288 scoLOPAcmE. 



Bay, it was obtained after the species leaves that locality — in 

 November — and again at the more southern, Dublin Bay, that 

 it was shot in the following month — December — when it is not 

 with us. The bird would thus seem to be in no haste on its migra- 

 tion southwards. 



For some years after I had ascertained that the pigmy curlew is 

 a regular annual visitant to Ireland, it was considered of very 

 rare and irregular occurrence in Great Britain ; but the increased 

 attention since bestowed on ornithology has shown that the bird 

 is much more frequent on the shores of Scotland and England 

 than had been previously imagined. 



Temminck states that the species winters in Sardinia, where it 

 is very abundant, and leaves that island in May ('Man. d'Orn. 

 Eur./ partiv. p. 397). It has a wide geographical range, and is 

 found extensively over the three continents of the Eastern hemi- 

 sphere and in North America. 



THE DUNLIN OE PUERE. 



Sandlark of the Shore.* 



Tringa variabilis, Meyer. 



„ cinclus and alpina, Linn. 



Is the most abundant of the Grallatores around the 

 coast ; but a few only, comparatively to their 

 numbers, breed in Ireland. 



The remark by a correspondent, that " on the muddy flats of the 

 Eiver Lee, between Cork and Cove, countless flocks may be seen," 

 will apply to numerous similar localities on each side of the 

 island. 



Habits in Belfast Bay. 



This bay, with its extensive oozy banks uncovered by the 

 retiring tide, is a favourite abode of the dunlin. So soon as the 



* Totanus hypoleucos is commonly called Fresh-water Sandlarlc. 



