Ruddy Ducks, Erismatura rubida, Black Duck, Anas obscura, Scoter, Oidemia americana. Oct. 25, Mallard, Anas boschas, Pintail, Dafila acuta. Oct. 26, Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus. Oct 27, Redhead. Aythya americana.-G. E. ATKINSON.

Spizella monticola, Junco hyemalis. On November 6, I collected several Tree Sparrows and Juncos, which were feeding in a stubble-field surrounded with trees on Well's Hill. On November 8, around the Bell-buoy at Lighthouse Point, I observed a large number of Winter Ducks, Clangula hyemalis, White-winged, and other Scoters, also several Herring Gulls, Larus argentatus smithsonianus, and Bonaparte's Gulls, Larus philadelphia. The first Cowheens were secured in the same locality, about October 11.-J. R. THURSTON.

Ectopistes migratorius.-A young female Passenger Pigeon was secured at Greenwood's Ave., on September 20.

Larus delawarensis.-Ring-billed Gulls have been numerous about Toronto Bay for some time, I have secured several specimens.-JOHN EDMONDS.

(Thirty-fifth Meeting, November 25, 1890.)

Buteo latissimus.-A young Broad-winged Hawk, collected by me on the Don Flats, on August 23, during the beginning of migration, -W. METCALFE.

Nyctala acadica.-A Saw-whet Owl was captured alive on a doorstep opposite my house, on November 4, and came into my possession.J. A. VARLEY.

Spizella monticola-On November 15, I saw a flock of Tree Sparrows feeding in a piece of swampy ground, at the Humber. November 23, I saw a Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo borealis on Well's Hill. -E. DEACON.

Nyctala acadica. Passerella iliaca.-I secured one Fox Sparrow, on Well's Hill, on October 25 and on November 9 I secured a Sawwhet Owl at Lambton.-F. TWEED.

Antrostomus vociferus. Passerella iliaca. Plectrophenax nivalis.-On valis. On September 30, I secured a Whip-poor-will, which I consider late for this bird. October 4, I secured one Fox Sparrow, the first record, I believe, this fall. On October 25, I received a Snowbird which was shot on Ashbridge's Bar in company with a few others. -H. H. BROWN.

(Thirty-sixth Meeting, December 9, 1890.)

Summer collections, and observations.-July 9, young Fulica americana, and Virginia Rail, Rallus virginianus. August 12, I collected one Baird's Sandpiper, Tringa bairdii, and another on August 18. This bird is mentioned as being rare in Ontario, but it has been common about Toronto this fall. August 15, Solitary Sandpiper, Totanus solitarius. August 23, White-rumped Sandpiper, Tringa fuscicollis. September 22, Black-throated Green Warbler, Dendroica virens. September 23, Black-poll Warbler, Dendroica striata. September 27, Northern Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus. September 28, Whippoor-will, Antrostomus vociferus. October 4, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 1ryngites subruficollis. October 6, Short-eared Owl, Asio accipitrinus. October 10, Hairy Woodpecker, Dryobates villosus. October 21, Snowflakes, Plectrophenax nivalis, first of the season seen on Ashbridge's Bar. October 22, one Snowy Owl, Nyctea nyctea, Golden Plover, Charadrius dominicus. October 26, Winter Wren, Troglodytes hiemalis. November 16, Tree Sparrows, Spizella monticola, very plentiful on the Bar. September 27, Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularia.—JOHN EDMONDS.

Buteo swainsoni.-On May 3, a male Swainson's Hawk was captured in Rosedale. This is an exceedingly rare capture for this vicinity. Pandion haliaëtus carolinensis.-On Sept. 15, a male Osprey was shot on the Don Flats and brought to me.

Urinator lumme.-A Red-throated Loon was shot at Green River east of Toronto, on Oct. 4. It was a full plumaged male bird.

Buteo borealis.-On Oct. 30, a female Red-tailed Hawk was sent me from Green River.

Nyctala acadica.-On Nov. 6th, I secured a Saw-whet Owl, one Barred Owl, Syrnium nebulosum, and one Long-eared Owl in Ashbridge's Woods. On the same day a partly albino Robin, Merula migratoria, was secured in Rosedale. It was a most peculiar bird being much larger than any I ever handled. The following are the measurements:-length, 10 inches; wing, 53% inches. The back was very dark and the head entirely white.

Plectrophenax nivalis.-On Dec. 6, I shot one snowbird and two Goldfinches, Spinus tristis, in Rosedale.-D. G. Cox.

Larus glaucus.-A Glaucous Gull was shot off the Queen's Wharf on Dec. 8th, and brought to me.

Somateria dresseri.-A Common Eider was shot off Toronto Island

on Dec. 6. On the same date a Cooper's Hawk, Accipiter cooperii, was shot on Davenport Road near High Park, where it had previously killed a hen.

Lanius borealis. On Dec. 13, a Northern Shrike was brought in from North Toronto.-W. CROSS.

