94 



Distinctions. Same general appearance as Wilson's Snipe, but with red front and 

 underparts in spring, and without the rich browns of that species in autumn. Bill is longer 

 in comparison with size than any other bird except Wilson's Snipe. A very similar red 

 breast occurs in the Knot, but the longer bill of the Dowitcher (L, 2-10-2-50 against 

 L, 1-30) is conclusive identification. 



Field Marks. About the size and general outline of Wilson's Snipe, but with conspicu- 

 ous white on lower back and more white on tail. Habitat also different. 



Distribution. Breeds in the far north, west and probably east of Hudson bay. Scarce 

 on Great Lakes, more common on coast. Our eastern migrants are supposedly Ungava 

 breeders, but accurate data on this point are lacking. 



SUBSPECIES. A slightly differentiated subspecies, the Long-billed Dowitcher 

 M . g. scolopaceous occurs in the west. It is distinguished by its slightly larger size, longer 

 bill, heavier spotting of breast, and more extensive red below. It is difficult to differentiate 

 bright plumages, and birds and juveniles can rarely be told apart. The Long-billed Do- 

 witcher is to be expected in eastern Canada only in the Great Lakes region and its occurrence 

 should not be recorded unless the specimen has been well compared with authentic material. 



A bird frequenting mud flats rather than grassy meadows. 



233. Stilt Sandpiper. FR. LA MAUBECHE A LONGS PIEDS. Micropalama himan- 

 topus. L, 8-25. Brown markings on ground of dull white; underparts lighter and the 

 dark arranged in uniform bars changing to obscure striping on the foreneck and to fine 

 spotting on the throat. Autumn plumage shows no sign of this characteristic barring; 

 back with various shades of brown in strong pattern, underparts nearly pure white, slightly 

 veiled with ochraceous on breast and foreneck where it is faintly and obscurely spotted 

 with dark. 



Distinctions. The evenly barred underparts of the spring plumage are unmistakable. 

 The autumn bird resembles several species. The length of the bill, 1 50, and of the tarsus, 

 1-60, are greater than those of any other Shore Bird of otherwise equal size. The Red- 

 backed Sandpiper has a bill of almost equal length, but it is heavier and has less of an 

 abrupt spatulate enlargement at the extreme tip. 



Field Marks. Contrast of its small size and great length of bill. Upper tail coverts, 

 instead of lower back as in the Dowitcher, are light in spring and white in autumn. 



Distribution. Breeds on Arctic coast northwest of Hudson bay. In migration, pro- 

 bably more common in the interior than on the coast. Regular but rare in autumn on 

 lake Ontario. 



One of the rarest of eastern Shore Birds, sometimes associated with the 

 Dowitcher and Yellow-legs on mud flats. 



234. Knot. RED-BREASTED PLOVER. ROBIN SNIPE. FR. LA MAUBECHE A POITRINE 

 ROUSSE. Tringa canutus. L, 10-50. In spring upper parts mottled with various shades 

 of brown and ochre, throat, foreneck, and below strong dull rufous, lighter towards the 

 tail. In autumn light smoky grey, pure white below, breast and foreneck slightly darker 

 with fine, obscured spotting. 



Distinctions. Spring birds as regards size may be confused only with Dowitcher. 

 The short bill, L, 1-30, as against L, 2-10-2-50 of the Dowitcher, is conclusive differentia- 

 tion. Autumn birds very similar to several species of like coloration. Even light grey 

 coloration of back quite similar to that of the autumn Red-back, but in the Knot each feather 

 is margined with faint line of lighter colour giving effect of a succession of semicircles, present 

 in no other Shore Bird. 



Field Marks. In spring bill, shorter than that of the Dowitcher which it otherwise 

 resembles, and greyish but not conspicuous white over tail. In autumn light grey back, 

 lighter towards tail, is best recognition mark. 



Distribution. A circumpolar species of extraordinary migration range. Breeding 

 on the Arctic circumpolar islands and ranging in winter to South Africa, Patagonia, and 

 New Zealand, etc. Apparently less common in the Great Lakes region than on the Atlantic 

 coast. 



A bird to be found on sandy beaches as well as on mud flats. It is 

 steadily decreasing in numbers like so many of its allies. 



235. Purple Sandpiper. WINTER SNIPE, ROCK SNIPE. FR. LA MATJBECHE potra- 

 PREE. Arquatella maritima. L, 9. Greyish-black on back, including head and extending 



