I 82 BRITISH BIRDS. 



to middle at base by a membrane. Neck of male furnished 

 in spring with elongated curled feathers capable of dilation. 



305. Pavoneella pugnax (Linn.). RUFF. 



Hab. Northern Palaearctic region. In winter reaching 

 Africa, India and (casually) N.E. America. 



The sexes are alike except during the breeding season. 

 Female (Reeve) : feathers above and on throat and breast 

 dark brown with buffish or whitish margins ; rump darker ; 

 greater wing-coverts chiefly black, glossed with green and 

 tipped with white ; belly white ; bill dark brown ; tarsi yel- 

 lowish-brown; length lo'oo; wing 6*00. Male: length 12*00. 



Still breeds casually in Lincolnshire and Norfolk, but is 

 now chiefly known as a scarce migrational visitor. 



GENUS CLXXIII. CALIDRIS, Cuvier (1800). 



Bill about as long as head, straight, much as in Tringa. 

 Tarsus rather short ; hind toe absent. 



306. Calidris arenaria (Linn.). SANDERLING. 

 Hab. Circumpolar regions. 



Adult : above much as in Curlew Sandpiper ; cheeks, 

 throat and upper breast pale chestnut-red spotted with 

 dusky brown ; under parts white. In winter upper parts 

 are chiefly light grey and under parts white. Length 6*90 ; 

 wing 475 ; bill black ; tarsi dusky olive. 



Fairly common on our coasts during migration. 



GENUS CLXXIV. TRYNGITES, Gabanis (1856). 



307. Tryngites rufeseens (Vieill.). BUFF-BREASTED 

 SANDPIPER. 



Hab. Arctic America and N.E. Asia. 



More than a dozen examples have been obtained in 

 England and three in Ireland ; one is also said to have 

 been taken in Scotland. 



