TRINGA CINE RE A* 

 ASH-COLOURED SANDPIPER. 



[Plate LV1L Fig. 2.] 



Jlrct. Zoolp. 474, No. 586. BEWICK, n, p. 102. PEALE'S Mu- 

 seum, JVo. 4060. 



THE regularly disposed concentric semicircles of white and 

 dark brown that mark the upper parts of the plumage of this spe- 

 cies, distinguish it from all others, and give it a very neat appear- 

 ance. In activity it is superior to the preceding; and traces the 

 flowing and recession of the waves along the sandy beach, with 

 great nimbleness, wading and searching among the loosened 

 particles for its favourite food, which is a small thin oval bivalve 

 shell-fish, of a white or pearl colour, and not larger than the 

 seed of an apple. These usually lie at a short depth below the 

 surface; but in some places are seen at low water in heaps, like 

 masses of wet grain, in quantities of more than a bushel together. 

 During the latter part of summer and autumn, these minute 

 shell-fish constitute the food of almost all those busy flocks, that 

 run with such activity along the sands, among the flowing and 

 retreating waves. They are universally swallowed whole; but 

 the action of the bird's stomach, assisted by the shells them- 

 selves, soon reduces them to a pulp. If we may judge from 

 their effects, they must be extremely nutritious, for almost all 

 those tribes that feed on them are at this season mere lumps of 

 fat. Digging for these in the hard sand would be a work of con- 

 siderable labour, whereas when the particles are loosened by 

 the flowing of the sea, the birds collect them with great ease 

 and dexterity. It is amusing to observe with what adroitness 



* This is the preceding species in winter dress, according to prince Musig-- 

 nano. 



