Chapter XVIII: Appendix: II

LIST OF BIRDS AND EGGS IDENTIFIED OR COLLECTED ON THE VOYAGE OF THE
‘NEPTUNE’ TO HUDSON BAY AND NORTHWARD.

Skins and eggs of a large number of the following species were collected and preserved by Mr. Andrew Halkett, naturalist to the expedition. He has been assisted in the identification by Prof. Macoun and the Rev. Mr. Eifrig.

The notes on the distribution, etc., are supplied by Mr. Low.

_Gavia arcticus_ (Linn.).—Black-throated Loon.

Skins and eggs collected at Fullerton and Southampton island,
Hudson bay. Very common in the waters of Roes Welcome,
especially on the east side along Southampton island. Seen in
the bays of Baffin island. Breeds abundantly on Southampton;
nests built on islands or along the swampy edges of ponds not
far from the coast. Feeds in the sea.

_Gavia lumme_ (Gunn.).—Red-throated Loon.

Common along the shores and islands of Hudson bay and Hudson
strait, to the northward of James bay. Seen on the north coast
of Greenland and in all the northern waters. Breeds on islands
or shores of ponds, not far from coast. Feeds in the sea and
fresh water. Skins and eggs from Fullerton and Southampton.

_Cepphus mandtii_ (Licht.).—Mandt Guillemot.

Common everywhere in Hudson Bay and in smaller numbers
northward. Breeds on islands under large broken rocks, usually
talus, at the bottom of cliffs. Skins and eggs collected at
Fullerton and obtained at Cape Chidley.

_Uria lomvia_ (Linn.).—Brunnich Murre.

Common everywhere in the north where the coasts are sufficiently
high to afford nesting places. Not common in the northwest part
of Hudson Bay, owing to the low shores. Seen in numbers at the
mouth of Fox channel and in Hudson strait. Plentiful on the
Greenland coast as far north as Smith sound. Common along
Ellesmere and North Devon and southward along east coast of
Baffin. Breeds in great numbers at Cape Wolstenholme, Digges
islands and other places in Hudson strait. Remains in the open
water of Hudson bay throughout the winter, numbers having been
killed at that time at Fullerton. Skins and eggs, the latter
from Cape Chidley.

_Alle alle_ (Linn.).—Dovekie.

Not common in Hudson bay or strait. Found there in the winter,
but rarely seen in the summer. Very abundant along the north
Greenland coast, less so along the western side of Baffin bay.
Seen in Lancaster sound. Eggs from Cary island in Smith sound.

_Megalestris skua_ (Brunn.).—Skua.

Common in Davis strait and Baffin bay; also seen in the eastern
part of Hudson strait. Not seen in Hudson bay.

_Stercorarius parasiticus_ (Linn.).—Parasitic Jaeger.

Common about Roes Welcome, where it preys on the Arctic terns;
less common farther north. Eggs from Southampton. Nest on
islands in ponds. Skins from Roes Welcome.

_Stercorarius longicaudus_, Vieill.—Long-tailed Jaeger.

Less common than the former species in Roes Welcome, and seen
occasionally in the waters to the northward. Skins from
Fullerton and Southampton; eggs from Southampton and Cape
Chidley.

_Pagophila alba_ (Gunn.).—Ivory Gull.

Occasional birds of this species are seen in the early summer
among the heavy ice on the Atlantic coast of Labrador and in
Hudson strait. A specimen of the young in full plumage was shot
at Fullerton in the end of September.

_Rissa tridactyla_ (Linn.).—Kittiwake.

Not very common in the northern part of Hudson bay or elsewhere
in the north. Specimen from Fullerton.

_Larus glaucus_, Brunn.—Glaucous Gull.

The common big gull of the north. Common about Fullerton and
frequently seen along the northern coasts. Skins and eggs from
Fullerton and Cape Chidley.

_Larus marinus_ (Linn.).—Great Black-backed Gull.

A large colony seen on the high cliffs of Cuming creek, North
Devon, and in other inaccessible places on the northern islands.
Eggs from the islands off Cape Chidley.

_Larus argentatus_, Brunn.—Herring Gull.

Very common everywhere in Hudson bay; less so in the northern
waters, where its place appears to be taken by the Fulmars and
Skuas. Skins and eggs from Fullerton.

_Xema sabinii_ (Sab.).—Sabine Gull.

Common in Roes Welcome, about Whale point and on the Southampton
side. Flies with the Arctic Terns and also builds its nest along
with those birds on the small islands in the ponds of
Southampton. Skins and eggs from Southampton island.

_Sterna paradisœa_, Brunn.—Arctic Tern.

Very common along both sides of Roes Welcome. Breeds on the
islands along the west coast and on islands in the ponds of
Southampton island.

Common in Roes Welcome, about Whale point and northward.

_Fulmarus glacialis_ (Linn.).—Fulmar.

Very common along the Atlantic coast of Labrador, especially
about Cape Chidley. Common northward to Smith sound; very
numerous off Hall island, on the north side of Frobisher bay.

_Harelda hyemalis_ (Linn.).—Old-squaw.

Very common in the northern parts of Hudson bay and on the
Arctic islands. Breeds on the islands of the ponds. Remains in
the open water of Hudson bay throughout the winter. Numbers
killed at that season at Fullerton. Skins and eggs from
Fullerton and Southampton.

_Somateria mollissima borealis_ (Brehm.).—Northern Eider.