On the forenoon of Sunday Nov. 30, 1890, I heard a flock of crows. making a loud outcry among a clump of evergreens in St. James cemetery, and thinking they had an owl in chase, I was making my way towards. them when they took flight up the Don Flats and rested among dense evergreens. In this flight they passed so close that I had no difficulty in determining the object of pursuit to be a Red-tailed Hawk. The crows as is always the case with them—were very eager in the pursuit,. clamoring loudly, laboriously flapping upwards, and then shooting downward in graceful curves quite close to the hawk, whose only care seemed to be to elude the "brawling brood" of annoying screamers. Again the hawk darted off towards the evergreens on the Castle Frank heights, and rested as before in a dense mass of foliage, closely pursued by the crows. These short flights were repeated several times until the Rosedale heights were reached. The hawk, perhaps hungry, and knowing of the whereabouts of breakfast, seemed unwilling to leave the ground, but by this time the crows were largely reinforced, numbering over thirty, and their deafening outcry was quite unsupportable. After the lapse of a few minutes the hawk again darted off southward, doubling on his former course, closely followed by a crowd as eager, noisy and eldritch as Tam o' Shanter's witches. When immediately above the drive in the Rosedale ravine, being at an elevation of about 100 yards, he suddenly swooped downwards at almost a right angle to his course with astonishing velocity, to within a few yards of the ground. then executing a short and rapid curve he darted up the ravine, and in a few minutes he was soaring above the trees and his outmanoeuvred and now rapidly dispersing foes.. It was one of the greatest and neatest feats of bird flight I ever saw executed. The velocity was greater than that of a falling body, words fail to convey an adequate idea of the suddenness and magnitude of the lunge. DR. W. BRODIE.

(Thirty-seventh Meeting, December 23, 1890.)

Lanius borealis.-On December 17, I secured a Northern Shrike on Ashbridge's Bar, also one Song Sparrow, Melospiza fasciata, and one Tree Sparrow, Spizella monticola, at the same place.-W. METCALFE.

Junco hyemalis wintering.-On December 12, on Well's Hill, I saw a large flock of Juncos. It was a mild warm day. I passed the same place on December 8, but saw no birds, as the weather was cold and frosty.— G. E. ATKINSON.

(Thirty-eighth Meeting, January 13th, 1891.)

Lanius borealis. Syrnium nebulosum.-On December 25, I saw a Northern Shrike on Well's Hill, and on January 4, I saw a Barred Owl in the ravine at the same place.-E. DEACON.

Loxia curvirostra minor.-On December 25, I secured a male Crossbill on Well's Hill, which I believe is the first record of the season. On January 5, I saw a Screech Owl, Megascops asio, on the wires in front of the post office.-F. TWEED.

Bubo virginianus.-On December 29, I saw a flock of crows chasing a Great Horned Owl on the Don Flats, and I followed it for a long distance but could not get a shot at it. On January 9, I secured a Northern Shrike, Lanius borealis, on Gerrard St. East. It had been eating a mouse.-W. METCALFE.

Molothrus ater and Agelaius phoeniceus.-On December 25, a Cow Bird and a Red-wing Blackbird were shot north of Toronto out of a small flock of Cow Birds.

Scotiaptex cinerea.-The first and only specimen of the Great Gray Owl was received from north of Toronto on January 13.-W. CROSS.

Habits of Native Birds in Captivity.-One of the chief aims of a Naturalist is to collect original information, and I don't think there is a better way of doing original work than by having living specimens to study from, in as near their natural condition as possible. To do this requires considerable time and trouble, but in the end you are satisfied, and fully repaid for your work. In dealing with birds some of the principal points to be noticed are, (1) Which birds agree; few would think of putting a Canary in a cage with an Owl. (2) To know what food these birds will live on and thrive, for instance Meadowlarks, Highholders, Robins and Bluebirds will not thrive on sunflower seed as Grosbeaks do, or Grosbeaks will not thrive on small seeds as the Sparrows do. (3) To study the habits of any bird thoroughly I find that (1) there should be regularity in everything, feeding, and cleaning cages, even heat, no draughts; birds can stand a great deal of cold but the hardiest will not

last long in a draught, (2) kindness and attention; they should not be frightened or caught, and if a little cautiousness is exercised your birds will soon know you and will not be at all alarmed when you are near.

Bubo virginianus, Great Horned Owl.-This specimen came into my possession in infancy and although handled frequently gradually became of uncertain temper and objected to such intimacy. However he still shows some affection for his owner, and when hungry screeches if I appear within sight, until satisfied. He has a very peculiar appetite, sometimes being content with fresh meat, or living birds and mice, and sometimes he will leave the meat in a corner of the cage until in a putrid condition and then eat heartily of it. When he was about four months old he would take seven birds as big as sparrows at one meal. He will eat almost anything from a piece of fresh beef to a handful of cotton batting; if a mouse or small bird be given him he seizes it by the head crushes the skull, and with two or three jerks it is swallowed, feathers, fur and all; after digestion he throws up the feathers or fur with the bones and hard portions rolled up into a ball. Birds the size of a Sapsucker are swallowed whole, but large birds or animals are torn to pieces with the beak and claws. He will take a bath about twice a week in warm weather but not at all in winter; from November till about May, he hoots nearly all night and part of the day, but the remainder of the year only makes a sharp screech. He shows great aversion to a dog, cat or rabbit and whenever any of them come near the cage he lowers his head, throws back his horns, curves his wings, and spreading his tail will raise all his feathers to their full extent and walk about snapping his beak and hissing most ferociously; should the animal come near the cage he will bound against the bars at it and, as a rule, the intruder, taken by surprise, will depart hastily. When a snake is brought near him the tables are turned, he will then fly to the farthest corner of the cage and remain as quiet as possible, watching it until it disappears. If I am working near his cage at night he will amuse himself by throwing sticks and pieces of rag about and pouncing on them suddenly.

Colaptes auratus. - Flicker or Highholder. These birds being naturally of a shy disposition are very difficult to keep in a cage, as they dash themselves against the bars until exhausted. In confinement they will feed on corn or meat, but seem to get no nourishment from anything, and soon pine and die, if not liberated.

Otocoris alpestris praticola. The Shorelark is a timid little creature, and although it takes readily to a cage and feeds well, it is constantly alert as if expecting to be taken by surprise, and at the slightest alarm it rushes to a corner, and conceals itself from view. It