Part 39
[160] _Mallotus villosus_ (Müller). This is a kind of smelt of wide distribution in northern waters.
[161] Apparently referring to _Mytilus edulis_ (Linn.), which is very abundant on the shore of Hudson Bay.
[162] _Hyas coarctatus_ Leach, occurs on the west coast of Hudson Bay. Probably other species inhabit its waters.
[163] A common starfish on the west coast of Hudson Bay is a six-armed species, _Asterias polaris_ (Müller and Troschel).
[164] The common frog of the Hudson Bay region is the northern wood frog, _Rana cantabrigensis latiremis_ Cope, which is abundant north to the tree-limit. A smaller species, _Chorophilus septentrionalis_ Boulenger, is abundant on the coast as far north at least as York Factory.
[165] From Hearne's description of its habits he evidently refers to the white-headed eagle, _Haliaetus leucocephalus alascanus_ Townsend, which is the commoner of the two species of that region. The golden eagle, _Aquila chrysætos_ (Linn.), is rare near the Bay, but in places in the interior, where rocky ledges occur, is sometimes rather common.
[166] The Sacre Falcon of Pennant is generally identified as _Falco rusticolus gyrfalco_ Linn.
[167] _Nyctea nyctea_ (Linn.). This beautiful owl is common throughout the region, breeding on the Barren Grounds, and in winter moving southward into the wooded country. Occasionally a pair will nest far south of the normal range.
[168] The great horned owl, _Bubo virginianus subarcticus_ (Hoy), found throughout the region north nearly to the limit of trees.
[169] This is the hawk owl, _Surnia ulula caparoch_ (Müller). It is fairly abundant throughout the region north to the limit of trees.
[170] _Corvus corax principalis_ (Ridgway). The raven is rare on the coast of Hudson Bay, but is rather common in the interior.
[171] _Perisoreus canadensis_ (Linn.). Very abundant throughout the region north to the limit of trees. It nests in late winter, laying three or four bluish-grey eggs spotted with brownish.
[172] Besides the "Golden-winged Bird," _Colaptes auratus luteus_ (Bangs), which reaches the limit of trees, several other woodpeckers inhabit that region.
[173] Referring to the pileated woodpecker, _Phloeotomus pileatus abieticola_ (Bangs), which is found about the southern parts of Hudson Bay, and inland toward the south-west.
[174] Hearne is mistaken here, as the golden-winged woodpecker is well known to leave the northern parts of its summer habitat for several months.
[175] _Bonasa umbellus togata_ (Linn.). Found about the southern shores of Hudson Bay, as far north as about 57°, and inland much farther north.
[176] _Pedioecetes phasianellus_ (Linn.). Hearne's remarks on its range in this region are well founded, and agree with what is known of its present distribution.
[CH] This I assert from my own experience when at Cumberland House.
[177] _Canachites canadensis_ (Linn.). This grouse inhabits all the region west of Hudson Bay north nearly to the limit of trees, but is scarce near the northern border of its range.
[178] _Lagopus lagopus_ (Linn.) This beautiful ptarmigan is still abundant on the shores of Hudson Bay. It breeds abundantly throughout the Barren Grounds and in considerable numbers on the treeless areas which form an almost continuous fringe along the west coast of the Bay nearly to its southern extremity.
[CI] Mr. Dragge observes, in his North West Passage, that when the partridges begin to change colour, the first brown feathers appear in the rump; but this is so far from being a general rule, that an experienced Hudsonian must smile at the idea. That Mr. Dragge never saw an instance of this kind I will not say, but when Nature deviates so far from its usual course, it is undoubtedly owing to some accident; and nothing is more likely than that the feathers of the bird Mr. Dragge had examined, had been struck off by a hawk; and as the usual season for changing their plumage was near, the Summer feathers supplied their place; for out of the many hundreds of thousands that I have seen killed, I never saw or heard of a similar instance.
[179] _Lagopus rupestris_ (Gmel.). This species, first described from specimens sent from Hudson Bay, is more northern in its range than the willow ptarmigan.
[CJ] Besides the birds already mentioned, which form a constant dish at our tables in Hudson's Bay, during their respective seasons, Mr. Jérémie asserts, that during the time he was Governor at York Fort, the bustard was common. But since that Fort was delivered up to the English at the peace of Utrecht in 1713, none of the Company's servants have ever seen one of those birds: nor does it appear by all the Journals now in the possession of the Hudson's Bay Company, that any such bird was ever seen in the most Southern parts of the Bay, much less at York Fort, which is in the latitude 57° North; so that a capital error, or a wilful design to mislead, must have taken place. Indeed, his account of the country immediately where he resided, and the productions of it, are so erroneously stated as to deserve no notice. His colleague, De le Potries, asserts the existence of the bustard in those parts, and with an equal regard to truth.
