230 PEiECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



Actodromas Bairdi. 



BAIED'S SANDPIPER. 



(?) Tringa melanotos, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. XXXIV. 1819, 462 (based on ChorlUo lomo negro, Azaua). 

 Tringa Bmiapartii, "Sohleg." Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 722 (part ; nee Schleg.). 

 Tringa maculata, Sohleg. Mus. P.-B. Scolopaces, 1864, -39 (part). 

 Actodromas Bairdii, CouES, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Pliilad. 1861, 194 ; t'tieck List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 615. 



— RiDGW. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 537. 

 Tringa Bairdii, ScL. P. Z. S. 1867, 332 (Chili). — CouEs, Key, 1872, 255 ; Check List, 1873, no. 



419 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 484. 



Hab. America iu general, but chiefiy the interior of the northern, and the western portion of 

 the southern, continent, ranging from the Arctic coast to Chili and Buenos Ayres ; rare in the East- 

 ern Province, and not yet recorded from the Pacific coast of the United States ; accidental in South 

 Africa ? 



Sp. Char. Adult in sumvier : Above, variegated with black and grayish buff, the former pre- 

 vailing, iu the form of irregular, somewhat diamond-shaped spots on the back and sca])ulars, the 

 buff occupying most of the border of the feathers, and sending indentations toward the shaft ; else- 

 where, the black forms distinct streaks, widest on the crown and anterior part of the back ; rump 

 and upper tail-coverts dusky-brownish black, feathers bordered with dull clay-color, the exterior 

 ones of the latter chiefly white, with irregular U-shaped markings of dusky. Tail light brov.-nish 

 gray, the middle feather nearly black, all narrowly edged with whitish. Wing-coverts and ter- 

 tials grayish brown, with lighter edges and darker centres ; remiges dull slate. Lower parts wliite, 

 the sides of the head and neck, the jugulum, and anterior portion of the sides, streaked with dusky. 

 Adult in xointer :' Above, continuous grayish clay-color, the featliers with darker mesial streaks; 

 rump and middle upper tail-coverts dusky, the feathers bordered terminally with dull clay-color ; 

 lateral upper tail-coverts brownish white. Beneath, brownish white, the jugulum, breast, sides 

 (anteriorly), and sides of the neck, deeply suffused with clay-color or dull buff. Young, Jiist plu- 



mage : Above, grayish clay-color, the scapulars and interscapulars blackish centrally, and conspicu- 

 ously bordered with whitish terminally ; the feathers of the crown and nape streaked with dusky. 

 Wing-coverts, rump, etc., much as in the winter jilumage ; sides of the head and neck, the jugLilum, 

 and breast, pale clay-color, rather indistinctly streaked with dusky. Other lower parts white. 



Total length, about 7.00 to 7.50 inches; extent, about 15.00 ; wing, about 4.75 ; culnien, usually 

 less than 1.00 inch ; tarsus, nearly 1.00; middle toe, about .70. Bill black; iris dark brown; 

 legs and feet slate black. 



Baird's Sandpiper has been so recently recognized as a sijecies wholly distinct 

 from the Bonaparte Sandpiper, that much remains to be learned in regard to its 

 distribution and other specific peculiarities. Its early history has been more or less 

 blended with that of other species to which it has certain proximate resemblances. 

 It is probable that when .sufficient explorations shall have been made to develop a 

 knowledge of its migrations and habits, it will be found to have a much wider 



