BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE SANDERLING. 



TOWILLEE, OR CURWILLET. 



(Calidris Arcnaria, Illig. Sander ling variable 

 Temm.) 



THIS bird weighs almost two ounces; is about 

 eight inches in length, and fifteen in breadth, from 

 tip to tip. The bill is an inch long, slender, black, 

 and grooved on the sides nearly from the tip to the 

 nostril; the brow to the eyes white; rest of the 

 head pale ash-grey, mottled in brown streaks from 

 the forehead to the hinder part of the neck, and on 

 each side of the upper part of the breast; back, 

 scapulars, and greater coverts, brownish ash, edged 

 with dull white, and irregularly marked with dark 

 brown spots. The pinions, lesser coverts, and 

 bastard wings, dark brown; the quills, which ex- 

 tend beyond the tail, are of the same colour on 

 their exterior webs and points, except four of the 

 middle ones, which are white on the outer webs, 



