2272 Thb Zoologist — September, 1870. 



character with S. gallinago. Mr. Gould, when on a visit to me, 

 examined the specimen and tested the above description ; his opinion 

 is that its specific distinction from the common snipe cannot be 

 supported. 



Brown Snipe. — Very rare as a British bird, five or six examples 

 only having occurred: one reputed to have been killed in Devon. 

 Very common on the shores of America. The first and only example 

 of this rare species in Cornwall (a bird of the year) occurred at Scilly 

 on the 3rd of October, 1857: it was observed by A. Pechell, Esq.,by 

 the fresh-water pond. Higher moors, St. Mary's; he had no oppor- 

 tunity of hearing its note: it was standing a little in the water, and 

 probing with its bill like the godwit. 



Curlew Sandpiper. — Common in the autumnal months along our 

 flat beaches, associated with dunlins, ring plovers, &c. ; breast in 

 summer bright red, in winter white ; sometimes killed in the inter- 

 mediate state ; distinguished from the dunlin, in winter plumage, by 

 the upper tail-coverts being always white. 



Knot. — A k\\ observed on most of our flat beaches in the autumnal 

 season, generally birds of the year: in summer plumage the breast is 

 bright red, in winter white, and the feathers on the back with a 

 greater mixture of black: specimens obtained in winter, summer, and 

 in the intermediate states of plumage. Marazion sands. Birds which 

 in winter have the breast white, and in summer the same part red, 

 exhibit an intermediate or buff'-colour on this part when in their first 

 or immature plumage of the year. 



Buffbrcasted Sandpiper. — Very rare : two examples only recorded 

 of its capture in Cornwall ; one occurred in the month of September, 

 1846, when it was seen and shot on the flat sands between Penzance 

 and Marazion ; the other specimen, in a similar state of plumage, was 

 killed in the latter part of September, 1860, at the pool near Chun 

 Castle, Morvah (See 'Zoologist,' 1860), by W. H. Vingoe. 



Little Stint. — Occasionally seen, and specimens obtained from salt 

 marshes near the sea. Marazion marsh and Hayle estuary. 



TemmincliS Stint. — Found occasionally in the same localities as 

 the last-named species, but not so frequently. The tarsus of this bird 

 is considerably shorter than in T. minuta, which is its principal 

 characteristic distinction. 



[The most essential difference between these two species may 

 perhaps be best shown as follows : — Teniminck's Stint, Colour, more 

 uniform. Tarsus, light brown, short and slender. Wings, first quill- 



