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IV. Notices of some of our Rarer Birds. By JOHN ALEXR. SMITH, M.D.

(1.) Notice of the Tetrao medius, T. hybridus, or Urogallus hybridus of Authors. This beautiful bird was formerly believed by some Naturalists to be a distinct species, and by others merely a hybrid between the Capercailzie and Black Cock. The specimen now exhibited was killed about the 23d of November, by Major J. W. Wedderburn, near Loyal House, Alyth, Perthshire. The bird is a male; it is intermediate in size between the capercailzie (T. urogallus), and the black grouse (T. tetrix), measuring 28 inches in length, and weighed 5 lbs. 10 oz. The general appearance of the plumage is darker than the capercailzie; the bill is black like the black grouse; the head and neck, which shows the bearded throat of the capercailzie, is of dark colour, with reddish purple reflections, especially brilliant on the breast; there are a few white feathers on the lower part of the breast and abdomen, as in the capercailzie; and the tail has the lateral feathers the longest, as in the black cock,—the external ones being slightly curved outwards. The stomach was filled with buds of heather, and not of the pine, which is the favourite food of the capercailzie. Birds of this kind have been very rarely observed in Scotland of late years; they are said, however, to have been occasionally noticed in ancient times. Lloyd mentions that they occur in Norway, but are not common; and they are sometimes sent, Yarrell informs us, with the capercailzie to the London markets.

(2.) Dr SMITH exhibited a specimen of the Lanius excubitor, Penn., the Great Grey Shrike, which was killed a few days ago by Dr C. Nelson at Pitcox, near Dunbar. The bird is a young male, and may be considered as only an occasional winter visitor to Scotland.

(3.) Two specimens of the Pintail Duck, Dafila caudacuta, Gould, were exhibited by Dr Smith, the one a male, in adult plumage, sent by Mr Edward Hargitt. It was shot on the Fife coast, near Kirkcaldy, a few days ago. And the other, a young male, was killed near Prestonpans in the beginning of this month. The bird is of rare occurrence in the south of Scotland.

(4.) Dr SMITH had also examined a fine specimen of the Buteo lagopus, Flem., the Rough-Legged Buzzard, which was shot a few days ago by a keeper of Sir Graham Montgomery, at Stobo, in Peeblesshire. Another individual was seen flying about in the same neighbourhood. It is a rare winter visitant to Britain and Ireland.

V. Notice of a Pike, Esox lucius, Linn., in whose stomach a Water Hen and Water Ouzel were found. By Mr ARCHIBALD STIRLING. The stomach of a large pike was exhibited, which contained a water

ben, Gallinula chloropus, and a water ouzel, Cinclus aquaticus, both apparently swallowed very shortly before the fish was captured. The pike weighed 30 lbs., and measured 4 feet 4 inches in length. It was taken on the estate of the Duke of Atholl, in Perthshire, and is now preserved in the valuable Anatomical Museum of the University.

Wednesday, 26th January 1859.-T. STRETHILL WRIGHT, M.D., President, in the Chair,

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1. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1857-8; Notice of some Remarks by the late Mr Hugh Miller. From the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 2. Mémoires de la Société Imperial des Sciences Naturelles de Cherbourg, Tome IV., 1856. From the Society. 3. Graduation Address, August 1858; On the Structure and Growth of Timber, and on the Dry Rot in Wood; Notice of the Palm House in the Royal Botanical Garden at Edinburgh, by Professor Balfour. From the Author. 4. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, No. 56, November 1858. From the Society. Thanks were voted to the donors.

The following communications were then read :—

I. Contributions to the Natural History of the Hudson's Bay Territories. Aves.-Part I. (Numerous Specimens were exhibited.) By ANDREW MURRAY, Esq.

Before commencing the enumeration of the birds, I should wish to make an ample preliminary acknowledgment of the assistance I have received in determining them, from our celebrated ornithologist Sir Wm. Jardine, Bart., and also from Dr J. A. Smith of Edinburgh. Their extensive knowledge and familiarity with the subject have saved me much labour; and wherever the species were difficult of determination, the reader has the satisfaction of knowing that it is introduced in accordance with the careful examination and deliberation of these gentlemen as well as myself.

Archibuteo Sancti Johannis, (Gmel.)

Received both from Severn House and Trout Lake Station. Very near our own Archibuteo lagopus, or rough-footed fal

con; indeed, the pale-coloured specimen scarcely differs from some European specimens of that bird.

Falco peregrinus (Gmel.), (Peregrine Falcon).

Trout Lake Station and Severn House, Hudson's Bay. Sir J. Richardson says this bird is frequent in the barren grounds. Sir W. Jardine tells me it is the Falco anatum, Bonap., of the American ornithologists. Well known at New Jersey from the havoc it makes among the water-fowl in winter. Mr Ord says, that the ducks when struck by it are lacerated from the neck to the rump.

Falco candicans (Gmel.), (American Gyr Falcon).

York Factory.

A constant resident in Hudson's Bay territories, known as the "speckled partridge hawk," and the "winterer."

