Bird Notes from TorontoAuthor(s): William BrodieSource: The Auk, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Apr., 1888), p. 211Published by: American Ornithologists' UnionStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4067181 .

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1888.] General Notes. 2 I I

the time, but shortly afterwards several more were found in the hardwood trees on the brow of a hill in the immediate vicinity. In both instances the birds, although near water, were on comnparatively high ground and at some distance from the swampv cover-ts which we would have expected them to affect.-H. F. MOORE, Phziladelj5hia, Pa.

Dendroica tigrina at Iowa City, in November. - A small bird taken at Iowa City, Iowa, November 27, proved to be a Cape May Warbler (Den- droica tigrina). It was feeding in the top of a pine tree in one of the door-vards at that place, where it was shot. It was in immature plumage, which Avas very much soiled with pine resin; but otherwise was in good conditiotn.-CHARLEs R. KEYES, DesM1oines, Iowa.

Bird Notes from Toronto.-A male Sturnella magnaz was collected Feb. 21, iSSi, by Mr. Jas. Helliwell, at Highland Creek, about fifteen miles east of Toronto. The bird was in fine plumage and in fairly good condi- tion. He had his 'home' in a dense thicket in a deep ravine, through which ran a 'Spring Creek' (which did niot fi-eeze during the winter), about a mile fr-om a barn-vard which he visited almost daily, feeding on sweep- ings and pickings from manure. The bird was carefuLlly dissected but no wouLnd or injury of any kind could be found. The gizzard contained a few small pieces of gravel, a few grains of oats, and pickings from cow dung. This is believed to be the first record of this species wintering north of Lake Ontario.

A male Melostiza fasciala was collected Feb. 2, I886. by Mr. Wm. Squires, while feeding on amaranthus seeds in a garden in St. Matthews- ward, Toronto. Snow ten inches in depth. Another specimen was taken Jan. 31, I887, by Mr. Daniel G. Cox, in a ravine in St. Jaines Cemetery, Toronto, in a willow thicket densely grown with goldenrod (Solidago). Snow six inches deep.

April 4, i886. Aferula migratoria Linn. Gizzard contained three hipps of Rosa blanda and one larva of Pyrrk-arctia isabella. Ground firozen. It is not usual for any bird to feed on the larva of this moth.

A male Icterus sturius was collected May I3, 1887, while pur-suing in- sects through willow blossoms, just east of the city limits. Believed to be the first authentic record of the occurrence of this bird at Toronto.

A male European Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans) was collected May 2I, I887, by Mr. Daniel S. Cox, about a mile north of the citv limits-one out of four-while resting on the top of a beech tree. The remaining three flew off in a northerly direction. The birds were evidently in a natural conidition and migrants from the sotuth, doubtless from the New York colony.-WILLIAM BRODIE, Toronto, Can.

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