[This is explained by the fact that the early French writers referred to the Canada goose under the name _Outarde_.]
[180] _Ectopistes migratorius_ (Linn.). This short account of the habits is evidently founded on Hearne's experience with the species in the Cumberland House region, where at that time it was doubtless abundant. The present record for Fort Churchill, as well as other early notices of its occurrence at York Factory, probably represent the northward wandering of flocks after the breeding season.
[181] _Planesticus migratorius_ (Linn.). The American robin is rather common in the Hudson Bay region north to the tree-limit. At Fort Churchill, in late July 1900, I saw flocks composed of old birds and young just from the nests.
[182] _Pinicola enucleator leucura_ (Müller). Found throughout the region north to the limit of trees, but, as Hearne intimates, not abundant.
[183] _Plectrophenax nivalis_ (Linn.). This name was based on a Hudson Bay specimen. The bird is abundant throughout the region in migration, and breeds from the vicinity of Neville Bay (near lat. 62°), northward.
[184] _Zonotrichia leucophrys_ (Forster). First described from specimens taken at Severn River, Hudson Bay. An abundant species throughout the region north to the limit of trees.
[185] _Calcarius lapponica_ (Linn.). A common species, as Hearne says. It breeds from the tree-limit northward.
[186] Apparently referring to the Redpoll, _Acanthis linaria_ (Linn.), which is, of course, not closely related to the Lapland longspur.
[187] Hearne apparently refers to the Shore Lark, _Otocoris alpestris hoyti_ Bishop, which breeds abundantly on the small barrens along the west coast of Hudson Bay as well as on the main area of the Barren Grounds.
[188] _Penthestes hudsonicus_; first described by Forster from specimens taken at Severn River, Hudson Bay. It inhabits the region north to the limit of trees.
[189] This account of the nesting habits seems to refer to the Barn Swallow, _Hirundo erythrogastra_ (Bodd). I am not aware that this bird now nests at Fort Churchill, though it is not unlikely that it did so formerly. The cliffs in the vicinity would afford ideal natural nesting sites.
[190] Here Hearne undoubtedly refers to the Bank Swallow, _Riparia riparia_ (Linn.), which inhabits the region in myriads. As it nests only in banks of clay or sand its local abundance is dependent on their presence. The eggs are unspotted.
[191] _Grus americana_ (Linn.). Though specimens from Hudson Bay figured in the original description of this magnificent species, it was rare even in Hearne's time, and is now probably extirpated in that region.
[192] The Brown Crane (_Grus canadensis_), was described by Linnæus from Hudson Bay specimens, and is still rather common on its marshy plains, and on the Barren Grounds.
[193] The American Bittern, _Botaurus lentiginosus_ (Montagu), is fairly common in the marshes about Hudson Bay north to the vicinity of York Factory.
[194] The Esquimaux Curlew of Pennant ("Arct. Zool.," ii. p. 461, 1785) is really the Hudsonian Curlew, _Numenius hudsonicus_ (Latham), and Hearne of course follows Pennant in this error. It is still a common species on the west coast of Hudson Bay. The smaller one, which is the real Eskimo Curlew, _Numenius borealis_ (Forster), was formerly very abundant, but is now, unhappily, nearly or quite extinct.
[195] Apparently the common Snipe, _Gallinago delicata_ (Ord.).
[196] The Hudsonian Godwit, _Limosa hæmastica_ (Linn.). This name was based on the drawing of a specimen from Hudson Bay. It breeds in the marshes on the west coast of the Bay, probably nearly throughout its length.
[197] The Spotted Godwit of Pennant ("Arct. Zool.," ii. p. 467, 1785) is the Greater Yellowlegs, _Totanus melanoleucus_ (Gmel.).
[198] _Arenaria morinella_ (Linn.). The Turnstone is abundant along the west coast of Hudson Bay in migration, and doubtless breeds about its northern shores, though I am not aware that its nest has actually been discovered there.
[CK] They exactly correspond with the bird described by Mr. Pennant, except that they are much longer.
[199] _Charadrius dominicus_ Müller. Formerly very abundant, as Hearne intimates, but now very much reduced in numbers. It breeds about the northern shores of Hudson Bay.
[200] _Cepphus mandti_ (Mandt). This Guillemot is abundant on Hudson Bay and the neighbouring waters to the northward.
[201] _Gavia immer_ (Brünn.). This is perhaps the least abundant of the Loons found on Hudson Bay, though common in the lakes of the interior.
