An Account of the Birds Sent from Hudson's Bay; With Observations Relative to Their Natural History; And Latin Descriptions of Some of the Most Uncommon. By J. R. Forster, F. R. S.

XXIX. An Account of the Birds sent from Hudson's Bay; with Observations relative to their Natural History; and Latin Descriptions of some of the most uncommon. By J. R. Forster, F. R. S. Read June 18—25, 1772. I. Land-Birds. 1. Accipitres Rapacious. Faun. Am. Sept. 1. Falco, 1. Columbarius. 128. 21. Pigeon Hawk. Falcon. Faun. Am. Sept. p. 9. Catesby I. t. 3. Epervier de la Caroline. Brisson I. p. 378. Severn river, No 19. This species is called a small-bird hawk at Hudson's Bay. It is migratory, arriving near Severn River in May, breeding on the coast, and then retiring to a warmer climate in autumn. It feeds on small birds; and, on the approach of any person, will fly in circles, making a hideous shrieking noise. The breast and belly are yellowish, with brown streaks, which are not mentioned by the ornithologists, though their descriptions answer in other respects. It weighs six ounces and a half, its length is $10\frac{1}{2}$, the breadth $22\frac{1}{2}$. Catesby's figure is a very indifferent one. **Falco**, 2. *Spadiceus*. New Species. Chocolate Falcon. Faun. Am. Sept. p. 9. This species, at first sight, bears some resemblance to the European Moor Buzzard, or *Aeruginosus*, Linn. but is much less, and wants the light spots on the head and shoulders. No number or description was sent along with it. **Falco**, 3. Sacer, Brisson, I. p. 337. Sacre de Buffon, Oiseaux, (edition in 12mo.) Tom. II. p. 349. t. 14. Faun. Am. Sept. p. 9. Severn River, No 16. Speckled Partridge Hawk, at Hudson's Bay. The name is derived from its feeding on the birds of the Grouse tribe, commonly called partridges, at Hudson's Bay. Its irides are yellow, and the legs blue. It comes nearest the *Sacre* of Brisson, Buffon, and Belon; but Buffon says it has black eyes, which is very indistinct; for the irides are black in none of the falcons, and in few other birds; and the pupil, if he means that, is black in all birds. It is said, by Belon, to come from Tartary and Russia, and is, therefore, probably a northern bird. It is very voracious and and bold, catching partridges out of a covey, which the Europeans are driving into their nests. It breeds in April and May. Its young are ready to fly in the middle of June. Its nests, as those of all other falcons, are built in unfrequented places; therefore, the author of the account from Severn River could not ascertain how many eggs it lays; however, the Indians told him it commonly lay two. It never migrates, and weighs $2\frac{1}{2}$ pounds; its length is 22 inches, its breadth 3 feet. 2. Strix, 14. Brachyotos. The short-eared Owl. Owl. Brit. Zoology, folio, plate B. 3. octavo, I. p. 156. Faun. Am. Sept. 9. Severn River, No 17 and 64. Mouse Hawk at Hudson's Bay. It answers the description and figure in the British Zoology; but its ears or long feathers do not appear. The smallness of the head has, probably, given occasion to call it a hawk, though it does not fly about in quest of prey, like other hawks (as the account from Severn River says); it sits quiet on the stumps of trees, waiting mice with all the attention of a domestic cat, being an inveterate enemy of those little animals. It migrates southward in autumn; and breeds along the coast. Its irides are yellow. Its weight is 14 ounces; its length 16 inches, the breadth 3 feet. Strix. Strix, 5. Nyctea. 132. 6. Snowy Owl. Faun. Am. Sept. 9. Churchill River, N° 7. White Owl. It seems to be in its winter dress, as it is entirely white. The feet are covered with long white hair-like feathers to the very nails, but there are none on the soles or under parts of the toes. Strix, 6. Funerea. 133. 11. Canada Owl. Faun. Am. Sept. 9. Severn River, N° 13. Churchill River, N° 11. Cabeticuch, or Cabaducutch, is the Indian name of this bird. Linneus's description answers perfectly. The male, which in the class of birds of prey is generally smaller, is, however, in this species, larger than the female, according to the account from Severn River. Its colour is likewise much blacker, and the spots more distinct. The eyes are large and prominent; the irides of a bright yellow. The weight is 12 ounces; its length 17 inches, the breadth 2 feet. It has only two young at one hatching. Strix, 7. Passerina. 133. 12. Little Owl. Brit. Zool. Faun. Am. Sept. 9. (The number belonging to this bird is lost, but it is most probably that from Severn River, N° 15. called Shipomospish by the natives). The crown of the head is speckled with white, as in the Strix funerea. Strix, S. Nebulosa. New species. The grey Owl. Severn River, No 36. This fine non-descript owl lives upon hares, ptarmigans, mice, &c. It has two young at a time. The specimen sent over is said to be one of the largest. It is not described by any author. Its weight is 3 pounds, length 16 inches, breadth 4 feet. 3. Lanius, 9. Excubitor. 135. II. Great Butcher-Shrike. bird. Brit. Zool. Cinereous Shrike. Faun. Am. Sept. Severn River, No 11. White Whiskijohn at Hudson’s Bay. The specimen is a male; it weighs two ounces and a half, is seldom found on the coast, but frequent about a hundred miles inland; and feeds on small birds. It corresponds with ours in every respect. II. Picæ. Pies. Faun. Am. Sept. 4. Corvus, 10. Canadensis. 158. 16. Cinereous Crow. Crow. Faun. Am. Sept. 9. Severn River, No 9 and 10. These birds are called Whiskijohn and Whiskijack at the Hudson’s Bay. They weigh 2 ounces; and are 9 inches long, and 11 broad. Their eyes are black, and their feet of the same colour. Their characters correspond with the Linnean description. They breed early in spring; their nests are made of sticks and grass, grafs, and built in pine trees; they have two, rarely three, young ones at a time; their eggs are blue; they fly in pairs; the male and female are perfectly alike; they feed on black moss, worms, and even flesh. When near habitations or tents, they are apt to pilfer every thing they can come at, even salt meat; they are bold, and come into the tents to eat victuals out of the dishes. They watch persons baiting the traps for martins, and devour the bait as soon as they turn their backs. These birds lay up stores for the winter, and are seldom seen in January, unless near habitations; they are a kind of mock-bird; when caught, they pine away and die, though their appetite never fails them. Corvus, 11. Pica. 157. 13. Magpie. Brit. Zool. Faun. Am. Sept. 9. Albany Fort, No 5. It is called Oue-ta-kee aske, i.e. Heart-bird, by the Indians. It is a bird of passage, and rarely seen; it agrees, in all respects, with the European magpie, upon comparison. 5. Picus, 12. Auratus. 174. 9. Gold-wing Woodpecker. Woodpecker. Faun. Am. Sept. 10. Catesby, I. 18. Albany Fort, No 4. the large Woodpecker. The natives of America call this bird Ou-thee-quan-nor-now, from the yellow colour of the shafts of the quill and underside of the tail feathers. It is a bird of passage; visits the neigh- neighbourhood of Albany Fort in April, leaves it in September; lays from four to six eggs in hollow trees, feeds on small worms and other insects. Its descriptions answer exactly. Picus, 13. Villosum, 175. 16. Hairy Woodpecker. Faun. Am. Sept. 10. Catesby I. 19. Severn River, N° 56. The specimen sent over is a female, by its wanting the red on the head. The descriptions of Linneus and Brisson agree; only the two middlemost feathers are black, the next are of the same colour, but have a white rhomboidal spot near the tip; the next are black, with the upper half obliquely white, the very tip being black; the next after that are white, with a round black spot on the inner side close to the base, and the lower part of the shaft is black, the outermost feathers are quite white, the shaft only at the base being black. 