210 GREEN TOTANUS. 



tained proportions a little different from the other 

 British species, and some others of a like form 

 They also showed a more distinct variation or 

 plumage during 1 the season of incubation, in one 

 of them (that represented Plate XIV), as decided 

 and marked as in any of the allied forms, or of 

 the Charadriadce or Tringce. In the three or four 

 beautiful birds which we have now to describe, 

 the plumage is much more unbroken in its colours, 

 and is confined to a dark shade above, and com- 

 monly pure white beneath, sometimes marked on 

 the throat and breast with grey, or greenish-grey, 

 distributed in streaks or spots. The Green Totanus 

 is one of the most distinctly marked, arid, to the 

 practical ornithologist, is always a bird of great 

 interest, being seen only at rare intervals, startling 

 the intruder by its clear whistle when first raised, 

 and enticing him to follow, from its shyness and 

 the fine contrast its white rump has with the upper 

 plumage during flight. In Scotland it is met with 

 in about equal numbers with the last, but has not 

 been known to breed in the north ; its most frequent 

 appearance is in spring and autumn, particularly 

 the latter, when it is evidently on its passage. In 

 autumn it appears most commonly from the end 

 of August to October, and is met with on the low 

 moors, singly, or in pairs. Scarcely an autumn 

 passes without one or two being seen in such loca- 

 lities, generally single, always extremely shy, and 

 never remaining on the spot beyond twenty-four 

 hours. The specimens alluded to by Mr. Yarrell, g 



