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252 Messrs. A. and E. Newton's Observations XXV.— Observations on the Birds of St. Croix, West Indies, made} between February 20th and August Oth 1857 by Alfred Newton, and, between March 4th and September 28th 1858 by Edward Newton. (Part III.) [Continued from page 150.] f 25. Grey Pigeon. Columba corensis, Gmel. C. portori- censis, Temm., Pig. pi. 15; d'Orb. Voy. de Pile de Cuba, Ois. pi. 27. C. monticola, Vieill. C. imbricata, Wagl. “ Blue Pigeon." This fine bird is commonly said to be a visitor from Porto Bico, and not to breed in the island; but we are inclined to think it occasionally does so. It is not very abundant, and is generally seen in small flocks of six or seven. It appears to feed sometimes on the blossom of the Mountain-cabbage, and chiefly frequents the hills in the north of the island, but now and then may be observed in the extensive tract of bush-land on the south side. Its flight is very like that of our Wood Pigeon (C. palumbus, L,). The bill is bright lake, yellowish-white at the tip of both man¬ dibles. The skin round the eye nearly bare and of a dull red, with a little fine yellow bloom upon it. The iris is double, the inner ring scarlet, the outer and narrower one golden-yellow, legs and feet lake, claws dark horn-colour. “The manager of the Great Fountain Estate told me that many years ago he had a young f Blue Pigeon3 brought to him alive from the nest. It lived with him a long time, and became exceedingly familiar, but of course, like all pets, came to an un¬ happy end."—A. N. “ On April 29th, 1858, I observed some boys looking up into a Thibet-tree not a hundred yards from the shore, close to the town of Frederiksted; and going to the spot, found they were watching a bird of this species which one of them said he had seen fly in from the sea that morning. The bird was evidently much tired, and remained for two hours in the same place, when, risking the displeasure of the Danish authorities, I shot it. It proved to be a male, and, though in good condition, had nothing in its crop but a few leaves of the Thibet Tree, which it had probably plucked off as it sat. I continued to see this species up to the time of my departure from the island."—-E. N. 253 on the Birds of St. Croix. 26. White-crowned Pigeon. Patagicenas leucocephalus, Reichenb. Icon. pis. 223, 255. Columba leucocephala, L.; Bp. Am. Orn. pi. 15. fig. 1; Aud. pi. 177. “ White-head“ Bald-pate.” Inhabits the same localities as the last species, but is not so common. It is also said of this bird that it migrates from Porto Rico, though it does undoubtedly breed in the island; as we have a specimen of a young one, shot July 28th, 1858, which could not have left the nest many days. An example of this species which had been originally captured in an out-house, where it was supposed it had taken refuge from some bird of prey, lived for two or three years in the possession of our friend Dr. Carden of St. Croix, who kindly permitted us to present it to the Zoological Society of London, in whose gardens it was safely deposited last October, and where it is still thriving. 127. Zenaida Dove. Zenaida amabilis, Bp., Am. Orn. pi. 15. fig. 2. Columba zenaida, Aud. pi. 162. “ Mountain Dove.” This handsome bird is very common, and, besides affording very pretty shooting, has the additional advantage of being excellent eating. Though it is numerous on the hills, as its local name would lead one to expect, it is likewise plentiful in any part sufficiently overgrown with bush. It does not appear to us to be so very terrestrial in its habits as is stated by some writers; nor have we particularly marked the “ peculiar whistling of the wings” mentioned by Mr. Gosse (B. Jam. p. 308) and others. Its flight is remarkably rapid. It breeds from April to the end of July, and builds an ordinary-looking Pigeon's nest —a mere platform of twigs, in a bush or tree at any height from a few feet to twenty. It lays two eggs, which, in this island at least, are perfectly white, and not “ of a drab hue,” as stated by Mr. Gosse (.Ib. p. 310). The young birds are often taken from the nest and brought up without much difficulty. The cooing of this Dove much resembles the noise made by sounding a conch-shell. t 28. White-fronted Ground-Dove. Chamcepelia trochila, Bp. Consp. Av. ii. p. 77. “ Ground-Dove.” Very common everywhere. It is seen perpetually running 254 Messrs. A. and E. Newton’s Observations about on the roads, rather like a Starling (Sturnus) both in its habit of taking short flights and quick manner of picking up things from the ground as it goes. It breeds in various situa¬ tions, sometimes on the ground amongst the Guinea-grass, at others in a low