NATURAL HISTORY.— BIRDS 2 6l 



The specimens from Rae form a series showing the complete 

 transition from the summer-brown to the winter-white plumage. 

 A male bird which was taken in a snare May 7th, has a chest- 

 nut brown head and body as yet white. 1 



302. Lagopus rupestris ( Gmcl. ) . Rock Ptarmigan. 



An Indian in our party killed a rock ptarmigan in the Bar- 

 ren Ground over one hundred miles from the edge of the 

 woods, during the musk-ox trip in April. There was no thaw 

 in that region until over a month later. 



308. Pediocaetes phasianellus {Linn.). Sharp-tailed Grouse. 

 Aq-sco-pen-e-o, C. 

 Fourteen specimens; eleven from Grand Rapids, one 3, three 

 ?, seven juv.; August 30-November 21; Rae, two S, one $; Oc- 

 tober 4-7. Abundant at the first station, rather common at 

 Rae during the autumnal migration. They are highly esteemed 

 for their flesh by the natives, and are certainly superior to 

 either the ptarmigan or the white-fleshed ruffed grouse. 



331. Circus hudsonius (Linn.). Marsh Hawk. 



Pi-pun-e-su, C. 

 Three specimens; Swampy Island, Lake Winnipeg, $, August 

 28; Chippewyan, $, June i; Rae, juv., August 22. 



332. Accipiter velox (Wils.). Sharp-shinned Hawk. 



Four specimens; three from Grand Rapids, ?, September 6- 

 19; Rae, 3, August 17. 



334. Accipiter atricapillus (Wils.). American Goshawk. 



Con-o-chik-in-o-chi-we-su, C. 

 Nine specimens: Grand Rapids, two juv., September 15; 

 seven from Rae, juv., ?, ?, July 26-October 5. The commonest 

 representative of this order about Rae. 2 



-f 337. Buteo borealis (Gmel.). Red-tailed Hawk. 



One specimen, $; Grand Rapids, September 19. = fir^MrtxtJi^ . 



1 See page 86, ante. 

 8 See page 86, ante. 



