BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 83 



Adult. Blackish-brown above, varied with reddish and grayish ; rump white ; 

 tail and its upper coverts blackish, barred with white ; lower parts rusty-red, paler 

 or whitish on abdomen. Fall birds have upper parts and breast grayish and lower 

 part of back and most ot under parts white. 



Habitat. Eastern North America, breeding far north. 



Rare spring" and autumnal visitor. Specimens have been taken in 

 Chester, Lancaster and Erie counties. This species, when found here, 

 is seen singly or in pairs, and never in flocks such as are found about 

 the Atlantic coast during- migrations. 



GENUS MICROPALAMA BAIRD. 

 Micropalama himantopus (BONAP.). 



Stilt Sandpiper. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Bill much as in Gallinago but shorter ; less widened at end and less distinctly 

 furrowed on top, sometimes perceptibly curved. Wings long, pointed, first primary 

 longest; legs very long ; tibiae bare an inch ; tarsus as long as bill; feet semi-pal, 

 mate, the front toes being connected by two evident basal webs ; sexes alike. From 

 Cones' Key. 



"Adult in summer. Above blackish, each feather edged and tipped with white 

 and tawny or bay, which on scapulars becomes scolloped. Auriculars chestnut; 

 a dusky line from bill to eye, and a slight superciliary one ; upper tail-coverts white 

 with dusky bars. Primaries dusky with blackish tips ; tail feathers 12, ashy-gray, 

 their edges and a central field white ; under parts mixed reddish, black and whitish, 

 in streaks on jugulum, elsewhere in bars; bill and feet greenish-black. Length 

 8|-9 ; extent 16-17 * * bill 1.50-1.70 * * * Young and adults in winter 

 ashy-gray above, with or without traces of black and bay, the feathers usually with 

 white edging ; line over eye and under parts white, the jugulum and sides suffused 

 with the color of the back, and streaked with dusky ; legs usually pale greenish- 

 yellow. The full breeding dress is of brief duration ; the birds are usually ashy and 

 white from September to April, both inclusive." Coues 1 Key. 



Habitat. Eastern province of North America, breeding north of the United 

 States, and migrating in winter to the West Indies and central South America. 



Very rare spring and fall migrant. I have never met with this spe- 

 cies in Pennsylvania. Dr. Walter Van Fleet has observed it in Clinton 

 county and Mr. W. W. Stoey, of Harrisburg, mentions the Stilt Sand- 

 piper as one of the occasional visitors found about the Susquehanna, in 

 Dauphin county. 



GENUS TRINGA LINN^US. 

 Tringa canutus LINN. 



Knot ; Red-breasted Sandpiper ; Ash-colored Sandpiper. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Bill straight, short, about 1^ inches long ; both mandibles have grooves on sides ; 

 legs short and stout ; toes short and stout, without any webs, but front toes have 

 rather wide margins ; hind toe rather long and slender ; tail feathers about even. 





