43 !• Mr. N. A. Vigors on a neiv Species of 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 5. major, which has sixteen, and S.gnllinago,-wh'\c\\ 

 has fourteen : it agrees however in this point with S. gallinula, 

 which also has but twelve ; but it never can be confounded with 

 that bird, froni the great disproportion between the essential 

 characters of both; the bill alone of S. Sa/;/;«' 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. gallinago, 

 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 gieater 

 resemblance to S. rusticola than to the other European Scolo- 

 jyaces, 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 num- 

 ber of the congeneric species ; while those of 5. rusticola are 

 divided to the origin. 



The only specimen of this species with which I am ac- 

 quainted, the description of which is accompanied by a very 

 accurate drawing* by Mr. Curtisj is the bird in my possession. 

 It was shot in the Queen's County, in Ireland, by the Rev. 

 Charles Doyne, of Portarlington, in that count}', on the 21st 

 of August 1822; and was obligingly communicated tome the 

 same day. I have named the species in honour of the Chair- 

 man of the Zoological Club of the Liima^an Society, whose 

 zeal and ability have thrown so much light upon the Ornitho- 

 logy of the British Islandsf. 



Ordo. Natatores, 111, 



Fam. Anatid.'e, Leach. 



Genus. QUERQUEDULA, Briss. 



QUERQUEDULA GLOCITANS. 



Q. fusca nigro-undata, capite viridi supra nigro subcristato ; 

 macula ante poneque oculos terruginea, pectore ferrugineo 



* A figure is given in the Liim. Trans, vol. xiv. Tab. XXF. 



f Since the above comnmnication was read to the Society, I have licen 

 enabled to record a second instance of this birti having lieeii met with in 

 the British Islands. On the S?6th of October 1824, a female of this species 

 was shot on the banks of the Medway, near Rocbcsrer, and is preservi-d in 

 the valnable collection of Mr. Dunning of Maidstone. 'I'lie specimen was 

 kindly communicated to me by that gentleman, and was exhiliitcd to the 

 Zoological CInb on the 23rd of November 1824. It acconis in every par- 

 ticular with the specimen above described, with the exception of being 

 Bomewhat smaller. This difference of size most probably indicates the dif- 

 ference of sex. 



maculis 



