hitherto observed in Greenland. 3 



1860, pp. 165-168), two more species are mentioned, not hitherto 

 recorded as being met with in Greenland. One of them, Tringa 

 minuta, I have not included in the following list, as I learn from 

 a private source that the specific name was substituted in error 

 for that of T. maritima. The other, Fuligula cristata, I have 

 admitted, though with much doubt, for the reason I have here- 

 after stated. I am also disposed to question the learned Doctor's 

 assertion that Motacilla alba breeds in Greenland, suggesting that 

 the eggs of Saxicola cenanthe were mistaken by him for those of 

 the former bird, since I am informed that the specimens brought 

 home by him exactly resemble those of the latter species. 



A stricter examination of the great number of birds discovered 

 in Greenland after the time of Fabricius will, however, show how 

 highly creditable was the manner in which he investigated its 

 Avifauna; for though the whole number of species has been 

 more than doubled, by far the larger part of the additions is 

 made up of birds which can only be considered as more or less 

 accidental visitors to Greenland. The number of birds known to 

 breed in the country is, since Fabricius, only augmented by 

 eleven* ; and though probably some six or seven more may in 

 future be found to breed thereto even then the whole number 

 will not amount to more than half of all the species observed. 



As might be expected from its geographical position, the 

 North-American character preponderates in the Avifauna of 

 Greenland. When from the 118 species hitherto observed there, 

 we deduct sixty-three which occur throughout the whole polar 

 zone, and accordingly must be considered not to bear on this ques- 

 tion (at least as far as they are constantly resident in Greenland), 

 — of the remaining fifty-five there are thirty-five North-American 

 species, nineteen European, and a single one (the Ptarmigan) 

 possibly peculiar to Greenland. A still more marked North- 

 American feature of the fauna results from an observation of 

 Holboll's, that Greenland receives only four of its regular birds 



* Authus ludovicianus, Fringilla canescens, Zonotrichia leucophrys, 

 Tringa canutus, T. schinzii (Bp.), Calidris arenaria, Thalassidroma 

 leachii, Stercorarius pomarinus, S. buffoni, Larus leucopterus, and Xema 

 sabini. 



f Gallinago media, Tringa cinclus, Numenius pheeopus, Podiceps cornu-- 

 tus, Cygmis musicus, Beniicla leticopsis, and Anas acuta. 



b2 



