SCOLOPACID^ — THE SNIPE FAMILY — PELIDNA. 



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Genus PELIDNA, Cuvier. 



Pelidna, Cuv. Eeg. An. 1817, 490 ; ed. 2, 1829, 526 (type, Tringa alimia, Linn.). 

 Ancyloclicilus, Kaup, Sk. Ent. Eur. Thierw. 1829, 50 (type, Trhujn subarquata, Temm.). 



Char. Bill slender, longer than the head, deep through the base, compressed, scarcely or not 

 at all expanded at the tip, and decidedly decurved terminally. Tarsus shorter than the bill, longer 

 than the middle toe. Wings reaching beyond end of tail. 



P. alpina. 



The genus Pelidna includes two well-known Sandpipers, both of which are common to North 

 America and Europe, although one of them, the Curlew Sandpiper (P. subarquata) can scarcely 

 be considered as more than a straggler here. The other is represented in the two continents by 

 distinguishable races. The character of the species and races of Pelidna are as follows : — 



1. P. alpina. Upper tail-coverts dusky. Adult in summer : Belly black, other lower parts whitish. 



Winter flumage: No black beneath ; above, uniform brownish gray. Young: Belly and 



breast spotted with black. 

 a. Alpina. Wing, 4.30-4.7.5 ; culmen, 1.1.5-1.40 ; tarsus, .85-1.00 ; middle toe, .70-. 75. Hcdj. 



Europe. 

 ^. Americana. Wing, 4.60-4.95 ; culmen, 1.40-1.75 ; tar.sus, 1.00-1.15 ; middle toe, .70-.80. 



Huh. North America. 



2. P. subarquata. Upper tail-coverts white. Adult in summer : Beneath, including belly, deep 



cinnamon-rufous. Winter flumage : Beneath, white, obsoletely streaked on the jugulum ; 

 above, lirownish gray. Young: Belly and breast unspotted. Hah. Palajarctic Eegion ; 

 occasional in Eastern and Northern North America. 



Pelidna alpina. 



a. Alpina. THE RED-BACKED SANDPIPER; DUNLIN. 



Tringa alpina, Linn. S. N. ed. 10, 1758, 149 ; ed. 12, 1766, 249 (based on Cinchis torquatus, Briss. 



Orn. V. 1760, 216, pi. 19, fig. 2). —Newt. Man. N. H. Greenl. 1875, 103 (Greenland). 

 Pelidna alpim, Kinow. Proc. IT. S. Nat. Mas. 1881, 200 ; Nom. N. Am. B. 1882, no. 539. — CouES, 



Check Li.st, 2d ed. 1882, no. 623. 

 Tringa cinclus, Linn. S. N. 1. 1766, 251 (based on Briss. Orn. V. 1760, 211, pi. 19, fig. 1). 

 " Tringa pxcsilla, Gmel. S. N. I. 1788, 663" (Gray). 

 Tringa ruficollis, Pall. Reise, III. 1776, 700. 

 Numenius variabilis, Bechst. Naturg. Deiitschl. TV. 141. 

 Pelidna ScMnzii, Brehm. (var. ?) Not of American writers. 

 VOL. I. — .31 



