called it Ardea Lentiginosa, which specific name, though given under such peculiarly
unscientific circumstances, being the first which had actually been applied to it, must
of course remain. Wilson’s account and figure of the bird, which he calls Ardea
Minor, appeared in 1814. Montagu’s description is full and correct, but that of
Wilson distinguishes the characteristic points of the plumage, with more precision.
On comparing the specimens of the two birds, the differences are very obvious;
the bill of the American is nearly an inch longer than that of the other ; the general
complexion of the plumage in the American is brown, with less decisive markings ;
that of the European is pale, with the markings very dark, and well defined; the European
is without the black mark on the side of the neck, which is so peculiar in the
American; and finally, and conclusively, as is conceived, the primaries, in the American,
are dark lead-coloured, whilst those of the European are marked with alternate
bars of dark brown and light ferruginous. The American is also said not
to make the loud booming, which is so peculiar in the European species. The
American Bittern is found in Hudson’s Bay, and the adjoining countries, in Canada,
and further to the southward in the United States; it breeds in swamps, probably
returning from the colder countries in the winter. It conceals itself in the rushes in
the day, and seeks its prey at night. It is not very common, nor confined to particular
districts, and is said to be good food when fat.
Tringa Variabilis. Dunlin.
The specimens of this bird are in the summer plumage, under which it is*known
on the coasts of Great Britain, as the Dunlin, and in America, as the Red-backed
Sandpiper; it does not remain in the Arctic countries, or even in the northern
parts of America, in the winter; the alteration of appearance, common to it with all
the rest of the tribe to which it belongs, has caused it formerly to receive another
name at that season ; it being the Purre of all writers, except the most recent. M.
Temminck has been very successful in the second edition of his Manuel, in describing
its different changes, and in collecting the many synonyms, which belong to it, the
number of which make the specific name under which it stands at present, very
appropriate.
Tringa Minuta. Little Sandpiper.
Wilson has called this diminutive Sandpiper, which does not exceed six inches in
length, Tringa Pusilla. It appears from his account that it does not remain even in
the middle parts of America during the winter, but quits them, migrating to the
southward in October. It is found in all parts of the known world on the borders of
the ocean; it also goes inland to the shores of large waters. Several specimens were
taken by the travellers at different parts of the journey in the summer season, the
breeding places of the bird being in the northern regions, but it is not mentioned by
Captain Sabine as visiting the Islands of the Arctic Sea.
Totanus Vociferus. Tell-tale Godwit.
Previous to the publication of Wilson, we had no further information respecting
this species, than is contained in a short note in the Arctic Zoology, where it is said
to have been received from the coast of Labrador, under the name of Stone Curlew ;
on this authority it was introduced by Gmelin into the Systema Natures, as Scolopax
Melanoleuca. Wilson called it Scolopax Yociferus; it belongs, however, to the division
of the Genus, now known as Totanus. The Tell-tale Godwit, or Snipe, breeds
in the American States in marshy grounds, and has acquired celebrity from the protection
it affords to the race of aquatic birds from the attacks of the sportsman; being
very vigilant, when it discovers the approach of any person towards its haunts, it
rises on the wing, and, by a continued uttering of its very shrill notes, gives the
alarm to the ducks and other game which are within hearing at their feed, when they
immediately take flight. These birds retire to the southward in the winter season. The
specimen received was in a very perfect state; it measured sixteen inches in length;
the bill is two inches and a quarter long, having the upper mandible a little bent at
the end ; the throat, belly, and vent, are white ; the fore part of the neck is marked
with longitudinal stripes of dark brown; the sides under the wings are marked across
with bands of black, the white progressively predominating towards the thighs; the
head and back of the neck are dark, slightly marked with white ; the back, scapulars
and wing coverts, are dark brown, spotted with white, the white spots being disposed
along the edges of all the feathers ; the primaries are black, the shaft of the first is
white, of the others black; the rump is white; the tail feathers are beautifully
crossed with alternate narrow bands of dark brown and white; the legs are naked
near two inches above the knee ; the tarse is two inches and a quarter long; the feet,
with their fore toes, long; the hind toe a quarter of an inch long ; the legs are said to
be a rich orange colour.
Totanus Noveboracensis. Red-breasted Snipe.
This bird, which has been described by Pennant, and, after him, by Latham
and Gmelin, as the Scolopax Noveboracensis, as well as the Scolopax Grisea, or
Brown Snipe, breeds in the North, visiting the temperate parts of the United
States at spring and fall, in its passage from and to its winter quarters. It
is in high estimation for the table, and is eagerly sought after by sportsmen,
on the bars and shores of the large rivers and places within the influence of the
tide, where it feeds. Two specimens, probably in perfect summer plumage, were
sent home, differing from each other only in size, one exceeding the other an