Birds. 141 



Pectoral Sandpiper. — The first is the pectoral sandpiper, or more 

 properly speaking, perhaps, Tringa (Tringa pectoralis), which is an 

 American species. A figure of this bird is given in Eyton's Rarer 

 British Birds. The present, I believe, is the only instance of its cap- 

 ture in Cornwall, and the second authenticated instance of its occur- 

 rence in Britain. The specimen here alluded to was killed on the 

 beach of Annet, one of the Isles of Scilly, and is now in the valuable 

 collection of David Michell, Esq., of this town. A coiTect coloured 

 drawing of the individual was submitted to Mr. Yarrell, and he coin- 

 cided with the opinion which we had formed of its being Tringa pec- 

 toralis. I examined minutely the specimen after it was preserved, 

 and on comparing it with specimens of the common dunlin {Tringa 

 variabilis) in summer plumage, I observed that the general aspect of 

 the bird, as well as the colours on the back and upper parts, were very 

 similar to those of that species. The total absence of the black on the 

 belly, which, at this season, is more or less developed in the dunlin, 

 shows a striking difference ; and on further examination, I found some 

 minor variations in form and dimensions, which indicated unequivo- 

 cal marks of distinction. 



TRINGA PECTORALIS. 



Length of the middle toe, iT-'^inch. 



Breadth of expanded wings, ISj 



Naked part of tibia, j 



Length of wing from carpal joint, 5j 



oi 



Tail, 2 



Basal part of the bill yellowish green. Tarsi the same. 



TRINGA VARIABILIS. 



Length of middle toe, f J 



Length of wing from carpal joint, 4f 



The shape of Tringa pectoralis is longer and narrower, and appears 

 more compressed and ra^7-shaped than that of Tringa variabilis. In 

 its mode of flight and character on the ground, it bore great resem- 

 blance to the common sandpiper ; and taking into consideration its 

 greater length of tail, the length of the tibiae and shape of the bill, 

 which is more slender and compressed at the base than in the dunlin, 

 it appears to me that there are affinities observable in this species to 

 both the Tringse and Totani, which are calculated to show, in a gra- 

 dual and beautiful point of view, the intermediate link in the chain of 

 Nature which unites the two families. 



