My bird, being of smaller size than most of those with which I have compared it, is probably a young specimen.

The rufous band on the breast is narrower than is usual in the species, originating probably from the same circumstance: otherwise it agrees precisely.
Rallus philippensis was originally found in the Philippine Islands.

It appears to have a very extensive range, as it inhabits lands both in the North and South Pacific, as well as in the Indian Ocean.
9.

Haematopus picatus (n.s.) H.ater; corpore subtus, fascia alarum, uropygio, caudaeque basi, albis; remigibus primoribus totis nigris.
Rostrum pedesque rubri; collum totum nigrum; tectrices inferiores primores fuscae, secondariae albae, ad carpum et ad marginem exteriorem nigro-variegatae; fascia alarum angusta; remiges primores supra nigrae, subtus fuscae; uropygium album parce nigro variegatum.
Longitudo corporis ab apice rostri ad apicem caadae, 22; alae a carpo ad remigem primam, 11; rosri, 3 3/10; tarsi, 2 3/10; caudae, 5.
Besides the common Oyster-Catcher of Europe, two species have lately been added to the genus, namely, H.palliatus, Temm., a native of Brazil, and H.niger, Cuv., from New Holland.

The bird above described approaches more closely to the European species (H.ostralegus) than to the other two; but may be distinguished from it by the following characters, namely: In its dimensions it exceeds the length of the European bird by six inches, and the other parts in proportion; it wants the white collar round the neck, which is a very distinctive character of H.ostralegus; the fascia on the wing is confined to the extremity of the secondary quill feathers alone, whilst in the other bird it extends to some of the wing coverts: the primary quill feathers also are entirely black; whereas the other has them partially variegated with white: the under wing coverts also differ, the primary ones being fuscous, and the outer secondary partially marked with black; whilst the whole of the under wing coverts in H.ostralegus are white.