Linota borealis = canescens (Gould).

Severn House.

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.

=

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. 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

William in his inquiry. The above synonymy shows the result to which he has come.

I also particularly drew the attention of my friends to the white-tailed grouse in relation to its affinity to this species, but no specimens of it have as yet been received. Mr A. M'Donald, stationed at Little Whale River, however, writes me as follows on the subject:-"I am not aware that the white-tailed grouse is to be found in this locality. We have two sorts of the ptarmigan-the large one, which is generally found among the willows, is, I believe, the willow grouse. The other is much smaller, and confines itself almost entirely to the rocks.* This latter may be the white-tailed grouse to which you refer. I have never seen it in summer, and indeed they do not, I believe, make their appearance till ! after a considerable quantity of snow has fallen. They are of about the size of the common pigeon." He adds, “I will be able to procure good specimens of both these, and, if possible, in the various stages." As specimens of this whitetailed grouse are exceedingly scarce in museums in Britain such a supply will be acceptable.

Tetrao Canadensis, (Linn.)

Trout Lake and Hudson's Bay.
Tetrao phasianellus, (Linn.)

Trout Lake Station.

The Tetrao obscurus (Rich. and Sw.), or Dusky Grouse of the
Northern Zoology, has not yet been received.†

Porzana Carolina (Linn.), (Carolina Rail).

Severn House.

Pluvialis Virginiacus, (Borkh.)

Trout Lake Station and Severn House.

The American representative of our golden plover, specifically distinguished from it by its lesser size, and the axillary feathers being dusky, instead of white. Like our own golden plover, this bird is highly prized as food.

Charadrius semipalmatus, (Kaup.)

Trout Lake Station and Severn House.

Plentiful in Arctic America.

* This smaller bird, if not the white-tailed species, will be L. mutus (Leach). or common ptarmigan of Great Britain. The white-tailed bird cannot be mistaken, none of the tail feathers being black, as in the other two species.

↑ Tetrao obscurus (Say), and the Tetrao obscurus (Richard and Swain), Fauns B. Am., are quite distinct, and specimens of the latter from northern latitudes

are much wanted.

VOL. II.

G

Squatarola helvetica, (Linn.)

Severn House.

This may be looked upon as only a northern state of our grey plover. My specimens are in full breeding plumage, and the ground colour of all the upper parts nearly white; certainly appears to be influenced by climate.

Strepsilas interpres, (Linn.)

Hudson's Bay and Severn House.

A citizen of the world.

Grus Canadensis, (Temm.)

Trout Lake Station,

Botaurus lentiginosus (Montag.), (American Bittern).

Severn House.

Numenius Hudsonicus, (Lath.)

Severn House. Tringa alpina, (Linn.)

Severn House.

Totanus melanoleucus (Gmel.), (vociferus, Sab.)

Severn House.

The specimens received agree with Gmelin's description of the breeding plumage, but differ somewhat from those usually seen, which generally come farther from the south.

Totanus flavipes, (Vieill.)

Severn House. Limosa fedoa, (Linn.) Hudson's Bay.

Limosa Hudsonica, (Lath.)

Severn House.

Phalaropus lobatus, (Ord.)

Severn House.

Anser hyperboreus (Gmel.), (Wavey; Snowy Goose).
Moose Factory and Severn House.

Bernicla Canadensis (Linn.), (Cravat Goose; Canada Goose).

There are most probably more than one species confounded under the old name of Anas Canadensis of Linnæus, founded on the figures of Brisson, Catesby and Edwards, which all evidently refer to one species. Sir John Richardson mentions two Indian synonymes for it-viz., Neescah and Mistehay-neescah, besides that of Apisteeskeesh for Hutchin's goose, from whence we may, I think, legitimately infer that the Indians recognise two species at least, this being peculiarly a case where dependence may be placed on the observations of natives, the animals being one of the objects of their chase, and a knowledge of the habits and distinctions of different species being essential

to their success in hunting them. Three skins have been received, which appear to belong to three different species; the one of middle size being without doubt the true Canada goose. The smallest one differs in the form of the bill, which is more Bernicle-like; it resembles B. Hutchinsii; and Sir William Jardine informs me it agrees very exactly in size, &c., with a bird from Mexico, described by Cassin, from the Philadelphia Museum, under the name of parvipes. And he adds,"Its being from Mexico is no drawback, the Philadelphia Museum possesses only one specimen, and that would be migratory." The largest specimen seems also distinct, and does not appear to have been described; and as it is obvious that, whether it be really a new species or merely in a different state of plumage, it must, when it becomes known, be sooner or later described and made identifiable as a variety, if not as a species, I think I can do no harm in describing it, and giving it a provisional cognomen.

Bernicla leucolama, (Murray). (Plate I.)

Beak black; head and greatest part of the neck black; chin and throat white, the white extending upwards and backwards. beyond the ear coverts, and also extending downwards along the under side of the neck almost to the end of the black portion, but tapering away and becoming narrower and somewhat interspersed with black feathers as it extends downwards; the under eyelid broadly white; the white on the cheeks, &c., without black flecks; the black on the fore part of the head and behind the white space flecked with white; the back and the wing coverts, the secondaries and tertials light brown, with lighter coloured edges to the feathers; primaries dark brown; tail feathers black; the rump black; upper tail coverts white; lower part of the neck pale dirty lavender upper part of breast still paler; lower part and belly almost white, except a broad pale lavender-coloured band across the middle, just before the tops of the thighs, or, perhaps, I should rather express it as breast and belly pale lavendercoloured, with a broad white band across the breast; vent and under tail coverts white; legs and first phalanges pale brown, probably paler when in life; remainder of the phalanges and interdigital membranes bright yellow, sparingly spotted here and there with black or brown. Length, 40 inches.

Its general appearance is very much the same as that of the

;

Canada goose. The following are the particulars in which it differs:

In colour.-In the Canada goose the white cravat does not extend downwards along the under side of the neck, but is quite abruptly defined, and cut off; in B. leucolama it does, so as to give the appearance not only of a white cravat under its chin, but also a white frill or shirt appearing in front down its black waistcoat. In the Canada goose the white cravat is flecked more or less with blackish specks; in leucolama it is wholly white. In the Canada goose, the black head in front of, and above the white cravat, is wholly black; in leucolæma it is flecked with an occasional white speck, and most so where it joins the upper mandible both in front and on each side. In the Canada goose the space between the rami of the lower mandible is black or blackish; in leucolama it is pure white. The white on the lower eyelid is comparatively broad and distinct in leucolama; in the Canada goose it is a mere line like a thread.

The general tone of the plumage of the body, both above and below, is considerably paler in leucolama than in the Canada goose-the black primaries having become brown, the brown back having become somewhat fawn-coloured, and the fawn-coloured under side having become dirty white, with a pale bluish or lavender-coloured broad band stretching across the belly between the two thighs.

The black on the neck extends rather a shorter distance down in leucolama than in the Canada goose.

The legs are yellowish-brown, and the interdigital spaces bright yellow in leucolama, instead of being black as in the Canada goose. I believe that in some species of geese the colour of the leg changes according to the age; but this would not appear to be the case in the Canada goose, because Captain Ord informs me that the colour is constantly black, both in old birds and young broods, which he has reared since 1852.

There are also some differences in the relative proportions, which I shall tabulate for the sake of brevity and easier reference, and shall include in the comparison the proportions of the following species supposed to be B. Hutchinsii. The mea