530 SCHINZ'S SANDPIPER. 



Body rather slender. Feet rather long, slender ; tibia bare a third part 

 of its length ; tarsus compressed behind, covered anteriorly and posteriorly 

 with numerous scutella, which scarcely leave any intermediate space ; hind 

 toe extremely small ; the rest of moderate length, slender, the fourth 

 slightly longer than the second, the third longest ; all free, there being 

 only a very slight rudimentary web between the third and fourth, flat be- 

 neath, slightly marginate with rather pointed scales. Claws small, slightly 

 arched, compressed, rather acute, that of the third toe much larger, with 

 the inner edge dilated. 



Plumage very soft, blended on the lower parts, the feathers distinct 

 above. Wings very^long, pointed ; primaries tapering, obtuse, the first 

 longest, the second almost equal, the rest rapidly graduated ; outer secon- 

 daries incurved, narrow, obliquely sinuate at the end of the outer web, 

 the inner rounded and extending beyond the outer ; inner secondaries 

 very narrow, tapering to a point, reaching, when the wing is closed, to 

 about half an inch from its tip. Tail of moderate length, nearly even, 

 but with the two middle feathers exceeding the rest, the number of feathers 

 twelve. 



Bill and feet dusky. Iris brown. The general colour of the upper 

 parts is brownish-black, each feather edged with yellowish-grey, the sca- 

 pulars with light red. Wing-coverts greyish-brown, the shaft black ; 

 primary and secondary coverts tipped with white ; quills brownish-grey, 

 darker towards the tips, the inner primaries and outer secondaries more 

 or less edged and tipped with white ; the tail-coverts white with a dusky 

 spot, excepting the two central, which are blackish, with a few greyish- 

 white markings. Tail-feathers light grey, the two middle brownish-black 

 towards the end. Sides of the head, fore neck, anterior part of breast 

 and sides greyish- white, with small lanceolate central brownish-black spots; 

 the rest of the lower parts white. 



Length to end of tail 1^^ inches, to end of wings 1^^, to end of claws 

 7x^5 ; extent of wings 1 4|, bill along the back Y^, along the edge of lower 

 mandible H ; wing from flexure 4 'j^*; tail 9,f^; tarsus ^|; middle toe 

 l\, its claw y^g. 



Adult Female in winter. Plate CCLXXVIII. Fig. 2. 

 The Female is similar to the male, but a little smaller. 



In some individuals, about six of the middle tail-coverts are black, 

 the lateral barred with white and dusky. 



