238 
NEW-YORK FAUNA 
EIRDS* 
THE BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 
Tringa rufescens. 
PLATE LXXXVII. FIG. 197. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
T. mfuscena, Vieil. Gal.Ois. de l’Am. Vol. 2, p. 105, pi, 238. Id, Nouv. Diet. 2d Ed. Vol. 34, p. 470. Yarrell, 
Linn. Tr. Vol. 16, p. 100, pi. 11. Selby, Illust. Vol. 2, p. 142, pi. 27, fig. 1. Nuttall, 
Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 113. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 5, p.264, pi. 331, Giraud, Bird3-of 
Long island, p. 230. 
Characteristics. Bill small, slender, shorter than the head. Tail cuneate ; the outer fea¬ 
thers light brown edged with white. Rump blackish above, varied with 
black and rufous ; beneath buff. Length, 8 - 5. 
Description. Bill nearly straight, 0 - 9 long, slightly curved, attenuated towards the tip, 
which is slightly enlarged, polished and depressed : lower mandible feathered beneath for 
nearly one half its length. Naked space of tibia 0 - G. Middle toe with its nail, and the bill, 
subequal: hind toe very small. 
Color, in a specimen shot on Long island, September 24. Frontlet, sides of the head, 
neck, breast, belly, vent and under tail-coverts light buff; very little paler on the belly and 
vent. Crown dusky, streaked with greyish rufous ; the centre of the feathers being black, 
and the margins rufous. Nape rufous, minutely and sparsely streaked with brown. Upper, 
tail-coverts, and the two central tail-feathers, black bordered with rufous ; lateral tail-feathers 
light brown, bordered with dusky and tipped with white. Secondaries mottled in undulating 
lines, in the same manner with the primaries. 
Length, 8’0 — 9 - 0. 
This is a northern species, rarely seen south of New-York, although its first describer ob¬ 
tained his specimen from Louisiana. It is not common here, although occasionally found in 
the markets of New-York for sale. It has been seen in Ohio. It has been accidentally, found; 
in Europe. Its history is incomplete. 
