

Lilac Sphinx 24

Locust Tree Carpenter Moth ... .......... 53

M.

Melscheimer’s Sack-bearer 41

Marbled Cynthia 1 2

O.

Orange-spotted Butterfly 6

Orange-spotted Swallow-tail 3

Oak Moth 38

86 Index.

P.

Polyphemus Moth

Promothea Moth

Plum Sphinx

Peach-tree Borer

Pot-herb Butterfly

Painted Lady

Peacock Butterfly

Peacock Moth

Q.

Queen of Spain Butterfly ..

R.

Rose Moth

Royal Moth

Red Empress

Red Admiral

S.

Spotted Weaver

Salt Marsh Moth

Soldier Moth

Striped Lithosian

Squash-vine Borer

Silver L Butterfly

Semicolon Butterfly...

Strawberry-leaf Moth

Senator Moth

47

45

24

29

5

1 2

17

49

9

64

50

15

13

37

37

34

o o

J J

30

17

16

63

52

Index.

8;

T.

Tiger Moth 36

U.

Unicorn Moth 40

V.

V Moth 40

Vaporer Moth 39

Virgin Tiger Moth .... 35

Virginia Ermine Moth 36

W.

White-marked Moth

Weaver

Wax Moth

Y.

39

37

60

Yellow Swallow-tail
Yellow Butterfly ...

1

6

INDEX OF TECHNICAL NAMES.

A.

PAGE.

Anchylopera fragrariae 63

Angerona crocataria 59

Anisopteryx vernata . . 57

Apatela americana 56

Anisota senatoria 52

Actias luna 43

Argynnis aphrodite 9

“ bellona 10

“ myrina 10

Arctia virgo 35

“ phalerata 35

“ Isabella 36

JEge riae exitosae 29

“ tipuliforme 30

“ cucurbitae 30

“ polistiformis 30

C.

Carpocapsa pomonella 64

Clisiocampa disstria 53

americana 52

12

o

Index.

PAGE.

Citheronia regalis 50

Callosamia promethea 4 5

Chaerodes transversata 59

Colias philodice 6

Chrysophanus americana 19

Calimorpha militaris 34

D.

Deiopeia bella 34

Danais archippus 9

E.

Eudryas gratae 31

Ennomos magnaria 58

Eacles imperialis 50

G.

Grapta interrogationis 16

“ comma ... 17

“ c-argenteum 17

“ faun us 17

Galleria cereana , 60

H.

Hyphantria textor 37

“ cunea 37

Halesidota caryae 38

“ tesselaris 38

maculata.., 38

Index.

91

PAGE.

Hibernia tiliaria 58

Hypena humuli 59

Hepialus argenteo-maculata . 53

Hyperchiria varia 49

j-

junonia caenia 17

L.

Lozotaenia rosaceana 64

Lagoa crispata 40

Limacodes scapha 40

Leucarctia acraea 37

Lithosia miniata 33

Limenitis ephestion 6

arthemis 7

“ misippus 7

M.

Melitaea phaeton 11

tliaros 1 1

Harrisii 11

N.

Notodonta unicornis 40

Neonympha eurytris 19

O.

Orgyia leucostigma 39

“ antiqua 39

9 2 Index .

PAGE.

Philampelus achemon 26

Pempelia grossularia 60

Platysamia cecropia 45

Perophora Melscheimerii 41

Papilio turnus 1

“ troilus 3

“ asterias 3

Pieris oleracea 5

“ rapae 5

“ protodice 5

Pyrameis cardui 12

“ Huntera 12

“ atalanta 13

S.

Sphinx quinquemaculatus 22

“ drupiferarum 24

“ gordius 24

“ chersis 24

Smerinthus excaecata 27

Sesia thysbe '28

“ diffinis 28

Spilosoma virginica 36

Satyrus alope.* 18

“ Boisduvallii 18

T.

Telea polyphemus 47

Tinea flavifrontella 65

Index. 93

PAGE.

Tinea tapetzella 65

“ granella 66

Thyreus Abbottii 25

V.

Vanessa antiopa 14

J-album 15

“ Milbertii 15

X.

Xyleutes robinae 53

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BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS

OF CANADA.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

The Christian Guardian , of June 4th, says : —
“ This is a valuable contribution to the Natural
History of Canada. To an agricultural country
like Canada, a knowledge of Entomology is of
great practical importance. Dr. Ross deserves
great credit for the painstaking research which
the volume displays. The illustrations are highly
creditable to Canadian art.”

