152 FEATHERED GAME 
four eggs for its contribution toward the con- 
tinuance of its race. 
In appearance this species is very near to 
the white-rumped sandpiper, with the same gen- 
eral scheme of coloring though of grayer tones 
and with dusky instead of white on the rump 
as in the other. The two are close together in 
measurements; if there is any difference Baird’s 
is a trifle the smaller, being about seven inches 
long and about fifteen inches in sail spread. 
The edges of the feathers are lighter—reddish 
yellow in this bird—and the feet and legs are 
black. The young bird in August and the old 
bird in winter dress are even paler, and at any 
age and in any plumage Baird’s Sandpiper is 
noticeably lighter in color than is the white- 
rumped. But if there is any doubt as to the 
identity of a specimen the white or dusky color 
of the rump will place the bird at once. The 
only other ‘‘ peep ’’ likely to be mistaken for 
this one is the ‘‘ grassbird,’’ or pectoral sand- 
piper, which is considerably larger and has 
darker centres and ruddier edges to the feath- 
ers of the upper parts. 
