Interior of British North America. 147 
MaRECA AMERICANA. 
The. American Widgeon is common on the Saskatchawan, 
where I shot it. The Smithsonian Institution has a specimen 
from between Lake Winipeg and Hudson's Bay; and Mr. Murray 
records it from the last locality, whence I have also seen it; and 
Mr. Ross notices it as common on the Mackenzie. 
Aix SPONSA. 
A specimen of the Summer- or Wood-Duck is recorded in the 
‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.' as killed on the Lower Saskatchawan; and 
Mr. Murray mentions specimens from the west side of Hudson's 
Bay. 
Fulix marila. 
A male from the Saskatchawan is recorded in the ‘ Fauna 
Bor.-Am.,' and there is a specimen in the Smithsonian Institu¬ 
tion from Red River Settlement. Besides, Mr. Ross records the 
“ Big Black-head," as it is called in America, on Great Slave 
Lake. I have examined several specimens sent from Hudson's 
Bay, and they differ from a good adult bird, killed in England, 
in having the black and white markings on the back of a coarser 
nature, the almost entire absence of the fine speckling on the 
shoulders of the wings, the scapulars without any markings, and 
the black of the region of the vent does not run so far up on the 
belly. These peculiarities may be simply due to age; but having 
noticed them, I feel bound to record them. The too common 
error of those drawing up local lists, of making species in order 
to swell their special fauna in point of number, I am well aware 
of, and have taken care to guard against it. I am one, however, 
who believes that it is better to recognize a rather doubtful 
species than introduce varieties (except accidental) into ornitho¬ 
logy ; for I am persuaded, if once such a system is commenced, 
the science will become divested of much of its interest, and 
we shall not get men to sacrifice their comfort, and perhaps 
risk their lives, in collecting abroad, if, when they return home, 
their species are to be called merely varieties. 
Fulix aefinis. 
There is a specimen of the American Scaup in the Smithsonian 
Institution from Nelson River; Mr. Murray gives it from Hud- 
