38 Messies. Sheppard and Whitear's Catalogue 



Genus XLIII. Vanellus. 



1. V. Melanogaster (Swiss Sandpiper). 



This beautiful bird has been met with several times in the 

 spring of the year at Yarmouth, probably on its passage to its 

 breeding haunts. It has also been killed at the same place late 

 ui autumn, at which time it has acquired the plumage usually 

 attributed to the Gray Sandpiper ; and it is by no means un- 

 common on the Essex coast throughout the winter. As the 

 plumage upon the upper parts of this bird in autumn is inter- 

 spersed with yellow spots, it assumes at that season a resem- 

 blance to a Golden Plover. And there can be little doubt that 

 it was a Swiss Sandpiper in its autumn dress to which Mr. ISIark- 

 wick alludes, when he says, " I once saw a Golden Plover which 

 had a small back toe." — Linn. Trans, vol. iv. pp. 25, 26. 



The flight of the Swiss Sandpiper is smooth, gentle, and with- 

 out noise, much like that of the Sanderling ; and it carries its 

 wings arched in flight, in the manner of that bird. 



2. V. crisfatus (Lapwing, Flap-Jack, Horn-Pie). 



Genus XLIV. Strepsilas. 

 1. S. co//rt/7s (Turnstone). 



These birds are found sparingly on the sea-coast. We noticed 

 five of them passing from the Mussel Islands to the main-land 

 of Essex : they flew in a line one after the other, and so low as 

 almost to touch the water. 



Genus XLV. Ciconia. 

 1. C. a/6fl (White Stork). 



A few years since a pair of White Storks were seen at Gorles- 

 ton, and one of them was killed. Another pair was observed at 



Aclea 



