TRINGISWE. 687 



live on soft insects, worms, larvae, small Crustacea and molluscs. 

 Most of them have a marked change of plumage in summer, 

 becoming darker above and rufous beneath ; and in one species 

 the male, which is larger than the female is ornamented with a 

 fine ruff. 



Gen. Philomachus, Moehring. 



Syn. Machetes, Cuvier — Pavoncella, Leach. 



Char. — Bill, wings, and tail as in Tringa; tarsus somewhat 

 more lengthened ; the outer toe joined to the middle one by a 

 short web. 



This form differs structurally from Tringa only in having a web 

 between the outer toe and the middle one ; but the males are much 

 larger than the females, assume a rich and very varied coloration 

 in summer, with the addition of a large ruff of long feathers, 

 and fight furiously for the possession of the females. 



880. Philomachus pugnax, Linn^us. 



Tringa, apud Linnaeus — Blyth, Cat. 1601 — Gould, Birds of 

 Europe, pi. 328 — Limosa Hardwickii, Gray, Hardw. 111. Ind. 

 Zool. 2 pi. 52, f . 2 (the male in winter dress) — Tot. indicus, Gray, 

 Hardw. 111. Ind. Zool. 2 pi. 52, f. 1 (the female in winter dress) 

 — Jerdon, Cat. 342 and 343 — Geh-wala, H. 



The Ruff. 



Descr. — In winter plumage, the male has the upper plumage 

 variable, generally rich brown, with black central spots, and 

 reddish or whitish edges, the head and neck usually somewhat 

 paler ; the greater-coverts barred black and reddish brown ; pri- 

 maries dusky ; tail with the middle feathers barred black and red- 

 brown; the throat, forepart of the neck, and the lower parts 

 pure white, sometimes mottled with blackish ; the breast reddish 

 or ashy brown, with or without darker spots. 



Bill dusky brown ; irides brown ; legs fleshy yellow. Length 

 12 to 13 inches ; wing 7£; extent 22^ ; tail 2| ; bill at front l T 3 y ; 

 tarsus 2. Weight 6 ounces or rather more. 



The female is much smaller, has more of an ashy tint through- 

 out, and the feathers more or less dark-centered. 



