686 



APPENDIX. 



[No. V. 



called it Ardea Lentiginosa, which specific name, though given under such peculiarly 

 unscientific circumstances, being the first which had actually been applied to it, must 

 of course remain. Wilson's account and figure of the bird, which he calls Ardea 

 Minor, appeared in 1814. Montagu's description is full and correct, but that of 

 Wilson distinguishes the characteristic points of the plumage, with more precision. 

 On comparing the specimens of the two birds, the differences are very obvious ; 

 the bill of the American is nearly an inch longer than that of the other; the general 

 complexion of the plumage in the American is brown, with less decisive markings ; 

 that of the European is pale, with the markings very dark, and well defined; the Eu- 

 ropean is without the black mark on the side of the neck, which is so peculiar in the 

 American ; and finally, and conclusively, as is conceived, the primares, in the Ame- 

 rican, are dark lead-coloured, whilst those of the European are marked with alter- 

 nate bars of dark brown and light ferruginous. The American is also said not 

 to make the loud booming, which is so peculiar in the European species. The 

 American Bittern is found in Hudson's Bay, and the adjoining countries ; in Ca- 

 nada; and further to the southward, in the United States ; it breeds in swamps, 

 probably returning from the colder countries in the winter. It conceals itself in the 

 rushes in the day, and seeks its prey at night. It is not very common, nor confined 

 to particular districts, and is said to be good food when fat. 



Tringa Variabilis. Dunlin. 

 The specimens of this bird are in the summer plumage, under which it is known 

 on the coasts of Great Britain, as the Dunlin, and in America, as the Red-backed 

 Sandpiper; it does not remain in the Arctic countries, or even in the northern 

 parts of America, in the winter ; the alteration of appearance, common to it with all 

 the rest of the tribe to which it belongs, has caused it formerly to receive another 

 name at that season; it being the Purre of all writers, except the most recent. M. 

 Temminck has been very successful in the second edition of his Manuel, in describing 

 its different changes, and in collecting the many synonyms, which belong to it, the 

 number of which make the specific name under which it stands at present, very 

 appropriate. 



Tringa Minuta. Little Sandpiper. 

 Wilson has called this diminutive Sandpiper, which does not exceed six inches in 

 length, Tringa Pusilla. It appears from his account that it does not remain even in 

 the middle parts of America during the winter, but quits them, migrating to the 

 southward in October. It is found in all parts of the known world on the borders of 

 the ocean ; it also goes inland to the shores of large waters. Several specimens were 

 taken by the travellers at different parts of the journey in the summer season, the 



