Interior of British North America. 14)7 



MaRECA AMERICANA. 



The American Widgeon is common on the Saskatchawan, 

 where I shot it. The Smithsonian Institution has a specimen 

 from between Lake Winipeg and Hudson^s Bay ; and Mr. Murray 

 records it from the last locaUty, whence I have also seen it ; and 

 Mr. Ross notices it as common on the Mackenzie. 



AlX SPONSA. 



A specimen of the Summer- or Wood-Duck is recorded in the 

 * Fauna Bor.-Am.' as killed on the Lower Saskatchawan; and 

 Mr. Murray mentions specimens from the west side of Hudson^s 

 Bay. 



FULIX MARILA. 



A male from the Saskatchawan is recorded in the ' Fauna 

 Bor.-Am.,' and there is a specimen in the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion from Red River Settlement. Besides, Mr. Ross records the 

 " Big Black-head/' as it is called in America, on Great Slave 

 Lake. I have examined several specimens sent from Hudson's 

 Bay, and they differ from a good adult bird, killed in England, 

 in having the black and white markings on the back of a coarser 

 nature, the almost entire absence of the fine speckling on the 

 shoulders of the wings, the scapulars without any markings, and 

 the black of the region of the vent does not run so far up on the 

 belly. These peculiarities may be simply due to age ; but having 

 noticed them, I feel bound to record them. The too common 

 error of those drawing up local lists, of making species in order 

 to swell their special fauna in point of number, I am well aware 

 of, and have taken care to guard against it. I am one, however, 

 who believes that it is better to recognize a rather doubtful 

 species than introduce varieties (except accidental) into ornitho- 

 logy ; for I am persuaded, if once such a system is commenced, 

 the science will become divested of much of its interest, and 

 we shall not get men to sacrifice their comfort, and perhaps 

 risk their lives, in collecting abroad, if, when they return home, 

 their species are to be called merely varieties. 



FULIX AFFINIS. 



There is a specimen of the American Scaup in the Smithsonian 

 Institution from Nelson River; Mr. Murray gives it from Hud- 



