554 



SCOLOPACID.K. 



confirmed, and the liglit-coloured margins of the greater 

 wing-coverts, and the tertials especially, are varied with dark 

 spots. The more uniform ash grey is the plumage of winter ; 

 the well-defined dark lines and spots assumed in summer, are 

 not produced by any partial moulting, or the production of 

 new feathers, but by an alteration in the colour of the old 

 feather. 



The Avhole length of the adult Greenshank is about twelve 

 inches ; from the carpal joint to the end of the wing seven 

 inches ; the first quill-feather the longest. 



The representation below is from the skeleton of the Com- 

 mon Sandpiper, and exhibits the form of the breast bone in 

 the species of the genus Totanus. 



