242 
NEW-YORK FAUNA -BIRDS. 
THE PECTORAL SANDPIPER. 
Tringa pectdralis. 
PLATE LXXXV. FIG. 193. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Pclidna pectoralis. Say, App. Long’s Expedition, Vol. 1, p. 171. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 318. 
T. id. Bonatarte, Am. Orn. Vol. 4, p. 43, pi. 23, fig. 2. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 111. 
T. id. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 5, p. 259, pi, 329. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 233. 
Characteristics. Bill compressed and dull yellowish at the base, 1 • 1 long, and subequal 
with the tarsus. Rump black: middle tail-feathers longest. Feet olive. 
Summer, black and rufous ; beneath white ; breast ash tinged with 
reddish, ^nd streaked with dusky. Winter, brownish ash ; beneath 
white. Length, 9 • 0. 
Description. Bill slender, straight; the point obtuse. Nostrils basal, linear, pervious. 
Tibia bare for about one-third of its length. Neck short. Middle tail-feathers pointed and 
elongated ; the others rounded. 
Color. Head reddish brown; the central part of each feather dusky brown. Lores dusky: 
an obsolete whitish stripe over the eye. All the upper parts blackish brown; the feathers 
edged with reddish: quills dusky. Middle tail-feathers colored and edged like those of the 
back ; the others grey, edged and tipped with white. Breast and sides of the neck dusky 
brown, marked with interrupted series of darker brown lines. Chin and all beneath white. 
In winter, the reddish hue above is not so distinct, and all beneath white. 
Length, 8’5 - 9 - 5. 
The history of this little sandpiper is far from being complete. It is supposed to breed at 
the north, but the precise facts connected with its incubation are unknown. It has hitherto 
been observed from Maine to Maryland, but its geographical range is doubtless more extended. 
A few are seen on our coast in the spring, but the greatest number appear from August to 
November, when they are very fat and well-flavored. It passes under the various names of 
Meadow Snipe, Jack Snipe, Short-neck, and according to Mr. Giraud it is called Fat-bird on 
the coast of New-Jersey. Occasionally it occurs in great numbers along the coast of this 
State, but in some years it is very scarce. It has been accidentally found in Europe. 
