Four eggs measured as follows: 71 x 43 mill.-751x 49—83 x 47-80 x 49. Uria grylle, Linn. Breeding everywhere in abundance. One specimen had the posterior edges of the upper mandible and the lower edges of the rami of the under mandible deep red. I never found more than two eggs laid by the same bird, On July 3rd, on a small island where there was no appearance of the birds having been disturbed, the greater number had but just commenced incubating, and none of the eggs were hatched. Four eggs measured: 57 x 36 mill.-55 x 38-51 x 37 58 x 39. Uria troille, Linn. The most common bird on the Labrador coast,-breeding at various points, from the southern extremity of Nova Scotia to the entrance to Hudson's Bay. From the number in which they asssmble at their chosen breeding-places, the eggers and fishermen are enabled to collect their eggs with great ease; the extent to which these birds are persecuted may be imagined from the fact that, though on the 23rd of June young birds were common at Gannet Rock, where they are but little if at all disturbed, up to July 20th I saw but one young bird on the Labrador coast. At the Murre Rock, so famous at the time of Audubon's visit for the number of Guillemots breeding there, on the 2nd of July not more than a hundred eggs could be collected, and apparently not over a thousand birds were breeding on it, probably not a hundreth part of their former numbers. On account of the violence of the sea, I was unfortunatety unable to visit the Foxes, as they are called, a short distance north of the Murre Rocks, and at present said to be their favourite breeding-place. Naumann in his description of the eggs of this bird states that he has never seen an unspotted specimen. I have several in my possession, and it would be strange if in a bird, whose eggs are so extremely varied in their coloration, they should not occasionally be found of a uniform color. Four eggs measured as follows: 84 x 47 mill.-47 x 51-84 x 51-78 x 45. Uria ringvia, Brünn. As this bird was unfortunately confounded by Audubon with the preceding species, it is at present impossible to ascertain what were its limits or numbers at the time of his visit. There can be little doubt, however, that it was not at all rare on the Labrador shore. None were seen by me at any place, except Gannet Rock, though I think it must breed at other points on the coast. The eggs are said by Naumann to be larger than those of the Foolish Guillemot, and the shell to be smooth, and the spots to be seldom large, &c. The largest Guillemot egg found by me was one of the present species, but in respect to the coloration I notice no particular mark by which they could be distinguished. When at Gannet Rock I unfortunately supposed that I should find this and the succeeding species equally common on the North Shore, and neglected to procure many specimens. The largest and handsomest egg procured is one of the green variety, and marked over the whole surface with lines that present very much the appearance of Chinese characters; it resembles, however, specimens of the eggs of Uria troille, and I see no character by which it could be distinguished from them. Naumann gives, as one of the distinguishing features of the eggs of this bird, a peculiarly fine spotting or dotting, which gives the whole egg, at a short distance, the appearance of being uniformly dark colored. I saw no eggs at Gannet Rock that presented this peculiarity, but in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution there are eggs from California of another species, which are so marked. The species to which these eggs belong is as yet doubtful. Among the thousands of eggs of U. troille seen by me at Labrador, not one presented this peculiarity. Four eggs measured: 79 x 47 mill.—75x48-70 x 46—80 x 50. Uria lomvia,* Linn. Every available spot on the sides of Gannet Rock, not already occupied by the Gannets or Kittiwakes, had been taken possession of by the three last-mentioned species of Guillemots and the Razor-billed Auks; their comparative numbers were about three of U. troille to two of U. lomvia and one of U. Ringvia, and about one Auk to fifty Guillemots. I noticed nothing in the habits of these birds not already well known. According to Naumann, the eggs of U. lomvia resemble a turkey's in form: though their shape is generally more ovate quently larger and less numerous, I have not been able to find any character by which they can certainly be distinguished. I have eggs, particularly of U. ringvia, that present these peculiarities as strikingly as any of the present species. Four specimens measured as follows: 79 x 47 mill.-75 x 48— 70 x 48-70 x 45. ARTICLE XVII.-List of Recent Land and Fresh-water Shells collected around Lakes Superior and Huron in 1859-60. By Mr. Robert Bell, Assistant to Alexander Murray, Esq., Geological Survey of Canada. (For the "Canadian Naturalist.") TERRESTRIAL GASTEROPODA. 