780 CALIDRIS EURYNORHYNCHUS MACHETES 



It breeds in Iceland (sometimes), Greenland, and (perhaps) 

 Northern Siberia, the nest being a mere depression on the 

 ground, and in June deposits 4 eggs, which resemble miniature 

 eggs of the Curlew, and measure about 1'44 by 0*95. 



ETJRYNORHYNCHUS, ' Nilss., 1821. 



1079. SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER. 



EURYNORHYNCHUS PYGJVLffiUS. 



Eurynorlrynclms pygmczns (Linn.), Syst. Nat. i. p. 231 (1766) ; Harting, 

 Ibis, 1869, p. 427, pi. xii. ; Gould, B. of As. vii. pi. 66 ; David and 

 Oust, Ois. Chine, p. 474 ; Tacz. F. O. Sib. 0. p. 928 ; (Seebohm), 

 B. Jap. Emp. p. 338 ; Blanf. F. Brir. Ind. Birds, iv. p. 271 ; 

 Kidgway, p. 160 ; E. griseui-; Nilss. Orn. Suec. ii. p. 29 (1821), 



<$ ad. (E. Siberia). Crown and back black margined with rufous and 

 ochreous; wing-coverts and neck paler and greyer; middle of rump and 

 upper tail-coverts, and middle tail-feathers blackish ; sides of rump 

 white ; tail otherwise grey ; quills blackish brown, the shafts white ; sides 

 of head, throat, and breast rusty red; rest of under parts and under 

 surface of wings white, the lower breast spotted with black ; bill and legs 

 black ; iris dark brown. Culmen 0'95, wing 3'9, tail 1'45, tarsus 0*85 

 inch ; bill spatulate. Sexes alike. In winter the plumage is entirely 

 without red ; upper parts dusty grey, with white or paler margins ; wing- 

 coverts tipped with while ; forehead, sides of head, neck, and tinder parts 

 pure white. 



Hob. North-eastern Siberia, migrating south to Japan, the 

 coasts of China, Burma, and rarely those of India ; accidental in 

 Alaska. 



But little is on record respecting this Sandpiper, which is 

 easily recognizable by its broadly spatulate bill, and it is said to 

 frequent mud-flats in company with other waders. It breeds in 

 Northern Siberia, but its nest and eggs are as yet unknown. 



MACHETES, Cuv., 1817. 



1080. RUFF. 

 MACHETES PUGNAX. 



AfacJietes pugnax (Linn.), Syst. Nat. 1. p. 247 (1766) ; Naum. vii. p. 502, 

 Taf. 190, 191, 192, 193 ; Hewitson, ii. p. 345, pi. xcv. ; Gould, B. of 

 E. iv. pi. 325 j id. B. of Gt. Brit. iv. pi. 61 ; Dresser, viii. p. 87, 

 pis. 557, 558 ; Layard, B. of S. Afr. p. 329 ; (Seebohm), B. Jap. Emp. 

 p. 327 ; (Sharpe). Cat. B. Br. Mus. xxiv. p. 500 ; Tacz. F. 0. Sib. 0. 



