274 BRITISH BIRDS. 



part of the head, which is spotted with rust colour. 

 The tail is wedge-shaped, and consists of twenty 

 feathers. Legs, toes, and claws black. 



In a paper sent by Mr. Yarrell to the Linnean 

 Society, illustrated by several drawings, he ob- 

 serves, " In anatomical structure, the new species 

 differs much more decidedly from the Hooper than 

 in its external characters. The principal difference 

 is in the trachea, which forms one of the best 

 distinctions in the separation of nearly allied 

 species throught this numerous family." 



Mr. Selby says, " From the several specimens 

 ascertained to have been killed in England, it 

 would appear that this species has been in the 

 habit of visiting our island for an indefinite period, 

 though probably not in such numbers as the com- 

 mon Hooper. Its near affinity and close external 

 resemblance to that species have, no doubt, occa- 

 sioned it to be long confounded with it." 



This species was first noticed by Air. R. R. 

 Wingate, in a paper read to the Natural History 

 Society of Northumberland, Durham, and New- 

 castle, in 1828. 



