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With regard to the extra-limital range of the Whimbrel, we find it throughout the whole 

 of Siberia, India, China, Australia, and Africa. Steller records it from Kamschatka; and 

 Dr. Gustav Eadde met with it in the western portion of East Siberia, and procured a specimen 

 on the central Irkut, where it was rare. He states that he compared it with specimens from 

 Southern Europe, and found it to agree precisely. Mr. Taczanowski also informs us that he has 

 obtained it from the neighbourhood of Czyta, Nestschinsk, and Darasun, in Dauria, as well as 

 from Kiachta and Kuschtuk. Dr. Jerdon records it as found throughout India, where it is more 

 abundant than the Curlew; Major Irby met with it at a half-dried jheel near Hurdni, in Oudh, 

 in February 1859; and Dr. Leith Adams found it common at the mouth of the Indus, near 

 Kurrachee, on the sea-coast. Mr. R. Swinhoe states that in China it is found " from Fekin to 

 Shanghai in winter;" and under the name of Numenius uropygialis, Gould, he records it from 

 Taiwanfoo, on Formosa. Messrs. Finsch and Hartlaub write that in the Leiden Museum there 

 are specimens from Japan, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Banka, Celebes, Halmahera, Morotai, Ternate, 

 Batjan, Ceram, Amboina, Guebi, Waigiou, Timor, Flores, and Bourou ; Wallace obtained it on 

 the Aru islands, Miiller in New Guinea, the Novara Expedition on the Caroline Islands ; and 

 Messrs. Finsch and Hartlaub have themselves examined specimens from the Pelew islands. We 

 have, thanks to the liberality of Lord Walden, been able to examine a specimen of the Whimbrel 

 from the Philippines, in order to judge of the specific value of N. luzoniensis ; and we find that 

 it does not in any way differ from a specimen sent to us by Mr. Collett from Nordland, in 

 Norway. Messrs. Finsch and Hartlaub consider Numenius uropijgialis of Gould to be identical 

 with our Whimbrel, which we think also most probable ; and this will increase the range of the 

 present species to Australia and Tasmania. In Africa the Whimbrel is, as above stated, found 

 on the Nile ; Peters records it from Mozambique, Dr. Hartlaub from Zanzibar, Mr. E. Newton 

 from Madagascar, Mauritius, and Rodriguez, and Mr. E. L. Layard from South Africa, where, 

 however, he states "it is a rare bird, only three having reached my hands : one of these was 

 procured in the neighbourhood of Walwich Bay by the Messrs. Chapman ; the other two were 

 shot near Cape Town, one by my son, the other by Mr. Butler, the Taxidermist of the Museum. 

 From the statements of the two latter it appears the birds were feeding in company with the 

 Common Curlew ; and, may be, others of the same species were with them, as they were killed by 

 chance, and the difference not observed till submitted to me for inspection." Mr. Andersson 

 speaks of it as rare in Damara Land, and states that, as far as his observation goes, it is there, 

 and in Great Namaqua Land, less numerous than the Curlew, and, in fact, but rarely met with. 

 Dr. Hartlaub writes that it is found in Gambia, and on the island of St. Thome ; Messrs. Shelley 

 and Buckley met with it on the Gold Coast ; DuChaillu obtained it on the Camma river ; Governor 

 Ussher shot it on the Nagua river ; and Pel sent it from Ashantee. 



In America it does not occur, being there replaced by N. hudsonicus, which is easily recog- 

 nizable by its rufous axillaries. 



In its habits the Whimbrel bears considerable affinity to the Curlew. With us they are 

 generally me: with in the spring and autumn along the coast. Mr. Stevenson writes that it visits 

 the Norfolk coasts " on its passage to and from its breeding-grounds ; and though a few may be 

 seen occasionally in March and April, the appearance of the main body in May, on the Breydon 

 and Blakeney muds, is so invariable that this species is always spoken of as the 'May bird' by 



