Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 413 
143. Tringa damacensis. 
Totanus damacensis , Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 192. 
Tringa subminuta, Midd. Sib. Reise. 
This is also one of the hurrying passers-by that run to winter 
in more southerly latitudes. It passes in September, to return 
in May. It is never to be seen in large flocks, nor are the flocks 
numerous. Indeed I may say that this is one of our rarest 
Snippits. I only procured one specimen in Formosa. 
144. Tringa albescens, Gould. 
Schceniclus albescens , Gould, B. Austr. vi. pi. 31. 
This species is pretty numerous on our marshes in September, 
but leaves very shortly for more southern latitudes. It winters 
in the Indian Archipelago, whence Mr. Wallace has brought 
home numerous examples. In summer it retires to breed in 
Kamtschatka and Northern Mantchuria, passing the coast of 
South China hurriedly in May. I procured abundant examples 
of it in the south-west marshy lands of Formosa, but most of 
them were either immature or almost moulted into the winter 
dress. I have, however, five skins, procured at Amoy in May, 
in complete summer plumage. 
Length in.; wing 4^; tail 1^, the two central rectrices 
exceeding the lateral feathers by ^ in. Bill T 7 ^ in.; bare tibia 
*47; tarsus *73. Bill and legs olive-black. The two central 
rectrices exceed the one that succeeds by ^ in.; the second 
feather in. longer than the three next, which are equal in 
length; the outermost feather is ^ in. longer than these; the 
tail thus presents a very irregular tip. In its winter plumage the 
upper parts are light blackish grey, many of the feathers with dark 
centres more or less apparent; the feathers of the back, scapulars, 
and wing-coverts are more or less margined with white. Quills 
blackish brown, with white shafts; the primary coverts largely 
tipped with white, forming a conspicuous bar on the wing; 
secondaries tipped and margined with white, a bar of white 
running across their bases. Central upper tail-coverts and two 
central rectrices black, the latter edged with whitish; the next 
feather lighter, and the rest of the tail very pale brown, with 
white edges; remaining tail-coverts white. Axillaries pure 
white, the carpal edge being barred with black. Before the eyes 
