92 Captain P. P. King on the Animals 



any species which I have hitherto seen ; and I venture to characterise it, 

 aware of course that my name will sink into a synonym, if the bird 

 should prove to have been previously described. 



COLUMBA MERIDIONALIS. 



Col. brunnescenti-plumbea, subtus rufescens ; colli lateribus purpurea 

 nitore splendentibus, genis pennisque secundariis nigro maculatis, rectri- 

 cibus apice griseo fascidqrie subapicali nigrd. 



The top of the head and the lower part of the back, the sides of the 

 abdomeriy and the under vvang coverts are of a light lead colour ; the 

 remainder of the upper parts are of a still lighter brown, and the throat 

 whitish. The bill is black, the legs reddish yellow. The length of the 

 body is 9 J inches; of the bill, ^; of the wing from the carpal joint to 

 the extremity of the second quill feather, 5|^; of the tail, 41; of the 

 tarsi, |. 



39. One of the A''ight Bitterns, and much resembling the young of 

 our ovra. I do not wish to say more of this bird. Much confusion 

 already exists as to the species of the group to which it belongs ; and 

 mine being a young bird, I fear I should only add to this confusion were 

 I to attempt to describe it. I shall endeavoiu: to procure more informa- 

 tion respecting it, and others of the doubtful species which I now send 

 home, during my next trip; when I hope to have more leisure than 

 hitherto for attending to the differences in age, and the peculiarities in 

 habits of the birds that come in my way. 



40. Is not this Totanus fuscus? I can see no material difference in 

 general appearance between it and the European species. The very 

 wide dispersion of the Wading, as well as of the Raptorial Birds, has 

 long been a subject of interest; and the present species appears to me to 

 be a striking example of the great range to which some species of the 

 former order extend. I carmot, however, vouch for more than the 

 general appearance of the bird. Our home Ornithologists vdll, I hope, 

 turn their attention to this point, and decide whether my conjectures are 

 right or not. 



41. 42. Specimens of the true Scolopax.— -These birds approach 

 our own common Snipe so nearly, that I should not venture to detach them 



