PLATE CLX. 



acqiiifition to the Britifh Fauna. The bird has very probably forrg 

 exifted in fome colle6lions of the country, which from their privacy 

 have remained unknown, and where it has been perhaps confidered 

 as the Red Godwit, or a mere variety of that rare and interelling 

 fpecies. 



This conje<5lure is rendered more than probable from various local 

 circumftances within our knowledge which are not material to 

 -repeat. It was not, however, till within the laft four or five year* 

 that this bird has appeared to be corre£lly known as a Britifh fpecies ; 

 when bcfiJes the difcovery of a few birds in different parts of the 

 country which fell by accident into the hands of curious fporting 

 gentlemen, fome few were captured by the fowlers, and brought 

 for fale to the London market. Thefe, very fortunately for the gra- 

 tification of the Englilh colle61ors, were purchafed by a dealer in 

 London and we believe that moR of the London colleftions at 

 ]cafl, were fupplied with examples of this curious bird from that 

 accidental fource and circumfiance. 



The imprefTion that ftruck our mind upon the firfl: view of this 

 bir4 was the very ftrong affinity it bore to the Scolopax Hudfonica 

 of Dr. Latham, which we had feen fome vears before, and fubfe- 

 quent refle£lioa does not feem to leffen the fmiiiitude in our ideas. 

 We lament fincerely on this account that the means of comparifon 

 are too remote either to eftablifh or to remove conjeBure, for the 

 individu?.! fpecimen defcribed by Dr. Latham, under the name of 



* Mr. Corbet. 



Scolopax 



