ASH-COLOURED SANDPIPER. 143 



they follow and elude the tumbling surf, while at the same time 

 they seem wholly intent on collecting their food. 



The Ash-coloured Sandpiper, the subject of our present ac- 

 count, inhabits both Europe and America. It has been seen in 

 great numbers on the Seal islands near Chatteaux Bay; is said 

 to continue the whole summer in Hudson's Bay, and breeds 

 there. Mr. Pennant suspects that it also breeds in Denmark; 

 and says that they appear in vast flocks on the Flintshire shores, 

 during the winter season.* With us they are also migratory, 

 being only seen in spring and autumn. They are plump birds; 

 and by those accustomed to the sedgy taste of this tribe, are 

 esteemed excellent eating. 



The length of this species is ten inches, extent twenty; bill 

 black, straight, fluted to nearly its tip, and about an inch and a 

 half long; upper parts brownish ash, each feather marked near 

 the tip with a narrow semicircle of dark brown, bounded by 

 another of white; tail-coverts white, marbled with olive; wing 

 quills dusky, shafts white; greater coverts black, tipt with white; 

 some of the primaries edged also with white; tail plain pale ash, 

 finely edged and tipt with white; crown and hind-head streaked 

 with black, ash and white; stripe over the eye, cheeks and chin, 

 white, the former marked with pale streaks of dusky, the latter 

 pure; breast white, thinly specked with blackish; belly and vent 

 pure white; legs a dirty yellowish clay colour; toes bordered 

 with a narrow thick warty membrane; hind-toe directed in- 

 wards, as in the Turn-stone; claws and eye black. 



These birds vary a little in colour, some being considerably 

 darker above, others entirely white below; but, in all, the con- 

 centric semicircles on the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, 

 are conspicuous. 



I think it probable that these birds become much lighter co- 

 loured during the summer, from the circumstance of having 

 shot one late in the month of June, at Cape May, which was of 

 a pale drab or dun colour. It was very thin and emaciated; and 



* Arct. Zool. p. 474. 



