RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 137 



mandible, and wrinkled at the base; crown, back and scapulars, 

 bright reddish rust, spotted with black; wing-coverts pale olive; 

 quills darker; the first tipt, the latter crossed, with white; front, 

 cheeks, hind-head, and sides of the neck, quite round, also the 

 breast, grayish white, marked with small specks of black; belly 

 white, marked with a broad crescent of black; tail pale olive, 

 the two middle feathers centred with black; legs and feet ashy 

 black; toes divided to their origin, and bordered with a slightly 

 scalloped membrane; irides very dark. 



The males and females are nearly alike in one respect, both 

 differing greatly in colour even at the same season, probably 

 owing to difference of age; some being of a much brighter red 

 than others, and the plumage dotted with white. In the month 

 of September, many are found destitute of the black crescent 

 on the belly; these have been conjectured to be young birds. 



Note. After an attentive examination of many of these birds 

 on the coast of Cape May, in the month of April, I am perfectly 

 convinced, that the hitherto supposed two species, the present 

 and the Purre, constitute but one species, the latter being in 

 immature plumage. In some instances, I found the Purres were 

 beginning to get the broad band of black on the belly, and the 

 black thickening with ruddy feathers, appearing almost perfect 

 Black-bellied Sandpipers. 



Wilson's MSS. 



VOL. III. 