bush, or even on the Sugar-canes, and occasion¬ ally tolerably high up on a Manchioneel, in which case it often selects a tuft of “ Old-man*s-beard ” (Tillandsia) as a foundation for its nest, which is a more compact structure than that built by most Doves. “On April 6th, 1857, as I was riding, I started a Ground- Dove from its nest on a Manchioneel-tree that had been cut off about five feet from the ground. The stump was about a hand’s breadth in diameter; and the middle of it having rotted away, a sort of cup was formed by the upstanding bark, just of a convenient size to hold the nest, which consisted merely of a few bits of dried grass. The whole affair reminded me very much of a nest of a Mealy Redpoll (JEgiothus linaria (L.); Fringilla borealis, Temm.) which I once saw in Norway. “ The brighter colours of this little Dove distinguish it even on the wing from its northern ally, the Ground-Dove of the United States, C. passerina (Sw.).”—A. N. In this bird the bill is pinkish-brown, darkest at the tip. The iris consists of four rings: the outer one, which is narrow, is black; the second about three times as broad and lake-pink; the third, a mere line, black; and the fourth and inside one, gold. The feet are flesh-colour, the claws dark. We have specimens of this species from Jamaica, in every respect identical with those from St. Croix and St. Thomas. We wish to record our obligations to Mr. George Gray, of the British Museum, for his kind assistance on many points, but most especially in determining the Columbidce here mentioned. f 29. Virginian Quail. Ortyx virginianus, Bp.; Wils.pl. 47; Aud. pi. 76 ; Yarr. B. B. ii. p. 348 (fig.). “ Quail.” Introduced into the island some fifty years ago, or more, by one of the Governors, and now very common in almost every part of it, but especially abundant in the grass-lands of the south-west, where the loud call-note of the cock may nearly always be heard. We have several times seen birds of this 255 on the Birds of St. Croix. species fly up and perch upon trees; twice this happened on their being sprung by a dog. They breed from the end of April to the middle of July, and often lay a dozen or fifteen eggs. The nest does not appear to us to be ever covered over as described by some writers, and consists merely of a shallow hole scraped in the ground, in which is deposited a little dried grass or “ trash ”—the leaves of the Sugar-cane,—but it is cer¬ tainly often placed to leeward of a protecting cane “ stool 30. Virginian Plover. Charadrius virginicus, Bechst. C. pluvialis, Wils. pi. 57. fig. 4, and pi. 59. fig. 5. C. marmoratus, Wagl.; Aud. pi. 300. “ Plover.” An autumnal migrant, appearing often in large numbers. They are usually seen after a gale of wind from the South or South-West; and hence arises the belief prevalent in the island, that these birds, and indeed all the Waders, come from the Spanish main; but the unquestionable explanation of the fact is that the birds are arrested in their southward migration by the wind, and are therefore compelled to defer journeying further until the weather has changed; or else that, having partly crossed the Caribbean Sea, they are driven North again. “ The arrival of this bird is hailed with delight by St. Croix sportsmen of all classes and colours : every one who possesses a gun sallies forth to the ‘ pastures ’ on the south side of the island, which are grassy plains, and in wet weather in the con¬ dition which an East-Anglian fen-man would call* splashy/ Here are seen people in all directions,—those who are armed standing behind, or, if it is raining, sitting in their carriages, while the unarmed are scattered on every side; and all are employed in keeping a good look-out. Presently some one calls out, ‘ Mark !9 and a long line of these Plovers are seen flying up from the sea, ignorant of the fate which awaits them. They do not appear in the least shy—their habits in this respect differing very much * All the attempts which have been made to naturalize this bird in the United Kingdom seem to have completely failed; and, in our opinion, its name should be erased from the British and European lists. As far as concerns the Eastern Counties of England, often mentioned as the district colonized by it, we can state pretty positively that it is not now found in them. 256 Messrs. A. and E. Newton's Observations from those of our own Golden Plover (C. pluvialis, L.) in England, and probably from their own at other times when not wind-bound and wearied—but run the gauntlet of the carriages, only twisting from one to get shot at from another, and often, after flying round once or twice, pitching within a short distance*. In 1858, I heard of their first occurrence on August 31st. “ It is rather a curious fact, that I did not see a single Plover that had not more or less trace of the black breast of the breeding- plumage remaining; and I saw some hundreds; it would seem therefore that the young birds must take a different line in their migration from their parents. The bird with the black breast is always called simply the ‘ Plover/ and is spoken of in the island as distinct from the ‘ Golden Plover.' This latter I did not meet with; but in my opinion it is most likely the young of the present species, keeping in separate flocks and migrating at a different time,—a habit possessed by birds of passage, first noticed, I believe, by M. Temminckf."