Order 5. GRALL^. 233 



the first, and mottled with rufous above, and a black patch across the breast, in the breeding- season : it is the 

 commonest of all, and some breed on the upland moors. The Curlew Sandpiper {Sc. subarquata, Gm. ; Numeniut 

 africamis, Lath.), resembles the Knot in colouring and seasonal changes, and the Purre in size, with a still longer 

 and more-arcuated bill ; it is not common, nor very rare, on the British shores. The Little Sandpiper (Tr. minuta) 

 is considerably less than the last, with a short bill ; it acquires some rufous tints in the spring, on the upper parts 

 and across the breast, and is certainly rare, though very much overlooked. Three or four others occur as strag- 

 glers. These active little birds take their food along the margin of the sea, following each retreating wave ; when 

 gregarious in considerable flocks, and in their winter plumage, the whole show alternately their grey upper 

 parts and white lower parts as they whirl in the air, producing a remarkable appearance, well known to those 

 accustomed to wander by the sea side.] 



The Sanderlings {Arenaria, Bechst. ; Calidris, Vigors) — 



Merely differ in the absence of hind-toe, like the Plovers. 



One only is known {Charadrms calidris, Gmelin), the size of a Purre, with analogous seasonal changes to those 

 of the Knot Sandpiper. [It appears to be almost generally diffused, and is common on ihe British shores.] 



The Falcinelles {Ernlia. Vieillot)— 

 Have the beak rather more arcuated than in the Curlew Sandpiper, but do not, as has been asserted, 

 want the thumb. 



We are acquainted with one only, {Sc, pygm<ea, Lin.), a bird proper to Africa, but which is occasionally found 

 in Europe. 



The Ruffs {Machetes, Cuv.) — 



Are true Sandpipers by the bill and feet, except that the palmature of their outer toes is nearly as 

 considerable as in the Garabets, Godwits, &c. 



One species only is known (TV. piignax,\An.). Larger than a Snipe, and verycelebratedfor the furious combats 

 which the males wage in spring for the possession of the females. At this epoch, the head becomes partly covered 

 with red [or yellow] papillae, and the neck is furnished with a very considerable collar or ruff of lengthened feathers, 

 80 variously marked and coloured in different individuals, that two can hardly ever be found alike, and rarely much 

 resembling each other. They have always yellow legs*, which, together with the senii-palmation of the toes, assists 

 us to recognize them at all seasons. The species is common in the north of Europe, [and is remarkable for the 

 male exceeding the female in size, at variance with the other members of this group, but in accordance with 

 its polygamous habits. Vast numbers are brought from Holland to the London markets.] 



America produces some species nearly allied, as the Hemipalamus, Bonap. ; or Tringa semipalmata, Wilson ; 

 [the habits of which are more allied to those of the Gambets, to which in fact they essentially belong]. 



Near the Sandpipers should apparently be placed 



The Spathe-bill {Eurinorhynchus, Wilson), — 

 Which is distinguished by a depressed bill, widened at the tip somewhat as in the Spoonbills, and tlie 

 only species of which is 



The Platalea pygmcea, Lin. ; Eurhtoiynchiis griseus, Wilson (Thun. Acad. Suec, 1816, pi. vi), which is one of 

 the rarest birds in existence, as it is only known by a single individual, grey above and white beneath, and about 

 the size of a Purre Sandpiper. [It has since been met with in northern Asia.] 



The Phalaropes {Phalaropus, Brisson), — 

 Are small birds, the bill of which, more flattened than in the Sandpipers, is otherwise similar as regards 

 its proportions and lateral grooves, and the toes of which are bordered with very broad membranes, 

 as in the Coots. [Their lower plumage resembles in texture that of the Gulls.] 



The known species {Tr. lobata and Tr. fulicaria, Lin.), has a wide bill for a member of this family, and is in 

 winter ash-coloured above, whitish below and on the head, with a black band upon the neck : it is then the Greg 

 Phalarope (Tr. lobata, Edw.) In summer it becomes black, mottled with fulvous above, and of a deep reddish 

 below [like the Knot Sandpiper, Godwits, &c.] : but at all seasons it retains a white spot on the wing, the rest of 

 which is blackish. It is then the Red Phalarope (Ph. rti/iis, Bechstein and Meyer; Tr. fulicaria, Lin.). This bird 

 is rare in Europe [not very so in the British Isles, during the season of passage, when individuals are occasionally 

 met with swimming upon inland ponds, like a very diminutive Duck, and evincing little fear or shyness: they 

 also occur in small flocks, and breed chiefly within the Arctic circle]. 



The Turnstones {Strepsilas, Illiger), — , 

 Are rather lower on the legs, and have a short bill, and toes devoid of any paln'.ature, like the true 

 Sandpipers ; but their beak is conical, pointed, and without depression, compression, or inflation, and 

 the nasal groove reaches only half-way. The thumb barely touches the grouid. Their beak, rather 



• Tills is v«ry far from bcinjf the ciue. — Kd 



