40 HISTORY OF 



we are informed, that a specimen of this bird in the Paris 

 Museum, appears to have served for the descriptions contained 

 in the following works, viz. the well-known one of Viellot, 

 on " The Birds of France," " Nouvelle Dictionaire d'Histoire 

 Naturelle," and the " Encyclopedic Methodique," and is pro- 

 bably that of an adult bird in its summer plumage. Mr. Yarrell 

 also informs us, that the plumage and ossification of the tarsi, 

 in the specimen before us, prove it to be a young bird of 

 the year. 



The species is an inhabitant, like many others of our rarest 

 visitants, of the American Continent, being found in Louisiana ; 

 but no mention is made of it, either in " Wilson's American 

 Ornithology," or in the continuation, by Bonaparte. We here 

 give a description of Mr. Yarrell's bird, it being the only one 

 we have had an opportunity of examining. From it and the 

 above woodcut, should any of our readers be fortunate enough 

 to meet with a specimen, we have no doubt that they will be 

 able to identify it. 



The Buff- breasted Sandpiper has the beak, slender, very 

 slightly curved, three-fourths of an inch in length, and black, 

 from point to gape, one inch, from gape to occiput, one inch ; 

 crown, dark brown approaching to black, each feather edged 

 with light brown ; hind neck, light brown, the dark spots 

 formed by the centre of each feather minute ; wing coverts, 

 brown ; primaries, nearly black, tipped with white ; shafts, 

 white ; tertials, brown, edged with lighter brown ; tail coverts, 

 brown, with lighter coloured borders; tail, cuneiform, the centre 

 feathers, black, shafts and edges, lighter, lateral feathers, light 

 brown, inclosed by a zone of black, and edged with white ; 

 chin, sides of the neck, throat, and breast, light brown, tinged 

 with buff; abdomen, flanks, and under tail coverts, white, 

 but pervaded with the light brown colour of the higher parts ; 



