178 WADING BIRDS. 



on the tail coverts ; the posterior under plumage is also tipt with 

 white ; the two longest under tail coverts are white, with two 

 large, oblong, black blotches. Under wing coverts blackish-brown, 

 tipt with white ; long axillaries and the lesser coverts surrounding 

 them, unspotted pitch-black. Wings equal in length to the tail, 

 which is partially forked, the central pair of feathers, being, how- 

 ever, as long as the outer pair, thus producing a double emargination, 

 or notching ; outermost feather nearly all white, except the oblique 

 tip which runs far down on the inner web. In the female the chest- 

 nut of the under plumage is less pure, more tipt with white, and 

 barred with black, and the nails of their middle toes are more apt 

 to be dentated ; (in the 7 specimens before me, however, there is no 

 vestige of a notch ;) this character even varies in the feet of the 

 same individual. — Winter plumage, a dark mouse grey, almost 

 wholly without spots and edgings. Below, this color on the throat 

 and breast is dilute, and tinged with yellowish, the rest of the in- 

 ferior plumage fading into white towards the belly and vent. 



In the yoking of the year, the head and neck are of a dull brownish- 

 grey,, the former spotted with dusky-brown. The back and scapulars 

 dusky-brown, edged with rufous-white, a few of the longest often 

 partly barred at their extremities. Rump greyish pitch-black, the low- 

 er part and tail coverts pure white, a few of the latter tipt with black. 

 Tail black, the lower part of the feathers white, tips brownish- white, 

 outermost tail feather for the most part white, obliquely tipt with 

 black. Stripe over the eye whitish. Lores dusky-brown. Chin, 

 rump, and under tail coverts, white. Throat and breast brownish-ash 

 color ; below white, faintly tinged with rufous. Slight indications of 

 waving spots on the sides of the breast. Wing coverts ash, dusky 

 along the shafts, greater coverts broadly fringed with ashy-white. 

 The first 4 primaries brownish-black, the rest and secondaries white 

 below, that color extending farther up on the outer shafts. Primary 

 coverts pitch black, tipt broadly with greyish- white, shoulder of the 

 wing dusky. Long axillaries, intimate and upper lining of the 

 wing black ; the anterior lining broadly edged with white. Intimate 

 lining of the secondaries principally white. Legs and feet olive- 

 black, webs of the the tees unequal, the outer extending to the first 

 articulation, the other half as long. Bill slightly curved upwards, 

 dusky-brown above, black at tip, the greater part of the lower man- 

 dible brownish-red : in the male 2| inches long ; (measured from 

 above) in the female 3^ inches. Length of the male 15 inches j of 

 the female 17. 



