€8 Mr. Yarrell on the occurrence of some rare British Birds 



Ardea minuta^ Linn. A young specimen of the Little Bittern 

 was shot during the summer on the banks of the Thames near 

 Windsor: it was believed to have been bred there from the situ- 

 ation being favourable, and the circumstance of a second bird in 

 the same state of plumage being seen about the same spot for 

 several days at that time. 



Plaialea Leucorodia, Linn. Two specimens of the Spoonbill 

 have been received in London, both of which were shot in 

 Lincolnshire. 



Scolopax Major.) Linn. The Great Snipe has also occurred 

 three times during the autumn ; two were shot in Lincolnshire, 

 and the third in Huntingdonshire. 



Tringa pusilla and minufa. These two diminutive Sandpipers, 

 the smallest of the genus, appear to have been constantly con- 

 founded together. Montague has described both, and was aware 

 of the difference, but without venturing to separate them as dis- 

 tinct. Of six specimens lately received in London, two, from the 

 vicinity of Chichester, belong to the species first named, and four 

 to the latter. The Pusilla is rather smaller than the Minuta^ and 

 may be distinguished by the olive-brown colour of the legs, and 

 the short tarsus eleven-sixteenths of an inch in length. The legs 

 of the Minuta are black, and measure seven -eighths of an 

 inch. There is also a marked difference in the habits. The Pusilla 

 resembles the Common Sandpiper (T. Hypoleucos)^ frequenting 

 freshwater streams and ponds a few miles inland. The Minuta 

 prefers the sandy shores of the coast, and when found is generally 

 in company with the Purre. 



I am, Gentlemen, yours, &c. 



William Yaruell. 

 Ryder Street, October, 1826. 



Note. — The Tringa pusilla has also been named T. Temminckii by Leisler. 

 The description of the Tringa pusilla of Linnaeus, does not, according to M. 

 Temminck, refer to either of tli« two European species. 



