Interior of British North America. 55 



corresponded in colour and markings ; they measured respectively 

 in length 6^ and 6^ inches, and the wings 4 and 4^ inches. The 

 eyes were brown ; feet brownish flesh ; bills dark horn-colour, 

 except the base of the lower mandible, which was flesh; the 

 inside of their mouths yellow ; and the second and third quill- 

 feathers the, longest. On the 5th of June, in the same loca- 

 lity, I obtained another Thrush, a female by dissection ; the bill of 

 the same colour as those mentioned above; feet dull flesh; 

 length 7^ inches, wing 4 inches, tarsus 1^ inch. It was so 

 much damaged that I did not preserve it, hoping to get another. 

 The whole upper parts, including the tail, were of a uniform 

 reddish olive ; its identity must remain doubtful. T. swainsonii 

 is given by Mr. Bernard Ross on Mackenzie River north to the 

 Arctic Circle. T. alicice has also been found by Mr. Ross in 

 the north on the Yukon River, to the west of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains ; it is, however, a bird of the Mississippi valley. 



32. TuRDUs MiGRATORius. (See ' Ibis,' vol. iv. p. 4.) 

 So widely as the American Robin is distributed on that con- 

 tinent, it is unnecessary for me to note the different localities 

 where it has been found in the northern interior. Dr. Richardson, 

 during his travels, observed that it hatches its young in latitude 

 54° at the end of May, and in 65° by June the llth. Its first 

 occurrence at Fort Franklin, in 65°, he notes on May 20th ; at 

 Fort Chepeweyan, 58|°, May 7th; and Fort Carlton, April 22nd. 

 In 1858, however, when I was at this last post, the Robin arrived 

 from the south on the 16th of that month; but there can be no 

 question that in those latitudes which are frozen up for nearly 

 half the year, both the arrivals in spring and the departures in 

 autumn are very much dependent on the progress of the seasons. 

 For instance, in the following year the Robin did not reach Red 

 River Settlement, three degrees further to the southward, before 

 the fourth week in April. In 1858 I observed this bird on the 

 north branch of the Saskatchawan River till the 28th of October. 

 Mr. Ross notices its abundance on the Mackenzie, to the Arctic 

 Circle. 



TuRDUS N.EVIUS. 



A specimen is mentioned under the name o( Orpheus meruloides 



