SCOLOPACIDJ^: SANDPIPERS. 813 



rusty on anterior portion of back and scapulars ; wing-coverts dusky centrally, with still darker 

 shaft-streaks, and margined witli brownish-gray, the greater tipped with white ; top of head 

 dull grayish, spotted with dusky, the feathers edged with rusty ; rest of head, neck (except 

 behind), and lower parts white, clouded with light grayish -brown, and suffused with dull 

 buffy anteriorly" (RiDGW. Man. 1887, p. 160). Some specimens are smaller than the 

 above; wing down to 3.35; culmen and tarsus each 0.80. Asiii, especially India, breeding 

 on the eastern Arctic coast of Siberia, and also on the Arctic coast of Alaska. At the time 

 I wrote the 2d edition of the Key (1884), as then stated, only some 25-30 specimens were 

 known, mostly from India, and there was scarcely another specimen in this country than the 

 adult 9 I described as above ; others have since been taken, but the bird is still a rare one 

 iu collections. 



ACTODKO'MAS. (Gr. aKTX}, akte, tlie seashore; bpofxds, dromas, running.) Pectoral 

 Sandpipers. Spotty-throat Sandpipers. Bill about equal to head or tarsus, short, 

 straight, very slender, somewhat compressed, tip punctulate, scarcely expanded, acute. Grooves 

 on both mandibles very deep, and extending nearly to tip. Nostrils situated very near base of 

 bill. Feathers extending on lower mandible much beyond those on upper, and half as far as 

 those between rami. Wings long, pointed ; 1st primary usually longest; tertials long, slender, 

 Howing. Tail rather long, deeply doubly-emarginate (in one species cuneate), central featli- 

 ers much projecting; upper tail-coverts moderately long. Tibia bare for more than half length 

 of tarsus; the feathers very short, making the exposed portion nearly as great. Tarsus about 

 equal to middle toe and claw. Toes long, slender, very narrowly margined, entirely free at base. 

 A group of several species, including the smallest representatives of the family, agreeing iu 

 form and also in having the jugulum and fore-breast streaked or spotted, usually also with a 

 brownish or ashy suffusion. Reduced to a subgenus of Tringa in A. 0. U. Lists. There is 

 much to be said in favor of this; but practically it makes no difference, and it is most cou- 

 venient to make no change from former editions of the Key among the genera of Sandpipers. 



Analysis of Species. 



Tail graduated, with acuminate feathers. 



Jugulum ruddy brown, with very small sharp dark streaks. Upper tail-coverts and rump with block central 



field. (Alaska only in N. Am.) acuminata 



Tail not graduated ; its featliers, except central pair, not acuminate. 



Jugulum with brownish or ashy suffusion, thickly streaked. Upper tail-coverts and rump with black central 

 field. 

 Largest; length 9.00 ; wing .5.25. Crown much darker than hind neck, the transition abrupt. Chin im- 

 maculate. Edgings of feathers on upper parts Ught chestnut-red, not making indentations toward the 

 shaft. Suffusion on jugulum very deep, the darker streaks narrow, distinct. Bill and feet dusky- 

 green m<icii/<i/a 



Medium; length 7.25; wing 4.80. Crown not conspicuously darker than hind neck. Edgings of feath«-r« 

 on upper parts liglit reddish-yellow, scarcely brighter on scapulars, making indcnt.ition« toward shaft. 

 Suffusion on jugulum very light, the d.irker markings rounded, somewhat obsolete. Bill and feet black. 



bitiriti 



Smallest ; a miniature of the preceding ; length 5.75 ; wing 3.40. Edges of feathers chestniit-red, usually 



more or less indented, their tips lighter. Bill black ; legs dusky-green ; bill, tarsus, and middle to* with 



claw, each, about 0.75 minulilla 



Very small, like the last ; bill about 0.75 : tarsus 0.85-0.90, and middle toe with claw rather longer still 



damajmisit 



Jugulum with little or no brownish or ashy suffusion. Upper tail-coverts white. 



Medium; length 7. .'"><• ; wing 4. SO Jugulum thickly streaked with narrow dark lines. Upper t.. 



immaculute, except outermost. Central tail-feathers nearly black 



Large; length 9..VJ ; wing 5.7.5. Jugulum thinly markeil with oval sp<Jt« or stn^ks. Upper taiUoivrl* 



with dark arrow-heads. Central tail-feathers scarcely dorker than lateral f cooprri 



A. iiiiiiu (illii (Lat. minxtilla, very mimite ; <lim. of minutKS, .siikiU. V\l'. "wH.) AMERI- 

 CAN StinT. Wilson's Stint. Least Sandpiper. I'eep. Smullrst of Sandiupvrs; Icncth 

 5. '-)()-( ;.(I0; extent about ll.(H); wing 3.2r>-.3.r)<l ; tail 2.(KI or l--- : bill, i.o -us. and middle tou 



