hitherto observed in Greenland. 
3 
I860, pp. 165-168), two more species are mentioned, not hitherto 
recorded as being met with in Greenland. One of them, Tringa 
minuta , I have not included in the following list, as I learn from 
a private source that the specific name was substituted in error 
for that of T. maritima . The other, Fuligula exist at a, I have / 
admitted, though with much doubt, for the reason I have here¬ 
after stated. I am also disposed to question the learned Doctor's 
assertion that Motacilla alba breeds in Greenland, suggesting that 
the eggs of Saxicola oenanthe were mistaken by him for those of 
the former bird, since I am informed that the specimens brought 
home by him exactly resemble those of the latter species. 
A stricter examination of the great number of birds discovered 
in Greenland after the time of Fabricius will, however, show how 
highly creditable was the manner in which he investigated its 
Avifauna; for though the whole number of species has been 
more than doubled, by far the larger part of the additions is 
made up of birds which can only be considered as more or less 
accidental visitors to Greenland. The number of birds known to 
breed in the country is, since Fabricius, only augmented by 
eleven*; and though probably some six or seven more may in 
future be found to breed theref, even then the whole number 
will not amount to more than half of all the species observed. 
As might be expected from its geographical position, the 
North-American character preponderates in the Avifauna of 
Greenland. When from the 118 species hitherto observed there, 
we deduct sixty-three which occur throughout the whole polar 
zone, and accordingly must be considered not to bear on this ques¬ 
tion (at least as far as they are constantly resident in Greenland), 
—of the remaining fifty-five there are thirty-five North-American 
species, nineteen European, and a single one (the Ptarmigan) 
possibly peculiar to Greenland. A still more marked North - 
American feature of the fauna results from an observation of 
Holboll's, that Greenland receives only four of its regular birds 
* Anthus ludovicianus, Fringilla canescens, Zonotrichia leucophrys, 
Tringa canutus, T. schinzii (Bp.), Calidris arenaria, Thalassidroma 
leachii, Stercorarius pomarinus, S. buffoni, Larus leucopterus, and Xema 
sabini. 
* Gallinago media, Tringa cinclus, Numenius phceopus, Podiceps cornu « 
tus, Cygnus musicus, Bernicla leucopsis, and Anas acuta. 
B 2 