The Mail , of the 20th of May, says : — “The
design of this very elegant volume is to direct
the attention of the student of Natural History
to the attractive and deeply interesting study of
Canadian Entomology. The author has cer-
tainly supplied the long-felt want of a work on
this subject. His description are clear and
distinct. Dr, Ross is to be thanked for his
attractive and useful contribution to a most in-
teresting branch of study.”

The Canadia?i Montldy Review , of June, says :
— “ Dr. A. M. Ross, of Toronto, has issued a

g6

supplemental volume to his useful and attractive
work on Canadian Birds. The present produc-
tion is a hand-book of Butterflies and Moths of
Canada. The work commends itself to all lovers
of Canadian Entomology.”

The Sun , of 21st of May, says: — “This will
be found an exceedingly useful work to the
student of Natural History. We congratulate
those who take an interest in this very enticing
branch of study in the assistance thus afforded
them.”

The Evangelical Witness , of June 4th, says : —
“ Another volume from our Canadian Naturalist,
Dr. A. M. Ross, has just come to hand. Its title
is, ‘ The Butterflies and Moths of Canada.’ The
author’s style is agreeable ; his descriptions are
free as possible from technicalities, making the
book interesting and attractive to the general
reader.

t

CANADIAN

FERNS AND WILD FLOWERS,

COLLECTED IN THE PROVINCE OF
ONTARIO, CANADA.

BY

A. M. ROSS, M.D.

AUTHOR OF “ THE BIRDS OF CANADA,” “ THE BUTTERFLIES AND MOTH
OF CANADA,” ETC.

TORONTO.

FERNS.

Osmunda regalis.

ROYAL FERN.

This beautiful Fern grows in deep, swampy
woods.

O. Claytoniana.

CLAYTON’S FLOWERING FERN.

Grows in dark, moist woods, and on deeply
shaded hillsides.

O. cinnamomea.

CINNAMON FERN.

Grows in swamps, and marshy woods.

Polypodium vulgar e.

COMMON POLYPODY FERN.

Grows on mossy banks.

P. dryopteris.

THREE BRANCHED POLYPODY FERN
Grows in rocky, shaded woods.

P. phegopteris.

' WOODLAND POLYPODY FERN.
Grows on wet, shaded hillsides, in woods.

4

FERNS.

P. hexogonoptera.

WINGED POLYPODY FERN.

Grows in open woods.

Pteris aquilina.

COMMON BRACKEN FERN.

Grows in open woods, and fields. Very
common.

Polystichum acrostichoiedes.
TERMINAL SHIELD FERN.

Grows on the banks of streams, in the woods.
P. aculeatum.

PRICKLY SHIELD FERN.

Grows in hilly, rocky woods.

Polystichum lonchitis.

HOLLY LEAVED SHIELD FERN.
Grows in rocky mountainous woods, in shaded
localities.

P. fragrans

SWEET SCENTED SHIELD FERN.
Grows in the fissures of mossy shaded rocks.
Dicksonia punctilohula.
GOSSAMER FERN.

Grows in open woods.

FERNS.

5

Lastrea spinulosa.

COMMON WOOD FERN.

Grows in damp, boggy woods.

L. thelypteris.

SWAMP SHIELD FERN.

Grows in .marshy places.

L. cristata.

CRESTED SHIELD FERN.

Grows in dark swamps.

L. marginctlis.

MARGINAL FRUITING SHIELD FERN-
Grows on rocky hillsides.

L . noveborcicensis.

NEW YORK SHIELD FERN.

Grows in high places in woods.

L. goldianct.

GOLDIE’S SHIELD FERN.

Grows in rich, moist woods.

Onoclea sensibilis.

SENSITIVE FERN.

Grows in shaded, damp places.

6

FERNS.

jr

1 \

Ophibglossum vulgatum.
ADDER’S TONGUE FERN/
Grows in deeply shaded and damp wodeH

S' tru th iop ter is pen nsylvan icce.

OSTRICH FERN.

Grows in rich, loamy, shaded ground.

Scolopendrium vulgare .
HART’S-TONGUE FERN.
Grows in the crevices of shaded rocks.

Woodwardice virginicuin.
COMMON CHAIN FERN.
Grows in boggy ground.

