TOWNSEND AND ALLEN: LABRADOR BIRDS. 283 



Silene acaulis, Menyanthes trifoliata, Loiseleuria procumbens, Smila- 

 cina trifolia, Phyllodoce caerula, Kalmia polifolia, Cornus suecica, 

 Luzula parvifolia, Pinguicula vulgaris, Linnaea borealis, var. amer- 

 icana, Festuca ovina, Calamagrostis Langsdorffii, Plantago borealis, 

 Epilobium palustre, Potentilla palustris, Elymus mollis, Poa laxa, Poa 

 pratensis, var. domestica, Carex atrata, C. rariflora, C. rigida, var. 

 Bigelovii, Eriophorum Scheuchzeri, E. polystachion, Cochlearia offi- 

 cinalis, Scirpus caespitosus. 



In addition to these the common plants of which we did not bring 

 back specimens were : Empetrum nigrum, Ledum palustre, Lathyrus 

 maritimus; also much dwarfed and procumbent specimens of Abies 

 balsamea, Picea Canadensis, Picea Mariana, and Larix laricina. As 

 proof of the Arctic difficulties with which these trees labored, we 

 found 54 rings in the cross section of the trunk of a fir 2 inches in 

 ■ diameter whose topmost twig was only thirteen inches from the 

 ground. 



The following lichens we collected, were kindly identified by Dr. 

 W. G. Farlow: Nephroma arcticum, Buellia geographica, B. petraea, 

 Parmelia saxatilis, Alectaria ochroleuca, var. nigricans, A. jubata, 

 Umbilicaria cylindrica, Placodium elegans, Pannaria brunnea, Per- 

 tusaria sp. ?, Stereocaulon eoralloides, S. paschale, Cladonia rangi- 

 ferina, C. deformis, Lecanora bodia, Trentepoplia aurea. 



In the latitude of Nain (57° N.) the Arctic area extends considerably 

 farther in from the sea than at points more to the south. Moreover, 

 since the land rises gradually with the increase of latitude, this life 

 zone has a greater extent, inasmuch as the upper limit of the stunted 

 tree growth is reached at a lower level than farther south. 



The avifauna of the Arctic zone in Labrador is limited as to both 

 species and individuals. Of characteristic Arctic land birds that 

 breed in Labrador may be mentioned: Rock Ptarmigan, Reinhardt's 

 Ptarmigan (in northern portion), American Rough-legged Hawk, 

 White Gyrfalcon, Black Gyrfalcon, Snowy Owl, Horned Lark, 

 Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, American Pipit, and Wheatear. 

 Possibly the White Wagtail may be added to this list, although the 

 presence of this species and of the Wheatear as breeding birds in the 

 area under consideration is probably sporadic. In the marshy pools 

 grown up to rushes and sedges Northern Phalaropes are to be found 

 breeding. The Semipalmated, Least, and Spotted Sandpipers, and 

 Semipalmated Plover also breed on and near the coast. Along the 



