Splendid Appearance of the Forest in Autumn. 293 either by a sudden effort, or by causing a strangulation at some point (perhaps the point of junction between the stalk and stem), brings about the colorations alike remarkable for their brilliancy and variety, as compared with the leaf of more temperate climates." "To persons who have not seen them before, there is an amount of grace, elegance, beauty, and variety in the grouping and coloration of the Canadian forest trees at this season really beyond conception. The bright and variegated hues of the maple and moose wood, with the birch, beech, etc., either dispersed, grouped, or solitary, form beautiful pictures, each tree vying with the other in the transcendent beauty of its dapplings and shadings, which, coupled with the cool, bracing climate, create such happy feelings in the lookers-on, that I certainly think if the question is asked the traveller what he most admired in a Canadian forest, he would unhesitatingly decide in favour of the autumnal change of the leaf. (15th.) Weasels and hares not yet showing signs of winter change, although the nights are frosty, and migratory water-fowl from more southern regions are passing through rapidly. (17th.) First snows, cold winds. (21st.) Winter migratory birds arriving, the first snow bunting' of the season. Cusk com ing up river. (25th.) Snow and frost now the order of the day. All migratory water-fowl pushing rapidly southwards; and winter residents and new-comers putting in their appearance. The last of the summer migrants-to wit, robins, chipping sparrows, and snow birds, lagging on in small numbers; the last to go as they were the first to come." "November 6th.-The pine bullfinch (P. Canadensis) arrived, and feeding on the elder-berries; so tame and unconcerned that you may slip a horsehair noose over its head when so employed. (9th.) Hare and weasels changing colour rapidly. Ruffed partridge and Canadian grouse about to take to the pine boughs for food. Cusk increasing in numbers in the river. Snow buntings in flocks. (18th.) Rivers and lakes frozen over. Snow falling thickly." "December 12th.-All winter changes on the fur of animals completed. Crossbills, pine bullfinches, and the Canada jay commencing to breed." APPENDIX. QUADRUPED S. THE following is a list of the mammals of New Brunswick as far as I have been enabled to determine : Grey Squirrel. Flying Squirrel Sciurus migratorius. And. Common in the south-west, Cuv. Pteromys volucella Striped Squirrel Tamias striatus Arctomys monax Castor canadensis Gm. Kuhl. Jaculus Hudsonius Wagner. Mus decumanus Mus musculus Pallas. Whitefooted Mouse. Hesperomys leucopus Hamster Mouse Musk Rat. Porcupine. White Rabbit. Moose Caribou Right Whale Wagner. and along the western frontier; partial to localities. Not uncommon. Perhaps more common than Common, and possibly in- Repelled to the wilderness Confined to the coast towns Common, not seen in the same parts frequented by the two last. Plentiful in field and forest. The same as the last, and also about houses. Cuv. Common in streams in the wilderness, and also in reclaimed districts. Erethizon dorsatus F. Cuv. Common in woods and . Lacepe. Localized; few found east- Rorqualus rostratus Fabr. Several specimens recorded. Globicephalus melas Lesson. Knox. Rarely met with. Not uncommon. (Fabr.) Not rare at times. Phocæna communis Cuv. Common. LIST OF THE BIRDS OF NEW BRUNSWICK. A., means accidental; M., migratory; R., rare. Birds marked * have been captured in Europe. Many of the land and a greater number of the water birds in the list are given on the authority of Mr. Boardman, whose determinations have been more or less confirmed by Professor Verrill, in Proc. Boston Soc., Nat. Hist., vol. ix., p. 122. Otus Wilsonianus, Lesson. Long eared owl. Brachyotus Cassinii, Brewer. Shorteared owl. Syrnium Cinereum, Aud. M. Great gray owl. Syrnium Nebulosum, Gray. Barred owl. Nyctale Richardsonii, Bonap. Sparrow owl. Nyctale Acadica, Bonap. * Saw whet owl. Nyctea Nivea, Gray. Snowy owl. Coccygus Erythrophthalmus, Bon. Picus Pubescens, Linn. * Downy woodpecker. Picoides Arcticus, Gray. Three-toed woodpecker. Picoides Hirsutus, Gray. Banded three-toed woodpecker. Sphyropicus Varius, Baird. M. Yellow-bellied woodpecker. Hylotomus Pileatus, Baird. Black woodpecker. Melanerpes Erythrocephalus, Sw. R. M. Red-headed woodpecker. Colaptes Auratus, Swainson. M. Yellow-shafted flicker. Trochilus Colubris, Linn. Humming bird. Chaetura Pelasgia, Steph. Chimney swallow. a This is the Falco anatum of Bonaparte, now considered identical with the F. peregrinus of Europe. See Proc. Nat. Hist. Society Boston, Oct. 17, 1866, p. 64. |