Winter 
plumage. 
Summer 
plumage. 
Rare visi- 
tant. 
Eggs. 
158 GRALLATORES. TRINGA. CURLEW. 
Numenius Africanus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 2.712. sp. 10. 
Neti Africana, Gmel. Syst. 1. 655. 
. L’Alouette de Mer, Buff: Ois. Fnl. 851. 
Lae. Curlew, Lath. Syn. 5. 126. 9. 
Scolopax subarquata, Gmel. Syst. 1. 658. sp. 29. 
Numenius subarquata, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. 135. No. 3. t. 6. 
Rauthbauchiger Brachvogel, Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 2. 356. 
Red Sandpiper, Penn. Arct. Zool. 2. 476. No. 392.—Lath. Syn. 5. 186. 
34, 2 
4. ¢ 
Rockmillis, Wild. Orn. (Angl.) p. 304. ? 
Tus species, in its winter dress, may easily be mistaken 
by a cursory observer for Tringa variabilis, to which it 
bears a close resemblance in colour and dimensions, particu- 
larly as regards the male, which is always much less than 
the female bird, and the bill of which is frequently found 
very little longer than in adult specimens of the Dunlin. 
The greater curvature, however, of this member, the compa- 
rative length of the tarsi, and larger naked portion of the tibize, 
as well as the colour of the upper tail-coverts, are always 
sufficiently characteristic to point out the difference between 
the two species whenever a proper comparative examination 
can take place. In its summer plumage, such a mistake can 
scarcely occur, as the difference then must be obvious, even 
to those unacquainted with the subject. In collating the 
synonyms of this species, I have omitted the Numenius 
pygmeus of Latuam, as I concur with Mons. TEMMINCK 
and Mr Vicors in considering it to refer to the T'ringa 
platyryncha of 'Trmm., rather than to the present species. 
The Cape Curlew (Numenius Africanus), however, appears 
to be strictly referable to it; and specimens that Ihave re- 
ceived from Africa are in every respect similar to those killed 
in Europe.—This bird is a rare visitant in Britain, and only 
seen during its vernal or autumnal migration. Upon the 
continental shores of Europe, and on the margins of the 
larger lakes, it is not uncommon; and, according to Trm- 
MINCK, it occasionally breeds in Holland by the sides of the 
extensive inland ‘seas that occupy so large a portion of that 
country.—Its four eggs are stated to be yellowish ( jawnd- 
tres), probably answering to Symr’s oil-green, spotted with 
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