BRITISH BIRDS. l8l 



duller and greyer ; upper tail-coverts chiefly white ; greater 

 wing-coverts and secondaries edged and tipped with white ; 

 below light chestnut-red ; sides and vent white ; bill 

 black, noticeably decurved ; tarsi black. Length 7*50 ; 

 wing 5*00. In winter chiefly greyish-brown above ; upper 

 tail-coverts white ; below white, slightly speckled with 

 dark brown on upper breast. 



A fairly common visitor in spring and autumn. 



303. Tring-a striata, Linn. PURPLE SANDPIPER. 



Hab. N. Europe and N.E. America. 



Adult (winter) : feathers above blackish, with greyish 

 margins and with a slight purplish gloss ; outside tail- 

 coverts chiefly white ; most of inner secondaries white ; 

 chin greyish-white ; throat and upper breast slate-brown ; 

 under parts white, with dusky mottlings and streaks on 

 sides. In spring mantle feathers are margined with 

 reddish-brown ; rump and upper tail-coverts black ; throat 

 and upper breast greyish-white, closely streaked with 

 dark brown and sides spotted with same. Length 7*30 ; 

 wing 5*00 ; bill straight, dark brown; tarsi yellowish. 



Moderately common during winter on our coasts, often 

 remaining until May. 



304. Tringa eanutus, Linn. KNOT. 



Hab. Polar regions, north of Arctic America. 



In both spring and autumn this species very much 

 resembles the Curlew Sandpiper but may be instantly dis- 

 tinguished by its larger size and straight bill. Length 9*00 ; 

 wing 6*40 ; bill and tarsi black ; iris dark brown. A 

 common visitor during migration and in winter. 



GENUS CLXXII. PAVONCELLA, Leach (181Q). 

 Bill rather longer than head, straight, much as in 

 Tringa. Greater part of tibia naked ; outer toe united 



