266 Bishop, Winter Birds of Pea Island, N. C. \.UW 



20. Tringa minutilla. Least Sandpiper. — I took a male on the 

 seventh that was alone in the marsh. Another of this species taken on 

 the nth was with other sandpipers on the flats. 



21. Tringa alpina pacifica. Red-backed Sandpiper. — This was the 

 most abundant sandpiper on the island-, feeding in large flocks on the 

 flats. Eight collected were all moulting ; and I find it rare to take a Red- 

 backed Sandpiper between the first of September and the last of May that 

 does not show pin-feathers. Two only were females, and both of thetn- 

 and three of the males were in first winter plumage. Young of this 

 species do not moult the feathers of the rump and upper tail-coverts in 

 fall, and by the pale orange rufous tips to these feathers may be distin- 

 guished from adults with pale gray edgings, sometimes as late as April. 



22. Ereunetes occidentalis. Western Sandpiper. — Common with 

 the other sandpipers on the flats. Four collected, of which two were 

 moulting, were all males, with bills longer than the extreme of female 

 pusillus. 



23. Calidris arenaria. Sanderling. — Almost as common as the Red- 

 backed Sandpiper — flocks of 30-40 being often seen — and feeding with 

 them on the flats. Of six collected all were males, three young and three 

 adult, and only one was moulting. 



The young Sanderling also does not moult the rump and upper tail- 

 coverts in the fall, and may be distinguished in February by the broad 

 dark centers of these feathers in place of the narrow central dark stripe of 

 the adults. The first winter plumage is also a trifle darker than the adult. 



24. Totanus melanoleucus. Greater Yellow-legs. — A single bird 

 of this species I saw and heard on February 12. 



25. Squatarola squatarola. Black-bellied Plover. — Twenty or 

 thirty were living on the flats, but were very shy. The only one taken 

 was a young moulting male. 



Young may be separated froin adults at this season by the presence on 

 the feathers of the lower neck and breast of a dark distal shaft-streak,^ 

 while these feathers in adults are tipped or washed with brownish. The 

 white of the forehead is broader also in adults. 



26. .ffigialitis vocifera. Killdeer. — A few were wintering about the 

 channels running into the marshes on the northern part of the island. In 

 two females, taken Feb. 16, the ova were noticeably enlarged, pointing 

 probably to adjacent breeding grounds. 



27. Cathartes aura. Turkey Vulture. — A few were seen daily, 

 feeding on the bird bodies washed upon the shore. An adult male caught 

 in a trap set for a Bald Eagle had the iris broccoli brown ; the bill white; 

 bare part of head vinaceous with white caruncles ; tarsi and toes dirty 

 white mixed with black, nails black. 



28. Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. — One or tAvo seen daily. 

 An adult female, taken Feb. 13, was feeding on the decaying body of a 

 goose. The iris and cere were canary yellow ; bill black becoming cine- 

 reous toward base; tarsi and toes chrome-yellow; nails black. 



