THE SANDPIPER 283 



extends to Cape Colony, and throughout Southern Asia 

 to Ceylon and the Malay Peninsula. It is found also in 

 Australia and Tasmania, though it is doubtful if the 

 birds nesting in this country reach these far-distant lands. 



Description. — Upper parts brown, striated on crown 

 and neck, and with arrow-shaped markings of umber on 

 the back. Wing coverts and inner secondaries barred, 

 major coverts and secondaries tipped, with white, bases 

 of inner webs of inner primaries white, forming a con- 

 tinuous white bar in the extended wing. The lower 

 back, rump, upper tail coverts, and tail of a bronze green 

 colour. The tail barred with umber and tipped with 

 white. Under parts white, lined with slaty black on neck 

 and forebreast. 



When fledged the young are light greyish brown above, 

 the feathers margined with two bands, one dusky, the 

 other reddish. Forepart and sides of neck greyish with 

 faint dusky lines. Rest of the plumage white. Wings 

 and tail as in adult. 



Male and female Sandpipers are alike in plumage, and 

 there is only a slight seasonal change of coloration. 

 Length 8f inches, extent of wings 14 inches. The spring 

 and autumn moults take place at its winter quarters. 



