391 



ACTODROMAS MACULATA (Baird). 



THE PECTORAL SANDPIPER. 



Specific Character. — Above light clay colour, the crown back, scapulars 

 and tertials, washed with light rufous or rusty ochraceous ; the feathers black 

 centrally, producing conspicuous streaks, which widen into spots on the scapulars 

 and back ; rump and middle upper tail coverts brownish black ; lateral upper 

 tail coverts white with dusky shaft streaks ; middle tail feathers dusky edged 

 with lighter ; other rectrices pale brownish gray, bordered with white. Wing 

 coverts light grayish brown with paler borders and darker centres ; a light- 

 superciliary stripe, and a darker loral one. Cheeks, sides of neck, whole jugulum,, 

 and breast pale clay colour or light grayish buff, streaked ; sides sparsely streaked.. 

 Remaining lower parts immaculate white. Basal half of bill dull greenish yellow. 



Total length about 9.00 inches; wing about 5.00 ;^culmen, 1.10; tarsus, 1.00 ; 

 middle toe, .90. 



Habitat. — The whole of North and the greater part of South America. 

 Breeds in the Arctic regions. 



This Sandpiper, variously called by sportsmen " Jack snipe," " Grass snipe,' 

 " Short-neck," etc., is generally found where you may expect to find Wilson's 

 snipe, but in smaller numbers. It is also commonly found in the autumn or fall 

 wheat fields when the ground is moist and rich. It flies very much like a snipe,, 

 and is always eagerly hunted by the sportsman. In the fall it is generally very 

 fat and is a delicious morsel. It feeds on small insects, shell fish or small snails., 

 and it frequently, like the snipe, bores for its food. 