[202] _Gavia adamsi_ (Gray). Hearne's statement that the bird has a white bill shows that he refers to the present species, though a Black-throated Loon, _Gavia pacifica_ (Lawrence), is common there. Perhaps he confuses the two. At any rate, _G. adamsi_ is abundant over much of the country traversed by him on his Coppermine journey, but I am not aware that it has been detected as far east as Hudson Bay.
[203] _Gavia stellata_ (Pontoppidan). Abundant in the lake-studded country bordering Hudson Bay.
[204] Though in all probability several species are included under this heading, the commonest is the widely distributed Herring Gull, _Larus argentatus_ Pontoppidan. The "Grey Gull" following is undoubtedly the young of the same species.
[205] Jaegers, _Stercorarius_, of which perhaps the commonest, and the one suggested by Hearne's description, is _S. pomarinus_. It is probable, however, that both _S. parasiticus_ and _S. longicaudus_ (the former of which is the more abundant) also came under his observation.
[206] Plainly referring to the Arctic Tern, _Sterna paradisæa_ Brünn. An excessively abundant species on the west coast of Hudson Bay.
[207] _Pelecanus erythrorhynchos_ Gmel., has been taken on Hudson Bay only as a rare straggler, but is abundant in the Cumberland House region.
[CL] In the Fall of 1774, when I first settled at Cumberland House, the Indians imposed on me and my people very much, by selling us Pelican fat for the fat of the black bear. Our knowledge of the delicacy of the latter induced us to reserve this fat for particular purposes; but when we came to open the bladders, it was little superior to train oil, and was only eatable by a few of my crew, which at that time consisted only of eight Englishmen and two of the home Indians from York Fort.
Cumberland House was the first inland settlement the Company made from Hudson's Fort; and though begun on so small a scale, yet upon it and Hudson's House, which is situated beyond it, upwards of seventy men were now employed.
[208] _Mergus serrator_ Linn. This species is still very abundant on the coast of Hudson Bay, as well as in the interior.
[209] The smaller Swan is _Olor columbianus_ (Ord.), formerly very abundant on Hudson Bay, and still occurring in some numbers during migrations. It breeds on the islands in the northern parts of the Bay, and in other parts of the far North.
The larger Whooping Swan, _Olor buccinator_ (Richardson), formerly bred about the southern part of the Hudson Bay region, and also far northward. In the wholesale destruction of these magnificent birds, this species has suffered most.
[CM] Mr. Pennant, in treating of the Whistling Swan, takes notice of the formation of the Windpipe; but on examination, the windpipes of both the species which frequent Hudson's Bay are found to be exactly alike, though their note is quite different. The breast-bone of this bird is different from any other I have seen; for instead of being sharp and solid, like that of a goose, it is broad and hollow. Into this cavity the windpipe passes from the valve, and reaching quite down to the abdomen, returns into the chest, and joins the lungs. Neither of the species of Swan that frequent Hudson's Bay are mute: but the note of the larger is much louder and harsher than that of the smaller.
[210] _Branta canadensis_ (Linn.). This large goose is the earliest to arrive in spring, and is the most southern breeder, nesting throughout the wooded country.
[211] _Branta canadensis hutchinsi_ (Richardson). This smaller form of the Canada Goose was named in honour of Thomas Hutchins, a Hudson's Bay Company officer who made natural history collections on Hudson Bay, and was the first to call attention to this race. It breeds on the Barren Grounds.
[212] _Chen hyperboreus nivalis_ (Forster). This larger form of _C. hyperboreus_ was first described from Severn River specimens. Though much reduced in numbers, it still breeds about the northern part of Hudson Bay, and is an important food species in the region.
[213] _Chen cærulescens_ (Linn.). First described from a Hudson Bay specimen. According to the natives it breeds in the interior of northern Ungava; west of Hudson Bay, it is known only as a straggler. It winters in the Mississippi valley and on the Atlantic coast.
[214] This is the first account of _Chen rossi_, formally described by Cassin in 1861 from specimens taken on Great Slave Lake. It is almost unknown on Hudson Bay, but is abundant in migrations about Great Slave and Athabaska lakes. It breeds somewhere to the northward of this region, but its summer home is unknown.
[CN] Mr. Moses Norton.
[215] _Anser albifrons gambeli_ Hartl. An inhabitant of the west coast of Hudson Bay, but more common in the Mackenzie valley.
[216] Probably referring, as Hearne suggests, to abnormally large and perhaps barren individuals of the Canada Goose (_Branta canadensis_).
[217] _Branta bernicla glaucogastra_ (Brehm). Still occurring in some numbers along the west coast of Hudson Bay, in migrations, and breeding about its northern shores.
