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Show 674 MR. DRESSER ON A NEW SPECIES OF SANDPIPER. [June 20, 8. On a new Species of Broadbilled Sandpiper. By H. E. DRESSER, F.Z.S. [Received June 19, 1876.] Having lately had occasion to examine a large series of specimens of our Broadbilled Sandpiper, Limicola platyrhyncha (Temm.), in order to work out that species for the ' Birds of Europe,' I found on examining examples from Siberia and China that they differ constantly from our European bird in summer dress ; and as I find that there are in the series I have examined no intermediate specimens between these two forms, I think that the Eastern one, which has not hitherto been described, should be separated from our western bird ; and I propose to call it Limicola sibirica. It differs in the summer plumage in having the feathers on the crown and entire upper parts very broadly margined with bright rufous, so as to give this colour extreme prominence, the upper parts being, in fact, similar in colour to those of Tringa minuta in fullest summer dress. In Limicola platyrhyncha, on the other hand, the general coloration of the upper parts is black, the margins to the feathers being narrow and white or ochreous white, and the crown is very dark. The underparts in Limicola sibirica are as in Limicola platyrhyncha, except that the throat is less spotted, the chin and upper throat being quite unspotted. In measurements I find no constant difference, as both species vary somewhat inter se; but, as a rule, the eastern bird has the wing and tarsus rather longer than in L. platyrhyncha. In the winter plumage the two species cannot always with certainty be distinguished ; but, as a rule, the eastern one appears to be a trifle paler than the European bird. As it is hardly necessary to exhibit the large series of specimens I have had for examination, I have brought three specimens of Limicola sibirica in full summer plumage, which are all that I have in that dress, and two in winter dress; and for comparison I have taken at random four examples of Limicola platyrhyncha in summer plumage and two in winter plumage. With two exceptions, all the specimens of Limicola sibirica I have examined were obtained in China by Mr. Swinhoe. The following is a full description of a specimen in full summer plumage from China. LIMICOLA SIBIRICA, sp. nov. Capite et corpore supra pulchre ferrugineis, plumis medialiter nigris vix albido marginatis ; scapularibus dorso concoloribus, alis sicut in Limicola platyrhyncha pictis, sed pallidioribus etgrise-scentioribus ; rectricibus centralibus nigris valde rufo marginatis, reliquis griseis vix albo marginatis ; fronte et stria superciliari albis; capitis et colli lateribus dorso concoloribus sed magis griseo-albo notatis; corpore subtus albo, mento immaculato, gutture nigrofusco et ferrugineo gutta to. This species appears to breed in Northern Siberia, and to migrate southward into China in the autumn. How far westward its range |