14. Tridactylus. 177. 21. Three-toed Woodpecker. Faun. Am. Sept. Severn River, N° 8. A female, weight 2 ounces, length 8 inches, breadth 13; eyes dark blue, legs black. It builds its nest in trees, lives in woods upon worms picked out of trees, is not very common at Severn River. The descriptions answer. III. Gallinæ. III. Gallinæ. Gallinaceous. Faun. Am. Sept. 6. Tetrao. {15 Canadensis, 274.3.} Faun. Am. Sept. 10. Grous. {Canace, 275.7.} Spotted Grous. Gelinotte du Canada, male et femelle, Pl. enl. 131 et 132. Buffon Oiseaux II. p. 279. 4to. Briffon I. p. 203. t. 20. f. 1, 2, and p. 201. app. 10. Edwards, t. 118 and 71. Severn River, No 5. Woodpartridge. These birds are all the year long at Hudson’s Bay, and never change the colour of their plumage. The accounts from Hudson’s Bay say, there is no material difference between the male and female; which must be a mistake, as they are really very different. Linneus’s descriptions of the Tetrao Canadensis, and Canace, both answer to the specimens sent over, so that, after comparing them, I find they are only one and the same species. I suppose the dividing them into two, was occasioned by Briffon’s and Edwards’s descriptions, being taken from specimens sent from different parts of the continent of America, and perhaps caught at different seasons. Mr. de Buffon has, I find, the same opinion with me, and by comparing the drawings of Edwards, with those of the Planches enluminées, it is put beyond a doubt. These birds are very stupid, may be knocked down with a stick, and are frequently caught by the natives. tives with a stick and a loop. In summer they are good eating; but in winter they taste strongly of the pine spruce, upon which they feed during that season, eating berries in summer. They live in pine woods, their nests are on the ground; they generally lay but five eggs. *Tetrao, 16. Lagopus, 274. 4. White Grouse. Faun. Am. Sept. 10. Ptarmigan. Br. Zool. Lagopéde de la Baye de Hudson. Buffon Oiseaux II. p. 276. Edw. t. 72.* Severn River. No 1—4. Willow-partridges. The Hudson’s Bay ptarmigan has been separated from the European in the British Zoology, and afterwards by M. de Buffon: however, I must own, I cannot yet find the differences which they assign to these species. They contend that the Hudson’s Bay bird figured by Edwards is twice as big as the European ptarmigan; Mr. Edwards, I think, does not intimate this, when he says, the bird is of a middle size, between partridge and pheasant; he on the contrary supposes them to be the same species. The British Zoology, after Willoughby, says, the ptarmigan’s length is $13\frac{3}{4}$ inches. The account from Severn River says it is $16\frac{1}{4}$ inches. The breadth in the British Zoology is said to be 23 inches. The breadth in the Hudson’s Bay birds, according to the accounts from Severn River, is 23 inches. Willoughby’s ptarmigan weighed 14 ounces; that in the British Zool. Zool. illustr. t. 13. 19 ounces; that from the Hudson's Bay (1½ lb) 24 ounces. These differences are of little consequence, and far from increasing the Hudson's Bay bird to double the size of the European. The British Zoology says, there is a difference in the summer colours; but Mr. Edwards informs us, that he compared the Hudson's Bay bird with the descriptions of former ornithologists, and found them to answer; he likewise assures us he had the same bird from Norway. Therefore I cannot help dissenting from the British Zoology, in this one particular, and thinking with Linneus and Brisson, that the European and Hudson's Bay ptarmigans are the same, especially as the colours vary very much in the different sexes and at different seasons. To this we may add the testimony of a gentleman well versed in natural history, who, having had opportunities of comparing numbers of Hudson's Bay and European ptarmigans, assured me that he did not see any difference between them. They go together in great flocks in the beginning of October, living among the willows, of which they eat the tops (whence they have got the name of willow partridges): about that time they lose their beautiful summer plumage, and exchange it for a snowy white dress, most providently adapted by its thickness to screen them against the severity of the season, and by its colour against their enemies. the hawks and owls, against whose attacks they would otherwise find no shelter. Each feather is double, that is, a short one under a long one, to keep them warm. In the latter end of March, they begin again to change their plumage, and have got their full summer dress by the end of June. They breed everywhere along the coast, and have from nine to eleven young at a time; making their nests on the ground, generally on dry ridges. They are excellent eating, and so plentiful that ten thousand have been taken at Severn, York, and Churchill Forts. The method of netting or catching them, is as follows: a net made of jack-twine, twenty feet square, is laced to four long poles, and supported in front with the sticks, in a perpendicular situation; a long line is fastened to these supports, one end of it reaching to a place where a person lies concealed; several men drive the ptarmigans (which are as tame as chickens, especially on a mild, snowy day), towards the net, which they run to, as soon as they see it. The person concealed draws the line, by which means the net falls down, and catches 50 or 70 ptarmigans at once. They are sometimes rather wild, but grow better humoured (as Mr. Graham says) by being driven about, for they seldom forsake those willows which they have once frequented. Tetrao. Tetrao. 17. Togatus, 275. 8. Shoulder-knot Grouse. Grosse Gelinotte du Canada. Pl. enl. 104. Brisson. I. 207. t. 21. f. 1. Buffon Oiseaux II. p. 287. Severn River, No 60 and 61. Albany Fort 1 and 2. This bird answers the descriptions given of it by the ornithologists in all respects, and perfectly resembles the figure in Brisson, and in the Planches enluminées. It differs from Edwards's ruffed heathcock, t. 248. or Linneus's Tetrao umbellus, as the latter has not the shining black axillar feathers, or shoulder-knot, but a ferruginous one, is much less, and has brighter colours. M. de Buffon, however, thinks they are the same, and suspects at the same time, that the bird which he calls la grosse Gelinotte du Canada (and which is the same with the Society's specimens) is the female of Mr. Edwards's bird, t. 248. This conjecture is destroyed by the specimens now sent from Hudson's Bay, which by the accounts from thence are expressly said to be males. The shoulder-knot grouses bear the Indian name of Pufkee, or Puspufkee, at Hudson's Bay, on account of the leanness and dryness of their flesh, which is extremely white, and of a very close texture, but when well prepared is excellent eating. They are pretty common at Moose Fort and Henly House, but are seldom seen at Albany Fort, or to the northward of the above places. In winter they feed upon juniper. niper tops, in summer on gooseberries, raspberries, currants, cranberries, &c. They are not migratory, staying all the year at Moose Fort; they build their nests on dry ground, hatch nine young at a time, to which the mother clucks, as our common hen does; and on the least appearance of danger, or in order to enjoy a comfortable degree of warmth, the young ones retire under the wings of their parent. N. B. A specimen, which is supposed to be either a young bird or a female, wants the blueish black shoulder-knot; but it is the same in all other respects. Tetrao, 18. Phasianellus. Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. X. p. 160. n. 5. Edw. 117. Longtailed Grouse. Faun. Am. Septentr. 10. Severn River, No 6 and 7. Albany Fort, No 3. This bird, which Mr. Edwards has drawn plate 117, was by Linneus in the tenth edition of his System, ranged as a new species of grouse or tetrao, by the specific name of Phasianellus (alluding to the name of Pheasant which it bears at Hudson's Bay, and likewise to its pointed tail). He afterwards in the new or twelfth edition of the System, p. 273, makes it a variety of the great Cock of the Wood, or Tetrao Urogallus, probably from the account in Mr. Edwards, that the male struts very upright, is in general of a darker colour than the female, and has a glossy neck. These circumstances, however, are not sufficient to bring bring them under the same species, for it is known that the males of all the grouse tribe, and indeed of most of the gallinaceous birds, are used to strut in a very stately manner, and that the colours of their plumage are much more distinct than those of the females. But the specific difference alone, which Linneus assigns to the cock of the wood, absolutely excludes our Hudson's Bay species; he calls it Tetrao pedibus hirsutis, cauda rotundata, axillis albis. Whoever examines Mr. Edwards's figure, and the specimens now in the Society's possession, will find the tail very short, but pointed, the two middle feathers being half an inch longer than the rest, (Mr. Edwards says two inches) and the axillæ, or shoulders, by no means white: besides this difference, the colour and size of the Hudson's Bay bird are likewise vastly different from those of the cock of the wood. Its length is 17 inches, its breadth 24, and, as Mr. Edwards justly says, it is somewhat bigger than the common pheasant. The great cock of the wood is as big as a turkey; and its female, which is much less, however far exceeds our bird, it being 26 inches long, and 40 broad. See British Zool. octavo, p. 200. The figures given of the female of the T. Urogallus, or great cock of the wood, in the Br. Zool. folio, plate M*, and the Planche enlumineé 75, will serve upon comparison as a convincing proof of the vast difference there is between the Hudson's Bay pheasant grouse and the Europeancock of the wood. The figure, which Mr. Edwards has given of the former bird, does not exactly correspond with the Society's specimen, as he has represented the marks on the breast half-moon shaped, though they are heart-shaped as those on the belly in the dried bird; that is, they are white spots, with a pale brownish yellow cordated brim. Nor can I agree with Mr. Edwards, when he calls this bird the long-tailed grouse from Hudson's Bay; for its tail is really very short, in comparison with that of other grouse, and its smallness and acuteness afford one of the most distinguishing characters of the species. The native Indians call these pheasant grouse, Oc-kif-cow: they are found all the year long, amongst the small juniper bushes, of which the buds are their principal food, as also the buds of birch in winter, and all sorts of berries in summer. They never vary their colours; nor is there any great difference between the male and female, except in the caruncula or comb over the eye, which in the male is an inch long, and \( \frac{1}{8} \) of an inch high. The account from Albany Fort adds, that the colour of the male is somewhat browner, and almost a chocolate on the breast. Their flesh is of a light brown, exceeding juicy, and they are very plump. They lay from 9 to 13 eggs; their young can run almost as soon as they are hatched; they make a piping noise somewhat like a chicken. The cock has a shrill crowing note, not very loud; but but when disturbed, or whilst flying, he makes a repeated noise of cuck, cock. They are most common in winter at Albany Fort. Before I leave the genus of grouses, I must observe that their feet have a peculiarity, taken notice of by few authors; the toes, in several species, have on each side a row of short flexible teeth, like those of a comb; so that the toes appear pectinated. The species, which are known to have such pectinated toes, are, 1. The great Cock of the Wood, *Tetrao Urogallus*, Linn. 2. The Black Cock, *T. Tetrix*, Linn. 3. The Spotted Grous, \{ *T. Canadenfs*, \\ *T. Canace*, Linn.\} 4. The Ruffed Grous, *T. Umbellus*, Linn. 5. The Shoulder-knot Grous, *T. Togatus*, Linn. 6. The Pheasant Grous, *T. Phasianellus*. 7. The Hazel Hen, *T. Bonasia*, Linn. 8. The Pyrenæan Grous, *T. Alchata*, Linn. This is a circumstance, which ought to be attended to in all other species of grouses, as it may in time afford a distinguishing character for a division in this great genus; the ptarmigan, or *T. Lagopus*, Linn. is without these teeth. IV. {Columbae. {Columbine. Faun. Am. Sept. 7. Columba,} 19. Migratoria. 285. 36. Migratory Pigeon. } Pigeon. Catefb. I. 23. Kalm II. p. 82. t. Passenger Pigeon, Faun. Am. Sept. 11. Severn River, N° 63. Wood-pigeon. These pigeons are very scarce so far northward as Severn river, but abound near Moose-fort, and further inland to the southward. Their common food are berries and juniper buds in winter; they fly about in great flocks, and are reckoned good eating. This account is confirmed by Kalm in his travels (English edition) Vol. II. p. 82 and 311. They hatch only two eggs at a time, and their nests are built in trees. Their eyes are small and black, the irides yellow, the feet red; the neck finely glossed with purple, brighter in the male. They weigh 9 ounces. V. {Passeres. {Passerine. Faun. Am. Sept. 8. Alauda,} 20. Alpestris. 289. 10. Klein, Hist. of Lark. } Birds, 4to. p. 73. Shore Lark, Faun. Am. Sept. 12. Catefb. I. 32. Albany Fort, N° 6. This species is indifferently described by Linneus, who says that all the tail-feathers on their inner web are white, (restrictibus dimidio interiori albis); though it does not appear that he saw a specimen of it himself. Both the quill quill and tail-feathers are dusky, and in both the outermost feather only has a white exte- rior margin. The coverts of the tail are of a pale ferruginous colour, and two of them are nearly as long as the tail itself. The sca- pulars are ferruginous; in the male, the head and whole back have a tinge of the same co- lour, marked with dusky streaks; in the fe- male, the back is grey, and the dusky stripes of a darker hue. The crown of the head is black in the male, dusky in the female; the forehead is yellow, the bill and feet are black, the belly of a dirty reddish white. These larks are migratory, they visit the environs of Albany Fort in the beginning of May, but go further northward to breed: they feed on grass-seeds, and buds of the sprig-birch; run into small holes, and keep close to the ground, from whence the natives give them the name of Chi-chup-pi-sue. 9. Turdus.} 21. Migratorius, 292. 6. American Thrush.