42 SHORE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



coloration, in winter they differ but little except in length of bill. It ranges 

 from Alaska to the Mississippi Valley, and south to Mexico, occasionally 

 wandering to the Atlantic coast, occurring somewhat regularly in winter in 

 some of our southeastern States. The eggs are not distinguishable from those 

 of the preceding species. 



GENUS MICROPALAMA BAIRD. 



MICROPALAMA HIMANTOPUS (Bonaj>.). 

 Stilt Sandpiper. 



Mirropnlanut hiiuantopu 



Adult in summer : Legs, dull olive green ; entire 

 plumage, dull white and dark brown, being banded on 

 the under parts with dark brown, and the upper parts 

 streaked with dark brown ; a stripe of chestnut browu 

 above and below the eye, the former extending back- 

 wards and joining at the occiput ; secondaries edged with 

 tawny brown. 



Adult in winter: Upper plumage, gray; feathers, on 

 the back, edged with white ; breast, pale butt', slightly 

 mottled, shading into dull white on the upper throat: 



belly, dull white; bill, black. 



Length, 8.20; wing, 5; tarsus, 1.65 ; bill, 1.60. 



This species ranges from the Arctic Circle to South America, being not 

 uncommon on the Atlantic coast at times during the migrations ; abundant in 

 Florida, in March, on the marshes along the east coast. It has somewhat the 

 appearance of a very diminutive summer yellow-legs, but its legs are olive 

 green instead of yellow. 



It breeds in the far north ; the eggs are usually 4, pale, butty white or 

 grayish white, spotted with brown, and measure 1.42 x 1. 



