348 TOTANUS GLAREOLA. 



of the middle feathers, on the rest fewer, and on the inner 

 web of the outer none. 



Length to end of tail 9 inches ; extent of wings 15 ; bill 

 along the ridge 1-fj, along the edge of lower mandible 1-fe > 

 Aving from flexure 5-^ ; tail 2-^ ; tarsus 1-^- ; hind toe -f\; 

 its claw -fj ; second toe \^, its claw -^ ; third toe 1^, its 

 claw -^ ; fourth toe -LL, its claw -fj. 



Female. — The female resembles the male, differing only 

 in being a little larger. 



Variations — The principal variations that occur are in 

 the tint of the upper parts, and the size of the spots mar- 

 gining the feathers. The tail varies in the number of bands 

 on most of the feathers, but those on the outer webs of the 

 middle and lateral feathers are generally uniform. 



Adult in Summer. — " The top of the head and the nape 

 longitudinally streaked with brown and whitish ; the cheeks, 

 fore part of the neck, breast, and sides nearly pure white, 

 longitudinally streaked with dark brown ; all the feathers of 

 the back have a very large black spot in their centre, and on 

 each side of the webs two whitish spots ; the scapulars on 

 being raised are found to be marked with broad blackish 

 bands; the other parts as in winter." — Temminck. 



Habits. — This species occurs accidentally, as it were, on 

 the southern and eastern coasts of England, in the course of 

 its autumnal and vernal migrations ; and is still less fre- 

 quently met with than Totanus ochropus, insomuch that I 

 have never obtained it in a recent state. It is said to be 

 pretty common in the southern and eastern parts of Europe, 

 but to be seldom met with in France and Germany. I have 

 seen specimens from Southern India, and Mr. Selby says he 

 has some from the Cape of Good Hope. Of its food, general 

 habits, and nidification nothing is known with certainty. 



Young. — The young in autumn have the bill as in the 

 adult ; the feet of a lighter tint. The upper part of the 



