described, compared it with the European Ptarmigan, and has widely erred in concluding
them to be identical. The White Grouse, in its summer plumage, was considered
by M. Temminck to be the Red Grouse of Great Britain and Ireland ; he has,
however, retracted this opinion in the Second Edition of his Manuel. The T.
Scoticus, or Red Grouse, never changes its colour in winter, though it may accidentally
vary to white, and is solely confined to the British Islands, existing no where else as a
native inhabitant, whilst the T. Albus is not found in them.
Tetrao Lagopus. Ptarmigan.
The Ptarmigan and Rock Grouse (T. Rupestris) were until lately, described generally
as the same bird; indeed it may be said by every writer, because though Pennant has
introduced the latter into his Arctic Zoology, he was certainly unacquainted with its
characteristics, and only noticed it because a bird with that name had been mentioned
by Hearne. In describing the birds seen during Captain Parry’s late voyage to the
Polar Seas, Captain Sabine has distinguished the Rock Grouse from the Ptarmigan
as a distinct species; his reasons for this separation, and the characters of each
species, will be found in detail in his Appendix to the narrative of the Voyage. The
Ptarmigan has been found on the land situated between Davis Straits and Regent s
Inlet: the Rock Grouse was abundant at Melville Island, and had also been killed in
Greenland in the former Voyage; the Ptarmigan corresponded with the birds usually
so called in the British Islands, and the Rock Grouse are the same as birds which have
since been abundantly sent by Mr. Andrew Knight, from Norway; where they are
considered as Ptarmigans. It is of importance to ascertain from actual examination
of specimens, now that these birds are distinguished, in what countries they each are
native. In Scotland and the adjacent Islands, the Ptarmigan alone exist; whether it
is to be found in Norway and the mountainous countries of the north of Europe, yet
remains to be determined. The specimen now under notice, which was obtained in
the neighbourhood of York Factory, proves that the Ptarmigan is a native of that
part of America; but as no specimen of the Rock Grouse has yet come under observation
from the same quarter, it still remains uncertain whether individuals of the
smaller species go so far south ; when they leave the Islands of the Polar Seas, they of
course retire to the contiguous continent, but to what part of it, is yet to be ascertained.
Hearne’s account of the Rock Grouse will apply as well to the T. Lagopus
as to the T. Rupestris; and as he mentions only one kind, it is possible that the real
Rock Grouse may not come to Hudson’s Bay. If this be the case, the specific name
now given to it has been wrong applied, for the T. Rupestris of Gmelin is founded
solely on Pennant’s Arctic Zoology, and that is derived from Hearne. The specimen
which has been observed on here, is in its summer dress, and corresponds nearly, both
in size and colour of plumage, with those from Scotland killed at the same season.
It has in particular, besides the fourteen black feathers in its tail, the two long superincumbent
feathers mentioned by Captain Sabine, as peculiar to the species, exclusive
of the six other superior coverts ; these two feathers are tipped with white, otherwise
they are nearly black, but have some mottling of the general brown of the plumage
on them; the six superior coverts are mottled black and brown, with white tips ; the
fourteen tail-feathers are black, part only of them being very slightly tipped with
white.
Tetrao Canadensis. Canada Grouse.
These are the Wood Partridges of Hearne and of the North American settlers.
They are only found in the northern parts of the New World, not having been observed
in the United States, nor are they natives of Europe. Though remaining in the cold
climate of those countries during the winter, their plumage continues unchanged.
Specimens both of a male and female bird were received in good condition; their size
is that of the Ptarmigan, and of course they are considerably larger than the Rock
Grouse. Both sexes are tolerably described in Latham's Synopsis; and are each
figured by Edwards, as well as in the Planches Erduminces, the species being called
by Buffon La Gelinote du Canada. The male was made a separate species from the
female, by Brisson, which led Linnaeus into a similar error, and this was not corrected
by Gmelin; they will be found in the Systema Natures, as T. Canadensis and
T. Canace. '
Charadrius Pluvialis. Golden Plover.
A specimen, in winter plumage, is in the collection. Golden Plovers were found
breeding abundantly in the North Georgian Islands, and they probably exist throughout
the whole of the higher latitudes of the American Continent, but they are only
known in the United States, as visitors from the autumn until the spring. In the
latter season their whole under parts become black, which disappears with the moulting
after the young are reared. In this darkened plumage they are the C. Apricarius
and Alwagrim Plover of different Ornithological writers. The species is well known
in Europe.
Charadrius Vociferus.. Noisy Plover.
This species is confined to America, and breeds in the more temperate as well as
in the northern parts of that country. It is known to the Americans as the Kildeer,
from the note which it utters incessantly, when disturbed. Wilson has figured and
described the bird correctly; it is much smaller than the preceding, and approaches
more to the appearance of a Ringed Plover, but is peculiar in having a long wedge-
shaped tail, the upper coverts of which are orange; the rest of the upper parts of
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