186 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 
Scolopax africanus , Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 1788, i. 655. 
Tringa subarquata , Temminck, Man. 1820, ii. 609. Vieillot, Nouv. Diet, xxxiv. 
1819, 454. Nuttall, Man. 1834, ii. 104. Jenyns, Man. 1835, 208. Audubon, 
Orn. Biog. 1835, iii. 444; id. Birds Amer. 1842, v. 269, tab. 333; id. Syn. 
1839. Schinz, Eur. Faun. 1840, i, 320. Maegillivray, Man. Brit. Orn. 1842, 
ii. 71. Giraud, Birds L. I. 1844, 237. Schlegel, Rev. Crit. 1844, 88. Dekay, 
N. Y. Fauna, 1844, 239, tab. 95, fig. 213. Gray, Genera, 1849, iii. 579. 
Degland, Orn. Eur. 1849, ii. 225. Meyer, Brit. Birds, 1857, v. 91. Nilsson, 
Scand. Faun. 1858, ii. 239. 
Pelidna subarquata , Bonaparte, Comp. List, 1838, 50 ; id. Rev. Grit. 1850, 185. 
Ancylocheilus subarquata , Kaup, Eur. Thierw. 1829. Parzudaki, Cat. Ois. Eur. 
1856, 14. 
Numenius subarquata , Bechstein, Nat. Deut. iv. 148, fide Temminck. 
Numenius pygmeeus, Bechstein, Nat. Deut. iv. 135, fide Temminck. 
Numenius ferrugineus, Meyer, fide Vieillot. 
Numenius africanus , Latham, Ind. Orn. 1790, ii. 712. 
Erolia variegata, Vieillot, Anal. 1816; id. Nouv. Diet. 1817, x. 409, secundum 
Gen. Rep. Lesson, Man. 1828, ii. 302. 
JEroliavaria , Vieillot, Gal. des Ois. 1834, ii. 89, tab. ccxxxi. ; (=Erolia variegata.) 
Falcinellus cursorius , Temminck, fide Parzudaki. 
Tringa ( Tringa ) subarquata , Bonaparte, Speech. Comp. 1827, 62. 
Pelidna ( Ancylocheilus ) subarquata , Bonaparte, Cat. Met, 1842, 60. 
Tringa ( Erolia ) subarquata , Cassin, Gen. Rep. 1858, 718. 
Sp. Char. — Form typical of the genus. Adult. Crown of head and entire 
upper parts lustrous greenish black, each feather tipped and deeply indented 
with bright yellowish red. Win^J coverts ashy brown, each feather with a 
shaft line of dusky and with reddish edging. Primaries deep dusky, their 
shafts brown at base and black at tip, the central portion nearly white. Upper 
tail coverts white with broad bars of dusky, and tinged at their extremity with 
reddish. Tail light greyish with greenish reflections. Sides of the neck and 
entire under parts uniform deep brownish red. Under tail coverts barred with 
dusky. Axillars and under wing coverts white, Bill and legs greenish black. 
Young in autumn , Crown of head and back brownish black, with a slight 
greenish lustre, each feather edged with white or reddish yellow. Rump plain 
dusky, upper tail coverts white. Wing coverts with broad greyish-white 
borders. Tail light ashy, edged and tipped with white, the central feathers 
with a subterminal dusky border in addition. Under parts entirely white, the 
breast and sides of the neck finely streaked with dusky, the former with a light 
buff tinge. 
Length 8-5, wing 4-9. Bill (average) 1*5. Tarsus 1-3 ; toe *9; tibia bare *7. 
Habitat . — “ Atlantic coast of United States; rare. Europe, Asia, Africa." 
(Gen. Rep.) 
The variations in both plumage and dimensions which this species presents 
are very great, fully equal to those exhibited by Tringa canutus. I have given 
above the colors of the adult and of the young of the first fall, between which 
there may be found every gradation, more especially in reference to the red of 
the under parts, which at different ages appears as mottling of greater or less 
extent. The species may, however, be easily recognised in every stage of 
plumage by its generic characters. The single American specimen before me 
differs from European skins in a shorter stouter bill, in a shorter tarsus and 
toes, and in a remarkably abbreviated hind toe. 
There has been considerable confusion among writers with regard to the 
synonymy of this species. It has received quite a variety of both generic and 
specific appellations, and from its many changes of plumage several nominal 
species have arisen. The bird was first mentioned, in 1775, by Guldenstaedt, 
(Nov. Comm, ut supr&,) who introduced it under the name of Scolopax subar- 
quata . This specific appellation is the one which has been employed by most 
[Julyj 
