158 GRALLATORES. TRINGA. CURLEW. 



f Numenius Africanus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. 7i2. sp. 10. 

 Winter J Scolopax Atricana, Gmel. Syst. I. 655. 

 plumage. 1 L'Alouette de Mer, Buff. Ois. Enl. 851. 



(Cape Curlew, Lath. Syn. 5. 126. 9. 



! Scolopax subarquata, Gmel. Syst. 1. 658. sp. 25. 

 Numenius subarquata, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. 135. No. 3. t. 6. 

 Rauthbauchiger Brachvogel, Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 2. 356. 

 Red Sandpiper, Penn. Arct. ZooL 2. 476. No. 392. Lath. Syn. 5. 186. 

 Rockmillis, Will. Oin. (Angl.) p. 304. ? 



THIS species, in its winter dress, may easily be mistaken 

 by a cursory observer for Trmga variabilis, to which it 

 bears a close resemblance in colour and dimensions, particu- 

 larly as regards the male, which is always much less than 

 the female bird, and the bill of which is frequently found 

 very little longer than in adult specimens of the Dunlin. 

 The greater curvature, however, of this member, the compa- 

 rative length of the tarsi, and larger naked portion of the tibiae, 

 as well as the colour of the upper tail-coverts, are always 

 sufficiently characteristic to point out the difference between 

 the two species whenever a proper comparative examination 

 can take place. In its summer plumage, such a mistake can 

 scarcely occur, as the difference then must be obvious, even 

 to those unacquainted with the subject. In collating the 

 synonyms of this species, I have omitted the Numenius 

 pygmaus of LATHAM, as I concur with Mons. TEMMINCK 

 and Mr VIGORS in considering it to refer to the Trmga 

 platyryncha of TEMM., rather than to the present species. 

 The Cape Curlew (Numenius Africanus), however, appears 

 to be strictly referable to it ; and specimens that I have re- 

 ceived from Africa are in every respect similar to those killed 



Rare visi- in Europe. This bird is a rare visitant in Britain, and only 

 seen during its vernal or autumnal migration. Upon the 

 continental shores of Europe, and on the margins of the 

 larger lakes, it is not uncommon ; and, according to TEM- 

 MINCK, it occasionally breeds in Holland by the sides of the 

 extensive inland seas that occupy so large a portion of that 



Eggs . country. Its four eggs are stated to be yellowish (jauna- 

 tres), probably answering to SYME'S oil-green, spotted with 