[218] Both _Somateria mollissima borealis_ (Brehm), and _S. dresseri_ Sharpe, occur about the north-west coast of Hudson Bay in summer, and doubtless both breed there. The King Eider also, _S. spectabilis_ (Linn.), migrates down the coast, but probably breeds farther to the north.
[219] The Bean Goose, _Anser fabalis_ (Latham), is of very doubtful occurrence in the Hudson Bay region.
[CO] It is, however, no less true, that the late Mr. Humphry Martin, many years Governor of Albany Fort, sent home several hundred specimens of animals and plants to complete that collection; but by some mistake, nothing of the kind was placed to the credit of his account. Even my respected friend Mr. Pennant, who with a candour that does him honour, has so generously acknowledged his obligations to all to whom he thought he was indebted for information when he was writing his Arctic Zoology, (see the Advertisement,) has not mentioned his name; but I am fully persuaded that it entirely proceeded from a want of knowing the person; and as Mr. Hutchins succeeded him at Albany in the year 1774, every thing that has been sent over from that part has been placed to his account.
[220] _Somateria spectabilis_ (Linn.).
[221] Probably _Anas rubripes_ Brewster.
[222] _Anas platyrhynchos_ Linn.
[223] _Dafila acuta_ (Linn.).
[224] _Mareca americana_ (Gmel.).
[225] _Nettion carolinense_ (Gmel.).
[226] _Mareca americana_ (Gmel.). The American Widgeon occurs on the west coast of Hudson Bay north to the tree-limit, but is not common there.
[227] The Common Teal of the west coast of Hudson Bay is _Nettion carolinense_ (Gmel.), which occurs in numbers well into the Barren Grounds. The Blue-winged Teal, _Querquedula discors_ (Linn.), has been taken there, but is excessively rare.
[228] _Ribes oxyacanthoides_ Linn. A species of very wide distribution in the north. It is usually common about the trading posts.
[229] _Vaccinium vitisidæa_ Linn. An abundant species; reaches its greatest perfection near the northern border of the forest.
[230] _Empetrum nigrum_ Linn. The crowberry is very abundant about Fort Churchill and northward.
[231] _Rubus chamæmorus_ Linn. The cloudberry or baked-apple berry is abundant throughout the country treated by Hearne.
[232] The northern red currant, _Ribes rubrum_ Linn., and the black currant, _Ribes hudsonianum_ Richardson, are species of wide distribution in the north.
[233] Apparently Hearne refers to _Juniperus nana_ Willd., the dwarf juniper, since Richardson gives the same Indian name as applied by the Crees to this shrub. Granting this, Hearne's creeping pine is _Juniperus sabina_ Linn., shrubby red cedar. Both species extend northward to the tree-limit.
[CP] The Indians call the Juniper-berry Caw-caw-cue-minick, or the Crowberry.
[CQ] The Oteagh-minick of the Indians, is so called, because it in some measure resembles a heart.
[234] Probably _Fragaria canadensis_ Michx.
[235] Probably _Rubus arcticus_ Linn. A pretty little plant, similar in distribution to the cloudberry.
[236] _Vaccinium uliginosum_ Linn. A low blueberry of wide distribution. The fruit is excellent.
[237] Probably _Comandra Livida_ Rich.
[238] Evidently, from his description, Hearne here refers to the Alpine bearberry, _Arctous alpina_ (Linn.). It is abundant throughout the region.
[239] Apparently referring to the common rose of the region, _Rosa acicularis_ Lindl. An abundant and very beautiful species.
[240] Hearne refers here to the two species of _Ledum. L. groenlandicum_ OEder is the broad-leaved sort, generally distributed through the wooded country, and extending a little into the Barren Grounds. _L. palustre_ Linn. is a smaller narrow-leaved species, which overlaps the range of the larger sort, and extends much farther north.
[241] This refers to the common bearberry, _Arctostaphylos uva-ursi_ (Linn.). Its leaves are smoked both by the Indians and the Eskimo, and also by the white residents.
[242] _Picea alba_ (Ait.) and _P. mariana_ (Mill.).
[243] _Larix laricina_ (Du Roi).
[244] _Populus balsamifera_ Linn., and _P. tremuloides_ Michx.
[245] _Betula nana_ Linn.
[246] A number of dwarf willows, including _Salix anglorum_ Cham., _S. phylicifolia_ Linn., and _S. reticulata_ Linn., grow on the coast of Hudson Bay to the northward of Fort Churchill.
[247] _Betula papyrifera_ Marsh, from whose bark the Indians make their canoes.
[248] The common alder of the interior is _Alnus alnobetula_ (Ehrh.).
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