1871] mr. j. e. harting on arctic birds. 115 



Dunlin. 



Tringa alpina, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 249. 



Tringa cinclus, Linn. op. cit. p. 251. 



Tringa variabilis, Meyer, Taschenb. Deutschl. Vog. ii. p. 397. 



This specimen is interesting as having been procured at a point 

 where the European Dunlin, which is also found in Asia, would be 

 expected to meet the variety americana of Cassin. Prof. Baird con- 

 siders that T. americana is entitled to rank as a species. He says : — 

 " Of eight specimens from Europe and Asia now before us, not one 

 ought to be considered as specifically the same as the American 

 bird. The size (of the former) is invariably smaller, and the bill 

 disproportionately shorter. In fact we have little doubt that the 

 bird inhabiting both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the Republic 

 is quite distinct, and may be easily recognized" (Birds N. Amer. 

 p. 719). On comparing a specimen from New Jersey, in full 

 summer plumage, with one which was shot off the nest in Benbecula 

 (Hebrides), not only are the differences pointed out by Prof. Baird 

 apparent, but it is also observable that the upper portions of the 

 plumage in the American bird are considerably pervaded by bright 

 rufous brown, whereas in the same parts of the Scottish bird black 

 is the prevailing colour. Further, the black of the underparts, which 

 in the Scottish bird extends (as in Squatarola helvetica) from the 

 vent almost to the chin, is confined in the American bird (as in 

 Eudromias morinellus) to the belly only. Whether this large race 

 of Dunlin, known as Tringa americana, is specifically distinct or not, 

 it is not confined to America as is generally supposed. I have 

 specimens in winter plumage now before me, procured by Mr. 

 Swinhoe in Amoy, and others in autumn plumage shot by myself in 

 this country, which, as regards measurements of bill, wiiig, and 

 tarsus, correspond in every way with examples from New Jersey. 

 They differ only in colour, having been obtained at different seasons 

 of the year. As far as I can judge by the data before me, the 

 smaller bird appears to have a more restricted range, and remains to 

 nest in this country ; while the larger bird does not breed with us, but 

 is found on our coasts in spring and autumn, during the migration. 



Golden Plover. 



Charadrius longipes, Temminck. 

 Charadrius xanthochilus, Wagler, Syst. Av. 



Charadrius orientalis, Temm. & Schleg. Faun. Jap. p. 104, t. 62 ; 

 Gould, B. Australia, vi. pi. 13. 



A similar difficulty here presents itself. We have a bird which, 

 from the locality from which it was obtained, may be either the 

 Asiatic C. longipes or the American C. virginicus*. 



The characters by which these two may be distinguished have not 

 been defined. Both are smaller than the European C. pluvialis ; and 



* Both these forms have been distinctly recognized by Prof. Blasius as having 

 occurred on different occasions in Heligoland (cf. 'Ibis,' 1802. p. 71) ; and 

 longipes has occurred in Malta (cf. Ibis,' 1865, p. 462). 