—E. N. 31. Turnstone. Strepsilas interpres, Illig.; Wils. pi. 57. fig. 1; Aud. pi. 304; Gould, B. Eur. pi. 318; Yarr. B. B. ii. p. 422 (fig.). “ I saw a company of five or six of this thoroughly cosmopo¬ litan species in the beginning of April, 1857, on the south shore of the island."—A. N. “ I shot two Turnstones from a flock of three on the sea¬ shore, Sept. 8th, 1858. One was a young, the other an old bird."—E. N. 32. Sanderling. Calidris arenaria, Cuv.; Wils. pi. 59. fig. 4, and pi. 63. fig. 3; Aud. pi. 338; Gould, B. Eur. pi. 335 ; Yarr. B. B. ii. p. 427 (fig.). “ I killed a female bird Sept. 13th, 1858."—E. N. Examples of this species from the New World seem to be constantly larger than those from the Old. * “ So much of the above is identical in opinion, if not in language, with the expressions made use of by Mr. Hurdis, in his ornithological notes con¬ tributed to Mr. J. M. Jones’s excellent little book ‘The Naturalist in Bermuda’ (pp. 71 et seq.), that I feel it necessary to mention that this paper was written before I had seen that work.”—E. N. t Manuel d’Ornithologie, 3me partie, Intr., p. xliii., note. on the Birds of St. Croix. 257 33. Spotted Sandpiper. Tringoidesmacularius, Gray; Wils. pi. 59. fig. 1 ; Aud. pi. 310; Gould, B. Eur. pi. 317; Yarr. B. B. ii. p. 544 (fig.). This occasional straggler to England is tolerably common in St. Croix, and probably remains there throughout the winter. “ In 1858, it was absent, according to my observation, from April 27th to July 27th.”—E. N. 34. Yellow-shanked Sandpiper. Gambetta flavipes, Bp. Totanus flavipes, Wils. pi. 58. fig. 4; Aud. pi. 228 ; Yarr. B. B. 3rd ed. ii. p. 637 (fig.)* “ Yellow-legs.” This recent addition to the British list occurs, but not plenti¬ fully, in spring and autumn, and probably does not remain in the island the winter through. “I obtained a specimen July 26th, 1857.”—A. N. “ I saw it first on August 3rd, 1858.”—E. N. 35. Solitary Sandpiper. Rhyacophilus solitarius, Bp. Tringa solitaria, Wils. pi. 58. fig. 3. Totanus chloropygius, Vieill.; Aud. pi. 289. T. glareola, Ord. This, the representative in the New World of our Wood Sandpiper (.R. glareola, Kaup), which it closely resembles in osteological characters and general appearance, has perhaps more the habits and note of the Green Sandpiper (Helodromas ochropus, Kaup). In St. Croix it is pretty common, and arrives about the same time as the Yellow-legs. “ I obtained a specimen July 26th, 1857.”—A. N. “ I saw it first on August 5th, 1858.”—E. N. 36. [?] --(?) Godwit. Limosa - (?). “ Curlew.” We suppose a brown-plnmaged Wader described to us as sometimes occurring in autumn, with an ^turned bill, but called a “ Curlew,” to be one of the American Godwits, though which species we are unable to state. 37. Semipalmated Sandpiper. Ereunetes petrificatus, Ill. Tringa semipalmata, Wils. pi. 63. fig. 4; Aud. pi. 408. “ Grass Bird.” 258 Messrs. A. and E. Newton's Observations Occurs in autumn, and frequents the “ pastures/' in flocks of from ten to twenty. “ In 1858, first seen on August 14th."—E. N. 38. Wilson's Stint. Actodromas wilsonii (Nutt.). Tringa pusilla, Wils. pi. 37. fig. 4; Aud. pi. 320; Yarr. B. B. 3rd ed. i. pref. p. vi. “ Grass Bird." This, like the species last mentioned, occurs in autumn, frequenting the sea-shore as well as the “ pasturesbut more than two are seldom seen together. “ I saw this species first on August 19th, 1858."—E. N. 39. Pectoral Sandpiper. Tringa maculata, Vieill. T. pectoralis, Bp. Am. Orn. pi. 23; Aud. pi. 294; Gould, B. Eur. pi. 327; Yarr. B. B. ii. p. 654 (fig.). “ I met with this bird occasionally after September 14th, 1858, and obtained some examples; but I never saw more than two in company."—E. N. Specimens of this species differ remarkably in size, as is pro¬ bably the case with many of the Tringince; and it is possible that in the present instance it may be found that these differ¬ ences in size are accompanied by a constant variation in plumage, and perhaps also in nesting-locality, so as to form races which should be always carefully distinguished from one another, as is the case with the larger and smaller Dunlins of Europe {T. al- pina, L., and T. schinzii, Brehm [nee Bonap., Gould, and Yarr.]; T. cinclus minor, Schl.) and the Dunlin of America (T. americana, Cass.). 