TEIXGA BAIEDII, BAIED's SANDPIPEE. 485 



Jdiilt $. — Bill wholly black, small and slender, slightly shorter than the head, just 

 as long as the tarsus or as the middle toe and claw, slightly expanded or lancet shaped 

 at the end, the point acnte ; grooves long, narrow, deep ; feathers on side of lower 

 mandible evidently reaching further than those on upper. Upper parts brownish- 

 black (deepest on the rnmp and middle upper tail-coverts, and lightest on the neck 

 behind), each feather bordered and tipped with pale brownish-yellow, the tippiDg ol 

 the scapulars broadest and nearly white, their margining broad and brightest in tint, 

 making several deep scollops toward the shafts of the feathers. Only the outer series 

 of upper tail-coverts on each side varied with whitish. Middle tail-feathers brownish- 

 black, the others plain gray, with paler margins. Jugulum tinged with light, dull 

 yeUowish-brown, spotted and streaked with illy-defined blackish markings, as are aKo 

 the sides under the wings. Throat and the other under parts white, unmarked. Feet 

 black, like the bill. Length, 7J: extent, I5i; wing, i^\ bill, 0.<>: tarsus, and middle 

 toe and claw, the same. The 9 is entirely similar, but slightly larger. The young 

 have the upper parts wholly light browuish-ash, darker on the rump, and all the 

 feathers with a dark field, and pale or whitish edging; waves of brownish-black on 

 the scapulars. Jugulum and breast suff'used with dull, light reddish-brown ; the spot- 

 ting small, sparse, and very indistinct. 



T. fuscieoUis is a little larger, on an average ; the bill noticeably stouter, flesh- 

 colored at base below ; the feathers on the sides of the lower mandible dp not extend 

 noticeably beyond those on the upper ; the .scapular edging is bright chestnut ; the 

 jugulum is white, or barely perceptibly ashy with numerous narrow, distinct streaks ; 

 and the upper tail-coverts are white. T. iairdii is exactly intermediate in size 

 between T. maculata and T. miniitilla, and is almost identical with the latter in pattern 

 of coloration, but the markings upon the breast are not thick and heavy, and the edg- 

 ings of the scapulars not bright chestnut. The species scarcely requires comparison 

 with maculata; the latter is much larger; it diflersin the colors and proportions of the 

 bill; the pattern (plain, unscolloped) of coloration of the scapular edgings; the abrupt 

 transition from the color of the crown to that of the hind neck; the heavy pectoral 

 markings, A:c. T. iairdii, like all its allies, is subject to a partially melanotic condition 

 of plumage. 



Dr. Hayden's specimens, above ennmerated, "were the first I saw of this 

 species ; they were in autumnal or otherwise imperfect plnmage, as were 

 also Dr. Woodhouse's. Some time afterward a fine and extensive suite, 

 in breeding plumage, was procured in Arctic America, by ^Ir. Keuni- 

 cott and Mr. Eoss, in the vicinity of Fort Eesolution, Great Slave Lake. 

 It has since been found in various localities in Alaska, where it also 

 breeds; and is very generally dispersed through the interior of Xorth 

 America, east of the Eocky Mountains. Until recently, we had uo 

 evidence of its occurrence on the Atlantic coast, where it was lately 

 taken by Mr. Henshaw, the specimen being forwarded to me for identi- 

 fication. The extralimital quotations are numerous and varied, demon- 

 strating a range in general coincident with that of other small waders 

 of this country. Its line of migration seems to be chiefly in the interior, 

 between the Eocky Mountains and the Pacific. During the passage it 

 is generally distributed over the Missouri region, and is rather common. 

 It enters the United States as early as August, spreading during the 

 following month, when I have found it at various points in Dakota, in 

 small flocks, associating with several other small species, such as the 

 Eed-breasted Snipe and Wilson's Phalarope, along the sandy margins 

 of small streams, and around muddy sloughs. It has a soft, mellow 

 pipe, like others of its genus, and appeared very innocent and confiding. 

 In its general habits and manners I noticed nothing peculiar. 



Mr. Trippe informs me that during the latter part of August he found 

 large flocks of this species near the summit of Mount Evaus, Colorado, 

 between 13,000 and 14,000 feet above sea-level, feeding upon grass- 

 hoppers. 



The egg of this species was first described by Professor Xewton from 

 a defective specimen, not permitting a complete account. The Smith- 

 sonian has several full sets, of three or four eggs each, all taken by Mr. 

 MacParlane, on the barren grounds of the Anderson Eiver region, and 

 on the Arctic coast, east of that river. They were collected in I860, late 



