140 WADING BIRDS. 



AUDUBON'S STILT SANDPIPER. 



(Tringa*Audubonii. T. hhnantopus? Richardson and Swainson, 

 North. Zool. ii. p. 380.) 



Sp. Charact. — Below brownish-grey, and without spots or bars; 

 tarsus wax-yellow, longer than the bill; lateral tail feathers equal, 

 all without bars ; tail coverts spotted ; webs of the toes equal with 

 each other. — Winter plumage unknown. 



According to Dr. Richardson, this species was not un- 

 common in the month of July, on the flats at the outlet of 

 Haye's river, in the fur countries of Hudson's Bay, in the 

 latitude of 57°, vi^here no doubt they breed, and probably 

 pursue an inland route to their winter quarters in the warmer 

 parts of the continent. We have ventured to consider this 

 bird as a distinct species from the preceding, according to 

 the description given of it by Dr. Richardson, and as such, 

 feel gratified in having the opportunity of dedicating it to 

 the memory of the indefatigable Audubon whose services 

 in illustrating the Ornithology of North America have been 

 so preeminent. 



Length of the species 9^ inches ; of the bill 1 inch 8 lines. Alar 

 extent 17 inches. The length of the thigh, tarsus and toes together 

 5j^ inches (being fully an inch more than in the same parts of T. 

 Douglasii.) Summit of the head, dorsal plumage, and lesser wing 

 coverts black, edged with rufous and brownish white. Neck grey. 

 Primaries, and central tail feathers, clove-brown ; lateral tail feathers, 

 pale hair-brown; shafts of the primaries, margins of the secondaries, 

 and of the lateral tail feathers, and stripes on the shafts of the latter 

 whitish. Tail coverts, greyish white, with a few brown spots. 

 Breast, brownish-grey ; belly brownish- white. Inner wing coverts, 

 smoke-grey and white. Legs wax-yellow. Bill black, much com- 

 pressed at the base ; its ridge rounded for two-thirds of its length, 

 where it is depressed or flattened, its width being slightly increased 

 close to the point. The ends of both mandibles, closely studded 

 with minute, smooth, soft, flattened tubercles, like polished shagreen. 

 Central tail feathers, exceeding the others a little in length. Lateral 

 toes equal. Webs of the toes both nearly or quite equal with each 

 other, extending so far as to include the first phalanx. 



