104 THe Ottawa NATURALIST. | August 
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A NATURALIST IN THE FROZEN NORTH. 
By ANDREW HALKETT. 
(Continued from page 86.) 
Their return from the south to that vicinity was observed 
early in April, and one or more were seen at intervals between 
then and the 2oth of that month, by which date they had fairly 
established themselves, and were afterwards to be seen daily, at 
any hour, flying about, or alighting on the tops of the iglows. 
During the long sunlit days those little birds, together with the 
dogs, longspurs, and horned larks, lent a picturesqueness to the 
group of iglows, and were thoroughly at home, among the snow 
and ice, even when the wind was blowing strongly. 
The nest of the snow-bird is a substantial structure, com- 
posed chiefly of grasses lined with white feathers; those found by 
me were placed under large stones. S 
A Red-poll (.4canthus linarta,) was caught on the deck of the 
vessel when we were sailing along the Labrador coast, and a 
Specimen shot whilst it was flying about among the snow-bunt- 
ings near the vessel and iglows at Fullerton. 
‘When you see one raven you need only look round to dis- 
cover a second.” So said Father Brehm, and maybe his state- 
ment is based upon fact. One or two Ravens ( Corvus corax 
princtpalis ) had made their abode at Fullerton, and were often to 
be seen singly or together throughout the winter. Not requiring 
to be disguised from enemies, nor in order to obtain its food, this 
bird is a conspicuous object, and its jet black colour amid its white 
surroundings, is no doubt an advantage to it in finding its mate. 
The Horned or Shore Lark ( Otocoris alpestris was occa- 
sionally seen among the snow-birds at Fullerton, and the Snowy 
Owl (Nyctea nyctea,) was occasionally reported to have been seen 
in that vicinity. This owl is diurnal as well as nocturnal. 
Two eggs, from the same nest, of a Falcon (Falco) were 
found at Fullerton on the 5th of July. In one incubation was 
advanced, the other was rotten. 
The Rock Ptarmigan ( Lagopus rupestris ) was repeatedly seen 
in various stages of plumage. In the white plumage in the months 
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