Wading Birds of Devonshire. 



seen on the Tamar, in June, 1828, and four shot ; Mr. Drew has 



specimens in both states of plumage. 

 Gen. Mache'tes. 



1. Machetes pugnax, the Ruff. Scarce. Mr. Comyns, Mr. Rowe, 



and Mr. Drew, have specimens ; the latter is in winter plumage 



(without the ruff). 

 Gen. Tri'nga. 



1. Tringa Canutus, the Knot, or Ash-coloured sandpiper. Winter. 



Not uncommon. Mr. Drew has specimens in summer and winter 



plumage ; and I saw a brood on the Breakwater, September 2. 



1835, and shot one, which is in my collection. 



4. Tringa subarquata, Pygmy curlew. Rare. A specimen in Mr. 



Rowe's, and another in Drew's collection; and two at Bo- 

 litho's. 



5. Tringa alpina, Dunlin, or Purre. Common. They breed on our 



moors, and flock in winter ; great numbers are at that time found 

 on the Breakwater at night. 



6. Tringa maritima, Purple sandpiper. Common, among the purres, 



in winter ; I have also shot them in May. 



7. Tringa Temminckii, Temminck's sandpiper. Two of these birds 



were shot near Stonehouse Bridge, on coronation day ; and are 

 now in Bolitho' s collection. 



8. Tringa minuta, Little stint. We have several specimens of this 



bird : one was shot by Lord Boringdon, on the Lary, in 1831, 

 where small flocks of five or six are occasionally observed. Mr. 

 Tripe and Mr. Drew have specimens, as, also, Pincombe and 

 Bolitho. 



Gen. Arena n rta. 



1. Arenaria Calidris, the Sanderling. Rather rare on the south, more 

 frequent on the north, of Devon. Mr. Drew and Bolitho have 

 specimens, and I have seen several in the collection of Mr. Torr, 

 surgeon, of Barnstaple. 



Gen. Phala'ropus. 



1. Phalaropus lobatus, Grey phalarope. This bird has been con- 

 sidered as very scarce in Britain ; and with us it might also be 

 so esteemed, as we only occasionally obtained a specimen, and all 

 the collections of Plymouth did not contain above five. However, 

 in October, 1831, a large dead whale* (Rorqualis borealis) was 

 discovered by our trawlers off the harbour, which was towed by 

 them into the Sound, and stranded on the beach : when first 

 noticed, it was swarming with sea birds, among which the pha- 

 laropes were most conspicuous ; they frequented the rivers for 

 two or three weeks, and during that time great numbers were 

 shot. Mr. Drew had above ninety specimens, Pincombe thirty 

 or forty, Bolitho as many : of these, several had the ends of the 

 feathers on the neck, breast, and belly, rust colour : also similar 



* This was the Balae r na Bdops of Linnaeus ; Rorqualis borealis of Cu- 

 vierj the northern rorqual, or razor-back whale. It measured 74 ft. in 

 length ; had a dorsal fin, and numerous folds in the skin of the under part, 

 reaching from the chin to the commencement of the tail. Its colour was 

 black, verging to grey on the back, with the abdomen white. It was in a 

 tolerably fresh state, and did not appear to have any wound; it was 

 shortly afterwards cut up, and the oil extracted. The skeleton being 

 put together, was for some time exhibited to the public in the town of 

 Plymouth. 



