ZOOLOGY. 239 



TRINGA ALPINA, Liun., var. AMERICANA, Cass. 



Red-backed Sandpiper. 



Trinaa alpina, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1, 1766, 249.— Wilson, Am. Cm. VI[, 1813, 25; pi. Ivi.— Sw. F. B. Am. H, 1831, 383.— 

 NuTT. Man. II, 106.— Aud. Orn. Biog. lU, 1835,580; pi. 290.— Ib. Syn.234.— Ib. Birds Amer.V, 1842, 

 266; pi. 332, var. Americana, Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 719. 

 Tringa dndus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 251.— Wils. Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 39; pi. Ivii. 

 Figures.- Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pi. 7, fig. 3 ; pi. 56, fig. 2.— Aud. B. of Am. pi. 290 ; oct. ed. V, pi. 332. 

 Sp. Ch. — Bill longer than the head, wide at base, curved, slightly widened and flattened towards the end; nasal groove and 

 another groove in the under mandible long and very distinct ; wings long ; tail short, with the two middle feathers longest and 

 pointed ; legs rather long and slender, lower half of the tibia naked ; toes moderate, free at base, flattened underneath and 

 slightly marginated; claws much compressed, hind toe small. Upper parts yellowish red, mixed with ashy, and every feather 

 having a lanceolate, ovate or narrow spot in the centre, most numerous on the back and rump. Front, sides of the head, and 

 entire under parts, ashy white, nearly pure white on the abdomen and under tail coverts ; a wide transverse band of black 

 across the lower part of the breast ; neck before and upper part of the breast with narrow longitudinal spots of brownish 

 black. Under wing coverts and axillary feathers white ; quills light ashy brown, darker on their outer edges, with their shafts 

 white ; tail feathers light ashy brown ; middle feathers darker, outer nearly white. Bill and legs very dark brownish black. 

 Sexes alike. 



Winter plumage. — Entire upper parts dark ashy, nearly black on the rump and upper tail coverts; throat, abdomen, axillaries, 

 and under wing coverts, white ; breast pale ashy, with longitudinal lines of dark brown. 

 Total length, 84 to 9 inches; extent, 15^ to 16; wing, 5; tail, 2J; bill from gape, 1^; tarsus, 1 inch. 

 Eab. — Entire temperate regions of North America. 



This bird is very abundant on the salt marshes at the mouths of the rivers emptying into 

 Puget Sound, where the species is resident throughout the year. In habits they do not differ 

 from those recorded in Nuttall's Manual. Early in the season, before they have been rendered 

 wild bj- being much shot at, I have observed that upon a volley being fired into a flock the 

 unharmed birds in terror sweep around in several circles, and hovering '■^buirch," as the 

 sportsmen say, over their wounded companions, and sometimes realight with them. At the 

 moment of their hovering in a compact body over the wounded is the time generally seized to 

 fire the reserved barrels, two or three shots will frequently bring down from thirty to sixty 

 birds ; and I have known one instance where an officer of the army bagged ninety-six birds 

 from one discharge of his fowling piece. After being fired into once or twice the flocks, 

 learning to avoid sympathizing with their dead and wounded, become shy and wary. At Puget 

 Sound this species is very fond of alighting in flocks upon the half submerged drift logs which 

 lie stranded on the flats off" the entrances of the Nisqually and other rivers, especially at high 

 water, when the surrounding marshes and flats are generally covered. Upon these logs the 

 birds will sometimes for hours sit compactly huddled together and motionless — perhaps for 

 the purpose of aiding the digestion of their food — perhaps simply because the high tide 

 having covered their feeding grounds they have learned by experience that the most philoso- 

 phical plan is "to take it easy" and await the subsidence of the waters. — S. 



The red -backed alpine snipe, or ox-bird, is common in the same season and places as the 

 preceding species. — C. 



TRINGA MACULATA, Vieill. 



Jack Snipe. 



Tringa maculata, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XXXIV, 1819, 465.— Baied & Cassin, Gen. Bep. Birds, 720. 



Tringa pectoralis, Sat, Long's Exped. I, 1823, 171.— Bon. Am. Orn. IV, 1832, 43 ; pi. xxiii.— Nctt. Man. II, III. — 



AcD. Cm. Biog. HI, 1835, 601; V,582; pi. 294 —Ib. Syn. 233.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 259; 



pi. 329. 



