288 
SCOLOPACIDiE. 
Bay, it was obtained after the species leaves that locality — -in 
November — and again at the more southern, Dublin Bay, that 
it was shot in the following month — December — ^^vhen it is not 
with us. The bird would thus seem to be in no haste on its migra- 
tion southwards. 
For some years after I had ascertained that the pigmy curlew is 
a regular annual visitant to Ireland, it was considered of very 
rare and irregular occurrence in Great Britain ; but the increased 
attention since bestowed on ornithology has shown that the bird 
is much more frequent on the shores of Scotland and England 
than had been previously imagined. 
Temminck states that the species winters in Sardinia, where it 
is very abundant, and leaves that island in May (^Man. d^Orn. 
Eur.,^ partiv. p. 397). It has a wide geographical range, and is 
found extensively over the three continents of the Eastern hemi- 
sphere and in North America. 
THE DUNLIN OE PUEEE. 
Sandlark of the Shore.^ 
Tringa variahilis, Meyer. 
„ cinclus and alpina, Linn. 
Is the most abundant of the Gmllafores around the 
coast ; but a few only, comparatively to their 
numbers, breed in Ireland. 
The remark by a correspondent, that on the muddy flats of the 
Eiver Lee, between Cork and Cove, countless flocks may be seen,^^ 
will apply to numerous similar localities on each side of the 
island. 
Habits in Belfast Bay. 
This bay, with its extensive oozy banks uncovered by the 
retiring tide, is a favourite abode of the dunlin. So soon as the 
Totanus hypoleucos is commonly called Fresh-water Sandlark. 
