Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 413 



143. Tringa damacensis. 



Totanus damacensis, Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 192. 



Tringa subminuta, Midd. Sib. Reise. 



This is also one of the hurrying passers-by that run to winter 

 in more southerly latitudes. It passes in September, to return 

 in May. It is never to be seen in large flocks, nor are the flocks 

 numerous. Indeed I may say that this is one of our rarest 

 Snippits. I only procured one specimen in Formosa. 



144. Tringa albescens, Gould. 

 Schceniclus albescens, Gould, B. Austr. vi. pi. 31. 



This species is pretty numerous on our marshes in September, 

 but leaves very shortly for more southern latitudes. It winters 

 in the Indian Archipelago, whence Mr. Wallace has brought 

 home numerous examples. In summer it retires to breed in 

 Kamtschatka and Northern Mantchuria, passing the coast of 

 South China hurriedly in May. I procured abundant examples 

 of it in the south-west marshy lands of Formosa, but most of 

 them were either immature or almost moulted into the winter 

 dress. I have, however, five skins, procured at Amoy in May, 

 in complete summer plumage. 



Length 5^ in.; wing 4j^ ; tail 1^, the two central rectrices 

 exceeding the lateral feathers by ^ in. Bill ^q in. ; bare tibia 

 •47; tarsus '73. Bill and legs olive-black. The two central 

 rectrices exceed the one that succeeds by ^ in. ; the second 

 feather ^q in. longer than the three next, which are equal in 

 length ; the outermost feather is ^q in. longer than these ; the 

 tail thus presents a very irregular tip. In its winter plumage the 

 upper parts are light blackish grey, many of the feathers with dark 

 centres more or less apparent ; the feathers of the back, scapulars, 

 and wing-coverts are more or less margined with white. Quills 

 blackish brown, with white shafts ; the primary coverts largely 

 tipped with white, forming a conspicuous bar on the wing; 

 secondaries tipped and margined with white, a bar of white 

 running across their bases. Central upper tail-coverts and two 

 central rectrices black, the latter edged with whitish ; the next 

 feather lighter, and the rest of the tail very pale brown, with 

 white edges ; remaining tail-coverts white. Axillaries pure 

 white, the carpal edge being barred with black. Before the r.yes 



