SPECIES 7. TRINGtf RUFtf. 

 RED-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 



[Plate LVIL Fig. 5.] 

 PEALTS'S Museum, JVo. 4050. 



OP this prettily marked species I can find no description. 

 The Tringa Icelandica, or Aberdeen Sandpiper, of Pennant 

 and others, is the only species that has any resemblance to it; 

 the descriptions of that bird, however, will not apply to the 

 present. * 



The common name of this species, on our seacoast, is the 

 Gray-bac^ and among the gunners it is a particular favourite, 

 being generally a plump, tender, and excellent bird for the ta- 

 ble; and, consequently, brings a good price in market. 



The Gray-backs do not breed on the shores of the middle 

 states. Their first appearance is early in May. They remain a 

 few weeks, and again disappear until October. They usually 

 keep in small flocks, alight in a close body together on the sand 

 flats, where they search for the small bivalve shells already de- 

 scribed. On the approach of the sportsman, they frequently 

 stand fixed and silent for some time; do not appear to be easily 



* This appears to be an error. This species is probably no other than the 

 Tringa Islandica in summer dress? and as many nominal species have been 

 made of it, we quote the following synonymes from prince Musignano's 

 observations, Journal Acad. Nat. Sc. Phil. vol. v, p. 93. "Tringa alpina, 

 LINN. GMEL. LATH. TRINGA cinc/ws, LINN. BRISS. GMEL. LATH, winter plu- 

 mage. TRINGA rvfaollis, GMEL. LATH, spring moulting SCOLOPAX pusil- 

 la? GMEL,. (moulting.) Is it not rather T. scfcinzii, Brehm? TRINGA cinclv-s 

 torquatus, BRISS. moulting. SCOLOPAX gallinago anglicana? BRISS. moulting. 

 Is it not rather T. scfttnzii? TRINGA vmriabilis, MEYER , TEMM. S ABINE. Le Cin- 

 cle, BUFF. PI. Enl. 852, moulting. L 1 Jilouelle de mer? BUFF. PI. Enl. 851, 

 moulting. With Vieillot we do not think this plate intended for TRINGA 

 subarquala, TEMM. as it is thought by Meyer and Temminck." 



