Birds. 



6321 



Specimen examined minutely, apparently differing in nothing from 

 Nova Scotia specimens. 



Robin. Only once seen on the 18th of October ; there was no doubt 

 about it, for 1 had a near view, but missed killing him ; this I con- 

 sidered rather curious, as T had not seen any since near Hudson's Bay, 

 six weeks previous. 



Hermit Thrush {Tardus solitarius). Observed at Cumberland House 

 on the 4th of October. I saw it several times, but had no gun. 



Wren. One which appeared like T. hyemalis was once observed. 



Ruby-crowned Regulus. Occasionally observed, specimens closely 

 examined. Gold-crest not seen. 



Blackcap-tit (Parus atricapillus) . Very common. 



Cassin in his 6 Birds of Oregon, California, &c.,' which I think I 

 showed you at Richmond, makes out a species which he calls the 

 "Northern Chickadie or Longtailed" {Parus seplentrionalis), and puts 

 down the habitat as " Missouri, Utah, Rocky Mountains." I can see 

 no difference between those I have shot here and specimens preserved 

 in Nova Scotia, which I never doubted being the P. atricapillus. I 

 shall keep a sharp look out, and procure several specimens, of which 



I shall send L one for comparison. If the one here is the 



P. atricapillus, I think the other should rather be called western than 

 northern. 



Shore Lark. Observed for one week, in small parties, from the 4th 

 of October. 



Fringilla iliaca. Not after the end of September. 



F. pennsylvanica. Not west of Lake Winnipeg. 



F. canadensis and F. hyemalis. Always in company, and the most 

 common birds until the 14th of October, when the last of the former, 

 and the 18th of October, the last of the latter, were seen, they being 

 solitary stragglers. 1 have a specimen of the former. 



Redpoles. Not certain. 



Snow Bunting. Observed in small flocks from the 8th of October 

 (four days after the shore lark) ; in a few days they arrived in con- 

 siderable numbers, and were in large flocks at Fort Carlton. For 

 departure of them you will hear by another letter. 



Purple Grackle. Observed sparingly, except about the little 

 cultivated ground at Norway House and Cumberland, after which 

 (October 4th) are not seen. 



Rusty Grackle. Common along river banks until the 20th of 

 October. 



Raven. I need hardly say was always to be seen, and, so far from 

 XVII. c 



