135. Numenius borealis (Lath.) Eskimo Curlew. North to Fort Good Hope: rare.

Family Rallide.

(Rallinæ.)

Genus Porzana.

136. Porzana carolina (Vieill). Common Rail. North to BigIsland: rare.

Genus Fulica.

137. Fulica americana|| (Gmelin). Coot. North to Fort Simpson: rather rare.

VI.-ORDER NATATORES.

(Anseres.)

Family Anatidae.

(Cygninæ.)

Genus Cygnus.

(Olor.)

138. Cygnus americanus (Sharp.). American Swan. North to Arctic coast: not common.

+139. Cygnus buccinator|| (Richd.). Trumpeter Swan. North to Arctic coast: common.

(Anserinæ.) Genus Anser. (Chen.)

140. Anser hyperboreus|| (Pallas). Snow Goose. North to Arctic coast: abundant.

141. Anser albatus (Cass.). North to Fort Resolution. Although no specimen of this Goose is among our collection I am certain that I have shot it on Slave Lake.

142. Anser Rossii (Baird). Ross's Wavey. North to Fort Resolution. There can be little doubt of the existence of these three species of Snow Geese (exclusive of the Blue Wavey of Hudson's Bay), as the Slave Lake Indians have a different name for each kind. The first which arrives is the middle-sized species which I believe to be the 4. albatus ; next comes the smallest sort, the A. Rossii; and lastly, the A. hyperboreus, which arrives when the trees are in leaf, and is called the Yellow Wavey by the Indians.

(Anser.)

143 Anser Gambelii|| (Hart.). White-fronted Goose. North to Arctic coast: common.

Genus Bernicla.

+144. Bernicla canadensis || (Boie). Canada Goose. North to Arctic coast: common.

No. of Species.

+145. Bernicla Hutchinsii || (Bon.).

Arctic coast: common.

Hutchin's Goose. North to

146. Bernicla Barnstenii? || (Ross). This bird was shot at Fort Simpson. It is of very large size, with the breast of a bright fawn colour. The delta of feathers running up into the lower mandible is white, instead of black, as in B. Canadensis. The tail is of 16 feathers. The Indians consider it a species distinct from the Canada Goose. It seldom flies in parties of more than five or six. I cannot, however, positively state it to be a new species until the Bernicle of North America are properly worked up, as they are in rather a hazy condition at present.

147. Bernicla brenta (Steph.). Brant. North to Youcon River. From information. This may probably be the B. nigricans (Cassin), as the Youcon has, in all likelihood, a Pacific Fauna.

(Anatinæ.)

Genus Anas.

+148. Anas boschas || (Linn.). Mallard. North to Arctic coast:

abundant.

Genus Dafila.

+149. Dafila acuta || (Jenyns.). Pin-tail. North to Lapierre's

House: common.

Genus Nettion.

+150. Nettion carolinensis || (Baird). Green-winged Teal. North to Peel's River: abundant.

Genus Querquerdula.

+151. Querquerdula Discors (Step.). Blue-winged Teal. North to Fort Resolution: rare.

Genus Spatula.

+152. Spatula clypeata || (Boie). Shoveller. North to Good Hope:

not common.

Genus Mareca.

+153. Mareca americana || (Step.). American Widgeon. North to Peel's River: common.

(Fuligulinæ.)
Genus Fulix.

154. Fulix marila (Baird). Big Black-head. North to Fort Reso

lution rather rare.
:

+155. Fulix affinis || (Baird).

River: abundant.

Little Black-head. North to Peel's

156. Fulix collaris || (Baird). Ring-necked Duck. North to Fort

Simpson rare.

Genus Aythya.

†157. Aythya vallisneria (Bon.). Canvass Back. North to Slave

Lake: common.

No. of Species.

Genus Bucephala.

+158. Bucephala albeola || (Baird). Spirit. Duck. North to Arctic

coast: abundant.

†159. Bucephala americana || (Baird). Golden Eye. North to Arctic coast: not rare.

Genus Histrionicus.

160. Histrionicus torquatus || (Bon.). Harlequin Duck. North to Arctic coast: rare.

Genus Harelda.

161. Harelda glacialis || (Leach). South Southerly. North to Arctic coast: abundant.

Genus Malanetta.

f162. Malanetta velvetina (Baird). Velvet Duck. North to Arctic coast: not rare.

Genus Pelionetta.

163. Pelionetta perspicillata || (Kaup.). Surf Duck. North to Peel's River: abundant.

Genus Somateria.

