THE ROBIN SNIPE 171 



gunner when flighting. They are very fair 

 birds for the table and are well esteemed by the 

 shore gunner. Like the greater number of the 

 shore birds they make their summer homes in 

 the far north and there rear up their families. 

 In their winter travels they go well down the 

 coast of South America. 



In their breeding dress the upper j^arts are 

 dusky brown, the feathers with lighter tips and 

 edges ; scapulars yellowish on the edges. Rump 

 dark grey with more or less distinct dusky bar- 

 rings. Upper tail coverts white with wavy bars 

 of dusky. Tail grayish, outer feathers whitish. 

 Below, brownish red, fading on flanks and tail 

 coverts to gray or white. Line of same reddish 

 hue over each eye. Bill quite stout and rather 

 longer than is the rule in this family, dusky 

 green in color, as are also the feet and legs. 



The autumn plumage of the young bird is a 

 beautiful bit of feather work although made up 

 of no bright colors. Above, everj^where except 

 on rump and tail coverts, a delicate ashy grey, 

 each feather margined about by a fine edging of 

 white with a narrow subterminal line of black 

 within this last, giving to the plumage a pe- 

 culiarly rich and elegant effect. Even the black 