40. [?] Wilson's Snipe. Gallinago wilsonii, Bp. Scolopax gallinago, Wils. pi. 47. fig. 1; Aud. pi. 243. S.brehmii, auct. [?]. Appears, by all accounts, to occur in the fall of the year, but very irregularly, and in no great numbers. “ I saw what 1 have little doubt was a bird of this species, Sept. 24th, 1858."—E. N. 41. Black-necked Stilt. Himantopus nigricoliis, Vieill.; Aud. pi. 328 ; Gosse, Ill. B. Jam. pi. 108. Recurvirostra himan¬ topus, Wils. pi. 58. fig. 2. “ Bastard Flamingo." on the Birds of St. Croix. 259 Though most of the inhabitants know this bird by name, yet very few have seen it alive or dead. It is certainly not common in the island, but is probably a regular visitant, even if not a permanent resident. “ On my arrival in St. Croix in 1857, there was given to me the skin of a bird of this species, which had been shot, some years previously, on the borders of the large putrid pond on the south side of the island, called Krausse's Lagoon. It was re¬ garded as a very great curiosity, and justly so, since it was then probably the only bird-skin that had ever been prepared in St. Croix.”—A. N. “ This species only came under my observation on a few oc¬ casions, and always at the name locality, namely, Krausse's Lagoon. This lagoon is surrounded by a dense girdle of Man¬ groves, and clumps of the same trees stand out in the midst of the water, some of them forming islands (if islands they can be called where there is no terra Jirma, but only the network of their arching roots to afford a landing-place), or belts sub¬ dividing the lagoon into ponds of various sizes and shapes. The water is seldom more than two feet deep, in some places not two inches, so that every slight change, even of half a point, in the ‘ Trade' alters the relative extent of mud and lake. Excepting the Mangroves, the shores of the lagoon may be said to be almost destitute of vegetation: there are no tall rushes, no bam¬ boos, no long reeds or grass; the Mangrove alone, but most luxuriantly, grows out of the mud. When embarked on the waters of this pool, so delightful to the eye, one's sense of smell is assailed by the most pungent odours, recalling remi¬ niscences of blowing eggs once fondly cherished but long since deserted by their rightful owners. They increase as every step taken by the naked negro who is pushing along the flat-bot¬ tomed (bateau' stirs up the mud, and serve to excuse, if they do not require, the use of the strongest tobacco, to enable one to hold up one's head. Even the keenest sportsman or the most ardent ornithologist is almost prostrated by the horrible stench of sulphuretted hydrogen. But at length, on emerging from an opening in one of the innumerable belts of trees which intersect the lagoon, one's attention is attracted by three or four 260 Messrs. A. and E. Newton's Observations birds wading mid-leg in the shallow water; and though seen for the first time, one knows them at a glance to be Stilts: they are quite regardless of the approach of the boat, but walk about slowly, sometimes picking up insects from the surface, at others dipping their bills below it, and then stopping with their heads on one side, as if listening or looking intently into the water. Three or four times did it happen to me thus to see this species; and I regret that the unsavoury nature of the locality, and my desire to obtain specimens of this singular bird, prevented my observing more of its habits."—E. N. The iris in this bird is very narrow, but of a fine red; the bill is black; the legs bright red. To judge by the breast-bones of the two, the American is smaller than the European Stilt (H. Candidas, Bonn.). 42. [?] American Coot. Fulica americana, Gm.; Aud. pi. 239. F. atra, Wils. pi. 73. fig. 1. “ I saw what was doubtless this bird on more than one occa¬ sion, though I never procured a specimen."—A. N. 43. American Water-hen. Gallinula galeata, Bp. pi. 27. fig. 1. G. chloropus, Aud. pi. 244. “ Water-fowl." Common and resident. Its note is very different from that of our European species (G. chloropus, L.), which it so closely resembles in appearance; but otherwise the habits of the two birds seem to be identically the same, and their eggs are not to be distinguished from each other. It breeds in April. 44. Carolina Rail. Porzana Carolina (L.); Edwards, B. iii. pi. 144; Wils. pi. 48. fig. 1; Aud. pi. 233. “ A female was brought to me alive April 24th, 1858,—the only occurrence of the species that came to our notice."