148 GRALLATORES. TRINGA. TRINGA. 



itus), though the same objections hold good with respect 

 to its identity, which I have previously stated as prevailing 

 in the case of T. Temminckn, with which species also I have 

 no doubt it has been frequently confounded. In size it 

 rather exceeds that bird ; but its form and general appear- 

 ance are so similar, as to render a narrow inspection abso- 

 lutely necessary to ascertain the peculiar characters that dis- 

 tinguish the one from the other. The first essential differ- 

 ence observable is in the comparative length of the tarsus, 

 being in T. minuta fully seven-eighths of an inch long, 

 whilst in T. Temminckii it does not exceed five-eighths. 

 The form of the tail also varies from that of the latter bird 

 (which I have described as wedge-shaped), being doubly 

 forked ; that is, the two middle feathers and the outer one 

 on each side are longer than the intermediate ones, thus giv- 

 ing to each half of the tail a forked appearance ; added to 

 which, its colour is dissimilar, the whole of the feathers be- 

 ing of an uniform pale hair-brown, with the exception of the 

 central ones, which are deep lustrous hair-brown. The legs 

 and feet also of the present species vary, by being of a 

 darker colour. Like the T. Temmmckii it can only be con- 

 Occasional sidered in the light of an occasional visitant, during its au- 

 tumnal migrations. In addition to the instances recorded 

 by MONTAGU, BEWICK, and others, Mr YARRELL, in the 

 Zoological Journal, mentions four of these birds that were 

 killed in 1826, and I have since met with other specimens, 

 all killed in the southern parts of England, as it is very rare- 

 ly met with in the northern districts of the island. Accord- 

 ing to TEMMINCK, it is not uncommon during its autumnal 

 passage in the extensive marshes of Holland ; and it is also 

 frequently found on the margins of lakes and rivers in France 

 and Germany. It is very common upon the lake of Geneva ; 

 and I have received specimens in almost perfect summer plu- 

 mage from Italy, as well as others from India, which appear 

 Food, to be identical with the European kind. It feeds upon the 

 smaller water-insects, worms, and mollusca. It has not yet 



