136 Mr. Cooper on a new Species of Grosbeak. [Feb. 



nearly coincide with that of the subgenus in the language of 

 the system. 



" Paushkundamo." This word is derived from the Chip- 

 pewa verb paushka-tin, to break. The termination indicates 

 the object acted on, and is in accordance with one of the rules 

 of their language, which permits the formation of compound 

 words from a verb and substantive, dropping one or more syl- 

 lables of each for the sake of euphony. The word paushkaun 

 is the animate form of the verb, and is used only in particular 

 reference to soft, fleshy, or vegetable substances, as a fly, a 

 berry, &c. The word will therefore admit of being rendered 

 Jiy-hreaker, bprry-breaker, &c. 



" This bird appeared about Sault Ste. Marie, M. T. during 

 the first week in April 1823. The individual under examination 

 was shot on the 7th April, in the evening. An Indian boy was 

 attracted into the woods by its peculiar, and to him strange 

 note. There were a few birds in company : they were seen for 

 a short time about the place ; but none have since appeared. 

 The species is said to be common about the head of Lake 

 Superior, at Fond du Lac, &c." 



Major Delafield, in the execution of his duties as agent of the 

 L^nited States for boundaries, met with the same bird in the 

 month of August 1823, near the Savannah river, north-west 

 from Lake Superior, and has obligingly communicated the fol- 

 lowing extract from his notes made at the time. 



" At twilight, the bird which I had before heard to cry in a 

 singular strain, and only at this hour, made its appearance 

 close by my tent, and a flock of about half a dozen perched on 

 the bushes in my encampment. They approached so near, and 

 were so fearless, that my canoe-men attempted to catch them, 

 but in vain. I recognised this bird as similar to one in posses- 

 sion of Mr. Schoolcraft, at the Sault Ste. Marie. 



" Its mournful cry about the hour of my encamping, (which 

 was at sunset) had before attracted my attention, but I could 

 never get sight of the bird but on this occasion. There is an 

 extensive plain and swamp through which flows the Savannah 

 river, covered with a thick growth of sapin trees. My infer- 

 ence was then, and is now, that this bird dwells in such dark 

 retreats, and leaves them at the approach of night." 