} Fieldfare. Kalm II, p. 90. Faun. Am. Sept. II. Catesby I. 29. Severn River, No 59. Albany Fort, 7, 8, 9. The descriptions of these birds in various authors coincide with the specimens; at Severn River they appear at the beginning of May, and leave the environs before the frost sets in. At Moose Fort, in the north latitude 51°, they build their nest, lay their eggs, and hatch their young in the space of fourteen days; but at York fort and Severn settlement this is done done in 26 days: they build their nests in trees, lay four beautiful light-blue eggs, feed on worms and carrion: when at liberty they sing very prettily, but confined in a cage, they lose their melody. There is no material distinction between the male and female. Their weight is $2\frac{1}{2}$ ounces, the length 9 inches, and the breadth 1 foot; they are called red birds at Hudson's Bay; their Indian name is Pee-pee-chue. Turdus, 22. Severn River, No 54 and 55, male and female. From the striking similarity with our blackbird, the English at Hudson's Bay have given this bird the same name. However, upon a close examination, I find the difference very great between our European blackbird, and the Hudson's Bay or American one. The plumage of the male, instead of being deep black without any gloss, as in ours, has a shining purple cast, not unlike the plumage of the Gracula Quiscula, Linn. or shining Gracule, Faun. Am. Sept.; or the Maize thief, of Kalm. The female indeed is very like our female blackbird, being of a dusky colour on the back, and a dark grey on the breast. The feet and bill are quite black in both sexes; the former have the back claw almost as long again as any of the other claws. There are no vestiges of yellow palpebrae in either the male or the female; the bill in both is strong, smooth, and subulated; the upper upper mandible being carinated, but very little arched, and without any tooth or indenture whatever, on the lower side. The nostrils are as in other thrushes. This bird has no bristles at the base of its bill, its feet have such segments as Scopoli in the Annus I. Historico-Naturalis attributes to the stares. Instead of being solitary and living retired like the European blackbirds, these American ones come in flocks to Severn River in June, live among the willows, build in all kinds of trees, and return to the southward in autumn. They feed on worms and maggots; their weight is $2\frac{1}{4}$ ounces, and they are nine inches long, and one foot broad. One that was kept twelve months in a cage pined away, and died. Notwithstanding these circumstances, I cannot help remaining undetermined with regard to this bird, which at first sight is like the blackbird, has the bill of a thrush, and the feet and gregarious nature of a stare. It is to be hoped, that future accounts from Hudson's Bay may inform us further, of the nature of this bird, its time of incubation, the number of eggs it lays, and the colour of those eggs, together with the note of the bird, the difference and characteristick marks of both the male and female, and other circumstances, which may serve to determine to what genus and species we are to refer this bird. VL. LXII. F f f 10. Loxia 10. *Loxia*, 23. Curvirostra, 299. 1. Crossbill. Grosbeak. Br. Zool. Faun. Am. Sept. 11. The small variety. Severn River, N° 27 and 28. This bird comes to Severn River the latter end of May, breeds more to the northward, and returns in autumn, in its way to the south, departing at the setting in of the frost. The irides in the male are of a beautiful red, in the female yellow: the weight is said to be 10 ounces (probably by mistake for 1 ounce, as it is impossible so small a bird should weigh more), the length is 6 inches, the breadth 10. 24. Enucleator, 299. 3. Pine Grosbeak. Br. Zool., and Faun. Am. Sept. Edw. 123, 124. Pl. enl. 135. f. 1. Severn River, N° 29, 30. It answers to the descriptions and figures of the ornithologists pretty well; only Edwards's female has the red too bright, which is rather orange in our specimen, on the head, neck, and coverts of the tail. This bird only visits the Hudson's Bay settlements in May, on its way to the north, and is not observed to return in autumn; its food consists of birch-willow buds, and others of the same nature; it weighs 2 ounces, is 9 inches long, and 13 broad. II. Emberiza. {25. Nivalis. 308. i. Greater Bunting. {Brambling, Br. Zool. Snowbird Snowflake, ibid. Snow-bunting. Faun. Am. Sept. II. Severn River, No 24—26. The bird, in summer dress, corresponds exactly with the description of the greater brambling, Br. Zool. The description of the snowflake, or the same bird in winter dress, ibid. vol. IV p. 19. is somewhat different, perhaps owing to the different seasons the birds were caught in, as it is well known they change their colour gradually. They are the first of the migratory birds, which come in spring to Severn settlement; in the year 1771 they appeared April the 11th, stayed about a month or five weeks, and then proceeded further northward in order to breed there; they return in September, stay till the cold grows severe in November, then retire southward to a warmer climate. They live in flocks, feed on grass-seeds, and about the dunghills, are easily caught under a small net, some oatmeal being strewed under it to allure them; they are very fat, and fine eating. The weight is 1 ounce and 5 drams, the length 6½ inches, and the breadth 10 inches. Embriza. 26. Leucophrys. New Species. White Crowned Bunting. Severn River, No 50. Albany Fort, 10. This elegant little species of Bunting is called a hedge sparrow at Hudson's Bay, and has not hitherto been described. It visits Severn settlement in June, and feeds on grass-seeds, little worms, grubs, &c. It weighs $\frac{3}{4}$ of an ounce, and is $7\frac{1}{2}$ inches long, and 9 inches broad; the bill and legs are flesh-coloured; the male is not materially different from the female, its nests are built in the bottom of willow bushes, it lays three eggs of a chocolate colour. It visits Albany Fort in May, breeds there, and leaves it in September. 12. Fringilla, f 27. Lapponica. 317. l. Faun. Finch. (Suec. 235. Severn river, N° 52. It is called Tecurmafsibb, by the natives at Hudson's Bay. The description in Linneus's Fauna Suecica coincides exactly with the specimen; that in his System answers very nearly: Mr. Brisson's description (though he quotes Linneus, and Linneus quotes him) is widely different. The specimen sent over is a female; the males have more of the ferruginous colour on the head; the eyes are blue, the legs dark brown. It is only a winter inhabitant near Severn river, appears not before November, and is commonly found among the juniper trees; it weighs $\frac{1}{2}$ of an ounce, its length is 5 inches, and its breadth 7. Fringilla. FRINGILLA. 28. Linaria. 322. 29. Lesser red headed Linnet. Br. Zool. Severn River, N° 23. The descriptions of Linneus, Brisson, and the British Zoology, answer perfectly well. The figure in Planche enluminée 151. f. 2. has a quite ferruginous back contrary to all the descriptions and the specimen before us, in which all the feathers on the back are dusky, edged with dirty white. 29. Montana, 324. 37. Mountain Sparrow, Tree Sparrow. Br. Zool. Edw. 269. Brisson III. p. 79. Faun. Am. Sept. Severn River, N° 20. This seems to be a variety, as its tail is rather longer than usual, and forked; it answers nearly to the descriptions given by the ornithologists, and seems to be a female, as it has no black under the throat and eyes, and no white collar. The bill and legs are black, the eyes blue. At Severn settlement it arrives in May, goes to breed further northwards, and returns in autumn: the weight is $\frac{3}{4}$ of an ounce, the length $6\frac{1}{2}$ inches, and breadth 10. I was inclined to make this bird a new species, on account of the many differences between it and the mountain sparrow; but considering the specimen sent over was not in the best order, and might be a female, I thought it best to leave it where it is, till we are better informed. FRIN- Fringilla. 