GRALLATORES. 407 



bird varies much in its plumage, and has, therefore, received 

 different names. It is common to Europe and America; rang- 

 ing in the latter, from the tropics to Labrador, and breeding in 

 the Fur countries to a high latitude. The Knot is seen on the 

 shores of New York in May, and is called by sportsmen, the 

 Robin Snipe. From August to October, it migrates Southward 

 in large flocks, when, in place of the red feathers, it has a white 

 plumage, spotted with dusky, ash-colored above; it is then called 

 White Robin Snipe, and Gray-back. Its length is ten inches. 



WILSON'S SANDPIPER, T. pusilla, or the Little Sandpiper, 

 (Plate X. fig. 8c,) is about four inches long, with a slender, 

 dusky green tapering bill, and short neck ; the tail is doubly 

 emarginate. In summer, it is blackish and rufous ; beneath white ; 

 in winter, ash ; beneath, whitish, spotted with dusky. It is 

 known as the Peep, so named from its usual note ; and as the 

 Ox-eye, from the size and brilliancy of its eye. This species 

 pervades North America from Mexico to 680 N. L., and is one 

 of the most abundant of the group, being found in the interior as 

 well as on the sea-coast. 



The SANDERLING, Calidris arenaria, or T. arenaria, has a 

 straight bill, shorter than the head ; thin in the middle, and 

 widened towards the tip ; the tail is short, the middle and outer 

 feathers the longest; the toes have* a warty membrane on each 

 side. They are three in number, while the preceding genus has 

 four. The female is larger than the male, being about seven 

 inches long. The plumage above is bluish in summer, but light 

 ash in winter : in both sexes, it varies quite as much as in the 

 Turnstones, (Strepsilas.) In flying, these birds have fewer evo- 

 lutions than the Sandpipers. They afford good eating, especially 

 when young. In autumn, they are very fat, and highly relished 

 by epicures. They are said to occur all over the globe. 



The RUFF, of the Old World, (female REEVE,) machetes, (Gr. 

 a fighter,) pugnax, (Lat. combative,) the Combattantofthe French, 

 has a long and slender bill ; legs very long, slender, and naked 

 high above the tarsal joint; three toes before, and one (short) 

 behind; the tail is rounded. The hues of the plumage are so 

 variable, that it is very difficult to find any two that perfectly 

 resemble each other; but the prevailing ground color is brown, 

 inclining to ash, with lateral, and under covers, white ; in the 

 autumn or winter, the plumage is more spotted, particularly in 

 the under part, and a bunch of feathers or ruff appears on each 

 side of the head in the male. The females, which are called 

 Reeves, are smaller than the males, and have no ruff. The 

 food of these birds consists of worms and insects, which they pick 



