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 hoschas (Linn.), (Common Mallard). 
Trout Lake Station and Severn House. 
Dajila 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 
