6376 



Birds. 



Picus canadensis was observed on a few occasions ; sometimes in 

 company with the downy woodpecker (P. pubescens). The former 

 appears to take the place of P. villosus. It would be interesting to 

 know where this species ceases to range. 



Tetrao umballus and T. canadensis I have not seen west of the forks 

 of this river, which you will see by the map is a little east of this. 

 Certainly there are no woods suited to the latter. 



Sharp-tailed Grouse {Tetrao phasianellus), is a general inhabitant 

 of the semi-wooded portions of these northern plains. It is usually 

 in packs of large or small size in the fall and winter, but I cannot yet 

 speak as to the other seasons of the year. If it is not the " prairie 

 hen " of the southern plains, it certainly takes the place of that bird in 

 the north. I was always under the impression that the prairie hen was 

 T. Cupido, but you will be able to settle this point. The food during 

 the winter appears to be usually the seeds of Rosa blanda, the ordinary 

 briar of the plains or snow-berry (Symphoricarpus racemosus), also 

 the buds of a species of willow [Salix), but in the fall their food was 

 different. I have opened the crops of many, and Mr. Bourgeau, our 

 indefatigable botanist, kindly furnishes me with the names of the seeds, 

 &c. I find within them. 



WillowGrouse (Lagopus Saliceti). Although I have hunted diligently 

 for this bird, I have not found one during this winter, and have only 

 heard of a single specimen which was shot to the west of this, 

 in about the same latitude. It was sent to me, and I have pre- 

 served it. 



I have written to two or three gentlemen connected with the fur 

 trade, to procure me specimens of each kind of ptarmigan known in 

 the north, because Mr . Gould thinks there is one yet undescribed closely 

 allied to L. Saliceti. 



As to water birds, none are to be seen here in winter, as there is not 

 an inch of open water anywhere. 



Thomas Blakiston. 



Notes on the occurrence of rare Birds in Devon and Cornwall in 1857 and 1858. — 

 Purple Heron (Ardca purpurea). On the 30th of October, 1857, I bought an imma- 

 ture bird of this species at the shop of a poulterer in Stonehouse. 



Gray Lag Goose (Anser ferus). On January 18th I bought a fine old male 

 in the Plymouth Market, shot in Cornwall, and on the 25th of November I obtained 

 a female in the market at Devonport, which was killed on the river Tamar. This 

 species is very uncommon with us, the above being the only two I ever observed in 

 our markets, although 1 have been for many years on the look-out for them. 



