68 SCOLOPACID^E. 



sometimes in large flocks together. They select for food 

 aquatic insects, small Crustacea, worms, and mollusca. Of 

 their breeding ground, or their habits at that season, very 

 little is known. 



M. Temminck says this species is observed on its passage 

 in spring and autumn, in Germany, Holland, and France. 

 M. Vieillot says that it has occasionally been obtained in 

 France both in summer and winter. Polydore Roux in- 

 cludes it as a bird of Provence. 



The Zoological Society have received this bird from Tan- 

 giers ; and Dr. Andrew Smith obtained it in South Africa. 

 Mr. Selby mentions having seen specimens of this bird from 

 Italy in summer plumage ; it is said to be found in consider- 

 able numbers in the salt marshes of Dalmatia. It is found 

 in Corfu, Sicily, Malta, and Crete. The Zoological Society 

 have received specimens from Trebizond, sent by Messrs. 

 Dickson and Ross ; and M. Menetries, the Russian Natural- 

 ist, met with it in the vicinity of the Caucasus. Lastly, I 

 may add, that Major Franklin, Mr. Selby, M. Temminck, 

 B. Hodgson, Esq., and Mr. Blyth, have recorded that spe- 

 cimens from India agree exactly with the European bird. 



In its summer plumage the beak is black ; the irides dark 

 brown ; the top of the head and the neck ferruginous, with 

 specks of black ; the feathers of the back, scapulars, wing- 

 coverts, tertials, and upper tail-coverts, black in the centre, 

 with broad ferruginous margins ; the point of the wing 

 nearly black ; the primaries black, with white shafts ; the 

 secondaries nearly black, tipped with white ; the tail, when 

 perfect, doubly forked, the feathers ash brown ; the chin, 

 breast, and all the under surface of the body pure white ; 

 sides of the neck, down to the front of the wing, and a 

 band round the front of the neck, ferruginous speckled with 

 black ; axillary plume pure white ; legs, toes, and claws, 

 dull black. 