30. Hudsonias. New Specimen. Severn River, No 18. This is certainly a nondescript species; it only visits Severn settlement in summer, not being seen there before June, when it stays about a fortnight, goes further to the northward to breed, and passes by Severn again in autumn on its return south. It is very difficult to procure, and therefore it could not be determined whether the specimen was a male or female. It frequents the plains, and lives on grass-seeds; it weighs \( \frac{1}{2} \) an ounce, is 6\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches long, and 9 inches broad: it has a small blue eye, and a whitish bill faintly tinged with red; the whole body is blackish, or of a foot colour, the belly alone with the two outermost tail feathers on each side being white. It is to be wished that more specimens and circumstantial accounts of this bird were sent over, which would enable us to determine its character with more precision. 13. Muscicapa, 31. Striata. New Species, Striped Flycatcher. Flycatcher. Severn River, No 48 and 49. Male and Female. This species visits Severn river only in summer, feeding on grass-seeds, etc.; it weighs half an ounce, is 5 inches long, and seven broad; the male is widely different from the female: this species is entirely nondescript. 14. Motacilla, f 32. Calendula. 337. 47. Ruby Wagtail. {crowned Wren. Edw. 254. Faun. Am. Sept. (The number belonging to this bird is lost; however, it is most probably that sent from Severn river, N° 53.) It answers to the descriptions and the figure of Edwards; its weight is 4 drams, its length 4 inches, and its breath 5. It migrates, feeds on grass-seeds and the like, and breeds in the plains; the number of eggs is not known. 15. Parus, f 33. Atricapillus. 341. 6. Black Cap Titmouse. {Titmouse. Albany Fort, N° 11. The description given by Linneus answers, and so does M. Brisson's in most particulars, except that the quill-feathers are not white on the inside. These birds stay at Albany Fort all the year, yet seem most numerous in the coldest weather; probably being then more in want of food, they come nearer the settlements, in order to pick up all remnants. They feed on flies and small maggots, and likewise on the buds of the sprig-birch, in which they perhaps only search for insects; they make a twittering noise, from which the native call them Kifs-kifs-ke-shifsh. Parus. PARUS. 34. Hudsonicus. New Species. Hudson's Bay Titmouse. Severn River, No 12. This new species of titmouse, is called Peche-ke-ke-shish, by the natives. They are common about the juniper bushes, of which the buds are their food; in winter they fly about from tree to tree in small flocks, the severest weather not excepted. They breed about the settlements, and lay 5 eggs; they have small eyes, with a white streak under them, and black legs: the male and female are quite alike; they weigh half an ounce, are $5\frac{1}{2}$ inches long, and 7 inches broad. 16. HIRUNDO, 35. Swallow. Severn River, No 58. The swallows build under the windows, and on the face of steep banks of the river, they disappear in autumn; and the Indians say, they were never found torpid under water, probably because they have no large nets to fish with under the ice. The specimen sent answers in some particulars to the description of the Martin, Hirundo Urbica, Linn. but seems to be smaller, and has no white on the rump. I have, therefore, thought it best to leave the species undetermined, till further informations are received from Hudson's Bay, on this subject. 2. WATER- 2. WATER-BIRDS. VI. {Grallae, Clovenfooted. Faun. Am. Sept. 17. Ardea, {36. Canadensis. 234. 3. Edw. 133. Heron. [Canada Crane. Faun. Am. Sept. 14. Severn River, No 35. Blue Crane. The account from Severn settlement says, there is no material difference between the male and female; however, the specimen sent over, I take to be a female, as its plumage is in general duller than that figured by Edwards, and as the last row of white coverts of the wing are wanting. These cranes arrive near Severn in May, have only two young at a time, retire southward in autumn; frequent lakes and ponds, and feed on fish, worms, &c. They weigh seven pounds and a half, are $3\frac{1}{2}$ feet long, and 3 feet 5 inches broad; the bill is 4 inches long, the legs 7 inches, but the leg and thigh 19. Ardea. 37. Americana, 234. 5. Hooping Crane. Edw. 132. Catesby, l. 75. Faun. Am. Sept. 14. York Fort. Edwards's figure is very exact; Catesby's is not so good, as it represents the bill too thick towards the point. Vol. LXII. G g g 38. Stel- 38. Stellaris, 239. 21. Varietas. The Bittern, Br. Zool. Edw. 136. Faun. Am. Sept. pag. 14*. Severn River, N° 64. At first sight, I thought the specimen sent from Hudson's Bay, was a young bird; but upon nearer examination and comparing it with Mr. Edwards's account and figure, I take it to be a variety of the common bittern peculiar to North America; it is smaller, but upon the whole very much resembles our bittern. Mr. Edwards's measurements and drawings correspond very well with the specimen. This bird appears at Severn river the latter end of May, lives chiefly among the swamps and willows, where it builds its nest, and lays only two eggs at a time; it is very indolent, and, when roused, removes only to a short distance. 18. Scolopax, f 39. Totanus. 245. 12. Spotted Woodcock. Woodcock. Faun. Am. Sept. 14. Albany Fort, N° 16. This bird is called a yellow leg at Albany fort, from the bright yellow colour of the legs, especially in old birds; a circumstance, in which it varies from the descriptions of Linnæus and Brisson, probably because they de- * In the Faunula Americæ Septentrionalis, p. 14, the synonym of Ardea Hudsonias, Linn. has by mistake been annexed to the bittern, and likewise pl. 135 of Edwards has been quoted instead of plate 136. They are two very different birds. scribed from dried specimens, in which the yellow colour always changes into brown. It agrees in other respects perfectly well with the descriptions: it comes to Albany fort in April or beginning of May, and leaves it the latter end of September. It feeds on small shell fish, worms, and maggots; and frequents the banks of rivers, swamps, &c. It is called by the natives Sa-sa-shew, from the noise it makes. Scolopax. 40. Lapponica. 246. 15. Red Godwit. Br. Zool. Faun. Am. Sept. 14. Ed. 138. Churchill River, No 13. Linneus describes this bird very exactly in his Systema Naturæ: the middle of the belly has no white in the Society's specimen, as that had from which the description in the Br. Zool. octavo I. p. 353, 354, was taken. All the other characters correspond. Scolopax. 41. Borealis. New Species. Eskimaux Curlew. Faun. Am. Sept, 14. Albany Fort, No 15. This species of Curlew, is not yet known to the ornithologists; the first mention is made of it in the Faunula Americæ Septentrionalis, or catalogue of North American animals. It is called Wee-kee-me-nase-su, by the natives; feeds on swamps, worms, grubs, &c; visits Albany Fort in April or beginning of May; breeds to the northward of it, returns in Au- gust, and goes away southward again the latter end of September. 19. **Tringa**, f. 42. Interpres. 248. 4. Turnstone. Sand-piper. (Edw. 141. Faun. Am. Sept. 14. Severn River, N° 31 and 32. This species is well described by the ornithologists; its weight is 3½ ounces, the length 8¾ inches, and the breadth 17 inches; it has four young at a time; its eyes are black, and the feet of a bright orange: this bird frequents the sides of the river. 43. **Helvetica.** 250. 