Circus cyaneus (Linn.), (var. Hudsonicus); or it may stand C. Hudsonicus, (Linn.)

From Moose Factory and Severn House.

The male varies from the European specimens, in the upper parts being darker, and in the lower breast and the belly being barred at wide intervals with pale sienna,-agreeing in this respect with the figure given by Bonaparte in his continuation of "Wilson's North American Ornithology." The young male differs in the darker general plumage and the deeper tint of the sienna on the under parts.

Nyctea nivea (Daud.), (Snowy Owl).
York Factory.

Two beautiful specimens received; one wholly white without a single dark spot.

Surnia funerea (Gmel.), (Hawk-Owl).

Trout Lake Station, Severn House.

Asio brachyotus, (Short-Eared Owl).

Trout Lake Station.

Slightly varies in shade of colour from some British specimens. Chordeiles Virginiana, (Briss.)

Trout Lake Station.

Ceryle alcyon (Linn.), (Belted King-fisher).

York Factory.

The only king-fisher that inhabits the Fur countries in Hudson's Bay territory.

Perisoreus Canadensis (Linn.), (Canada Jay, or Whiskey Jack). Severn House.

Very forward, and intrudes itself upon man, but pines away in confinement.

Corvus Americanus, (Audub.)

Trout Lake Station. Hudson's Bay.

The American representative of our Corvus corone or carrion

crow.

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This showy bird winters in vast numbers in the southern parts of the United States and Mexico. Its range to the north does not pass the 57th parallel.

Agelaius xanthocephalus, (Bonap.)

From Hudson's Bay.

Turdus migratorius, (Linn.), (American Robin).

Severn House, Trout Lake Station.

The colour is unusually bright in the specimens received. Seiurus Noveboracensis (Bonap.), (aquaticus, Sw.)

Severn House.

Anthus Ludovicianus, (Gmel.)
Hudson's Bay.

Sylvicola æstiva, (Gmel.)

Hudson's Bay, Trout Lake Station, Severn House. Known throughout the whole of the fur countries. Sylvicola striata (Gmel.), (Blackpoll Warbler).

Hudson's Bay, Trout Lake.

Sylvicola parus.

Severn House, Trout Lake.

Otocorys cornutus (Sw.), (Shore Lark).

York Factory, Severn House, &c.

Appears common.

Plectrophanes nivalis (Linn.), (Snow-Bunting).

Severn House, Trout Lake Station, Hudson's Bay.
Only goes to the south when the snow becomes deep.

Plectrophanes Lapponica, (Linn.)

Trout Lake Station and Severn House.

Like the last, is common to the northern regions of both Europe

and America.

Plectrophanes pictus, (Sw.)

Severn House.

Seems scarcer than the others.

Sir J. Richardson mentions

that he had only obtained one specimen. Three have been

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This species winters in the southern parts of the United States. Among the Cree Indians it bears the euphonious appellation of Oochaechimmenaw-kaw-mawkaw-seesh.

Spizella monticola (Gmel.), (Emberiza canadensis, Faun. B. Am.) Severn House.

This bird winters in the United States.

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The same bird known in this country as the Mealy Redpoll. Loxia leucoptera, (Gmel.)

Hudson's Bay, Severn House, and Trout Lake Station. Corythus enucleator (Linn.), (Pine Grosbeak).

Severn House.

Scolecophagus ferrugineus, (Gmel.)

Severn House, Trout Lake.

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The most northern species,-called Rusty Grakle by Americans. The male is not rusty, but the female has a ferruginous tinge. Lanius septentrionalis, Gmel. borealis of Vieillot, "Orn. Amer. Sept. ;" but he unfortunately gave the same name to a European bird in his "Faun. Franc. ;" Gmelin's name, therefore, should stand. It is very difficult to make out the birds of this genus; and there almost seems reason to look upon the American species as varieties of the European, but ornithologists have accepted them as different.

Trout Lake Station and Severn House.

Tyrannus borealis (Sw.), (T. Cooperi, Bonap.)

Hudson's Bay.

(One specimen.) A rare bird, and to be seen in very few collections.

Colaptes auratus, (Linn.)

Trout Lake and Hudson's Bay.

One of the woodpeckers; but as it feeds on ants, and therefore does not require so much labour to get its food as the other woodpeckers, its bill is less suited for such work. It is only a summer visitant to the Fur countries.

Apternus tridactylus, (Sw.)

Severn House.

(One specimen.) The common three-toed woodpecker.

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Lagopus albus (Gmel.) L.subalpinus (Nils.), and L.saliceti (Less.), of Europe; and also = L. Scoticus of Britain. (Vide Jardine.)

In consequence of Sir William Jardine's desire to procure specimens of this species in the various states of plumage, to assist in elucidating the question which he has started, whether it is not the same as the common grouse of this country, I begged my correspondents to furnish me with a good series of specimens in their plumage at different seasons of the year, and a fine series of lovely skins, beautifully preserved, has accordingly been sent, which have proved of much use to Sir

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