SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



2.^,1 



Although considered rare, the Stilt Sandpiper 

 is more numerous along the Atlantic coast than 

 is supposed, since it is frequently mistaken for the 

 Yellow-leys by gunners or by those not trained 

 to close observation. The similarity of the two 

 species is acknowledged by the popular name, 

 " Bastard Yellow-legs,'' which the sportsmen of 

 Long Island have given to the Stilt Sandpiper. 

 The different color of the long legs will always 



be a distinguishing mark, however, between these 

 cousins. 



It flies in flocks, or individuals may join forces 

 with other species. A Stilt Sandpiper among a 

 number of Semiijalmated Sand[)ipers is instantly 

 noted, his long legs raising his body cons[)icu- 

 ously above his smaller companions. Its general 

 habits of feeding are similar to those of the 

 smaller Sandpiper. 



KNOT 

 Tringa canutus Liniiccns 



.\. O V. Xumber 2u See Color I'lates a, 34 



Other Names. — Red Sandpiper: Red-breasted Sand- 

 piper ; Red-breasted Plover : Freckled Sandpiper ; Ash- 

 colored Sandpiper: Canute's Sandpiper; Gray-back; 

 Silver-back: Robin Snipe; White Robin Snipe; Robin- 

 breast; Beach Robin; Red-breast; Buff-breast; BufF- 

 breasted Plover; Horsefoot Snipe: White-bellied Snipe; 

 May-bird ; Blue Plover ; Silver Plover. 



General Description. — Length, 10 inches. In sum- 

 mer, color of upper parts grayish-brown and the breast 

 rufous-brown ; in winter, plain gray above and white 

 below. Bill straight, longer than the head, and flat- 

 tened and enlarged at tip : toes slender and not webbed 

 at base. 



Color. — .Adults in Summer: Upper parts, gray- 

 ish-brown narrowly streaked on crown and back of 



neck with dusky; feathers of back and shoulders, tipped 

 and edged with grayish-white, those of shoulders, 

 tinged with yellowish-brown ; rumf and upper tail- 

 ro'i'crls. zchitc with traverse bars of dusky-brown; tail, 

 grayish edged with ashy-white; line over and back of 

 eye, sides of head, chin, throat, and under parts, plain 

 rufotis-broxvn shading into lighter on flanks, into white 

 on under tail-coverts; latter with arrowhead spots of 

 dusky ; wing-coverts and secondaries, grayish edged 

 with lighter; primaries, plain dusky gray; bill and feet, 

 fireenish-black ; iris, brown. Adults in Winter: 

 Above, plain grayish: crown, streaked with darker gray, 

 feathers of back, wing-coverts, and secondaries, edged, 

 or not, with whiter ; rump and upper tail-coverts, white 

 with dusky spots and bars ; primaries, dusky, lighter 



^^^^^ 



Drawing by R. I. Brasher 



KNOT (J nat. size) 

 A bird that "s knowa on the shores of every continent 