12, Brisson. Av. V. p. 106. t. 10. f. 2. (The number was lost, perhaps it is N° 17, from Fort Albany; upon that supposition the account is as follows: "the natives call it "Waw-pusk-abrea-fish," or white bear bird; "it feeds on berries, insects, grubs, worms, "and small shell-fish; visits and leaves Al- "bany fort at the same time with the Sco- "lopax Totanus, and Borealis.") I find this bird answers very well to its description; the throat, breast, and upper part of the belly are blackish, as in the descriptions, but mixed with white lunulated spots, which are neither described nor expressed in M. Brisson's figure, and may be owing to the difference of sex, or climate. VII. {Anseres. {Webbed-footed. Faun. Am. Sept. 29. Anas, {44. Marila. 196. 8. Scaup Duck. Br. Duck, {Zool. Faun. Am. Sept. 17. Severn River, N° 44 and 45. Fishing Ducks. Linneus's description, and the figure in the Br. Zoology, folio, plate Q. p. 153, agree perfectly well with the specimens. The female, as Linneus observes, is quite brown, the breast and upper part of the back being of a glossy reddish brown; the speculum of the wing and the belly are white. The eyes of the male have very bright yellow irides; those of the female are of a faint dirty yellow. The female is two ounces heavier than the male, which weighs one pound and an half, is $16\frac{1}{2}$ inches long, and 20 inches broad. Anas. 45. Nivalis. Snow Goose. Faun. Am. Sept. p. 16. Lawson's Carolina. Anser niveus Brisf. VI. 288. Klein. Anser nivis. Schwenkfeld, Mar- figli. Danub. p. 802. t. 49. Severn River, N° 40, and a young one, N° 41. white Goose. These white geese are very numerous at Hudson's Bay, many thousands being annually killed with the gun, for the use of the settle- ments. They are usually shot whilst on the wing, the Indians being very expert at that exercise, which they learn from their youth; they weigh five or six pounds, are $2\frac{3}{4}$ feet 2\(\frac{3}{4}\) feet long, and \(3\frac{1}{2}\) broad; their eyes are black, the irides small and red, the legs likewise red; they feed along the sea, and are fine eating; their young are bluish grey, and do not attain a perfect whiteness till they are a year old. They visit Severn river first in the middle of May, on their journey northward, where they breed; return in the beginning of September, with their young, staying at Severn settlement about a fortnight each time. The Indian name is *Way-way*, at Churchill river. Linneus has not taken notice of this species. **Anas.** 46. Canadensis. 198. 14. Canada Goose. Faun. Am. Sept. 16. Edw. 151. Catesby I. 92, &c. Severn River, No 42. The Canada geese are very plentiful at Hudson's Bay, great quantities of them are salted, but they have a fishy taste. The specimen sent over agrees perfectly with the descriptions and drawings. At Hudson's Bay this species is called the *Small Grey Goose*. Besides this, and the preceding white goose, Mr. Graham, the gentleman who sent the account from Severn settlement, mentions three other species of wild geese to be met with at Hudson's Bay; he calls them, 1. The large Grey Goose. 2. The Blue Goose. 3. The Laughing Goose. The first of these, the large grey goose, he says, is so common in England, that he thought it unnecessary to send specimens of it over. It is however presumed, that though Mr. Graham has shewn himself a careful observer, and an indefatigable collector; yet, not being a naturalist, he could not enter into any minute examination about the species to which each goose belongs, nor from mere recollection know, that his grey goose was actually to be met with in England. A natural historian, by examination, often finds material differences, which would escape a person unacquainted with natural history. The wish, therefore, of seeing the specimens of these species of geese, must occur to every lover of that science. Mr. Graham says, the large grey geese are the only species that breed about Severn river. They frequent the plains and swamps along the coast. Their weight is nine pounds. The blue goose is as big as the white goose; and the laughing goose is of the size of the Canada or small grey goose. These two last species are very common along Hudson's Bay to the southward, but very rare to the northward of Severn river. The Indians have a peculiar method of killing all these species of geese, and likewise swans. As these birds fly regularly along the marshes, the Indians range themselves in a line across the marsh, from the wood to high water mark, about musket shot from each other, so as to be sure of intercepting any geese which fly that way. Each person conceals himself, by putting round him some brushwood; they likewise make artificial geese of sticks and mud, placing them at a short distance from themselves, in order to decoy the real geese within shot: thus prepared, they sit down, and keep a good look out; and as soon as the flock approaches, they all lie down, imitating the call or note of geese, which these birds no sooner hear, and perceive the decoys, than they go straight down towards them; then the Indians rise on their knees, and discharge one, two or three guns each, killing two or even three geese at each shot, for they are very expert. Mr. Graham says, he has seen a row of Indians, by calling round a flock of geese, keep them hovering among them, till every one of the geese was killed. Every species of goose has its peculiar note or call, which must greatly increase the difficulty of enticing them. Anas. 47. Albeola. 199. 18. The Red Duck. Faun. Am. Sept. 17. Edw. t. 100. Sarcelle de la Louisiane. Brisson VI. t. 41. f. 1. Severn River, No 37 and 38. Fishing Birds. The descriptions and figures answer very well with the male, except that the three exterior feathers are not white on the outside, but all dusky. The female is not described by any one of the ornithologists; and therefore deserves to be noticed, noticed, to prevent future mistakes. The whole bird is dusky, a few feathers on the forehead are rusty, and some about the ears of a dirty white; the breast is grey, the belly and speculum in the wings white; the bill and legs are black. They visit Severn settlement in June, build their nests in trees, and breed among the woods, and near ponds; the weight of the female is one pound, its length 14 inches, and its breath 21. Anas. 48. Clangula. 201. 23. Golden Eye. Br. Zool. Faun. Am. Sept. 16. Severn River, N° 51. These birds frequent lakes and ponds, and breed there: they eat fish and flume, and cannot rise off the dry land. The legs and irides are yellow; their weight is 2½ pounds, and their measure 19 inches in length, and two feet in breadth. The specimen sent is the male. Anas. 49. Perspicillata. 201. 25. Black Duck. Faun. Am. Sept. 16. Edw. 155. Churchill River, N° 14. This species is exactly described, and well drawn by Edwards. The Indians call it She-ke-si-partem. It ought to come into the first division of Linneus's ducks, "rostro basi gibbo," as its bill is really very unequal at the base. Anas. 50. Glacialis. 203. 30, and Hyemalis, 202. 29. Edw. t. 156. Swallow-tail. Br. Zool. Faun. Am. Sept. 17. Churchill River, N° 12. At Churchill River the Indians call this species, Har-har-vey; it corresponds with Edwards's description and drawing, plate 156, but dif- fers much from Linneus's inexact description of the Anas Hyemalis, to which he, how- ever, quotes Edwards. Upon the whole it is almost without a doubt that the bird repre- sented by Edwards, plate 280, and Br. Zool. folio, plate Q. 7, and quoted by Linneus for his Anas glacialis, is the male, and that the bird figured by Edwards t. 156, and quoted by Linneus for the Anas Hyemalis, is the female, of one and the same species. Linneus men- tions a white body (in his Anas hyemalis) which in Edw. Tab. 156, and in the So- ciety's specimen, is all brown and dusky, ex- cept the belly, temples, a spot on the back of the head, and the sides of the rump, which are white. Linneus says, that the temples are black; in the specimen now sent over, and in Mr. Edwards's figure, which Linneus quotes, they are white; the breast, back, and wings, are not black as he says, but rather brown and dusky. A further proof, that Linneus's Anas Glacialis and Hye- malis are the same, is that the feet in both t. 156 and 280 of Edwards are red, and the bill black, with an orange spot. Anas. Anas. 51. Crecca. 