PREFATORY NOTE. 



A century or more ago the emploj^ees of the Hudson's Bay Com- 

 panjr sent collections of birds and mammals from Hudson Baj' to 

 London. Some of these specimens came fi'om the shores of Hudson 

 Ba_y, others from trading posts in the distant interior; but many were 

 not labeled to show where thej" were obtained. Thej" were examined 

 hy the naturalists of the time and a number of species were described 

 and named as new. In most cases the original specimens have dis- 

 appeared and modern naturalists have been greatlj' perplexed in 

 attempting to ascertain just what the species reallj' were. No mod- 

 ern museum possessed anj^thing approaching a representative collec- 

 tion of the mammals and birds of Hudson Bay, and specimens for 

 comparison with related forms from other parts of Boreal America 

 were not to be had. The resulting embarrassment was most keenly 

 felt when the Biological Survey secured large collections from Alaska. 

 In many instances it was impossible to tell whether certain Alaska 

 species were identical with or distant from related forms previously 

 described from Hudson Bay. In order to obtain the long-needed 

 material it was, determined to send an expedition to Hudson Baj\ 

 Edward A. Preble was placed in charge of this expedition; his report 

 shows how well and faithfully his duties were performed. His suc- 

 cessful trip, in an open boat, in inclement fall weather, from Fort 

 Churchill to the Barren Grounds near Cape Eskimo, in search of topo- 

 types of the Hudson Bay ground squirrel (often known as Parry's 

 marmot) deserves special commendation. 



I take pleasure also in ]-ef erring to the uniform courtesies and facil- 

 ities extended by the officers and employees of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company, particularly by Mr. C. C. Chipman, commissioner of the 



companj^ at Winnipeg. 



C. H. M. 



