244 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



turn southwardly, it appears in large flocks along our coast from the middle of August until 

 the beginning of October. At this period the red plumage beneath disappears, giving place 

 to a white plumage spotted with dusky, ash-colored above ; when it is called White Robin 

 Snipe, and Grey-back. Farther south, in its spring dress, it is called May-bird. Many pass 

 the winter in Florida, but its ascertained geographical range is from the tropics to 75° north 

 latitude. This much esteemed bird feeds on worms and minute shellfish. 



WILSON'S SANDPIPER. 



Tringa pusilla. 

 plate xc1i. figs. 207, 208. 



Tringa pusilla. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 5, p. 32, pi. 37, fig. 4. 



T. ( Palidna) id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 319. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 386. 



T. wilsom. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p 121. Audubon, B. of A. Vol.5, p. 280, pi. 337. 



T. id. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 240. 



Characteristics. Small. Bill - 7, straight, and subequal with the tarsus. Rump and 

 upper tail-coverts black : secondaries nearly as long as the quills. 

 Summer, blackish and rufous ; beneath white. Winter, ash : beneath 

 whitish spotted with dusky. Length, 5*5. 



Description. Bill slender, compressed, tapering, depressed at tip. Neck short. Tibia 

 bare for one-fourth of its length. Hind toe very small. Tail doubly emarginate. 



Color. Summer : Bill dusky green. Above dark brownish black ; the feathers margined 

 with reddish : neck ash with dark spots. Wings dusky black ; the coverts tipped and edged 

 with black. Lores dusky ; chin and stripe over the eye whitish. Cheeks and sides of the 

 neck reddish ash, streaked obscurely with dusky. Beneath white or soiled white, occa- 

 sionally spotted with brown. Fig. 20S represents an individual in the State Collection, larger, 

 and with a proportionately longer bill ; the upper parts are of an ashen hue ; the breast and 

 sides of the neck spotted with brown. It came into my possession without any memorandum 

 as to its sex or season, but I suppose it to be a female in its winter dress. 



Length, 4" 5 -5-5. 



This little sandpiper, commonly known as the Peep, from its usual note, and as the Ox- 

 eye, from the size and brilliancy of its eye, is one of our most abundant species. It pervades 

 the whole of North America from Mexico to 68° north latitude ; occurring equally on the 

 coast, and through the interior to Columbia river. It breeds from Labrador to the Arctic 

 circle. Except during its short breeding season, it is a resident on the coast of this State. 

 In September and October, it is in good order ; and though small, is exceedingly savory. 

 Eggs three to four, cream-yellow, blotched and dotted with reddish brown. Food, larvae, 

 minute shellfish, and insects on the salt-marshes. 