—E. N. 45. Clapper Rail. Rallus longirostris, Bodd. (1784), PI. Enl. no. 849. R. crepitans, Gmel. (1788); Wils. (idescr., non tab.); Aud. pi. 204; Cassin in Baird's Rep. B. Pac. R. R. Survey, p. 747. There seems to be little or no doubt (as first, we believe, sug¬ gested by Mr. Cassin, loc. cit.) of the identity of the Rallus crepitans of Gmelin with the Rale a long bee of the ‘ Planches En- 261 on the Birds of St. Croix. luminees f and we have accordingly considered the two names as equivalents. This bird is very local in St. Croix, only fre¬ quenting, as far as we know, the large Lagoon on the south side of the island, before mentioned; but it is there pretty numerous, and breeds. “ This species is very noisy, especially in the evening; and when a gun is fired in their haunts, they may be heard on every side. They are very shy, and not easily shot, as, on approach¬ ing, they are seen running across the shallow water or hopping from root to root of the Mangroves, looking like so many rats, to take refuge among the thickest of the bushes, not even showing themselves again as long as danger is apparent. The only adult specimen I obtained was shot by Mr. 0. Salvin, July 21st, 1858, when I visited the lagoon with him. As we walked up to the spot, I saw two of these birds on a muddy flat some way from the water; but before I could put the caps on my gun, they both disappeared in the bushes, leaving behind them, however, a young one which could not have been long hatched. This I immediately caught; and remaining perfectly still for ten minutes or so, one of the old birds reappeared, to fall a victim to its maternal anxiety. The iris of this example was reddish hazel; the upper part of the upper mandible and tip of the lower brown, the base of both reddish; the legs liver-colour, redder on the front of the tibiae, the claws umber. Its stomach contained a portion of a crab, and a few shells. The young bird was completely clothed in black down with a greenish gloss; the bill with the under mandible and distal half of the upper, as well as an elongated patch over each nostril, bright scarlet; the rest livid black.”—E. N. t 46. Green Heron. Butorides virescens, Bp. Ardea vi- rescens, L.; Wils. pi. 61. fig. 1; Aud. pi. 333. Herodias vi¬ rescens, Bp. (olim). “ Green Gaulin.” This pretty little Heron is very common, and, as before men¬ tioned, is one of the birds especially tyrannized over by the Chicheree (Tyrannus dominicensis, Bp.). Of a mild and inoffen¬ sive disposition, it merely protests against the system of bullying to which it is subjected, by a few loud and hoarse croaks, and, after evading one or two of its enemy’s stoops, drops helplessly into the nearest covert, which is often so dense that one wonders VOL. i. T 262 Messrs. A. and E. Newton's Observations how it will ever again get out. Even the common Humming Bird uf the island (Eulampis chlorol&mus, Gould) will often give chase to it, and cause it to change the direction of its flight. It breeds from March to July, having certainly two broods in the year. The nest is usually placed in a tall tree, most generally a Tamarind, and often near houses; for the bird seems not only fond of the society of its fellows, but also to affect rather that of men. When on the wing, and seen from above, the back of this species appears almost of a sky-blue, which colour contrasts most agreeably with the golden-yellow of its outstretched legs. An adult female, shot April 18th, 1857, had the upper mandible and upper half of the lower mandible dark grey, the lower half yellowish horn-colour; the upper part of the lore bright king's- yellow, the lower part of it and the orbits greenish yellow; the iris bright yellow, deepening outwardly into red; the legs and toes yellowish green, soles and interdigital membranes bright yellow-ochre. Its stomach contained five lizards (Anolis, sp. ?), one of them of a good size, one large cricket, besides a mass of elytra and other remains of beetles. The young in the down are black. The eggs, three or four in number, are of the beautiful sea-green common to most birds of this family, but paler than the average. Mr. G. It. Gray has kindly afforded us the opportunity of comparing our specimens with those in the British Museum from various localities in North America and the West Indies. There appears to be a pretty constant distinction between them, southern examples being decidedly smaller in size and of a more bluish hue than those from the north ; but we cannot say that this distinction amounts to a specific difference. Dr. Gund- lach has described (Lembeye, f Aves de la isla de Cuba/ tab. xii. p. 84) a Butorides under the name of Ardea brunnescens, from Cuba, which Dr. Cabanis considers (Journ. f. Orn. iv. p. 344) to be specifically distinct from the North American bird; and this may be the ordinary West Indian form. We have deposited ex¬ amples from St. Croix in the National Collection.' 47. Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Nyctherodias vio- laceus, Beichenb. Ardea violacea, Linn.; Wils.- pi. 65. fig. 1 ; 263 on the Birds of St. Croix. Aud. pi. 336. A. jamaicensis, and A. cayanensis, Gmel. [nee Selby). " Grey Gaulin." Not very common, and generally inhabiting the Mangrove swamps, though leaving them to feed in the interior of the island. Towards evening one may often see this species soar¬ ing at a vast height. It breeds, we are inclined to believe, in St. Croix ; but we never obtained its eggs. "An adult male, shot July 25th, 1857, had the bill black, pale yellow about the base ; iris and orbit bright golden-yellow ; legs and feet bright king's-yellow, the larger scutellations deep brown. The stomach of this example, which was killed about three o'clock in the afternoon, was quite empty."—A. N. This species when immature may be easily recognized from the common American Night Heron (Nyctiardea gardenii, Baird), which is found in Jamaica and some of the other West Indian islands, by its much stouter bill, the more rufous colouring of the upper parts, especially the crown of the head, and the almost entire absence of the light-coloured triangular spots which tip each feather of the back and shoulders *. 48. [?]—• (?) Egret. Egrettci (?)—(?). "White Heron." White Herons are said to have been seen not unfrequently in St. Croix; but we are unable to say whether more than one species occurs, or to suggest which it may be. " I saw a white Heron about the size of the species last noticed, at Krausse's Lagoon, August 14th, 1858."—E. N. 49. [?] Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias, L.; Wils. pi. 65. fig. 2; Aud. pi. 211. "Heron." "In March and April, and again in August, 1857, I occa¬ sionally saw an example or so of what must, from its size, have been this species, though I never procured a specimen."—A. N.. " This bird may possibly breed in the island, as I observed * A bird shot at Great Yarmouth, in May 1824, being considered to belong to this species (Youell, in Linn. Trans, xiv. p. 588), the “ Cayenne Night Heron ” has accordingly been inserted in the British list by Mr. Selby (Brit. Qrn. ii. p. 43) and some other authors; but this specimen still exists in the collection of Mr. J. H. Gurney, and the opinion of that gentleman and Mr. W.R. Fisher on the point may be seen in their admirable “ Account of Birds found in Norfolk ” (‘ Zoologist,’ 1846, p. 1322). T 2 264 Mr. W. H. Simpson's Narrative one June 10th, 1858. It is a very wary species, taking alarm at almost any sound; and though after a short and heavy flight settling down again just at the distance which gives one hope of a successful stalk, it is only with the intention of repeating the operation."—E. N. [To be continued.] XXVI.—Narrative of the discovery of some Nests of the Black Woodpecker (Picus martius) in Sweden. By W. H. Simpson, M.A. The forests of Sweden seem to be the head-quarters of the European Woodpeckers. No less than eight species are enu¬ merated as occurring in that country ; viz. Picus martius, P. viridis, P. canus, P. leuconotus, P. major, P. medius, P. minor, and P. tridactylus. In the districts south of the Great Lakes, especially towards the Baltic, the forests, though not so extensive as in the Central and Northern parts of the Peninsula, still cover vast areas of the level surfaces, the remainder being largely occupied by lakes and morasses. Cultivation has not made much progress here, and, as the sale of timber is most profitable to the proprietors, few but the woodcutter ever invade these regions. In the vici¬ nity of settlements, or wherever there is facility of carriage, the trees are of second growth, and stand in blocks of various ages, divided by lanes often of great length and regularity. There are, however, districts little touched by the axe, which are more exclusively delivered over to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field; here the Wolf and the Glutton, not to mention Foxes in abundance, still dwell in snug lairs amongst the huge granite boulders that are matted over with a covering of heather, cranberry, and similar plants;—-quiet gloomy spots, seldom reached by the sun, where the fir and the pine, the beech and black poplar of all ages and sizes are mingled in rank confusion. The mouldering remnants of past generations of trees lie pro¬ strate on the ground, or lean for support against their more vigor¬ ous neighbours, thus forming a tangled mass by no means easy for man to penetrate, though much beloved by many of the