TRli\aA MACLU.ATA. ,q^ 



C")i.()U. Ailu/i. Ab<ive, aiirk-l)i-owQ, with ail the feathers, excepting primaries, edited with p,ilc bniw-nish-yellow, be- 

 coming brighter on scapularie.-i. Outer upper tail c jverts, e Iged with white. Central tail feather.s, dark-bmwn; remain- 

 der, ashy. Sides of neck, u])per hrea^t, and sides, ashy-yelluw, finely streaked with dark-brown. Il'jmainder of under 

 parts, white. 



Youni/. Quite similar to the adult, but ashy abjve, where the edgings are much more rufous and the tirging below 

 is paler, with the .spot-s very indistinet (jr obsolete Bill brown, yellow at base, feet gieenlsh, and ins, l)rown. in :ili stan-es. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This species resembles the preceding in general c iloration, but may be readily known by the larger size, black legs 

 and generally paler colors as described. Distributed in summer, throughout Arctic America; abundant in the West dur- 

 ing the migrations; rather rare on the coast of New England in autumn. Winters south of the United States. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens from Eastern North America. Length, TSS; stretch, 15-.5(l; wini', 4-85; tail 

 215; bill, '90; tarsus, -85. Longest specimen, 7-.'50; greatest extent of wing, 1600; longest wing, 5'0O; tail, a 30; bill, -Uo; 

 tarsus, -90. Shortest specimen, 700; smallest extent of wing, 15'00; shortest wing, 450; tail, 200; bill, •8.5. taivu<. 80 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



■'^jK!/'! placed on the ground in a slight depreFi^ion of the soil, onalittlegra.ss, etc. They are frim two to fuur in num- 

 ber, pyriform in shape, varying from a.shy-yellow to buff in color, spotted and blotched with brown of varying shades. Di- 

 mensions from '90 X 1-28 to 95 x r35. 



HABITS. 



Although Buird's Santlpiper was taken by many of the earlier stiieutific expeditions in 

 the West, it was not described as a species vmtil 1861, when Dl'. Coues discovered that it 

 was different from either Bonaparte's Sandpiper or the common Grass Bird, with which it 

 had been previously confounded. It is a perfectly distinct species, found commonly in the 

 West during the migrations, and visiting the Atlantic coast rather rarely, but regularly, iu 

 autumn, usually quite late, either in September or October. While here, it frequents the 

 sides of hills or high marshes but is occasionally found near the pools. The note is quite 

 different from that of other Sandpipers, insomuch so, as to be at once distinguishable; but 

 in general habits, this bii'd resembles other members of the genus, like many or them, breed- 

 ing in tlie Arctic Regions. 



TEINGA MACULATA. 

 Pectoral Sandpiper. 

 Trintja maculata Vikill., Nouv. Diet., XXXIV; 1SI9, 4H5. 

 DESCRIPTION. 

 Sp. Cu. Form, robust. Size, medium. Bill, .slender, a little longer than head, and slightly rounded at tip. Toes, 

 without basal membrane. Tongue, long, thin, and fleshy, tapering toward tip which is rounded. Outer marginal inden- 

 tations, at least twice as deep as inner. 



Color. Adull. Above, dark-bmwn with every feather, e.-icepting primaries, edged with yellowish-ash and rufous. 

 Tail, ashy-brown, becoming darker in the center, and tipped with white and yellowish. Line from bill to eye, brown. Sides 

 of bead, neck iill around, upper breast, and sides, yellowish-ash, streaked witli dark-brown. Remainder of under parts, 

 white. 



Youny. Similar to the adult but decidedly rufous cm the edges above and brighter on the ashy below. Bill and iris, 

 brown, anil feet, greenish, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Readily kn^wn fom tlie preceding sjiecies, by the large size, greenish legs, and darker cidoir; and from the succeed- 

 ing, by the dark-brown upper tail coverts; and from I'.U others, by the colors as des<:ribed. Distributed, in summer, from 

 Labrad<a', northward; wintering .s<mtb of the United States. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Eastern North America. Ivcngth, 8-50; stretch, 16-35, wing. 555; t;ul,2l5; 

 hill, 1 15; tarsus, 100. Longest specimen, 875; greatest extent of wing, 16-75; longest wing, SOU; tail, 2.3(1; bill, |-25; 

 tarsus, 1 10. Shortest specimen, 825; smallest extent of wing. 1600; shortest wing, 520; tall. 2()0; bill, -90; tii-sus, -90 



