THE ROBIN SNIPE 171 
gunner when flighting. They are very fair 
birds for the table and are well esteemed by the 
shore gunner. Like the greater number of the 
shore birds they make their summer homes in 
the far north and there rear up their families. 
In their winter travels they go well down the 
coast of South America. 
In their breeding dress the upper parts are 
dusky brown, the feathers with lighter tips and 
edges; scapulars yellowish on the edges. Rump 
dark grey with more or less distinct dusky bar- 
rings. Upper tail coverts white with wavy bars 
of dusky. Tail grayish, outer feathers whitish. 
Below, brownish red, fading on flanks and tail 
coverts to gray or white. Line of same reddish 
hue over each eye. Bill quite stout and rather 
longer than is the rule in this family, dusky 
green in color, as are also the feet and legs. 
The autumn plumage of the young bird is a 
beautiful bit of feather work although made up 
of no bright colors. Above, everywhere except 
on rump and tail coverts, a delicate ashy grey, 
each feather margined about by a fine edging of 
white with a narrow subterminal line of black 
within this last, giving to the plumage a pe- 
culiarly rich and elegant effect. Even the black 
