Natural History of the Hudson's Bay Territories, 49 



William in his inquiry. The above synonymy shows the re- 

 sult to which he has come, 



I also particularly drew the attention of my friends to the 

 white-tailed grouse in relation to its affinity to this species, 

 but no specimens of it have as yet been received. Mr A. 

 M 'Donald, stationed at Little Whale River, however, writes 

 me as follows on the subject : — " I am not aware that the 

 white-tailed grouse is to be found in this locality. We 

 have two sorts of the ptarmigan — the large one, which is ge- 

 nerally found among the willows, is, I believe, the willow 

 grouse. The other is much smaller, and confines itself almost 

 entirely to the rocks.* This latter may be the white-tailed 

 grouse to which you refer. I have never seen it in summer, 

 and indeed they do not, I believe, make their appearance till 

 after a considerable quantity of snow has fallen. They are 

 of about the size of the common pigeon." He adds, " I will 

 be able to procure good specimens of both these, and, if 

 possible, in the various stages." As specimens of this white- 

 tailed grouse are exceedingly scarce in museums in Britain 

 such a supply will be acceptable. 



Tetrao Canadensis, (Linn.) 



Trout Lake and Hudson's Bay. 

 Tetrao phasianelhis, (Linn.) 



Trout Lake Station. 



The Tetrao obscurus (Rich, and Sw.), or Dusky Grouse of tlie 

 Northern Zoology, has not yet been received, "f 

 Porzana Carolina (Linn.), (Carolina Bail). 



Severn House. 

 Pluvialis Virginiacus, (Borkh.) 



Trout Lake Station and Severn House. 



The American representative of our golden plover, specifically 

 distinguished from it by its lesser size, and the axillary 

 feathers being dusky, instead of white. Like our own golden 

 plover, this bird is highly prized as food. 

 Charadrius semipalmatus, (Kaup.) 



Trout Lake Station and Severn House. 



Plentiful in Arctic America. 



* This smaller bird, if not the white- tailed species, will be L. mutus (Leach), 

 or common ptarmigan of Great Britain. The white-tailed bird cannot be mis- 

 taken, none of the tail feathers being black, as in the other two species. 



t Tetrao obscurus (Say), and the Tetrao obscurus (Richard and Swain), Fauns 

 B. Am., are quite distinct, and specimens of the latter from northern latitudes 

 are much wanted. 



VOL. II. G 



