Catalogue of the Birds of Japan, 27 



broad white feathers on each side of the tail replaced by 

 narrow coloured feathers, almost as stiff as those of G. 

 stenura (Kuhl). 



110. Gallinago scolopacinAj Bp. 



Two skins (No. 1333 and 1335) in the Swinhoe collection, 

 both dated '' ^ , May, Hakodate," agree exactly with European 

 examples. Another skin (No. 1503), a female shot at Hako- 

 date in September, was identified by Swinhoe (Ibis, 1875, 

 p. 454) with the American species G. wilsoni (Teram.). On 

 comparing it with skins of G. scolopacina, Bp., shot in 

 Heligoland in November, I have little doubt that Capt. 

 Blakiston is perfectly right in pronouncing the bird to be 

 that species in autumn plumage. The axillaries of the 

 Heligoland bird are barred quite as uniformly as those of the 

 Japan skin. 



120. Platalea major, T. & S. 



121. Platalea minor, T. & S. 



These two birds are now considered by Schlegel and others 

 to be merely large and small examples of a species of 

 Spoonbill very nearly allied to, but specifically differing 

 from, the European bird. 



126. Ardetta, sp. inc. 



The skin sent (No. 2042) appears to be an immature bird 

 of Ardetta sinensis (Gm.) . 



128. Egretta modesta. Gray. 



The Great Egret of China and Japan is generally con- 

 sidered by ornithologists to be only a small race of our 

 European Herodias alba (Linn.), scarcely deserving of specific 

 rank. 



129. Egretta intermedia, Hasselq. 



This bird, Herodias intermedia (Wagl.), appears to be a 

 good species. 



130. Egretta garzetta (Linn.)? 



The skin sent (No. 130) is that of the Little Egret, 

 Hfrodias garzetta (Linn.), 



