9302 Birds. 
points; sixth has four triangular yellow spots on the outer margin, 
which is diagonally barred with yellowish white; the inner web is 
somewhat similarly marked, but the yellow is fainter, and the spots 
more irregular. The angular yellow spots on some of the feathers, 
encroaching on the central black, form a perfect oak-leaf pattern. The 
feathers are rounded, with the exception of the two central ones, which 
are oval, The wing has twenty-six quills; primaries black; shafts 
white, except at the tip and base, which is dusky; the first longest; 
second shorter by five-twentieths of an inch; third half an inch less 
than the second; the rest rapidly decrease: they are all slightly tipped 
and edged with grayish white. The secondaries are dusky black, 
broadly margined with grayish white; the first abrupt, the second 
diagonally sloped, third emarginate on the outer web; the rest much 
the same, excepting a few of the inner ones, which are elongated and 
tapering, margined on the outer webs with triangular yellow spots, 
and on the inner with elongated oval ones; tips yellowish white; 
shafts black ; the others are white at the base. Primary coverts black, 
broadly margined and tipped with white. Secondary coverts dusky, 
deeply edged with white, and tinged with yellow on the outer web. 
Upper coverts black, with yellow, gray and white spots on the margins. 
Scapulars glossy black, with a few yellow spots on the margins; tips 
yellowish white. Under tail-coverts white, faintly streaked and mar- 
gined with light hair-brown: they are little shorter than the tail. This 
lengthened and somewhat minute description of the American golden 
plover is given to enable those who have not had the advantage of 
examining it in the flesh, and comparing it with the European bird, 
to see at once, from the difference in size and colour, that it is a 
distinct species. 
Yellowshanks Snipe (Scolopax flavipes). On the 25th of September 
found a considerable flock of this by no means common species, 
feeding in the wheat stubble not far from the town. Though rapid in 
flight, they are steady on the wing, and more readily shot than the 
common snipe. I found no difficulty in securing specimens, for when 
one had fallen, the flock wheeling round, passed and repassed over 
the dead or dying birds before resettling in the stubble, which they 
often did at no great distance, and it was not until ten of their number 
had fallen that they finally disappeared. One of the largest measures 
9} inches in length, and 18} inches in extent of wings. 
Bluebird (Sazicola sialis). On the 29th of September shot three 
birds of this species. Though in form the bluebird bears a striking 
resemblance to the European robin, Buonaparte was right, J think, in 
