'^^^ BONAPARTE'S SANDPIPBR. 



IlAlilTS. 



The Pectoral S;uiil pipers, known to many iis Grass Birds, are common autumnal mi- 

 •^rants along our coast, foMjuenting the marshes and feeding about the pools or on the ilats 

 in the grass. They are not shy birds as a rule and will often lie close and stiirt suddenly^ 

 like the common Snipe; hence, they are sometimes called Jack Snipe. The note is a rath- 

 er feeble whistle and their tlight is swift and eccentric. They appear from tlie North bite 

 in July and remain until October, then reappear in May but are not common at this season. 

 These birds seem to'be (juite uncommon in the Southern States below New Jersey and 1 do 

 not now recall an instance of their capture in Florida, ncr co I think that any remain in the 

 United S'ates during winter. They are said to breed in L;d:)rador and northward but I 

 have never met with a well authenticated egg. 



TRINGA FUSCICOLLIS. 

 Bonaparte's Sandpiper. 

 Trhujafnsacull)S Vieill., Nuuv. Diet., XXXIV; 1810,461. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cii. Size, rii.llrer small. Fi.rm, si: nder. IJiU. ■■^le'nderandbiit t^liglilly wideneil iit tip Tues, witlumt lia^almem- 

 brane. Tongue, nut ling, white in'cjl ir, tbin and nariMW, t:i]jering graiiually tuward tip which i.s rcunded an<l the t-ides 

 cf tile terminal portion are provided with very f,ne cili.i, while t lie liyoid b..Des are curved upward bel ind theccciput. The 

 eiuter marginal indentaticms are more than twice as d.'ep as inne:'; bit i a'e nirr iw an I iael W3 1 in t!ij adult. 



Color. Adull in, suinimr. Above, dark -brown, every ftati tr, excepting pvimaries, b rdercd wi;h a-hy-yi llow and 

 jwllowish-ruf JUS, t'le latter color being more prominent on t ip of head, on a spot liehind eye, and on back. Side.s of head, 

 neck all around, an I side-;, ixile ycUowish-ash, linely streaked with daik-biov\n. Line Iicni 'ill o\cr (ye and remaining 

 under p iition<. [Kire wliite. 



Ailult in winter. Ashy above, with the centcrsof the feathers dusky. White, beneath, and more linely .^trtaked than 

 in summer, otherwise .similar. 



Younij. Similar to the winter adult but show considerabli; rufous above and are more fnely streaked below. Bill, 

 dark-Iiro«n, llesli colored at bu.e of lower m.indilile, iri- and feet, brown, in all stages. 



OIJSEKVATIONS. 

 [ have given above, a descrijition of the summer plumage of this species which I have never seen in p- int In fo: e. Two 

 specimens in this dress, kindly lianel me by my friend, Jlr. AV. B. Dowse, one from his own caliinet and the o:l er f.om 

 that of Mr. IIapg:iod, tlio well-known sportsman, vary somewhat. That belonging to Mr. D jv^s,', has t'le colors very dark, 

 consequently the bi'own markings are well defined. The streak ings below are extended over the entire lower pi riiins. cveu 

 the under tail c iverts are streaked and the upper are banded. Known from all others by the straigli: bill, white upper 

 tail covert*, and olors as de-crihed. Distributed, in summer, throughout Arctic America; the maj irify winteiing south 

 of the United S:ates, liut eccasionally one may be fiund in Florida at this s-cason. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 7'13; stretch, 15-00; wing, 4'22; tail, 2'05; 

 bill, -92; tarsus, a^. Longest specimen, 8-00; greatest extent of wing, 15-26; longest wing, 5-CO: tail, 2 20; liill, -95; tar- 

 .sus. l-od. S:io-.test specimen, 71.''); smallest extent of wing, 14-75: shortest wing, 4-35^ tail, 1'9;),- bill, -90; tarsus, 90. 



HABITS. 

 The first specimen of Bonaparte's Sandpiper that I ever saw, I shot on some rocks, 

 lei't exposed by the out-going tide, in the mouth of Essex River, where they were feeding- 

 in company wiHi the Turnstones. This was in the autumn, many years ago, and during- 

 folln.'ing seasons, I could ttlways find them there whenever I went in search of them. Al- 

 thougli these birds have many habits in common with other Sandpipers, they appear to be 

 unique in some ptirticulars, the above mentioned predilection for rocks between tide marks,, 

 heing one characteristic of the species; then they are fond of haunting springy phu-es on the- 



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