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Show 1871.] MR. J. E. HARTING ON ARCTIC BIRDS. Ill The collection is comprised in 43 separate glass cases, containing 83 birds, belonging to 48 species; and some of these, from their comparative rarity, or from the particular state of plumage in which they happen to be, are of much interest and value. Chief amongst these may be noted that curious little bird the Spoonbilled Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmceus), of which the only specimen in summer plumage at present known to exist is in this collection *. It was obtained by Capt. Moore on the Choris Peninsula, where the same officer also procured a specimen of the Mongolian Plover, AUgialites mongolicus (Pallas), in breeding-plumage, the most northern locality recorded for this species (cf. Ibis, 1870, p. 386). Four species of that curious genus of tufted and horned Puffins (Phaleris) are in the collection, taken off the coast of Kamtschatka, and a remarkably fine pair of Sabine's Gull (Larus sabini), in breeding-plumage, obtained by Capt. Collinson, of the ' Enterprise,' off Melville Peninsula. The geographical distribution of the species, as exemplified by the present collection, will be best understood by a reference to the map which I have designed to accompany it. From this it will be seen that many species have a more extensive range than has been hitherto suspected. That pretty little bird the Lapland Bunting was found on the Choris Peninsula, on the Mackenzie River, and on the south-west coast of Greenland ; the Raven on the same peninsula, and on Beechy Island, Barrow Straits; the Golden Plover on the coast of Behring's Straits, Mackenzie River, and Melville Peninsula. The Purple Sandpiper, which was thought to be restricted to eastern North America and Europe (cf. Baird's Birds N. Amer.), was obtained by Captain Moore on the northwestern shores of Behring's Straits. The American Coot, Fulica americana, Gmelin, which had not previously been met with above 55°, was found by Lieut. Elliot of the 'Phoenix' almost as high as 70° in Jacob's Haven, opposite Disco ; while the species holding the most northern range was found to be the Rock-Grouse, Tetrao rupestris (Gmelin), which was noted as plentiful on Melville Island, and was met with on the coast of North Devon by Capt. Richards, in the ' Assistance.' This glance at the distribution of the birds leads to the inquiry whether some of the species met with in the nearctic region, and considered to be distinct, are not in fact identical with certain palaearctic species:-whether, for example, the Raven met with upon these expeditions is not identical with the European Raven ; whether the Golden Plover obtained on the Choris Peninsula should be referred to the Asiatic C. longipes, or the American G. virginicus, or whether these two are not in fact identical; whether the Dunlin Sandpiper procured in the same locality should be considered distinct, under the title of americana, from the European and Asiatic alpina. * This specimen was described and figured in ' The Ibis' for 1869, p. 426, pl. xii. |