BIRDS "OF HUDSON'S BAY. 51 
are common. Of all this family the red-headed merganser is the latest to arrive in the 
spring and the last to leave in the autumn. 
The southern limit of the ordinary breeding ground of the Canada goose runs north- 
westward across the continent, from the Maritime Provinces to the valley of the McKenzie. 
I have met with them breeding in considerable numbers in the interior of Newfoundland, 
but in the same latitude, between the great lakes and James’ Bay, only chance pairs lag 
behind in their northward flight to hatch their broods. They also breed on the islands 
along the east coast of Hudson’s Bay. To the westward of the bay they are first met with, 
raising their young, on the lower part of the Churchill River. To the eastward it is said 
that very few Canada geese breed northward of Hudson’s Strait. The snow-geese or 
wavies (Anser hyperboreus, Pallas) are abundant, on both sides, during the spring and autumn 
migrations. Their breeding grounds are said to be still to the northward of the regions 
known to the Eskimo. There appears to be no doubt that the blue wavies are only the 
young of the white. I have seen many flocks composed of individuals of every shade, from 
the darkest to the purest white, mingling freely both during flight and when in the water, 
and also when feeding on the land. The lesser snow-goose, which is very rare on Hudson’s 
Bay, is more probably a distinct species. They do not associate with either the large blue 
or white wavies. The brant, formerly common in the autumn, in the lower St. Lawrence, 
appears to be extremely rare on Hudson’s Bay. I only know of its occurrence at York 
Factory, where a single specimen, shot while I happened to be at the place, was considered 
quite a curiosity. 
The whistling swan (Cygnus Americanus, Sharpless) breeds near Churchill and on the 
islands towards the eastern side of Hudson’s Bay. Their skins constitute an article of 
trade, but only a small number of them are collected annually. 
The smaller wading birds, such as sandpipers, plover, curlew, snipe, godwits, &c., 
occur in great numbers around Hudson’s Bay. Wilson’s snipe (Scolopax Wilsonii) was 
found at Fort George, on the east side of James Bay, and in many places along the Nelson 
River. It is common in Manitoba, and in the autumn great numbers alight at some of the 
settlements on the north shore of Lake Superior on their way south. The woodcock is 
found in Manitoba, although this fact is not commonly known. The long-billed curlew, 
which is supposed to be so generally distributed throughout the continent, has not been 
found around Hudson’s Bay, so far as I am aware. I obtained a specimen of the wandering 
tattler (Heterocelus brevipes, Vieill.), supposed to be a western species, on the Eastmain coast. 
The common rail (Porzana Carolina, Linn.), was procured at York Factory, and the yellow 
rail at Fort George. The coot, which is so abundant in the Winnipeg basin and along the 
Lower Saskatchewan, does not appear to reach any part of Hudson’s Bay. The sandhill 
crane (Grus Canadensis, Temm.) extends as far to the north-east as the upper part of the 
Nelson River. The common bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus, Stephens) is found on both sides 
of Hudson’s Bay. Of the least bittern (Ardetta exilis, Gray) I have specimens from 
Manitoba and York Factory. 
Each of the different species of grouse and ptarmigan of the north is confined to a 
certain range in latitude and longitude, in the same way as the more southern members of 
the family. For instance, in going north-eastward from Dakota to Hudson’s Strait we soon 
lose the prairie chickens (Cupidonia cupido, Baird). The sharp-tailed grouse (Pediocetes pha- 
