BROWN PHALAROPE. 
191 
Albany, in the State of New York. On referring to Wilson’s 
Journal, I found an account of the bird, there called a Tringa^ 
written with a lead pencil, but so scrawled and obscured, that 
parts of the writing were not legible. I wrote to Mr Trow- 
bridge soliciting a particular description, but no answer was 
returned. However, having had the good fortune, since pub- 
lishing the first edition, of examining a fine recent specimen of 
this rare bird, I hope I shall be enabled to fix the species by 
such characters as will prevent any ornithologist in future 
from confounding it with the species which follows; — two 
birds which, owing to a want of precision, were involved in 
almost inextricable confusion, until Temminck applied himself 
to the task of disembroiling them ; and this ingenious natural- 
ist has fully proved that the seven species of authors, consti- 
tuted in effect only two species. 
Temminck’s distinctive characters are drawn from the bill ; 
and he has divided the genus into two sections — an arrange- 
ment of which the utility is not evident, seeing that each sec- 
tion contains but one species, unless we may consider that the 
barred phalarope of Latham constitutes a third, a point not 
yet ascertained, and not easy to be settled, for the want of cha- 
racters. 
In my examination of these birds, I have paid particular 
attention to the feet, which possess characters equally striking 
with those of the bill ; hence, a union of all these will afford a 
facility to the student, of which he will be fully sensible when 
he makes them the subject of his investigation. 
Our figure of this species betrays all the marks of haste ; it 
is inaccurately drawn, and imperfectly coloured ; notwith- 
figure being much too stout and thick, and not of that more elegant form, one of 
the characteristics of the Totani. 
Under this division will also range the little red-necked phalarope, Lohipes hy- 
perboreus of Temminck, and the present type of the genus. According to Bona- 
parte, this species is exceedingly rare and accidental in the United States. It 
will appear in the forthcoming volumes of that gentleman’s Illustrations. — E d. 
