284 SCOLOPACID^E. 



phceopus). The very small rudimentary membrane between the base 

 of the middle and outer toe, mentioned by Temminck as the chief 

 character on which it has been raised to the rank of a genus by MM. 

 Koch and JNTaumann,* is a most trivial distinction, it being- in the least 

 degree only more developed than in the Tringa variabilis and T. sub- 

 urquata. Except in the head and bill, the whole bird is in form and 

 plumage an ordinary-looking Tringa. 



In the continental countries south of our latitude in which this 

 species has been met with, it is considered very rare, nor was it 

 known to be otherwise in the north of Europe until Mr. Dann 

 lately visited Norway and Lapland for the purpose of studying 

 the birds which frecpient those countries in the breeding-season. 

 In some places he found this Tringa to be by no means un- 

 common, and to Mr. Yarrell's beautiful work on ' British Birds ' 

 (vol. ii. p. 638) he contributed a full and admirable account of 

 its habits, which were before unknown : — the figure of the bird in 

 that work is most characteristic. Temminck mentions specimens 

 having been sent from Borneo, Sumatra, and Timor. 



THE PIGMY CUBLEW. 



Curlew Sandpiper. 



Tringa subarquata, Temin. 

 Scolopax „ Gmel. 



Is a regular autumnal migrant to the north of Ireland ; — 

 where in winter it is of very rare occurrence. 



This gracefully -formed species is characterized in the latest works 

 of authority as a ' ' rare visitant " to Great Britain. Notes con- 

 nected with it in Belfast Bay for above twenty-five years are 

 before me. From these it appears, as with the Grattalores gene- 

 rally, that September is its favourite month in that locality. The 

 earliest arrival noted. is the 25th of August: before the end of 

 September its departure is occasionally taken, and it rarely re- 

 mains until the end of October. 



* Sec ' Wirbelthicrc Europas,' p. 77. 



