696 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



890. Phalaropus hyperboreus, Linn^us. 



Tringa, apud Ltnn.eus— Blyth, Cat. 1926 — Gould, Birds of 

 Europe, pi. 336. 



The Lesser Coot-footed Stint. 



Descr. — Forehead white ; crown, occiput, and nape dusky brown ; 

 the back, scapulars, and two middle tail feathers the same, but 

 the feathers broadly edged with pale red ; wing-coverts and 

 primaries dusky, edged with whitish ; all the lower parts white, 

 passing into pale ashy on the sides of the breast and flanks. 



Bill dusky ; irides brown ; feet yellowish green. Length 6^- 

 inches or more ; wing 4| ; tail 2\ ; bill || ; tarsus f . 



In summer plumage the back and scapulars are deep black, 

 with reddish edges; the wing-coverts black Avith a white band, 

 and the neck ferruginous. 



A single instance is on record of the occurrence of this bird 

 in India. It was obtained by Dr. Stewart at Madras. Possibly 

 this and the last species may be found to be more common when 

 our sea-coasts have been well examined. This species has a similar 

 geographical distribution with the last, but is also recorded from 

 New Guinea, and is probably Bonaparte's P. australis. 



The only other member of this sub-family is Phal. Wilsonii. 

 Sabine, (fimbrlatus, Temminck, Lobipes incanus, J. & S.), from 

 North America, separated under the name of Steganopus, Vieillot, 

 (Holopodius, Bonap). 



Sub-fam. Totanin^e. 



Bill moilerately long, slender, with the tip hard and pointed, 

 slightly ascending in some ; tarsi slender, rather long ; feet 

 elongate ; outer toe joined by web to the middle one. Change 

 of plumage in summer slight in some, in others to black or dusky 

 beneath and not to rufous. 



Sandpipers run along the muddy and pebbly banks of rivers or 

 lakes, and seas, and pick up various small Crustacea and molluscs 

 generally from the surface of the ground, not inserting their bills 

 deeply like Snipes and Stints. Several are solitary in their habits, a 

 few inclined to be gregarious. They are all winter visitants to 



