186 



DR. J. RAE ON THE BIRDS AIS^D MAMMALS 



Lastly, I give two illustrations which will convey an idea of 

 some of my ant-nests. 



That on p. 129 represents about a quarter of one of my frames. 

 The shaded part represents the earth, which will be seen to have 

 been arranged by the ants into a sort of circular fortification, or 

 zereba, access to which is obtained by one or two tunnels, not 

 visible in the illustration, and to which a pathway leads from the 

 entrance. 



The second (facing this page) represents a nestofLasius niger. 

 It shows the entrance, a vestibule, and two chambers, in the outer 

 and larger one of which the ants have left some pillars, almost 

 as if to support the roof. The queen is surrounded by workers, 

 those in her immediate neighbourhood all having their faces 

 turned towards her. There is a group of pupae, and several of 

 larvae, sorted as usual according to ages. There are also a number 

 of the blind woodlice {Flatyarthrus Hojfmanseggii). 



Notes on some of the Birds and Mammals of the Hudson*s Bay 

 Company's Territory, and of the Arctic Coast of America. 

 By John Eae, M.D., LL.D., r.E.S., &c. (Communicated by 

 G. J. EOMANES, F.L.S.) 



[Eead 16th February, 1888.] 



During twenty years' residence in various parts of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company's Territory, embracing the extreme south of the 

 shores of James's and Hudson's Bays, and north to the Arctic 

 Sea, I have had, as a sportsman, many opportunities of devoting 

 considerable attention to the habits and peculiarities of animals, 

 especially birds, over a very extensive field of observation, the 

 result of which I shall attempt to give in the following remarks, 

 some of which may possibly be new, other points disputed or 

 perhaps already well known. 



My first ten years were spent at Moose Factory, the principal 

 depot of the Hudson's Bay Company in the Southern Depart- 

 ment, lat. 51° N., long. 81° W., where the marshes along the 

 coast form the favourite feeding-grounds of a variety of geese, 

 ducks, &c. on their migrations to and from their breeding-places 

 in the north. A great part of my spare time at these seasons, 

 spring and autumn, was spent in shooting these birds, and at 

 the same time acquiring some knowledge of their peculiarities. 