164. Somateria V. nigra (Gray).

Slave Lake Eider. A male specimen of this very rare bird was shot by me at Fort Resolution, in 1858; and a female was obtained by Mr. Alex. McKenzie, in 1861, at the same place. It is exceedingly rare, having never been seen elsewhere in the district.

(Erismaturinæ.)

Genus Erismatura.

165. Erismatura rubida (Bon.). Ruddy Duck. North to Slave

Lake: rare.

Merginæ.
Genus Mergus.

166. Mergus serrator || (Linn.). Red-breasted Merganser. North Peel's River: common.

Genus Lophdytes.

167. Lophodytes cucullatus (Rich). Hooded Merganser. North to

Slave Lake: rare.

Genus Pelecanus.

169. Pelecanus erythrorhynchus (Gmelin). American Pelican.

North to Big Island: common.

170. Stercorarius pomarinus (Temm.). Pomarine Skua. Slave Lake very rare.

171. Stercorarius parasiticus || (Temm.). Arctic Skua. North to Fort Simpson: rare.

+172. Stercorarius parasiticus, var. Richardsonii. Slave Lake: rare. 173. Stercorarius catarraches (Temm.). North of Slave Lake: very

rare.

174. Stercorarius Cepphus || (Bru.). Buffon's Skua. North to Lapierre's House: rare.

(Larida.) Genus Larus.

†175. Larus glaucescens || (Light.). Glaucus-winged Gull. Slave Lake: abundant.

†176. Larus argentatus || (Brii). Herring Gull. North to Arctic coast: abundant.

+177. Larus californicus (Lawr.). California Gull. Slave Lake:

abundant.

Genus Chroicocephalus.

178. Chroicocephalus philadelphia (Laur.). North to Fort Simpson:

not rare.

Genus Rissa.

179. Rissa septentrionalis || (Laur.). Slave Lake: very common.

(Sterninæ.) Genus Sterna.

†180. Sterna caspia (Pallas). Caspian Tern. Slave Lake: rare. †181. Sterna Wilsonii || (Bon). Wilson's Tern. Slave and Bear

Lakes:
: very rare.

†182. Sterna macroura || (Naum). Arctic Tern. Bear Lake: abundant.

Genus Hydrochelidon.

183. Hydrochelidon plumbea (Wilson). Short-tailed Tern. Slave Lake: rare. Numerous other species of the sub-family Larinæ doubtless exist in this district; and will appear by degrees as the collections increase.

Family Colymbidæ.
(Colymbinæ.)
Genus Colymbus.

184. Colymbus torquatus || (Brii). Loon. North to Arctic coast:

abundant.

185. Colymbus Adamsi.||

North to Great Slave Lake: abundant. †186. Colymbus arcticus || (Linn.), var. Pacificus. To Arctic coast:

rather rare.

No. of Species.

187. Colymbus septentrionalis * (Linn.). Red-throated Diver. To

Arctic coast: abundant.

(Podicipinæ.) Genus Podiceps.

†188. Podiceps Griseigna || (Gray). Red-necked Grebe.

Peel's River: common.

†189. Podiceps cornutus|| (Latham).

North to

Lapierre's House: common.

190. Podiceps amitus (Latham). Eared Grebe. Slave Lake: rare. Genus Podilymbus.

†191. Podilymbus podiceps (Laur.). Slave Lake: not common.

Additional.

192. Numenius hudsonicus (Latham). Hudsonian Curlew. Slave Lake: rare.

shows specimens were obtained at Fort Simpson.

Remarks.

The Northern range of the birds means the Northernmost Post at which a specimen has been obtained. I have on hand about 300 specimens yet unexamined, among which a few additional species will doubtless be found.

The following other collections have also been made:

Fish-At Resolution, Big Island, Simpson, Bear Lake, and Liards. Insects-At Resolution, Simpson, Youcon, Peel's River, and Good Hope.

Geological Fossils, &c. On Clear Water, Elk, McKenzie, Anderson, and Rat Rivers.

Ethnological-In the District generally.

Meteorological Observations made, and register kept, at Forts Simpson, Youcon, Anderson, Rae, Norman, Good Hope, and Bear Lake.

XXVIII.-NOTE ON THE DISTORTIONS WHICH PRESENT THEMSELVES IN THE CRANIA OF THE ANCIENT BRITONS. By Joseph Barnard Davis, M.R.C.S. Engl. F.S.A. &c.

DURING the lengthened and minute investigation of ancient British skulls, to which I have been impelled by the preparation of the "Crania Britannica," I have been frequently struck with a peculiar flatness in the occipital region prevailing among them. It often extends over a good part of the parietals, about the posterior portion of the sagittal suture, and over the upper part of the occipital bone.