658 THE RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 
the lateral feathers white or white-edged; an impure whitish superciliary line; 
sides of head and neck and across fore-neck and breast like color of back, but 
lighter; the color distributed centrally from the feathers, giving a faintly streaked 
appearance; remaining underparts white, or with a few gray streaks on sides; 
bill longer, stout, slightly curved near tip, black; feet and legs black. Adult in 
summer; Upperparts black centrally with broad margining of bright rusty ochra- 
ceous; wings as before; breast, etc., grayish white, faintly streaked with dusky ; 
belly black, strongly contrasting with breast; crissum, etc., white. /mmature: 
“Upperparts blackish, the feathers with rounded tips of rufous or buff; belly 
spotted with black” (Chapman). Length “7.60-8.75" (193-222.3); wing 4.70 
(119.4) ; tail 2.29 (58.2); bill 1.50 (38.1); tarsus .99 (25.2). 
Recognition Marks.—Chewink size (considerably under Killdeer size) ; 
bright rufous of back and black of belly of breeding plumage distinctive; soft 
brownish gray of upperparts and breast; rather long black bill, slightly curved 
near tip, distinctive for plumage commonly seen. 
Nesting.—Does not breed in Washington. Nest: on the ground. Eggs: 4, 
dull brownish buff, or clay color (“bluish-white to ochraceous-buff’’—Chapman ), 
spotted, blotched and stained, chiefly about the larger end, with chestnut and 
chocolate. Av. size, 1.43 xX 1.01 (36.3 x 25.7). 
General Range.—North America in general, breeding far north. Eastern 
Asia. 
Range in Washington.—Common during migrations, and occasionally resi- 
dent in winter on the West-side. 
Authorities.—7ringa alpina var. americana, Cass., Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. 
Surv. IX., p.'720.. T..C&S, Lt. Rb. B. E. 
Specimens.—( U. of W.) Prov. P'. B. E. 
AFTER the Western (Ereunetes mauri), this is perhaps the com- 
monest Sandpiper along our coasts. Altho considerably larger than the West- 
ern, it also is called “Peep,” and it shares several characteristics with its 
smaller kinsmen. For one thing, they are all fond of a ride. A floating log 
often proves an irresistible temptation to a passing flock, and they settle down 
upon it teetering and peeping lustily, as tho it were the greatest treat imagin- 
able. Even more ludicrous it is to see a great company of Sandpipers together 
with a few solemn gulls seated on the rear end of a moving log-boom. The 
convoying tug puffs officiously, while the water swirls away behind in dizzying 
eddies. But there is a hundred yards of stout cable and it may be a two 
hundred yard stretch of logs between the birds and the boat; so these urchins 
gather fearlessly and snicker over their good fortune in stealing a ride. A 
passenger on a passing steamer, catching the drollery of the thing, feels like 
bawling out, “Hey, Mister! Cut behind!” 
The Red-backs are to be found on the beaches and salt marshes of Puget 
Sound, Gray’s Harbor, and the Pacific Coast at any time of year save June 
and July, when they are at home in Alaska. They are, however, not common 
in winter, and the migratory movements may be distinctly traced. The birds 
