2270 The Zoologist — September, 1870. 



Greenshank. — Not uncoramonly met with in the same localities as 

 the redshank. This bird shows the connecting link between the sand- 

 piper and the godwits, in the form of the beak, which turns a little 

 upwards. 



Avocet. — Very rare as a Cornish bird : one obtained from the Land's 

 End, apparently a bird of the year, in September, 1847. 



Blacktailed Godwit. — Uncommon : seen at Trengwainton ponds, 

 and killed at the Land's End. 



(I have received a specimen of this godwit from Scilly to-day. 

 There is nothing at all remarkable in its plumage for brightness of 

 colour on the throat, breast and belly, like its common congener the 

 bartailed godwit, which I have always observed carries a fine unsullied 

 bay-colour on its under parts at this season of the year; but in the 

 blacktailed godwit there is nothing beyond a dull dirty reddish brown, 

 which is confined to the breast only. — April 30, 1870.) 



[Mr. Dresser has just mentioned to me a distinctive character 

 between our two godwits, pointed out to him by Mr. Blyth : the 

 blacktailed has the claw of the middle toe serrated, the bartailed 

 plain. — Edward Newman.] 



Bartailed Godwit. — Generally to be met with in the autumnal 

 months on flat sands and estuaries, and along the shores of our 

 harbours and creeks, but the species affects some localities, whilst 

 others equally favourable are deserted. In summer the breast of this 

 species is bright bay, in winter white; the breast of the bird of the 

 year, until the next summer, buff-coloured. (See note on the 

 " Knot.") 



Ruff. — Occasionally met with in the autumnal months, in the 

 marshes in the Land's End district. 



Woodcock. — Winter visitor: universally distributed in suitable 

 localities. Their first appearance takes place about the second week 

 in October, and the first flights usually take place with the wind at 

 any point to the east from the south : the birds are usually first found 

 in the open heathery ground at and adjacent to hills. 



[The Rev. W. T. Bree, at p. 147 of the third volume of ' Loudon's 

 Magazine of Natural History,' points out a distinguishing mark 

 between the sexes of the woodcock : he says, " the front or outer edge 

 of the first quill-feather of the cock bird is marked alternately with 

 dark and light spots of a somewhat triangular shape, while in the hen 

 the corresponding feather is without spots, and in lieu of them 

 presents a uniform light-coloured stripe extending the whole length of 