1. Helix alternata, Say. North shore of Lake Huron; Manitoulin Islands and the smaller islands between them and the main land; S. W. side of Georgian Bay. On a small island near Lacloche Island about a pint of these shells was collected in the space of two yards. albolabris, Say. Keweenaw Point; Grand Island; north shore of L. Huron; Manitonlin Islands; S. W. side of Georgian Bay. 2. " monodon, Raskett. Grand Island; E. shore of L. Superior; Grand Manitoulin Island; S. W. side of Georgian Bay; Sarnia. " tridentata, Say. S. W. side of Georgian Bay. 12. concava, Say. Rabbit Island; Sarnia. multilineata, Say. Abundant on swampy ground at Sarnia. aborea, Say. East side of L. Superior; Sault Ste. Marie; N. side of L. Huron; Manitoulin Islands; S. W. side of Georgian Bay. striatella, Anthony. East shore of L. Superior and north of L. Huron; Grand Manitoulin Island. lineata, Say. East shore of L. Superior; Sault Ste. Marie; Bruce Mines; Mississaugi River; Grand Manitoulin Island. labyrinthica, Say. Batch-ah-wah-nah Bay; Sault Ste. Marie; Mississaugi River; Grand Manitoulin Island. chersina, Say. Bruce Mines. "fuliginosa, Griff. S. W. side of Georgian Bay; Sarnia. 13. Succinea ovalis, Gould. Tequamenen River (near Whitefish Point); 14. Mississaugi River; Grand Manitoulin Island; Sarnia. "L avara, Say. Manitouwaning Bay. 15. Bulimus harpa, Say. Bruce Mines. 16. Vertigo Various localities on the East side of L. Superior. 1. Physa heterostropha, Say. Numerous localities on the south side of L. Superior; Goulais River; Sugar Island; Manitou 2. waning Bay; White Cloud Island; Owen Sound; Sarnia. "L elongata, Say. Township of Nottawasaga. 3. Limnaa stagnalis, Lam. L'Anse; Grand Marais; Grand Island; Sarnia. 4. Limnæa umbrosa, Say. Manitouwaning; Lacloche Island; Owen 8. Planorbis trivolvis, Say. Sousonwagami Creek (S. side L. Superior); Sarnia. campanulatus, Say. Lacloche Island; Manitouwaning; 13. Amnicola porata, Say. 14. Valvata tricarinata, Say. 15. Sousonwagami Creek; Owen Sound. Sousonwagami Creek, Owen Sound. " humeralis, Say. Owen Sound. 16. Paludina decisa, Say. Tequamenen River; Goulais River; Batchah-wah-nah River; Owen Sound; Sarnia. 17. Melania Niagarensis, Lea. Tequamenen River; Batch-ah-wah-nah Bay, a large coarse variety; common along the shore of Georgian Bay from Cabot's Head to Collingwood. acuta, Lea. Abundant in St. Mary's River below the Sault. 18. แ FRESH-WATER LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. 1. Unio complanatus, Lea. Sousonwagami Creek; Tequamenen River; Batch-ah-wah-nah Bay; Goulais River; Mississaugi River; Lacloche Island. 2. "radiatus, Lam. Sousonwagami Creek; Batch-ah-wah-nah Bay; Goulais River; Sugar Island; Mississaugi River; Lacloche Island. 3. 4. 5. "ventricosus, Barnes. Mississaugi River, very abundant. " rectus, Lam. Mississaugi River. "ellipsis, Lea. Mississaugi River. 6. Margaritana rugosa, Barnes. Mississaugi River. 7. 9. 16 marginata, Lea. Mississaugi River. 8. Anodonta cygnea, Linn. Sousonwagami Creek; Lacloche Island. แ subcylindraca, Lea. Batch-ah-wah-nah Bay; Goulais River; Sousonwagami Creek. 10. แ Benedictiana, Lea. Sousonwagami Creek; Grand Marais; Batch-ah-wah-nah Bay; Sugar Island; Lacloche Island. 11. 12. แ fragilis, Lam. Sousonwagami Creek. A species like A. implicata, Say, Batch-ah-wah-nah 13. Cyclas similis, Say. Owen Sound. 14. Cyclas partumeia? Say. Amagoos Creek (Batch-ah-wah-nah Bay); Tequamenen River. 15. Cyclas—. A very small species was found in great numbers in the stomachs of whitefish at Marquette in the beginning of July. 16. Psidium dubium? Say. Tequamenen River. ARTICLE XVIII-Catalogue of Birds collected and observed around Lakes Superior and Huron in 1860. By Mr. ROBERT BELL, Assistant to Alexander Murray, Esq., Geological Survey of Canada. (From the Report of the Geological Survey for 1860.) 1. Haliætus leucocephalus, (L.) Bald-headed Eagle. On Sugar Island I met with an Indian having in his possession an old female and two young ones shot on the 12th of June. The bodies of the young birds were nearly as large as that of the parent, but almost unfledged. The nest from which the Indian obtained them was on a large dead poplar-tree, standing on low wet ground, near the water. Bald-headed eagles were frequently seen during the summer, often in the act of robbing the industrious fish hawks of their prey. 2. Buteo borealis, (Gmel.) Hen Hawk. South shore of Lake Superior and north of Lake Huron; rare. 3. B. Pennsylvanicus? (Wils.) Broad-winged Buzzard. A specimen which appeared to be of this species was shot in Batch-ah-wah-nah Bay, 15th August, and another in the township of Torontorus, 4th September. 4. Pandion haliætus, (L.) Fish Hawk or Osprey. Common around Lake Superior. 5. Falco columbarius, (L.) Pigeon Hawk. South side of Lake Supe rior; June. 6. F. sparverius, (L.) Sparrow Hawk. Very common on both sides of Lake Superior, and on the north side of Lake Huron, especially about bold rocky places, till the first week in October. 7. Astur fuscus, (Gmel.) Slate-coloured Hawk. south side of Lake Superior. Common on the 8. A. Cooperi? (Bonap.) Blue-winged Hawk. One seen at the Pic tured Rocks in June. 9. Circus cyaneus, (L.) Marsh Harrier. Seen at Portlock Harbour, 15th September; Walker's River, (opposite Campment D'Ours,) 11th September; Mississaugi, 22nd September; La Cloche Island, 4th October. |