278 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



we find many instances of species so closely resembling others, 

 known to be inhabitants of distant countries, that they at first 

 sight appear to be identical, but on a more careful comparison 

 and examination they prove to be distinct ; in no case, 

 however, is this law of representation, for such it must be 

 called, so decidedly marked as in Australia, where not a few 

 instances occur of birds closely resembling species found in 

 other countries ; and the present bird may be cited as a case 

 in point, for a casual observer would at once pronounce it to 

 be the Common Curlew of Europe ; on comparison, however, 

 it is found to differ from that species in having a longer bill, 

 the rump and upper tail-coverts barred with brown instead 

 of being of a uniform white, and the under surface washed 

 with bufl". 



The range of this species over Australia appears to be 

 imiversal, for I have received specimens from Port Essington, 

 Swan River, South Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, 

 and all the islands in Bass's Straits ; but in no one of these 

 countries is it more abundant than in Tasmania, where it is 

 to be met with in flocks in the neighbourhood of rivers and 

 marshy situations ; it is also especially fond of running over 

 the flats left bare by the receding tide, to feed upon the 

 various molluscous animals abounding in such situations. 



The weight of this bird is about two pounds ; the stomachs 

 of those dissected were found to be extremely muscular, and 

 contained the remains of shelled mollusks, crabs, &c. 



The breeding-ground has not yet been discovered; the 

 bird probably retires to .the high lands of Tasmania or 

 Australia Felix for that purpose. 



A similarity of colouring pervades both sexes. 



Crown of the head and back of the neck blackish brown, 

 each feather margined with buff"; back blackish brown, each 

 feather irregularly blotched with reddish buff* on the margins ; 

 wing-coverts blackish brown, margined with greyish white ; 

 tertiaries brown, irregularly blotched on the margins with 



