PIGMY CURLEW. 
379 
PIET. — A name for the Dipper and for the Magpie. 
PIGEONS *(^Columhidce, Leach.)— A family of scratching' birds 
{Rasores, Illiger.)* 
PIGEON-HAWK. — A name for the Sparrow-hawk. 
PIGMY CURLEW {Tringa subarquata^ 
Becasseau cocorli, Temm. Man. d’Orn. 2. p. 609. — Scolopax Africana, Gniel. Syst. 
1. p. 655. sp. 19. — Numenius Africanus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 712. sp. 10, — 
Cape Curlew, Lath. Syn. 5. p. 126. — L’Aloutte de mer. Buff. Ois. pi. Enl. 851. 
— Numenius Pygm 2 eus, Bechst. Naturg. Dent. 4. p. 148. n. 5. — Naum. Vdg. 
D eut. t. 22. f. 28 Meyer, Vdg. Deut. 2. t. f. 2. — Scolapax subarquata, Gmel. 
Syst. 1. p. 658. sp. 25. — Numenius subarquata Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. p. 133. 
3. t. 6. — Ib. Tasschenb. Deut. 2. p. 276. n. 3. — Red Sandpiper, Penn. Arct. 
Zool. 2. p. 476. n. 392. — Lath. Syn. 5. p. 186. — Rotbbauchiger Brachvogel, 
Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 2. p. 356. — Naum. t. 20. f. 27. — Meyer, Vdg. Deut. 
2. t. f. 1. — Pigmy Sandpiper, and Pigmy Curlew, Mont. Orn. Diet, and Supp. 
— Flem. Br. Anim. p, 108. 
The length of this species is about eight inches and a half ; breadth 
fifteen and a half ; weight two ounces ; bill an inch and a half long, 
and bent ; legs black, and bare of feathers for half an inch above the 
knee ; irides brown ; the face white, over the eyes and throat, with 
brown spots ; crown of the head black, the edges of the feathers red ; 
nape also red with black streaks ; the back black, the edges of the 
feathers dotted with angular red spots, beneath reddish brown, more or 
less marked with dark spots mixed with white ; quills with pale mar- 
gins on the inner webs ; the tail cuneiform, dusky grey, bordered 
with white ; upper and under coverts white, mixed with black and 
red bars. 
As usual with others of the same family, much confusion exists 
respecting this species. That in Colonel Montagu’s museum appeared 
to be an adult in moult, obtained at that season when part of its sum- 
mer plumage yet remained, which enabled him to form a pretty correct 
idea of its plumage during the breeding season ; another, in his posses- 
sion, described in the first edition, was evidently young, having the 
white margins on the feathers upon the back, scapulars, and coverts of 
the wings. 
Another specimen, shot by Mr. Foljambe, on the 1st October, 1812, 
is thus described by that gentleman “ Length nine inches ; the bill 
one inch and a half long, black and incurvated; the crown and forehead 
dusky, with a slight mixture of cinereous ; over the eye a whitish line ? 
cheeks and back of the neck cinereous, with faint dusky streaks, the 
feathers of the back and scapulars olive brown, mixed with dusky, with 
broader margins of the same yellow ; quills black ; chin and throat 
white ; breast pale cream colour ; belly, sides, vent, rump, and tail 
