NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPUIA. 203^ 



each feather with a central brownish black field, deepening into pure black on 

 the scapulars, where also the edgings of some of the feathers have a reddish 

 tinge. Tertials sooty brown, fading with light ashy on the edges. Secondaries 

 and greater coverts dark greyish ash, edged and broadly tipped with white. 

 Primaries deep dusky, almost black on the outer vanes and at the tips, tlie in- 

 nermost edged with white; shafts of all brown at base and black at tip, the 

 central feathers being white. Upper tail coverts white, with sagittate spots of 

 dusky. Tail feathers ashy brown, the central pair darkest. Under parts white; 

 the jugulum, breast, and sides of the neck with a slight reddish tinge, and, to- 

 gether with the sides, with numerous streaks and oval spots of dusky, which 

 become large and V-shaped on the flanks. 



Length (of skin) 9-5 inches ; wing 5-75, tail 2-80, bill above 1-23, tarsus 1.14 

 middle toe 1. 

 Habitat. — Long Island. 



In order to exhibit more fully the features and peculiarities of this curious 

 Sandpiper, differing in many essential respects from any other described as 

 North American, the following additional remarks may be required, that we 

 may be better enabled to judge of its relationships and affinities, which are mat- 

 ters of some uncertainty. The characters are taken from the type of the 

 species, the original of the description in the General Report. 



The bill and feet though rather stout for an Actodromas, are slender in com- 

 parison with Tringa. The tip of the former is but slightly expanded, and rather 

 obtuse. The grooves in both mandibles are long and distinct, that of the lower 

 being'narrow but deep. The position of the nostrils is nearly intermediate be- 

 tween Tringa and Actodromas. The nature of the encroachment of the feathers 

 on the bill is identical with that of A. Bonaparlei, and very different from that 

 of Tringa. The wings are long and pointed, the first primary much the longest, 

 as in Tringa ca?iutus, and the graduation of the others exactly as in that species. 

 The tertials are rather long, narrow, and flowing. The emargination of 

 the tail, though not great, is decided ; the central feathers project a little be- 

 yond the others, but are not much darker than the others ; the outer pair are 

 next in length, and the third are the shortest. The legs and feet are long and 

 comparatively slender. The tibia; are long and much denuded, the bare por- 

 tion being nearly two-thirds the tarsus. The latter is rather shorter than the 

 bill, but at the same time slightly exceeds the middle toe and claw. The toes 

 are all long, slender and slightly margined, and the hind one is well developed. 

 The coloration of the upper parts is very different from that of T. canulus, and 

 exceedingly similar to that of ^-1. Bonapartei, almost the only difference being a 

 rather less amount of reddish on the back. The rump and upper tail coverts 

 are much the same as in T. canutns being white, with sagittate spots and waved 

 bars of dusky. The pattern, and colors of the under parts, though agreeing 

 with A. Bonapartei in the absence of a decided pectoral wash, are yet very dif- 

 ferent, the spots being sparse, and extending over the whole breast, instead of 

 being very numerous and confined strictly to the jugulum and sides. In this 

 respect it approachts the young Tringa canutvs or still more the adult -E'r^weto 

 pusilhis, the similarity being heightened by the slight reddish tinge on the 

 jugulum. 



Having thus presented the chief peculiarities of this very unique Sandpiper, 

 we are prepared to discuss the question of its aflSnities. Were the size and 

 pioportions of bill, tarsus, and toes the same as in the A. Bonapartei, it might 

 almost be a question whether it were not an accidental variety of that species; 

 but the discrepancies in these particulars are too great to admit the doubt. The 

 diff"erences from all other species are sufficiently obvious. Granting, then, that 

 it is a distinct bird, it only remains to settle the question of its generic relation- 

 ships ; which, as it presents a most remarkable combination of the characters 

 of both Tringa &nd Actodromas, is a matter of some uncertainty. We cannot 

 but think, however, that all the most important characters of the bird incline 

 1861'.] 



