SOMATERIA LABRADORIA. 219 



its adult dress certainly for three years, perhaps four. Wilson, who is the 

 best authority regarding it, does, indeed, allude to the subject, but not in the 

 perfect way we could wish. He, however, describes the trachea; and I 

 urge on American ornithologists the importance of securing a scientific 

 examination of the body of any specimen which the future may afford, with 

 note of the colour of the soft parts, preservation of the bones, &c. They, 

 however, are quite alive to the subject. 



Extracts from Letters, 



The List of Specimens, by no means exhaustive, represents some hard 

 work of mine and much kind response from my American and other friends. 

 I think the following portions of correspondence may not be without interest. 



Professor Baird writes : — 



'^ International Exhibition^ Wasliington_, April 25th_, 1876. 



" I was informed by the late Capt. Hall that the bird was not uncommon 

 on the northern part of Hudson's Straits." 



Mr. James Orton (Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., April 20th, 

 1876) says :— 



"The late J. P. Giraud, Esq. (a friend of Audubon, and author of the 

 ' Birds of Long Island '), informed me that formerly it was met with every 

 winter on the coast of Long Island.'' 



Mr. D. G. Elhot's letter (dated "5 Rue de Tilsitt, Paris, 31st May, 

 1876") runs thus : — 



" During twenty years I only once was able to obtain a fuU-plumaged 

 male. It was killed about ten years ago, on the south shore of Long Island — 

 I believe, in the Great South Bay ; and I had it in the flesh. It went to the 



