GRALLATORES. 



171 



I may obtain. I incline to think, however, that age 

 is more probably the cause of the variation. 



Whimbrel, Niunenlus phcBopus. Provincial, Tit- 

 terel. A rare visitant. Mr. Spencer tells me that 

 he has once observed this species at Kingsbury 

 Keservoir ; his brother killed one there in the spring 

 of 1850, and I have seen an indifferent specimen 

 which was shot at the same piece of water in the 

 autumn of 1859. So recently as the 10th May, 

 1866, a solitary Whimbrel was shot at Kingsbury 

 by Mr. Charles Wharton, of Willesden. It was a 

 male bird, and the measurements, as given by Mr. 

 Wharton, in 'The Zoologist' for June, 1866, were 

 as follows : — Length, from tip of bill to end of tail, 

 17 J inches; length of bill, 3 J inches; extent of 

 wing, 28j inches. 



It is not an uncommon bird on the Sussex coast 

 in spring and autumn, where it is sometimes seen 

 in large flocks. At the approach of the breeding 

 season it retires North. It is a wary and difficult 

 bird to shoot, and is best approached in a boat. It 

 has a loud clear note, which sounds very musical 

 when heard over the water. 



Spotted or Dusky Eedshank, Totanusfuscus. Of 

 rare occurrence. A fine bird of this species, in full 



Q 2 



