506 RARE BRITISH BIRDS 



BLACKBILLED-CUCKOO [Coccyzus erythrophtMlmus (Wilson)]. 



1. Description. Recognised by its black bill and yellowish buff under parts. Sexes 

 alike. Length 10 in. [254 inin.]. Adult head dark slate-blue; mantle, back, and wings greyish 

 brown, slightly glossed with olive ; lores and ear-coverts black ; middle tail feathers like 

 the back ; remaining pairs black, broadly tipped with white ; under surface of the body 

 rich golden buff; iris grey ; bill black ; feet lead-colour, [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. Breeds in eastern North America from South-east Alberta, S. Manitoba, 

 and South Quebec to Arkansas, North Carolina, and Georgia, wintering in South America. 

 Has occurred as a casual in the Azores, Italy, and once in Ireland (Antrim, September 25, 

 1871). [F. c. R. J.] 



PIGEONS 1 



[ORDER : Charadriiformes. FAMILY : Columbidce] 



EASTERN TURTLE-DOVE [Turtur orienMis (Latham); Streptopelia orientdlis (Latham) 

 Asiatic Turtle-Dove]. 



1. Description. Distinguished from the common turtle-dove (Turtur turtiir, see vol. ii. p. 

 505) by having the under tail-coverts and tips of the tail grey instead of pure white, and by its 

 much larger size. The sexes are alike in size and coloration. Length 12 in. [305 mm.]. The 

 upper parts are of a dull smoky brown, fringed on the scapulars with rufous buff, giving a 

 scalelike appearance, and on the rump with dark leaden grey, a large patch of black and grey 

 feathers on each side of the neck. The plumage of the under parts is vinous buff, darker 

 across the lower throat. Middle tail feathers smoky brown, remainder black, broadly tipped 

 with grey ; the iris is reddish brown ; skin round eye, tarsi, and feet red. The immature bird 

 is very similarly coloured, but lacks the black and grey spot on the side of the neck, 

 [w. p. P. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. Breeds in Central India and throughout China and Formosa to Man- 

 churia, Cores, Ussuria, Saghalien, and Japan. Replaced in South-west Siberia and Turkestan to 

 Kashmir by an allied race. Birds from N.E. Asia winter in China and Malaya. As a 

 casual this species has occurred in Sweden, Denmark, and once in England (Yorkshire, in 

 October 1889). [F. c. R. J.] 



[AMERICAN PASSENGER-PIGEON [Ectopistes migratorius (Linnceus)]. Is said to have been 

 obtained on five occasions in the British Isles, but probably the specimens had escaped from 

 captivity. Only one bird is known to survive in captivity, and in a wild state the bird is now 

 extinct. [F. c. R. J.] ] 



THE AUKS 2 



[ORDER : CJiaradriiformes. FAMILY : Alcidcv] 



BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT [tfria lomvia (Linnaeus); Uria, bruennichi Sabine. French, 

 guillemot Srunnich ; German, dickschiiabelige Lumme]. 



1. Description. Differs from the common guillemot in its more massive beak, and by 

 having the basal part of the cutting edge of the upper mandible bare. Length 18 in. [457 mm.]. 

 The adult in summer plumage has the entire upper parts, including the head, neck, and wings, 

 glossy greyish black, secondaries tipped with white ; chin, throat, sides of the head and neck 

 rich velvety dark brown, shading into the greyish black of the crown ; remainder of the under 

 parts pure white ; iris brown ; bill black ; basal half of the cutting edge of the upper mandible 



1 Vol. ii. p. 499. * Vol. iii. p. 1. 



