240 
NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 
THE BLACK-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 
Tringa cinclus. 
PLATE LXXXIV. FIG. 192 (b, adult, summer ; a, young). 
Tringa cinclus, Linnaeus. Dunlin, Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p.476. 
T. alpina. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 7, p. 25, pi. 56, fig. 2 (summer). T. cinclus, Id. Ib. p. 39, pi. 57, fig. 2 
(winter). 
T. alpina . Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 317- Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 383. 
T. id. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 106. Auduron, B. of A. Vol. 5, p. 266, pi. 332 (summer and winter). 
Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 228. 
Characteristics. Bill black, slightly curved, longer than the head : rump blackish ; tarsus 
1'0. Two middle tail-feathers longest. Summer, black and rufous above; 
black and dull whitish beneath. Winter, blackish brown above ; white 
beneath. Length, 8*0. 
Description. Bill 1-5 long, slender, slightly arched towards the point. Tibia bare for 
some distance above the joint. Tail short, almost even, but the two middle feathers longest. 
Color. Winter : Above dark brownish; throat, breast and beneath white, streaked with 
dusky. Summer : Upper part of the head, back and scapulars chesnut red; the feathers 
darkest in the centre. Tail brownish; the two central feathers darker. Forehead, sides, 
and front and sides of the neck grey, tinged with rusty, and streaked with brown. A con¬ 
spicuous large patch of black on the breast: belly white. Young: Greyish above, varied 
with dusky and slightly tinged with rufous. Sides of the head and neck streaked with dark 
grey. 
Length, 7'5- 8‘5. 
This species is common on the coast of New-York, which it reaches in April, and is then 
called Black-breast. It migrates northwardly to breed, and returns to us in the autumn, 
when its plumage is so changed that it obtains another name, and is then called Winter Snipe. 
It remains with us all winter, and is much esteemed by epicures. It extends southwardly to 
Texas. Breeds in the north of Europe and America. I have followed Bonaparte in adopt¬ 
ing the specific name of cinclus. 
