Note 119 — LETTERS TO MERRETT.

The "draught" of this bird sent to Merrett is not forthcoming. Professor Newton has been kind enough to send me the following note on this puzzling passage. "Jonston's figure (tab. 31) of Gallina hypoleucos, to which Browne says it bore some resemblance, undoubtedly represents what we know as the Common Sandpiper, Totanus hypoleucus or Actitis hypoleuca, the Fysterlin of the Germans of Jonston's time (p. 160), and Fisterlein or Pfisterlein of modern days. But there seems to be some strange confusion that cannot now be cleared, between this bird and Browne's Anatula or Mergulus melanoleucos [see p. 76 ante], of which some years later, he sent a drawing, under the latter name, to Willughby, in whose work it is described and figured (Lat. Ed. p. 261, Engl. 343, tab. lix.), for this most certainly is the Rotche or Little Auk, Mergulus alle of modern ornithology." In the next letter (p. 81), Browne mentions that he encloses the draft of "Ralla aquatica" here referred to.