98 



Genus — Micropalama. Stilt Sandpiper. 



233. Stilt Sandpiper, pr. — la maubeche a longs pieds. Micropalama himan- 

 topus. L, 8-25. Brown markings on ground of dull white; underparts lighter and the 

 dark arranged in uniform bars changing to obscure striping on the foreneck and to fine 

 spotting on the throat. Autumn plumage shows no sign of this characteristic barring; 

 back with various shades of brown in strong pattern, underparts nearly pure white, slightly 

 veiled with ochraceous on breast and foreneck where it is faintly and obscurely spotted 

 with dark. 



Distinctions. The evenly barred underparts of the spring plumage are unmistakable. 

 The autumn bird resembles several species. The length of the bill, 1 -50, and of the tarsus, 

 1-60, are greater than those of any other Shore Bird of otherwise equal size. The Red- 

 backed Sandpiper has a bill of almost equal length, but it is heavier and has less of an 

 abrupt spatulate enlargement at the extreme tip. 



Field Marks. Contrast of its small size and great length of bill. Uppertail-coverts, 

 instead of lower back as in the Dowitcher, are light in spring and white in autumn. 



Distribution. Breeds on Arctic coast northwest of Hudson bay. In migration, pro- 

 bably more common in the interior than on the coast. Regular but rare in autumn on 

 lake Ontario. 



One of the rarest of eastern Shore Birds, sometimes associated with 

 the Dowitcher and Yellow-legs on mud flats. 



Genus — Canutus. Knot. 



234. Knot, red-breasted plover, robin snipe, pr. — la maubeche a poitrine 

 roitsse. Tringa canutus. L, 10-50. In spring — upper parts mottled with various shades 

 of brown and ochre, throat, foreneck and below, strong dull rufous, lighter towards the tail. 

 In autumn — light smoky grey, pure white below, breast and foreneck slightly darker 

 with fine, obscured spotting. 



Distinctions. Spring birds as regards size may be confused only with Dowitcher. 

 The short bill, L, 1-30, as against L, 2-10-2-50 of the Dowitcher, is conclusive differentia- 

 tion. Autumn birds very similar to several species of like coloration. Even, light grey 

 coloration of back quite similar to that of the autumn Red-back, but in the Knot each 

 feather is margined with faint line of lighter colour giving the effect of a succession of 

 semicircles, present in no other Shore Birds. 



Field Marks. In spring — bill, shorter than that of the Dowitcher which it otherwise 

 resembles, and greyish but not conspicuous white over tail. In autumn — light grey 

 back, lighter towards tail, is best recognition mark. 



Distribution. A circumpolar species of extraordinary migration range. Breeding 

 on the Arctic circumpolar islands and ranging in winter to South Africa, Patagonia, and 

 New Zealand, etc. Apparently less common in the Great Lakes region than on the 

 Atlantic coast. 



A bird to be found on sandy beaches as well as on mud flats. It is 

 steadily decreasing in numbers, like so many of its allies. 



Genus — Arquatella. Purple Sandpiper. 



235. Purple Sandpiper, winter snipe, rock snipe, pr. — la maubeche pour- 

 pree. Arquatella maritima. L, 9. Greyish black on back, including head and extend- 

 ing across front of neck and throat, and along flanks. Lighter on throat and darkest 

 on back, white below. Over darker parts a faint suffusion of slightly iridescent purple 

 more or less mottled with lighter feather edgings. Autumn plumage similar, but light 

 feather margins more extensive. Legs and feet orange in spring. 



Distinctions. The only Shore Bird with back so uniformly black. 



Field Marks. In spring, general dark colour and short orange legs. In autumn, 

 season of appearance is almost diagnostic as it comes very late, well into the winter, when 

 other Shore Birds have left. 



