BEACH BIRDS. 1 6/ 



Tringa Bairdii.—CoVies. Baird's Sandpiper. 



This species is almost exactly similar in color to mimitilla, 

 but is larger. It is rare on the Atlantic coast, but is found in both 

 North and South America. 



Tringa ?«aca/a^«.—Vieill.— Pectoral Sandpiper. Marsh Plover. Jack Snipe. 

 Grass Snipe. 



The color is greyish, variegated with chestnut above, somewhat 

 resembling the Wilsons or English Snipe, Gallinago Wilsonii, but 

 of course instantly distinguished from the latter by the shape of 

 the bill. The species is seldom if ever seen on open sandy beaches, 

 as it prefers at all times the low muddy fiats laid bare by the tide, 

 the pools and ditches which intersect them, and the salt marshes 

 by which they are bordered. They are not restricted to salt water, 

 but frequent low wet meadows and fields at a great distance from 

 any large body of water. When they rise from the grass to alight 

 again at a short distance, they fly slowly and evenly with the wings 

 deeply incurved. When, however, they are frightened, by being 

 repeatedly forced up by the sportsman, or when they are suddenly 

 startled, they spring up vigorously, emitting loud rapidly repeated 

 notes, and fly in a quick zigzag manner. They are then equally 

 difficult to shoot with the Wilsons Snipe. Sometimes they mount 

 with a loud cry very high into the air, and circle overhead for sev- 

 eral minutes, flying with great rapidity and in perfect silence. 

 When about to alight, which they often do at the very spot from 

 which they rose, they barely close their wings and dart suddenly 

 down in an almost perpendicular direction. This species is found 

 in pairs or singly, and never in flocks of any great extent. They 

 are excessively fat in the month of October and delicately flavored, 

 and afford delicious eating. They are abundant from Washington 

 to New Hampshire. Very little is known of their breeding places. 



Tringa Bonapartei — Sclileg. Wliite-rumped Sandpiper. White-tailed Stib. 



This bird is very similar in color and size to T. Bairdii, the 

 upper tail coverts are white however, and hence the name. This 

 bird is the Schinzes Sandpiper of Audubon. It is common to the 

 Rocky Mountains, and is abundant along the Atlantic coast. 