204. 33. Varietas. Teal. Br. Zool. Faun. Am. Sept. 17. Severn River, No 33, 34. Male and female. This is a variety of the teal, for it wants the two white streaks above and below the eyes; the lower one indeed is faintly expressed in the male, which has also a lunated bar of white over each shoulder; this is not to be found in the European teal. This species is not very plentiful near Severn river; they live in the woods and plains near little ponds of water; and have from five to seven young at a time. Anas. 52. Histrio nica. 204. 35. Harlequin Duck. Faun. Am. Sept. 16. Edw. t. 99. This bird had no number fixed to it; it agrees perfectly with Edwards's figure. Anas. 53. Boschas. 205. 40. Mallard Drake. Faun. Am. Sept. Br. Zool. Severn River, No 39. It is called Stock Drake at Hudson's Bay, and corresponds in every respect with the European one, upon comparison. 21. Pelecanus, Pelecan. 54. Onocrotalus. 251. 1. Avary. York Fort. This variety of the pelecan, agrees in every particular with Linneus's oriental pelecan (Pelecanus canus onocrotalus orientalis), but has a peculiar tuft or fringe of fibres in the middle of the upper mandible, something nearer the apex than the base. This tuft has not been mentioned by any author, and is likewise wanting in Edwards's pelican, t. 92, with which the Society's specimen corresponds in every other circumstance. The P. Onocrotalus occidentalis, Linn. or Edw. t. 93 American pelican, is very different from it: the chief differences are the colour, which in our Hudson's Bay bird is white, but in Edwards's is of a greyish brown; and the size, which in the white bird is almost double of the brown one. The quill-feathers are black, and the shafts of the larger ones white. The Alula, or bastard wing, is black. The bill and legs are yellow. 22. Colymbus. 155. Glacialis. 221. 5. Northern * Diver, } Diver. Br. Zool. Faun. Am. Sept. 16. Churchill River, No 8. called a Loon there. This bird is well described and drawn in the British Zoology, in folio. * * 156. Auritus, &c. 222. 8. Edw. 145. Grebe. } Eared Grebe. Faun. Am. Sept. 15. Severn River, No 43. This is exactly the bird drawn by Edwards, t. 145. The specimen sent over is a female. It differs much from our lesser crested Grebe. Br. Br. Zool. octavo I. p. 396, and Br. Zool. illustr. plate 77, fig. 2. and Ed. 96. fig. 2. However, in both these works, it is looked on only as a variety, or different in sex. Mr. Graham has the same opinion. It lives on fish, frequenting the lakes near the sea coast. It lays its eggs in water, and cannot rise off dry land. It is seen about the beginning of June, but migrates southward in autumn. It is called *Sekeep*, by the natives. Its eyes are small, the irides red; it weighs one pound, and measures one foot in length, and one third more in breadth. 23. **Larus.** 57. Parasiticus. 226. 10. Arctic Gull. Gull. Br. Zool. Faun. Am. Sept. 16. Edw. 148. 149. Churchill River, No 15. This species is called a *Man of War*, at Hudson's Bay. It seems to be a female, by the dirty white colour of its plumage below; it agrees very well with Edwards's drawing, and that in the Br. Zool. illustr. 24. **Sterna.** 58. Hirundo (*Variety*), 227. 2. Tern. The greater Tern. Br. Zool. Faun. Am. Sept. (The number belonging to this bird is lost, perhaps it is No 17, from Churchill River, called "A fort "A sort of Gull, called Egg-breakers, by the natives.") The feet are black; the tail is shorter and much less forked than that described and drawn in the Br. Zool. The outermost tail- feather likewise wants the black, which that in the British Zoology has. In other re- spects it is the same. DESCRIP- DESCRIPTIONES Avium Rariorum e Sinu Hudsonis. 1. Falco sacer. Falco, cerâ pedibusque coeruleis, corpore, remigibus rectricibusque fuscis, fasciis pallidis; capite, pectore & abdomine albis, maculis longitudinalibus fuscis. Habitat ad sinum Hudsonis et in reliqua America Septentrionali; victit Lagopodibus &c Tetraonum speciebus. Descr. Magnitudo Corvi. Rostrum, cera, pedes coerulea; rostrum breve, curvum, coeruleo-atrum; mandibula utraque, basi pallide coerulea, apice nigrescente, utraque emarginata. Caput tectum pennis albidis, maculis longitudinalibus, fuscis. Oculi magni; irides flavae. Gula alba, fusco-maculata. Dorsum et teetrices alarum, plumis fuscis, ferrugineo-pallide marginatis, maculatique, maculis rachin non attingentibus. Pectus, venter, crissum, teetrices alarum inferiores, &c femora alba, maculis longitudinalibus nigro-fuscis. Remiges fusco-nigri, viginti duo; primores apicibus margine albis, maculis ferrugineo. rugineo-pallidis, intra majoribus, transversis, extra minoribus, rotundatis. Reetrices duodecim, supra fuscae, fasciis circiter duodecim &c apice albidis; infra cinereae, fasciis albidis. 2. STRIX NEBULOSA. Strix capite laevi, corpore fusco, albido undulatim striato, remige sexto longiore, apice nigricante. Habitat circa Sinum Hudsonis, vicitat Leporibus, Lagopodibus, Muribusque. Descr. Rostrum fusco-flavum, mandibula superiore superius magis flava. Oculi magni, iridibus flavis. Caput facie cinerea, e pennis fusco et pallide cinereo alternatim striatis. Pone hasce pennas collum versus est ordo plumularum fuscarum ad utramque genam, semicirculum nigrum efficiens. Occiput, cervix, et collum fusca, pennis, marginibus albo-maculatis. Pectus albidum, maculis longitudinalibus transversisque fuscis. Abdomen album, superius uti pectus maculis longitudinalibus, sed inferius striis transversis notatum. Dorsum totum et teetrices alae, caudaeque confertim ex fusco &c albido undulato-striatae. Alae fuscae; remiges primores fusci, griseo transversim fasciati, fasciis latis nebulosis. Remex sextus, reliquis longior, apice magis magis nigricans; primus vero reliquis primoribus brevior. Remiges reliqui pallidiores, obscurius fasciati. *Cauda* rotundata, rectricibus duodecim: duæ intermediae paullo longiores, totæ cinerascente albido fuscoque undulatim striatæ, lineis duplicatis fuscis transversis pluribus. *Rectrices* reliquæ fuscae albido substriatæ. *Pedes* tecti pennis albidis fusco-striatis. *Magnitudo* fere Strigis Nyctææ, Linn. *Longitudo* unciarum 16 pedis Anglicani. *Latitudo* pedum quatuor. *Pondus* librarum trium. 3. **Tetrao Phasianellus.** Linn. Ed. X. p. 160. n. 5. *Tetrao* pedibus hirtutis, cauda cuneiformi, remigibus nigris, exterius albo-maculatis. Habitat ad Sinum Hudsonis. **Descr.** *Magnitudo* fere Tetraonis Tetricis. Linn. *Rostrum* nigrum. *Oculorum* irides avellaneæ. *Caput*, collum & dorsum testacea, nigro transversim fasciata: macula albida inter rostrum et oculos: latera colli notata maculis rotundatis albidis. *Dorsum* testaceum, plumis omnibus late nigro-fasciatis. Vol. LXII. ii i Uropygium Uropygium magis albido-cinereum, nigredine fimbriata secundum rachin plumarum. Pectus & Venter albida, maculis cordatis fusco-testaceis in ventre saturatoribus. Alarum testrices dilute testaceo, nigro, alboque transversim fasciatæ, maculis pluribus rotundis albis. Remiges primores nigri, latere exteriore albo-maculati; fecundarii fusci, apice & ad marginem exteriorem albo subfasciati: postremi vero testaceo fasciati, apice tantum albi. Rectrices breves, exteriore pallide fuscæ, apice albæ, duæ intermediae reliquis longiores, testaceo-maculatæ. Pedes plumis albo-griseis vesti digitis pectinatis. Longitudo unciarum 16 pedis Anglicani. Latitudo pedum duorum. 