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of Locust Lodge, who carefully preserved it, under the impression that it was an individual of 

 the closely allied species Lams minutus, by which name it was distinguished when presented 

 in April 1833 to the Natural-History Society of Belfast. Mr. Montgomery informed me that, 

 from the diminutive size &c. of this bird when first seen by him, he had no doubt of its rarity. 

 It was so unwary as to alight once or twice within twenty yards of him ; but, to avoid disfiguring 

 it, he fired from so great a distance, that it was only at the third shot eventually obtained.' 

 Mr. Thompson discovered a second example ' in the Museum of the Royal Dublin Society, shot 

 by Mr. Wall (the Curator) a few years previous in Dublin Bay, near Kingstown.' And ' a third 

 specimen was shot on or about September 15, 1834, on the shore of Belfast Bay, near Claremont, 

 the residence of Mrs. Clemow, by whom it was subsequently bequeathed to the Belfast Museum.' 

 The fourth occurrence of this species in Ireland ' was shot in company with Terns (Sternce) in 

 the Bay of Dublin on the 12th of September, 1837.' " 



Since the above was written by Thompson, it has been thrice recorded from Ireland, in all 

 three instances by Mr. H. Blake Knox, who says (Zool. 1868, p. 1099) that one was obtained 

 at Kingstown Harbour in September 1866, a second one at the same place in September 1867, 

 and a third one at Bangor, co. Down, in October 1867. The only instance of its occurrence in 

 Scotland is somewhat doubtful, as the bird was only seen, but not obtained, by Dr. Saxby. 



In Greenland it is, according to Professor J. Beinhardt (Ibis, 1861, p. 19), "very rare in 

 the Danish settlements, and breeds only to the north of Upernavik." It has occurred on the 

 Fseroes, where, according to Mr. H. C. Miiller, one was shot near Thorshavn on the 26th of 

 January, 1856; but I do not find any instance of its occurrence in Norway, Sweden, or in 

 Northern Bussia ; nor does Professor Malmgren believe in its occurrence in Spitzbergen, though 

 Sir J. Bichardson (Faun. Bor.-Am. p. 428) says that " Captain Sabine killed a pair in Spitz- 

 bergen." In Northern Germany it has occurred several times. Professor Blasius (Ibis, 1862, 

 p. 71) records the occurrence of an immature specimen on Heligoland ; and Dr. Altum says that 

 two have been killed in Munsterland — one an old male in full plumage, and the other, which 

 was obtained near Baumbergen, an immature bird. The exact locality where the first-named 

 specimen was obtained is not recorded. Kjserbolling says that, according to Mr. E. Hage, an 

 example was shot on the coast of Holstein. De Selys records the capture of one on the coast of 

 Holland, and of another in Picardy ; and Degland and Gerbe state that an adult was killed near 

 Bouen, and another specimen was obtained near Dunkirk, on 24th September, 1847.' 



I do not find any record of its having been met with in North-eastern Europe ; but it 

 appears to be numerous in the extreme north of Asia. Von Middendorff says (Sib. Reise, 

 p. 244) that " it appeared on the Taimyr river in 73f° N. lat. on the 5th June, and soon 

 disappeared, not being seen again until we reached the ponds on the tundras and the small 

 alluvial islands in the Taimyr lake and river, north of 74° N. lat., where it was common, and 

 was breeding in company with the Arctic Tern. When we left the flat alluvial land and 

 entered into the mountainous districts we lost sight of it altogether." From there it extends 

 across into North America. Mr. Dall (Trans. Chic. Acad. Sc. i. p. 306) says that it was 

 "abundant in the marshes about Pastolik and St. Michael's, where it breeds. Not rare at 

 Plover Bay, E. Siberia. I have never observed it far inland, in strictly fresh water ; and it is not 

 found at Nulato ;" and Mr. Bannister (I. c.) also writes as follows : — " In the early part of July 



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