64 TRINCA ALPINA. 



the 1)111 is black, an inch lonir, and very slightly bent; 

 crown and body above, dusky brown, the plumage cd^-ed 

 with ferruginous anil tipt with \\ hite ; tail and v 

 nearly of a length ; sides of tin- rump, white; rump and 

 tail-coverts, Mack ; winir-quills, dusky hlark, shafted, 

 and banded with white, much in the manner of the 

 least snipe ; over the eye a line of white ; lessor cm ITN, 

 tipt with white ; legs and feet, blackish ash, the latter 

 half webbed. Males and females alike in colour. 



These birds varied greatly in their si/e, some being 

 scarcely five inches and a half in length, and the bill 

 not more than three quarters; others measured nearly 

 seven inches in the whole length, and the bill upwards 

 of an inch. In their gcneta! appearance they greatly 

 resemble the stints or least snipe; but unless we allow 

 that the same species mav sometimes have the toes 

 half webbed, and sometimes divided to the origin, and 

 this not in one or two solitary instances, but in whole 

 flocks, which would be extraordinary indeed, we 

 cannot avoid classing this as a new and distinct species. 



SUBGENUS II. TRINGA. 



218. TRINOA ALPIXA, LINN^KUS TRINOA JLPIXA, WILSOK. 



RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 

 WILSON, PLATE LVI. FIG. II EDINBfKGH COLLEGE MVSECM. 



THIS bird inhabits both the old and new continents, 

 being known in England by the name of the dunlin, and 

 in the United States, along the shores of New Jersey, by 

 that of the red-back. Its residence here is but transient, 

 chiefly in April and May, while passing to the arctic 

 regions to breed, and in September ;nid October, when 

 on its return southward to winter quarters. Baring 

 their stay, they seldom collect in separate Hocks by 

 themselves, but mix with various other species of strand 

 birds, among whom they are rendered conspicuous by 

 the red colour of the upper part of their plumage. 

 They frequent the muddy flats and shores of the salt 



