1871. J MR. R. SWINHOE ON THE BIRDS OF CHINA. 405 



535. HiEMATOPUS OSCULANS, n. sp. 



Hcematopus ostralegus, Swinh. Ibis, 1860, p. 63, 1861, pp. 261, 

 3-42. 



Hcematopus longiroslris, Swinh. Ibis, 1863, p. 406 ; P. Z. S. 1863, 

 p. 310. 



On drawing up my last list and on finding our bird to be different 

 from the European species, I set it down as H. longirostris, Gray, 

 without, however, comparing specimens. Prof. Schlegel (Mus. des 

 Pays-Bas) draws attention to my mistake, but identifies the bird with 

 H. ostralegus. On careful comparison I find it intermediate. It 

 has white on its primary quills, but not to such an extent as in //. 

 ostralegus ; and it has the long bill and black tips to its white upper 

 tail-coverts as in H. longirostris, but the tip-spots are smaller. 

 Thus holding an intermediate position between the two, it is impos- 

 sible to class it with either species, and I would propose to separate 

 it as above. 



Characters. — First three rectrices with black shafts, the fourth 

 showing a little white, which increases and expands on the quills 

 that follow (in H. ostralegus the white commences on the first quill, 

 and in H. longirostris the shafts are all black). The upper tail- 

 coverts that overlap the tail tipped with black (pure white in H. 

 ostralegus). Bill, from the forehead, 3 - 6 inches. These characters 

 are taken from an adult male shot in Talien Bay in July. An im- 

 mature bird shot in November at Swatow shows the same long bill, 

 small extent of white on the wing, and dark tips to the extreme 

 uropygials, but its dark parts are brown instead of black. Neither 

 specimen has the white collar. This Oyster-catcher breeds in North 

 China (Talien Bay), and wanders down the coast in winter as far, at 

 least, as Swatow. 



536. Rkcurvirostra AvocETTA, L. ; Ibis, 1860, p. 66, 1861, 

 p. 343, 1863, p. 406 ; Zoologist, 1860, p. 7103 ; P. Z. S. 1863, p. 31 1. 



Recurvirostra sinensis, Ibis, 1867, p. 401. 



China coast in winter. " Is found in May at Ordo near the Yel- 

 low River " (David). 



537. Himantopus candidus, Bonnaterre; L. 

 Himantopus melanopterus, Temm. 



One seen at Pekin by Pere David (Catalogue). 



538. Totanus glottis, L. ; Ibis, 1863, p. 406, 1870, 364 ; 

 P. Z.S. 1863, p. 311. 



Totanus glottoides, Vig. ; Ibis, 1860, p. 66, 1861, p. 343. 

 Totanus glottis, Ibis, 1862, p. 254. 

 General in winter. 



539. Totanus stagnatilis, Bechst. ; Ibis, 1862, p. 254, 1863, 

 p. 406, 1870, p. 364; P. Z. S. 1863, p. 311. 



Formosa ; Amoy ; Hainan. 



