BIIUJ.S OF KAJVi^AS. 175 



form in shape, and have a ground color of a rufous drab, marked 

 with bold patclies of dark sepia brown, interspersed with spots 

 in which this shade is deepened ahnost into blackness, and which 

 are collected in confluent groupings around the larger end. 

 These eggs measure 1.35 inches in length by .95 in breadth." 



Tringa bairdii (Coues). 



BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. 

 PLATE XI. 



Migratory; quite common. Arrive the last of March to first 

 of May; remain often late into May; begin to return the last 

 of August, occasionally remain until November. 



B. . E. 537. C. 615. G. 247, 80. U. 241. 



Habitat. America in general, but chiefly the interior; breed- 

 ing along the Arctic coast, and migrating south in winter to 

 Chili and Argentine Republic. 



Sp. Char. ''Adult, in summer: Above, variegated with black and grayish 

 buff, the former prevailing, 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; elsewhere, the black forms 

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

 upper tail coverts dusky brownish black, feathers bordered with dull clay color, 

 the exterior ones of the latter chiefly white, with irregular U-shaped markings 

 of dusky; tail light brywuish gray, the middle feather nearly black, all narrowly 

 edged with whitish; wing coverts and tertials grayish brown, with lighter edges 

 and darker centers; remiges dull slate; lower parts white, the sides of the head 

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

 Adult, in winter: Above, continuous grayish clay color, the feathers with darker 

 mesial streaks; rump and middle upper tail coverts dusky, the feathers bor- 

 dered termiuaJly 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. You7iff, first plumage: 

 Above, grayish clay color, the scapulars and interscapulars blackish centrally, 

 and conspicuously bordered with whitish terminally; the feathers of the crown 

 ^ud 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."' 



stretch of 

 Length. -wing. IVing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 7.00 14.70 4.80 1.85 .85 .85 



Female... ^20 15.00 4.90 2.00 .85 .85 



Iris dark brown; legs, feet and claws black. 

 These birds are rarely met with upon either coast, but are 

 ■quite common inland, especially in the Missouri region and west 



