1871.] MR. J. E. HARTING ON ARCTIC BIRDS. Ill 



The collection is comprised in 43 separate glass cases, containing 

 83 birds, belonging to 48 species ; and some of these, from their 

 comparative rarity, or from the particular state of plumage in which 

 they happen to be, are of much interest and value. 



Chief amongst these may be noted that curious little bird the 

 Spoonbilled Sandpiper (Enrynorhynchus pygmceus), of which the 

 only specimen in summer plumage at present known to exist is in 

 this collection *. It was obtained by Capt. Moore on the Choris 

 Peninsula, where the same officer also procured a specimen of the 

 Mongolian Plover, JEgialites mongoliciis (Pallas), in breeding- 

 plumage, the most northern locality recorded for this species (cf. 

 Ibis, 1870, p. 386). 



Four species of that curious genus of tufted and horned Puffins 

 (Phaleris) are in the collection, taken off the coast of Kamtschatka, 

 and a remarkably fine pair of Sabine's Gull (Larus sabini), in 

 breeding-plumage, obtained by Capt. Collinson, of the ' Enterprise,' 

 off Melville Peninsula. 



The geographical distribution of the species, as exemplified by 

 the present collection, will be best understood by a reference to the 

 map which I have designed to accompany it. From this it will be 

 seen that many species have a more extensive range than has been 

 hitherto suspected. That pretty little bird the Lapland Bunting 

 was found on the Choris Peninsula, on the Mackenzie River, and 

 on the south-west coast of Greenland ; the Raven on the same 

 peninsula, and on Beechy Island, Barrow Straits ; the Golden 

 Plover on the coast of Behring's Straits, Mackenzie River, and 

 Melville Peninsula. The Purple Sandpiper, which was thought to 

 be restricted to eastern North America and Europe {cf. Baird's 

 Birds N. Amer.), was obtained by Captain Moore on the north- 

 western shores of Behring's Straits. 



The American Coot, Fulica americana, Gmelin, which had not 

 previously been met with above 55°, was found by Lieut. Elliot of 

 the 'Phoenix' almost as high as 70° in Jacob's Haven, opposite 

 Disco ; while the species holding the most northern range was found 

 to be the Rock-Grouse, Tetrao rupestris (Gmelin), which was noted 

 as plentiful on Melville Island, and was met with on the coast of 

 North Devon by Capt. Richards, in the • Assistance.' 



This glance at the distribution of the birds leads to the inquiry 

 whether some of the species met with in the nearctic region, and 

 considered to be distinct, are not in fact identical with certain palse- 

 arctic species : — whether, for example, the Raven met with upon 

 these expeditions is not identical with the European Raven ; whether 

 the Golden Plover obtained on the Choris Peninsula should be 

 referred to the Asiatic C. longipes, or the American O. virginicus, or 

 whether these two are not in fact identical ; whether the Dunlin 

 Sandpiper procured in the same locality should be considered di- 

 stinct, under the title of americana, from the European and Asiatic 

 alpina. 



* This specimen was described and figured in 'The Ibis' for 1869. p. 426 

 pi. sii. . . 



