The Zoologist — October, 1869. 1857 



Common Puffin, Mormon aicticus {Linn.) — Common in the summer, 

 bnt most abundant in the fall. It is the only species of puffin 1 ob- 

 tained, but the settlers say a larger puffin is also found there in the 

 fall of the year, which is probably M. glacialis. Leach. 



Black Guillemot, Uria grylle [Linn.) — A very common summer 

 migrant, remaining until after assuming its winter plumage, and 

 migrating only on the appearance of drift ice. Provincial name 

 " pigeon." 



Common Guillemot or Murre, U. lomvia, Briinn. — Avery common 

 periodical migrant, breeding plentifully on islands on the north coast 

 of Newfoundland, and along the Labrador shore. I was unable to 

 identify U. ringvia as more than a common form of U. lomvia. 



Tliick-hiUed Guillemot, U. arra {Pallas). — Equally common with 

 the preceding. Both species are called " murres" and "tnrres"by 

 the settlers. 



Little Auk, Mergulus alle {Linn.) — A very common periodical 

 migrant, arriving in October and remaining until driven farther south 

 by ice. Provincial name " bull-bird." 



In the above list two hundred and twelve species have been enu- 

 merated, nearly all of which I have identified as belonging to the 

 avi-fauna of Newfoundland. That the subject is anything like ex- 

 hausted lam far from thinking; although perhaps some years may 

 elapse before this list is materially added to, yet there is much to be 

 learned on the economy and migrations of some species. Why many 

 of the Charadridae, Scolopacidae, &c., which are supposed to breed in 

 Alaska, or even in the Arctic Circle, should be so abundant in New- 

 foundland during the autumnal migrations, and yet rarely or never ob- 

 served on the vernal migration, I am unable to explain. Nevertheless, 

 it seems pretty evident and perhaps natural that a more direct route is 

 taken at that season. Prof. Baird is of opinion (I presume from evidence 

 adduced) that the vernal migration is by way of the Mississippi valley; 

 thence by the great lakes in the Hudson's Bay territories. Be this as 

 it may, it is wonderful that a station (say for argument Bahama 

 Islands, or any of the West India Islands) used as winter quarters 

 should be annually resorted to via Newfoundland and Bermuda, 

 and that Alaska, or territories within the Arctic Circle, should also 

 annually be visited in summer by a route several hundred miles west- 

 ward of that (the Newfoundland) invariably adopted in the fall of the 

 year. I trust naturalists in Newfoundland and the Britisli Provinces 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. IV. 3 B 



