63, 



Swedish naturalists. The uncertainty respecting its localities, 

 breeding and identity I hope he may yet have the pleasure and 

 opportunity to clear up. Though apparently nearly allied to the 

 Pectoral Sandpiper in many respects, it differs from it in being 

 considerably smaller, the latter bird exceeding the Dunlin in 

 size. I have one of these American wanderers, killed on the 

 .Northumberland coast, June 27th, 1855. At that time it should 

 have been breeding. During the autumnal migration one can 

 suppose it possible that a chance individual of a species breeding 

 in high northern latitudes in America might get too far to the 

 east, and thus reach the European coast, and find its way here 

 in the autumn without directly crossing the Atlantic; but it 

 seems to me more singular to meet with a straggler on its way 

 back again. I might add, that by attention you may in time, 

 from the condition and colour of the feathers of this class of 

 birds, tell within a month or so of the time of year when they 

 were killed, whatever age they may be. After they have once 

 moulted to a complete winter dress, which they do the autumn 

 of the next year after they are hatched, I believe it is not pos- 

 sible to distinguish the age ; it is sometimes possible to test the 

 correctness of statements as to their history, date of being killed, 

 etc. C. M. A. 



Probably Schinz's Sandpiper really was never found in Eu- 

 rope. The Swedish birds are only Dunlins evidently. C. M. A. 



ON THE ALTERATIONS TIME AND OTHER 



CIRCUMSTANCES MAY HAYE MADE IN SOME KINDS 



OF ANIMALS. 



WHO can tell what some of the different animals apparently now 

 existing in a wild state in various parts of the world are, and 

 what they would have been had not man interfered directly or 

 indirectly with them? Take, for instance, what is called the 

 Wild Boar. Who can tell where his first predecessors were 



E 



