1870.] REEKS — ON BIRDS OP NEWFOUNDLAND. 415 



there in the fall of the year, which is probably M.glacialis^ Leach, 



Black Guillemot, Uria grylle (Linn.) — A very common sum- 

 mer migrant, remaining until after assuming its winter plumage, 

 and migrating only on the appearance of drift ice. Provincial 

 name •' pigeon." 



Common Guillemot or 3furre, U. lomvia, Brunn. — A. very 

 common periodical migrant, breeding plentifully on islands on the 

 north coast of Newfoundland, and along the Labrador shore. I 

 was unable to identify U. ringvia as more than a common form of 

 U. lomvia. 



Thick-billed Guillemot, U. arra (Pallas). — Equally common 

 with the proceeding. Both species are called '' murres" and 

 " turres " by the settlers. 



Little Auk, Mcrgulus alle (Linn.) — A very common periodical 

 migrant arriving in October and remaining until driven farther 

 south by ice. Povincial name '• bull-blrd." 



In the above list two hundred and twelve species have been 

 enumerated, nearly all of which I have identified as belonging to 

 the avi-fauna of Newfoundland. That the subject is anything like 

 exhausted T am far from thinking ; although perhaps some years 

 may elapse before this list is matenally added to, yet there is much 

 to be learned on the economy and migration of some species. 

 Why many of the Charadridie, Scolopacidae, &c , which are sup- 

 posed to breed in Alaska, or even in the Artie Circle, should be so 

 abundant in Newfoundland and during the autumnal mi»Tations 

 and yet rarely or never observed on the vernul migration, I am 

 unable to explain. Nevertheless, it seems pretty evident and per- 

 haps natural that a more direct route is taken at that season. 

 Prof. Baird is of opinion (I presume from evidence adduced) that 

 the vernal migration is by way of the Mississippi valley ; thence 

 by the great lakes in the Hudson's Bay territories. Be this as it 

 may, it is wonderful that a station (say for argument Bahama 

 Islands, or any of the West India Islands) used as winter quarters 

 should be annually resorted to via Newfoundland and Bermuda 

 and that Alaska, or territories within the Arlic Circle, should also 

 annually be visited in summer by a route several hundred miles 

 westward of that (the Newfoundland) invariably adopted in the 

 fall of the year. I trust naturalists in Newfoundland and the 

 British Provinces will carfj'ully note those species v.'hich pass 

 southward in the autumn, and especially those which reappear in 

 the spring : I allude here, of course, only to those species which 



