228 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



winter phiraage scarcely differs from that of summer, there can be little 

 doubt that, like the Snipes, it does not frequent the exposed mud-flats or 

 sand-banks, and has no necessity to assume a grey dress for protection. 



The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is a miniature Bartram's Sandpiper, having 

 the same graduated tail and the same marbled primaries. It is not known 

 that the sexes dift'er externally. The general colour of both the upper and 

 under parts is dark buff, the feathers of the former having black centres 

 and those of the latter pale margins. The peculiarity in the plumage of 

 this unique bird consists in the colour of the tail-feathers (with the 

 exception of the two centre ones), the primaries, secondaries, lowest under 

 wing-coverts, greater wing-coverts, and primary wing-coverts, which are 

 buff marbled with black, broadly tipped with black and narrowly margined 

 with white. Bill and claws dark brown; legs and feet buff; irides hazel. 

 After the autumn moult the pale margins of the feathers of the upper 

 parts are more conspicuous, concealing more of the dark centres. Young 

 in first plumage have the underparts much paler, the marbling on the 

 jirimaries is much fiuer, and the margins of the feathers on the mantle and 

 scapulars are white. Birds of the year resemble young in first plumage in 

 having the dark centres of the wing-coverts almost obsolete, whilst they 

 have a subterminal black bar. Young in down are unknown. 



J 



