THE 
     
     NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND NEWSLETTER 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Newsletter No. I2 January 1976 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     THE SNOW BUNTING 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Snow Bunting is the winged sprite of our winter wilds. Its plumes mimic 
     
     the purity of the crystal flakes, and it comes in flocks wayward as the whirling 
     
     drifts. The Buntings are here in October, and then frequent lonely shores and 
     
     sand reefs, running over the sands in pursuit of marine insects in company with 
     
     Sanderlings and Plovers. We see little of them till snow covers up their food 
     
     in the wilds, then they come about the farmsteads looking for grain and stray 
     
     seeds. They are very fond of oats which they shell with address, eating only 
     
     the mealy kernel. 
     
    

    
     Francis Bain 
     
    
   
   
    
     I89I 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     NEXT MEETING 
     
    
   
   
    
     Date: Tuesday, January 6, I976 
     
     Time: 8 p.m. 
     
     Place: Provincial Health Building, 3rd floor, Room #7 and A8. Enter 
     
    
   
   
    
     through garage on west side of Prov. Administrative Building. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Program: Rosemary Curley from P. E. I. Fish and Wildlife Division will 
     
     present information on P. E. I.'s red fox population. She has 
     
     been conducting research for the last two years. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     ANNOUNCEMENTS 
     
    
   
   
    
     Fees of $2 for 1976 membership are due at the beginning of the fiscal year, 
     
     January I. These should be paid very soon--if left late in the year it is 
     
     “like paying for a dead horse.” 
     
    
   
   
    
     “Winds of Sea and Wood,” the Natural History Society's first book, is for sale 
     
     at $1.35 per copy. If ordering by mail, please include I5 cents extra for 
     
     postage. Order PREPAID from Margaret Mallett, 53 Fitzroy St., Charlottetown, 
     
     P. E. I. CIA IRA. 
     
    
   
   
    
     “Winds of Sea and Wood” is also for sale at the Heritage Foundation, the Card 
     
     Shop and the Book Mark in Charlottetown. 
     
    
   
   
    
     At the December Meeting a nominating committee was chosen. Kathy Martin, 
     
     Rosemary Curley and Vera Beck are on the committee. At the January meeting, 
     
     they will be presenting to the membership a slate of officers for the year I976. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     THAT KINGFISHER AGAIN 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Covering our section of Hillsborough Christmas Bird Count area on Saturday, 
     
     December 27, I975, Mary WiIIms and I came to Mount Herbert at noon and stopped 
     
     with expectancy at the junction of Routes 2I, 2l5, and Fullerton's Creek. Was 
     
     our friend the Belted Kingfisher still there? He was not on his favorite dead 
     
     tree downstream. Neither was he disclosed by sweeping the binoculars along the 
     
     trees upstream. Getting out of the car and listening carefully, I was able to 
     
     hear his subdued rattle coming from upstream. Peering intently through the mist, 
     
     we SpOtted him away back, perched on an alder overhanging the brook. Brook? 
     
    

    
     No, lake, rather, because of the heavy rain during the night. Slim pickings for 
     
     a kingfisher---waiting for the water to subside and the stream to clear. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Margaret Mallett, Charlottetown