562 SCOLOPACIDE. 



one inch tlircc lines in breadth. Its food consists of aquatic 

 insects. 



M. Temminck says this bird is never seen in Holland, but 

 has been taken in Germany. M.Vieillot does not include it 

 in his Birds of France. White of Selborne says that a most 

 accurate observer of nature assured him that he had found it 

 on the banks of the streams in Andalusia. It is seen on its 

 passage at Genoa and Italy in spring, and M. Temminck says 

 that it breeds in Sardinia. Specimens have been brought to 

 this country from South Africa both by Captain Spiller and 

 Dr. Andrew Smith ; and again quoting White of Selborne, 

 " Hasselquist says that it migrates to Egypt in the autumn." 

 The Zoological Society have received specimens from Trebi- 

 zond, presented by Keith Abbott, Esq. ; and Messrs. Dick- 

 son and Ross; and the Russian naturalists, M. Menetries and 

 Hohenacker, found this bird also on the margins of lakes be- 

 tween the Black and the Caspian Seas. Colonel Sykes and 

 Major Franklin brought specimens from different parts of 

 India ; M. Temminck says it is found in Japan, and Dr. 

 Horsfield includes it in his Birds of Java. 



The beak is black ; the irides red ; the whole of the head, 

 the neck all round, the breast, all the under parts of the body 

 and the tail-feathers white, with a few dusky streaks behind 

 the eyes and on the occiput ; the back and wings nearly 

 black, tinged with green ; the legs and toes pink. 



The whole length about thirteen inches. From the carpal 

 joint to the end of the Aving eight inches ; the first quill-fea- 

 ther the longest. 



Females have the black colour on the back less pure, and 

 not tinged with green ; the dark streaks about the occiput 

 are more numerous. 



Young birds have the feathers of the back and wings 

 brown, edged with white, and more dark feathers about the 

 back of the head ; the legs orange. 



