38 The Zoologist — January, 1866. 



into a ditch by the side of a contiguous road. On the approach of 

 its pursuer it again rose and ahghted in the middle of a ha3'-fiekl, 

 where it was shot, whilst busily occupied in running about on the 

 ground.* It was sent, in company with some woodcocks and snipes, to 

 the game-shop of Mr. J. Webber, of this town, from which place I was 

 fortunate enough to obtain it. 



From the general appearance of the bird I was at once satisfied that 

 it was a stranger, being principally led to this inference by its pecu- 

 liarly shaped bill and the great length and shape of its tail, which 

 latter peculiarity 1 since find has obtained for it the synonym of " Le 

 chevalier a longue queue." The bird in my possession is a faithful 

 representative of the figure depicted in the Supplement to JMr. Yarrell's 

 work on British Birds. This sandpiper may be at once distinguished 

 from any others of its kind by its two primaries (the first in either 

 wing), its long wedge -shaped beautifully variegated tail, and legs, 

 breast-markings and bill. 



In its anatomical structure there was nothing peculiarly striking, 

 save the great depth of its keel, the strength of its clavicles, and its 

 firmly adherent vascular lungs, all of which characteristics serve to 

 assign it a place amongst those creatures endowed with great power of 

 endurance and capability for protracted flight. Its measurements, 

 markings, &c., are as follows : — 



Whole length 12 inches. Weight 6 ounces 2 drachms. Bill 

 slender and slightly curved at the point, more particularly the upper 

 mandible; from the top to gape, Ij inch ; from top to conmiencement 

 of forehead, 1|^ inch; upper mandible blackish brown in colour, 

 except at the margin of the middle third, which is yellow ; lower 

 mandible yellow throughout; nostril elongated ^ih of an inch in length. 

 Irides dusky ; forehead and occiput ferruginous, marked with small 

 broad dark brown streaks; side of face and ear-coverts pale ferru- 

 ginous, finely streaked with brown. Chin, throat and lore pure 

 white. 



Front of neck and breast pale ferruginous, marked with narrow 

 streaks, which on the breast assume the appearance of perfectly 

 marked and well-defined arrow-heads. 



Belly, vent, and thigh-coverts white. Back of neck ferruginous, 

 faintly streaked with brown. Back dull brownish black, the feathers 

 narrowly bordered with pale ferruginous. Scapulars black, edged 

 with very pale ferruginous ; greater wing-coverts dusky brown, edged 

 with ferruginous and irregularly spotted with black; lesser wing- 



