TEMMINCK'S STINT. 



219 



lying markings of pale brown and purplish grey. The markings are largest 

 and most numerous on the large end of the egg, where they are often 

 confluent and form an irregular zone or a large irregular mass. On many 

 eggs there are a few dark streaks on the large end ; and the small spots are 

 generally distributed almost evenly over the entire surface. The eggs vary 

 in length from 1*2 to 1*05 inch^ and in breadth from '87 to *8 inch. It is 

 impossible to give any characters by which the eggs of Temminck's Stint 

 may always be distinguished from those of the Little Stint. As a rule, the 

 eggs of the latter bird are more bufli' in ground-colour, and the markings 

 are larger, bolder, and a richer browu. Temminck^s Stint only rears one 

 brood in the year. 



There is no diiference in the colour of the sexes of Temminck's Stint. 

 The adult summer plumage varies greatly in individuals, having the 

 appearance of never being quite perfectly assumed. The general colour of 

 the upper parts is greyish brown, many of the feathers, sometimes more 

 and sometimes fewer, being dark browu, margined and irregularly barred 

 with huffish chestnut ; the four centre tail-feathers are dark brown, and 

 the three outer ones on each side are white ; the quills are brown, the first 

 only with a white shaft, and a white bar is formed across the wing by the 

 greater coverts having white tips. In the colour of the underparts it does 

 not differ from the Little Stint. Bill brownish black ; legs, feet, and claws 

 broAvnish grey ; irides hazel. After the autumn moult no change takes 

 place in the colour of the underparts, except that the streaks are absent 

 from the breast, but the upper parts are uniform brownish grey, with very 

 obscure dark centres and pale margins to the feathers. Young in first 

 plumage resemble adults in winter plumage, but each feather of the upper 

 parts has a buff margin, which is emphasized by a narrow submarginal 

 dark brown band ; the underparts are white, sufi'used with buff on the 

 flanks and breast, the latter of which is also streaked with brown. Birds 

 of the year only differ from adults iu winter plumage by having buff margins 

 to the wing-coverts. After the first spring moult the buft' margins to the 

 feathers of the upper parts are more conspicuous than they are in the 

 greater number of the adults in summer plumage. Young in down closely 

 resemble those of the Dunlin and Little Stint, but are much greyer in 

 ground-colour. 