4. Emberiza leucophrys *. Emberiza remigibus rectricibusque fuscis, capite nigro, fascia verticis, superciliiisque niveis. Habitat in America Boreali ad Sinum Hudsonis. Descr. Magnitudo circiter fringillæ cælibis. Rostrum rubrum, f. carnei coloris: Nares subrotundæ. Caput fascia verticali lata candida, paululum ante rostrum desinente; fascia atra * Alexæ albus. Ophæ supercilium. lata ad utrumque latus fasciæ albae. Supercilia alba, desinentia in lineas, fasciam albam verticalem adtingentes; arcus dein atri, ex angulis oculorum, fere in occipite confluentes. Collum cinerascens, in pectore dilutius. Dorsum ferrugineo-fuscum, marginibus plumularum cinereis. Alae fuscae; remigum primorum margines exteriores tenuissimi pallidi, interiores cinerascentes: secundarii & pennae tetrices fuscae, marginibus latiusculis, versus apicem albis, efficientibus fasciam albam; super quam fascia altera alba ex maculis albis in apice tetricum minorum, s. plumarum scapularium. Alulae albae. Remiges subtus cinerei, marginibus albis. Pectus cinereum, abdomen dilutius, fere album. Crissum & plumulae femora tegentes lutescentia. Uropygium cinereo-fuscum. Cauda æqualis; rectrices duodecim fuscae, marginibus paullo pallidioribus, subtus cinereæ. Pedes carnei coloris, digito intermedio & ungue postico reliquis longioribus. Longitudo unciarum 7 pedis Anglicani. Latitudo inter alas extensas 9 unciarum pedis Anglicani. Cauda partem tertiam longitudinis totius aviculæ efficit. Alae complicatae paululum ultra caudae exortum pretenduntur. Pondus drachmarum sex. 5. Fringilla Hudsonias. Fringilla fusco-cinerascens, rostro albido, pectore inferiore, abdomine, rectricibusque quatuor extremis albis. Habitat in America Boreali. Descr. Magnitudo circiter fringillae carduelis. Rostrum albidum, rubedine aliqua imbustum. Oculi parvi, coerulei. Corpus totum cinereo-nigricans, s. potius fuliginosum. Pectus inferius & abdomen alba. Remiges fusci, cinereo-marginati: alae complicatae mediam fere caudam adtingunt. Rectrices fuscae, extimae utrinque duae totae albae, tertia fusca, macula oblonga alba, ad latus interius, prope rachin, apicem attingens; reliquae totae fuscae. Pondus femunciae. Longitudo unciarum 6\(\frac{1}{4}\) pedis Anglicani. Latitudo unciarum novem. 6. Muscicapa striata. Muscicapa cinereo-virens, dorso nigro striato, subtus flavescenti-alba, gula lateribusque pectoris fusco maculatis. Habitat Habitat ad Sinum Hudsonis. Quum mas à fœmina multum differat, utique congruum est, utrumque sexum separatim describere. Descr. Mas. Rostrum trigonum, mandibu superiore paululum longiore, ante apicem leviter emarginata, nigra; inferiore basi flavescente. Nares subrotundæ. Vibrissæ nigræ. Caput supra totum atrum ad oculos usque. Genæ à rostro in occiput totæ albæ; occiput albo & nigro variegatum. Gula flavescenti-alba maculis fulvis. Pectus albidum, lateribus, sive versus occiput maculis nigris variegatum. Dorsum cinereo-virens, striis sive maculis longitudinalibus nigris latioribus, è plumulis nigris, margine virentibus. Abdomen album. Uropygium cinereum, nigro-maculatum. Alae fuscae; remiges primores pallido marginati, secundarii apice tenuissimo albo; duæ ultimæ margine exteriore albo; tectrices fuscae, majores flavescenti albo, minores candido in apice maculatæ, unde fasciæ albae binæ in alis. Cauda fusca; rectrix utrinque prima f. extima, latere interiore macula magna alba, marginem interiorem attingente; proxima f. secunda macula oblonga minore alba, etiam marginem interiorem attingente; attingente; utrinque tertia, latere interiore versus apicem albo-marginata. Pedes lutei; ungues breves, pallide fusci. Magnitudo circiter Pari atricapilli; Linn. Longitudo 5 unciarum. Latitudo 7 unciarum pedis Anglicani. Fœmina. Rostrum, alae, cauda, abdomen, uropygium, pedes &c mensuræ ut in mare. Caput flavo-virens, striis brevibus tenuibusque longitudinalibus nigris; linea flavissima à basi rostri incipiens super oculos duæ; palpebrae flavæ. Gula, genæ & pectus albido-flava; maculæ sparsæ oblongiusculæ fuscae, ab utroque oris angulo usque in pectoris latera. Dorsum, ut in mare, sed viridius, & striæ nigrae minores. 7. PARUS HUDSONICUS. Parus capite fusco-rubescente, dorso cinereo, jugulo atro, fascia suboculari, pectoroque albis, hypochondris rufis. Habitat ad Sinum Hudsonis. Descr. Rostrum subulatum, integerrimum, atrum, basi è regione narium tectum fasciculis setarum ferruginearum, lineas 4 (unciae pedis Anglicani) longum. Caput fusco-terrugineum, fascia sub oculis alba; gula atra, nigredine extensa sub hac fascia alba. Dorsum Dorsum cinereo-virens, è plumis longioribus, fuscis, apice tantum cinereo-virentibus, f. olivaceis. Pectus & Abdomen alba, sed plumae omnes basi nigrae, apice tantum albae. Latera abdominis & lumbi ferruginei. Alae fuscæ, remigum margine omni cinereo. Cauda fusca, rotundata, rectricibus 12, margine cinereis. Uropygium tectum plumulis aliquot nigris, apice albido-rufis. Pedes nigri; digitus posticus cum ungue anticorum digitorum medio, duplo longior. Longitudo unciarum 5½ pedis Anglicani. Latitudo unciarum 7. Cauda uncias 2½ longa. 8. SCOLOPAX BOREALIS. Scolopax rostro arcuato, pedibusque nigris, corpore fusco, griseo-maculato, subtus ochroleuco. Habitat in Sinus Hudsonis inundatis, & pratis humidis, victitans vermibus & insectis: mensa Aprili vel initio Maii primum visa est, circa Castellum Albany, inde in terras magis arcticas migrat, ibique nidificat; redit ad idem castellum mensa Augusto; regiones Australiores petit circa finem Septembris. Affinis scolopace arquata Linn. sed differt corpore triplo minore, rostro ratione corporis breviore, breviore, colore in dorso saturate fusco, in abdomine ochroleuco. **Descr.** Caput pallidum, lineolis confertis longitudinalibus fuscis: finciput saturate fuscum, pallido maculatum. Rostrum nigricans, arcuatum, longitudine duarum unciarum pedis Anglicani, mandibula inferiore basi rufa. Collum, pectus, abdomen & crissum ochroleuca; pectore colloque lineolis longitudinalibus fuscis confertioribus, abdomine & criro fere nullis, vel tenuibus notatis. Femora semi-tecta plumulis ochroleucis, fusco maculatis. Latera abdominis sub alis praesertim, rufa, pennis transversim fusco fasciatis. Dorsum totum saturate fuscum, pennis margine albido griseis. Alae fuscae; remiges primores immaculati, primores rachi tota alba; reliqui, f. secundarii pallide griseo-marginati. Tectrices late griseo-marginatae. Tectrices inferiores alae, ferrugineae fusco transversim fasciatae. Alae complicatae fere mediam caudam attingunt. Uropygium fuscum, marginibus maculisque pennarum albidis. Cauda brevis, fusca, rectricibus albido transversim fasciatis Pedes nigri, f. coerulescentes. Longitudo unciarum 13½. Latitudo circiter unciarum 21. 9. Anas nivalis. Anas, rostro cylindrico, corpore albo, remigibus primoribus nigris. Habitat in America Boreali, per Sinum Hudsonis migrans. Descr. Corpus totum album, magnitudine anseris domestici nostratis. Rostrum luteum, mandibulis subferratis. Oculi iride rubra. Remiges decem primores nigri, scapis albis: teetrices infimae cinereae, scapis nigris; pennae duae alulae, itidem cinereae, scapis nigris. Pedes rubri. Longitudo pedum duorum &c unciarum octo. Latitudo pedum 3½. Pondus librarum 5 vel 6.