BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 439 



point to the gape it measures one inch, and from the gape 

 to the occiput is also one inch : the irides hazel ; the fea- 

 thers on the top of the head dark brown, approaching to 

 black, each feather edged with very light brown, giving a 

 mottled appearance ; the back of the neck light brown, the 

 dark spots formed by the centre of each feather minute ; 

 the back very dark brown, the extreme edges only of the 

 feathers light brown ; the wing-coverts brown ; the pri- 

 maries nearly black, tipped with white ; the shafts white ; 

 the tertials brown, edged with light brown ; upper tail- 

 coverts brown, with lighter- coloured borders ; the tail 

 cuneiform, the centre feathers black, the shafts and edges 

 lighter ; the feathers on each side light brown, enclosed by 

 a zone of black, and edged with white ; the chin, sides of 

 the neck, throat, and breast, light brown, tinged with buff ; 

 abdomen, flanks, and under tail-coverts, white, but per- 

 vaded also with the buff- colour of the higher parts ; the 

 sides of the neck spotted, from the dark centres of the 

 feathers occupying a larger surface than upon the front ; 

 axillary plume pure white ; under surface of the broad web 

 of the primaries beautifully mottled with dark specks ; under 

 surface of the secondaries ending in sabre-shaped points, 

 presenting a series of lines formed by alternating shades of 

 white, black, and dusky bands, which in the adult bird are 

 well denned, and present a beautifully- variegated appearance, 

 peculiar to this species. 



The legs are bare for half an inch above the joint ; 

 the tarsus measures one inch and a quarter ; legs and toes 

 clay-yellow, the claws black. The whole length of the bird 

 is about eight inches. From the carpal joint to the end of 

 the first quill-feather, which is the longest, five inches and 

 a quarter. The female is a trifle smaller than the male. 



In the young bird of the year the back and rump are 

 somewhat darker than in the adult, and the under parts are 

 whiter. 



