230 



PR^COCIAL CtKALLATORES — LIMICOL.E. 



Actodromas Bairdi. 



BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. 



(?) Tringa vielanotos, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. XXXIV. 1819, 462 (based on Chorlito lomo negro, Azara). 

 Tringa BmiaiMrtii, "Schleg." Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 722 (part ; nee Schleg.). 

 Tringa maculata, Schleg. Mus. P.-B. Scolopaces, 1864, 39 (i)art). 

 Actodromas Bairdii, CouES, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1861, 194; Check List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 615. 



— KiDGW. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 537. 

 THnga Bairdii, ScL. P. Z. S. 1867, 332 (Chili). — Coues, Key, 1872, 255; Check List, 1873, no. 



419; Birds N. W. 1874, 484. 



Hab. America in general, but chiefly the interior of the northern, and the western portion of 

 the southern, continent, ranging from the Arctic coast to Chili and Buenos Ayres ; rare in the East- 

 ern Province, and not yet recorded from the Pacific coast of the United States ; accidental in South 

 Africa ? 



Sp. Char. Adult in summer : Above, variegated \vitli black and grayish buff, the former pre- 

 vailing, in the form of irregular, somewhat diamond-shaped spots on the back and scapulars, the 

 buff occupying most of the border of the feathers, and sending indentations toward the shaft ; else- 

 where, the black forms distinct streaks, widest on the crown and anterior part of the back ; rump 

 and upper tail-coverts dusky-l)rownisli black, feathers bordei'ed with dull clay-color, the exterior 

 ones of the latter chielly white, with irregular U-sha2)ed markings of dusky. Tail light brownish 

 gray, the middle feather nearly l)lack, all narrowly edged with whitish. Wing-coverts and ter- 

 tials grayish brown, with lighter edges and darker centres ; remiges dull slate. Lower parts white, 

 the sides of the head and neck, the jugulum, and anterior portion of the sides, streaked with dusky. 

 Adult in li'inter : Above, continuous grayish clay-color, the feathers with darker mesial streaks; 

 rump and middle upper tail-coverts dusky, the feathers bordered terminally with dull clay-color ; 

 lateral upper tail-coverts brownish white. Beneath, brownish white, the jugulum, breast, sides 

 (anteriorly), and sides of the neck, deeply suffused with clay-color or dull buff. Y^oung, first "plu- 



mage : Above, grayish clay-color, the scapulars and interscapulars blackish centrally, and conspicu- 

 ously bordered with whitish terminally ; the feathers of the crown and nape streaked with dusky. 

 Wing-coverts, rump, etc., much as in the winter plumage ; sides of the head and neck, the jugulum, 

 and breast, pale clay-color, rather indistinctly streaked with dusky. Other lower parts white. 



Total length, about 7.00 to 7.50 inches; extent, about 15.00 ; wing, about 4.75 ; culmen, usually 

 less than 1.00 inch; tarsus, nearly 1.00; middle toe, about .70. Bill black; iris dark brown; 

 jlack. 



legs and feet slate 



Baird's Sandpiper has been so recently recognized as a species wholly distinct 

 from the Bonaparte Sandpiper, that much remains to be learned in regard to its 

 distribution and other specific peculiarities. Its early history has been more or less 

 blended with that of other species, to which it has certain proximate resemblances. 

 It is probable that when sufficient explorations shall have been made to develop a 

 knowledge of its migrations and habits, it will be found to have a much wdder 



