138 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES, 



white. A whitish superciliary stripe and a white chin set off 

 the speckled cheek, and a dark streak runs from the bill 

 through the eye. There is more white on the wing of the 

 immature bird. The bill is greenish black, the legs yellowish 

 brown, and the irides dark brown. Length, 8 ins. Wing, 5*3 

 ins. Tarsus, i'2 ins. 



Siberian Pectoral Sandpiper. Erolia aaim'matci 

 (Horsfield). 



The eastern Pectoral Sandpiper breeds in north-east Siberia, 

 and winters so far south as Australia and New Zealand. It 

 differs from the American bird in the shape of the tail, accord- 

 ing to Mr. Mathews, as well as in its more rufous colour, and in 

 the larger area with streaks or dark V-shaped markings on the 

 under parts, which extends from the breast to the flanks. It 

 has been at least once, and possibly twice, obtained in Norfolk 

 in autumn. The distinction is less clear in the immature bird, 

 which has unstreaked under parts. The bill and irides are 

 much as in the other species, but the legs are greenish black. 

 Length, 8 ins. Wing, 5*5 ins. Tarsus, ri ins. 



Baird's Sandpiper. Erolia bairdi (Coues). 



Baird's Sandpiper, another Arctic American species, has, on 

 four occasions, been recorded in the British Isles — twice from 

 Sussex, once from Norfolk, and once from St. Kilda ; all the 

 occurrences have been in September or October. The bird 

 is about the size of the Dunlin, and if feeding with these 

 variable birds might easily be overlooked, mistaken for a 

 dark Dunlin with a rather short bill. Its upper parts are, 

 however, much blacker, though the feathers are margined with 

 buff and chestnut ; the crown is streaked, and the tail brown, 

 with the pointed central feathers very dark. The under parts 

 are white, suffused on the breast and flanks with buff and 



