150 
ANATLDiE. 
while the whole upper surface and anterior part of the side were of a deep rose- 
colour. Irides very light yellowish-hazel. Cheeks and ear-coverts pale greyish- 
drab, except a small space of pure white margining the eye. Forehead pale grey, 
which colour also extends round the throat, and continues downward so as to margin 
the entire inner or lower side of the dark chestnut-brown patch on each side of the 
neck. Central line of lower part of throat, between the two approximating edges of 
the chestnut patch, white. Top of head very pale buff. Back and lower part of 
neck all round pure white, which colour extends down between the “ shoulders.” 
Scapulars and sides beneath the wings, or “ flanks,” pale slate-colour. Entire breast 
dark chestnut-brown, of the same hue as the patch on the head. Belly and under 
tail-coverts, white. Tail-feathers : two outer pair pure white ; the three next, with 
a dark longitudinal line near the centre, becoming gradually broader in those ap- 
proximating the middle of the tail. The second longest pair all black, except a nar- 
row line of white on each side of their hasal portion. The longest pair wholly black. 
Tarsi and toes very pale lead-colour ; webs greyish-black ; nails blackish. 
in. lin. 
Length, from point of bill to end of longest tail-feathers . 22 0 
of wing from carpus ..... 9 0 
of bill from rictus to point .... 1 7 
forehead to end of nail ... 1 1 
of tarsus ....... 1 3 
of middle toe and nail ..... 1 6 
Longest tail-feathers exceed the others .... 3 3 
Next „ „ „ .... 1 6 
Its stomach contained only a Rissoa ulva. This specimen came 
into the possession of Capt. Bradshaw, B.N., of Holywood ; I 
purchased all the others. 
Most of the preceding birds appeared in the estuary within 
a mile of the town, and all of them within three miles of it. I 
have never known them to be driven here by severity of weather, 
under the influence of which alone they are said to visit the coast 
of Sussex.* October, November, and December, have hitherto 
been the months of their visits, and they have chiefly been im- 
mature. The statement of Wilson and Audubon, (when writing 
of this bird as a North American one,) that the species lives 
chiefly on shell-fish, has been corroborated by an examination of 
the food in the individuals just noticed, in which both univalve and 
bivalve forms were found. The latter author (vol. iv. p. 103) gives 
* Knox. 
