54 



Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



transverse plates so placed instead of three ; the remainder are 

 also transverse, though narrower. The difference in the ar- 

 rangement in the different species is shown in the plates. I by 

 no means say with any degree of confidence that my specimen 

 is B. Hutchinsii. I have had no opportunity of examining an 

 authentic specimen of that species, the specimens placed by 

 Sir John Richardson in the museum of the Edinburgh Univer- 

 sity being no longer to be found there ; but it answers better 

 to it than any other description, and therefore, although not 

 wholly corresponding to it, I place it under this name, but with 

 a query. 



I may add, that before coming to the conclusion that these 

 two species were distinct from the Canada goose, care has 

 been taken to consult every accessible authority. The spe- 

 cimens have been shown to Sir John Richardson, who con- 

 curs in the opinion that they are distinct. 



The want of some information as to the habits of the birds 

 sent by my correspondents, deprives us of one important aid 

 in determining the species. For instance, Hutchin's goose 

 differs from the true Canada goose in frequenting the sea- 

 coast, feeding on mollusca, and having a fishy taste, instead 

 of feeding on herbage in the fresh-water lakes, which is the 

 habit of the Canada goose proper. This specimen was taken 

 at Severn House. 



Anas boschas (Linn.), (Common Mallard). 



Trout Lake Station and Severn House. 

 Dafila acuta (Linn.), (Pintail). 



Trout Lake Station and Severn House. 

 Rhynchaspis clypeata (Linn.), (The Shoveller). 



Moose Factory and Trout Lake. 

 Mareca Americana, (Steph.) 



Hudson's Bay. 

 Somateria V. nigrum, (Gray). — Proc. Zool. Soc. 1858. 



Severn House. 



This specimen was sent to me by Mr Bernard R. Ross of 

 the Mackenzie River district, as the common Eider Duck ; 

 which he thought might be of interest from having been shot 

 on Great Slave Lake, — the Eider being supposed exclusively 

 a sea duck, — but its occurrence in this fresh-water lake may 



