220 TRINGA SUBARQUATA. 



ground, by its superior size ; in flight, from the lower part 

 of the back being white ; or by its call, which is very different 

 from that of its congener, and is said more to resemble that 

 of the Turnstone than of other shore birds. In 1839, they 

 were more plentiful than ever before known, and arrived 

 before the ordinary time, a couple having been shot on the 

 2nd of September. On the 7th of that month, a flock of 

 from thirty to forty appeared, and they increased until the 

 21st, when not less than a hundred were seen in company 

 with a large body of Dunlins, though generally when a 

 number are together they do not associate with other species. 

 Occasionally about fifty or sixty would rise together from 

 one extremity of the flock, and, after flying about for a short 

 time, would alight with the others. The noise produced by 

 their calls, especially, when on wing, was very great, and 

 described to me as a ' kind of chatter/ most unlike the note 

 of the Dunlin. This large body subsequently proved to have 

 been collected together for migration, as they took their 

 departure on that day from the bay, and not one was seen 

 again during the season. The Grallatores generally were 

 particularly abundant in Belfast Bay during the autumn of 

 1839. In 1840, again, Pigmy Curlews were plentiful, and 

 appeared so early as the 25th of August ; their numbers 

 increased until the 7th of September, and they then nearly 

 all left the bay. An early arrival is generally followed by 

 an early departure. In 1843, flocks consisting of about a 

 dozen birds were observed from the 1st to the 18th of 

 September, when I was informed of the circumstance. They 

 usually keep to the shores of the bay ; but in September 

 and October, 1836, they frequented the river Lagan (within 

 flow of the tide at high water) in flocks. On the 6th of the 

 latter month, I observed nine in company, busily feeding at 

 the edge of the river at Ormeau Bridge ; in the following 

 year, also, they frequented the tidal portion of that river." 



Few instances of its occurrence have been noted in Eng- 

 land or Scotland, and it does not appear to remain with us in 

 summer. It is very extensively distributed, being found in 

 India, at the Cape of Good Hope, in various parts of 

 Europe, and in North America. M. Temminck states that 



