196 TRINGA RUFESCENS. 



back. The two middle tail-feathers are greyish-brown, 

 darker and glossed with green at the end, slightly edged 

 and tipped with white ; the other feathers gradually paler, 

 edged and tipped with white, within which is a line of 

 black. The sides of the head, fore part and sides of the 

 neck, with a small part of the breast, and a portion of the 

 sides are light yellowish-red, streaked with brownish-black ; 

 the throat paler, as are the rest of the lower parts, and 

 without markings. The axillar feathers Avhite, as are most 

 of the lower wing-coverts ; but those near the edge of the 

 wing are black in the centre, and the large coverts are dotted 

 with black. The dark markings of the quills are con- 

 spicuous on their lower surface. 



Length to end of tail 8 inches ; extent of wings 18 ; wing 

 from flexure 5f ; tail 2^ ; bill along the ridge J \, along the 

 edge of lower mandible 1 ; tarsus 1 , 4 2 ; bare part of tibia ^ ; 

 hind toe f 2 , its claw ,'-.,; second toe f 2 , its claw j 2 2 ; third 

 toe \ ° , its claw j 3 2 ; fourth toe j o , its claw r * . 



Female. — The female is similar in colour to the male, 

 but somewhat larger. 



Habits. — This species is said to be not uncommon on 

 the coasts of Massachusetts, in company with the Pectoral 

 Sandpiper, which it resembles in its habits, as well as in 

 form ; and of which, notwithstanding the curious markings 

 on its quills, I cannot help suspecting it to be the young. 

 An individual, described by Mr. Yarrell in the Linncean 

 Transactions, vol. xvi. p. 109, was shot in the beginning of 

 September, 1826, in Cambridgeshire, along with some Dot- 

 terels ; and another, a female, was killed on the 28th of 

 July, 1832, at Sheringham, in the county of Norfolk. 