Woodsia ilvensis.

COMMON DOWNY HAIR FERN.
Grows on rocks in open woods and fields.

Cystopteris bulpifera.
COMMON BLADDER FERN.
Grows in the fissures of moist rocky banks.

C. fragilis.

SLENDER BLADDER FERN.
Grows on well-shaded rocky hill sides,

FERNS.

7

Camptosorus rhizophyllus.
WALKING FERN.

Grows in dark, damp, woods, on well-shaded
mossy banks.

A d ian turn pedatum.

BIRD'S-FOOTED MAIDEN-HAIR FERN.
Grows on moist loamy banks and hillsides,

Aspleniimi trichomanes.

COMMON SPLEENWORT.

Grows amongst damp rocks.

A splenium viride.
GREEN SPLEENWORT.
Found in crevices of moist rocks.

A. thelypteroides.

SILVERY SPLEENWORT.
Grows in dark, shaded woods.

A . ebeneum.

BLACK STALKED SPLEENWORT.
Grows in open woods.

A. jjtlix-foeviina.

FERNS.

A. augustifolium.

NARROW-FRONDED SPLEENWORT.
Grows in thick, rocky woods.

A llosorus atropurpureus.
PURPLE-STEMMED ROCK BRAKE.
Grows in dark, shaded banks.

A. gracilis.

SLENDER ROCK BRAKE.

Grows in the crevices of rocks, in dark places.

Botrychium virgin icum .

RATTLE SNAKE FERN.

Grows in wet, boggy woods.

B. lunar ice.

COMMON MOONWORT.

Grows in open woods.

B. lunarioides.

TALL MOONWORT.

Grows in open, dry woods.

B. simplex.

DWARF MOONWORT.

Grows in dark, damp woods.

WILD FLOWERS.

Hepatica cicutiloba .

WIND FLOWER.

T rillium erection .

PURPLE TRILLIUM.
Trillium grandiflorci.
DEATH FLOWER.
Aquilegia canadensis.

ROCK COLUMBINE.
Dicentra canadensis.
SQUIRREL CORN.
Geranium maculatum.
WOOD GERANIUM.
Trientalis.

CHICKWEED WINTERGREEN.

Claytonia virginica.

SPRING BEAUTY.

A nemone ncmerosa.

WOOD ANEMONE.

IO

WILD FLOWERS.

Iris versicolor.

LARGE BLUE FLAG.

Uviilaria grandiflora ,

WOOD DAFFODILL.

Pyrola elliptica.

SWEET WINTERGREEN.

Moneses tmiflora.

ONE FLOWERED PYROLA.

Rudbeckia fidgida.

CONE FLOWER.

Castilleia coccinea.

SCARLET CUP.

Orchis spcctabilis.

SHOWY ORCHIS.

Arum triphyllum.

INDIAN TURNIP.

Rubus odoratus.

FLOWERING RASPBERRY.

Veronica americana.

SPEEDWELL.

WILD FLOWERS.

I

Erythronium americanum.

ADDER’S TONGUE.

Cypripedium pubescens .

YELLOW LADY’S SLIPPER.

Cypripedium spectabilis.

SHOWY LADY’S SLIPPER.

Vaccinium oxycoccus.
SMALL CRANBERRY.

Lillium philadelphicum.
WILD ORANGE LILY.

Pentstemon pubescens.
BEARD TONGUE. .

Rosa blanda.

EARLY WILD ROSE.

Rosa canadensis.
CANADA ROSE.

Rosa minor.

SMALL WILD WHITE ROSE.

Nympha odorata.

SWEET SCENTED WATER LILY.

12

WILD FLOWERS.

Sarracenici purpurea.
PITCHER PLANT.

Nuphar adrena.
YELLOW POND LILLY.

Campanula rotundifolia.
CANADA HAREBELL.

THE FLORA OF CANADA :

WITH

Full Descriptions of each Species found

IN THE DIFFERENT PROVINCES OF

the Dominion.

BY

A. M. ROSS, M.D.,

Author op the “ Birds of Canada,” “ Butterflies and Moths of
Canada,” etc., etc.

With 100 Lithograph Illustrations of the principal varieties.

Crown 8 vo., Cloth, fine toned paper, extra gilt side,
pp. 300. Price $3.00.

^ ^ ^ A * -I ^ ^

&' .--'•-*'-,--..w\?'

£$»*»!