ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 51 



genus Catherpes as distinct from Salpinctes, Professor Baird noted certain 

 discrepancies in the structure of the feet ; and in 1864 (Review, p. 109) ; 

 he enlarges upon the remarkable structure of the tarsus oi Salpinctes, -which 

 he characterizes as " especially peculiar among all its cognate genera by 

 having the usual two continuous plates along the posterior half of the 

 inner and outer fa^es of the tarsus divided transversely into seven or more 

 smaller plates, with a naked interval between them and the anterior scu- 

 telloe." This is certainly a remarkable feature for a presumed thoroughly 

 Oscine bird to exhibit, since it is highly characteristic of Oscines to have 

 the postero-lateral tarsal plates continuous, meeting in a sharp ridge be- 

 hind. I verify the state of the case in Salpinctes as given by Professor 

 Baird, but I find, to my surprise, that in Campylorhynchus the lateral 

 plates, but especially the outer one, are broken up into a series of conspic- 

 uous scutella ; and that Catherpes shows a tendency, not so fully expressed, 

 to similar division of the tarsal envelope. If this structure really possesses 

 the significance attributed to it by many of the best writers, the question 

 whether these birds are Wrens at all is reopened. That they possess de- 

 cidedly Wren-like habits is no strong argument, for nothing is more falla- 

 cious than such teleological bending of diverse structures to similar ends. 

 It will be remembered that Lafresnaye, and other writers of repute, have 

 placed species of Campylorhynchus in the genus Picolaptes, which is a 

 member of the large family DendrocolaptidcB ; some of these birds have 

 rigid acuminate Certhia-like tail-feathers, and Creeper-like habits ; in oth- 

 ers, however, the tail is soft, and among them is witnessed the' greatest 

 diversity of habits. On comparing our Campylorhynchus with a typical 

 Dendrocolaptine (Dendrornis erythropygia), I find that the bills of the two 

 are extremely similar, and that the tarsal envelope of Dendrornis is broken 

 up posteriorly into a number of plates, of which those on the inner aspect 

 are continuous with those in front, while the postero-exterior ones are a 

 series of rounded and isolated scales. Again, in the case of Salpinctes, it 

 will be recollected that Bonaparte placed it in the genus Myiothera, and 

 considered it an Ant-thrush {Formicariida>). On examining the tarsus of 

 a species of Thamnophilus, a typical Formicarian, I find that the plates are 

 divided behind, and the general structure is substantially the same as in 

 Salpinctes. The case of Catherpes is less clear, but it would doubtless go 

 with Salpinctes. These points may not suffice for the summary dismissal 

 of the genera under consideration from the Troglodytida', but they go to 

 show that their position in that family is not assured. — Elliott Coues. 



Occurrence of the Curlew Sandpiper in Massachusetts. — Mr. 

 Charles I. Goodale, our accomplished Boston taxidermist, has a fine 

 Curlew Sandpiper (Tringa subarquata) which was sent to him to be 

 mounted. It was shot in East Boston, Mass., early in May, 1876, as it 

 was feeding on a sandspit among a flock of " Peeps." This bird is in 

 very perfect spring plumage, and furnishes the second authentic instance 



