ORISriTHOLOGICAL NOTES. 273 



1st. It is remarkable that in all the examples that have 

 occurred in Grreat Britain a perfect similarity of plumage exists, 

 both as to the arrangement and tone of colours. In every speci- 

 men similarity of markings prevails, and the darker and lighter 

 shades of colouring in the different portions of the plumage 

 above and below have been, from the descriptions of each 

 specimen, proved entirely to correspond. 



2nd. That in no one instance has there been any sign or shade 

 of even a partial development of the longitudinal dorsal lines 

 which appear so prominent in all the other species ; 



3rd. In the S. Sabini the form and character of the dorsal 

 and scapulary feathers are very different from those of the 

 other snipes, being small, ovate, tile-like, and resembling the 

 woodcock's feathers, whilst the scapularies and dorsal feathers of 

 the other snipes are lanceolate, long, and pointed. This I consider 

 to be a very important character in the S. Sabini, and appears to 

 me to offer a stronger specific value to its distinctness than even 

 the number of tail feathers. I am not aware that this character of 

 the dorsal feathers has been prominently brought before the notice 

 of scientific enquirers until Mr. J. E. Harting published his " Birds 

 of Middlesex," where he alludes to this character ; but I think 

 that it is a strong point in supi^ort of its claims to specific dis- 

 tinction, which, although weakened by the theory of the tail 

 feathers having fallen to the ground, has this additional and 

 quite as strong a claim for specific value by the character of the 

 dorsal phimage. I do not see that the q^iestion can be other 

 than an open one for the present. 



We have had our usual vernal visits of the Whimbrel and 

 Bar-tailed Grodwit, the latter, with few exceptions, in their hand- 

 some summer plumage, differing so entirely from the winter 

 plumage, as to cause them to be considered a distinct species by 

 our older naturalists. In summer, the whole of the under parts 

 of the plumage, from the chin to the under tail coverts, is bright 

 tile red ; the same parts, in winter, in the adult birds, being pure 

 white ; and in birds of the year, buff white. 



Our svmimer migrants have been unusually late, with the 

 most feeble expression of song I ever heard, owing no doubt to 

 the extreme coldness of the air, accompanied by a protracted 

 easterly wind. 



