618 



SCOLOPACID.E. 



strong resemblance to the Scolopax saturata of Dr. Horsficld, 

 from which, however, it sufficiently differs in its general pro- 

 portions : and I find no description of any other extra Euro- 

 pean species of true Scolopax which at all approaches it in 

 this character of its plumage. In the number of the tail- 

 feathers again, which amount to twelve, it differs from »Sco- 

 lopax major, which has sixteen, and from Scolopax galli- 

 nago, which has fourteen : it agrees however in this point 

 ■with Scolopax gallinula, which also has but twelve ; but it 

 never can be confounded with that bird, from the great dis- 

 proportion between the essential characters of both ; the bill 

 alone of S. Sabini exceeding that of the latter species by one 

 third of its length. In the relative length and strength of the 

 tarsi, it equally differs from all. These members, although 

 stouter than those of S. gaUinago, fall short of them by ^\ of 

 an inch : they are much weaker, on the other hand, than 

 those of S. major, although they nearly equal them in length. 

 In general appearance it bears a greater resemblance to S. 

 rusticola, than to the other European Scolopaces, but it may 

 immediately be recognised as belonging to a different station 

 in the genus ; the two exterior toes being united at the base 

 for a short distance, as in the greater number of the con- 

 generic species ; while those of S. rusticola are divided to 

 the origin." 



" This bird was shot in the Queen's County in Ireland, 

 by the Rev. Charles Doyne, of Portarlington, in that county, 

 on the 21st of August 1822; and was obligingly communi- 

 cated to me the same day. I have named the species in 

 honour of the Chairman of the Zoological Club of the Lin- 

 nean Society, Avhose zeal and ability have thrown so much 

 light upon the ornithology of the British Islands." 



Mr. Vigors adds in a note, " Since this communication 

 Avas read to the Society, I have been enabled to record a 

 second instance of this bird having been met with in the 