A number shot along with the American Eider, in the
neighbourhood of Fullerton. Skins from Fullerton.

_Somateria dresseri_, Sharpe.—American Eider.

Common everywhere in Hudson bay and to the northward, wherever
small islands are found along the shores suitable for breeding.
Very common on the west side of Roes Welcome, but rare on the
opposite side owing to the absence of small islands fringing
Southampton. Skins and eggs from Fullerton.

_Somateria spectabilis_ (Linn.).—King Eider.

Common in the northern part of Hudson bay, especially so about
the limestone islands, where they breed on the islands of the
numerous ponds. Do not breed on the islands like the American
Eider. Very numerous on the east side of Roes Welcome. Skins and
eggs from Fullerton and Southampton.

_Branta canadensis hutchinsii_ (Rich.)—Hutchins Goose.

Numerous in the spring about Fullerton. Found breeding on
Southampton in end of June. Nests in swampy ground, built up of
moss and grass. Skins and eggs from Southampton.

_Branta canadensis hutchinsii_ (Rich.).—Hutchins Goose.

Common about Fullerton in the spring. Breeds along with the
Lesser Snow Goose on Southampton. Skins from Fullerton and
Southampton.

_Olor columbianus_ (Ord.).—Whistling Swan.

Common on Southampton island, where it breeds in a large nest of
moss and grass in the swampy ground about the ponds. Skins and
eggs from Southampton.

_Grus canadensis_ (Linn.).—Little Brown Crane.

Several pairs seen on Southampton island. Breeds there. Skins
from Southampton.

_Crymophilus fulicarius_ (Linn.).—Red Phalarope.

Very common about Fullerton and on Southampton island, breeding
in swampy ground. Skins and eggs from Fullerton and Southampton.

_Tringa fusicollis_, Vieill.—White-rumped Sandpiper.

Breeds in the swampy ground about Fullerton. Skins and eggs.

_Tringa minutilla_, Vieill.—Least Sandpiper.

Found breeding about Fullerton. Skins and eggs.

_Tringa alpina pacifica_ (Coues).—Red-backed Sandpiper.

Found breeding about Fullerton. Skins and eggs.

_Ereunetes pusillus_ (Linn.).—Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Common everywhere in Hudson Bay. Skins and eggs from about
Fullerton.

_Calidris arenaria_ (Linn.).—Sanderling.

Found breeding about Fullerton. Skins and eggs from Fullerton.

_Squatarola squatarola_ (Linn.).—Black-bellied Plover.

Found at Whale point, Roes Welcome, evidently breeding there.

_Arenaria interpres_ (Linn.).—Common Turnstone.

A few small flocks seen about Fullerton.

_Lagopus ruspestris_ (Gmel.).—Rock Ptarmigan.

The Rock Ptarmigan is found throughout the year in the
neighbourhood of Fullerton, but only in small numbers during the
winter, the main body migrating southward early in October.
Thousands at that date were seen crossing Chesterfield inlet, in
flocks numbering up to several hundreds. They return from the
south in May, usually in pairs or small flocks. Skins from
Fullerton. Eggs from Cape Chidley.

_Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis_ (Gmel.).—Rough-legged Hawk.

A few seen about Fullerton in the spring. A young bird remained
on board the ‘Neptune’ for two days, coming aboard several miles
off Cape Chidley, in a dense fog.

_Falco islandus_, Brunn.—White Gyrfalcon.

Seen along the highlands of the south side of Hudson strait.
Skins and eggs from Cape Chidley.

_Falco peregrinus anatum_ (Bonap.).—Duck Hawk.

The Duck Hawk is more common than the Gyrfalcon, breeding on the
face of steep cliffs, and making its presence known by its
shrill cries. Skin from Fullerton. Eggs from Cape Chidley.

_Nyctea nyctea_ (Linn.).—Snowy Owl.

A few specimens were seen in the early spring about Fullerton.
They are reported by the natives to breed inland. At Cape
Dufferin on the east side of Hudson bay, upwards of thirty of
these birds were caught by placing fox traps on the top of short
poles, at intervals along the coast, during the southern
migration of the birds in October, 1901.

_Octocoris alpestris hoyti_, Bishop.—Hoyt Horned Lark.

This species was common at Fullerton in June, feeding along with
Snowflake and Longspur on the garbage about the ship. A number
were caught in traps. Skins and eggs from Fullerton.

_Corvus corax principalis_, Ridgw.—Northern Raven.

The Raven is found sparingly everywhere in the north. A pair
remained throughout the winter in the neighbourhood of
Fullerton. Skin from Fullerton. Eggs from Cape Chidley.

_Acanthis linaria_ (Linn.).—Redpoll.

A few seen about the ship in the spring at Fullerton. Common on
the east side of Hudson bay, to the northern tree-limit. Skins
and eggs from Cape Chidley.

_Passerina nivalis_ (Linn.).—Snowflake.

Very common everywhere in the north. Comes from the south at the
first signs of spring. Nests everywhere; nests, on grass and
feathers, usually hidden beneath a large boulder. Skins and eggs
from Fullerton and Cape Chidley.

_Calcarius lapponicus_ (Linn.).—Lapland Longspur.

Found everywhere along with the Snowflake. Eggs and skins from
Fullerton. Nest of grass with few feathers, not hidden.

_Anthus pensilvanicus_ (Lath.)—Pipit.

The Pipit is common along the shores of Hudson bay. Skins and
eggs from Fullerton.