10 SCOLOPACID.E. 



very carefully among the surrounding willow-stumps and 

 branches. In a month from the time of their birth the 

 young require no longer the aid of their parents, and may be 

 seen feeding in the same spots that the adult frequent. 



The Sandpiper measures from seven inches and a half to 

 seven inches and three-quarters ; the expanse of its wings is 

 from fourteen to fourteen inches and a half. The plumage is 

 of a silky texture ; the upper parts, from head to tail, olive 

 cinereous dusky ; the shafts of the feathers black ; the quills 

 dusky ; cheeks, sides of the breast, and neck delicately marked 

 with dusky streaks, and clouded with bluish-ash and yellow 

 ochre ; from the upper mandible to the eye extends a dusky 

 streak; the eye is dusky; beak dusky, with pale fleshy ash- 

 colour at the base. The legs are pale bluish-green, with trans- 

 parent brown at the joints of the knee, foot, and toes ; claws 

 dusky. The central tail-feathers dusky ; the next barred with 

 dusky and white : all the under parts are pure white. In 

 summer plumage the lesser wing-coverts and scapulars have a 

 black border near the tip of each feather, which appears to be 

 wanting in winter plumage. 



The male and female are alike ; the young have the pen- 

 cilled markings on the feathers somewhat different, and some 

 of the feathers on the upper plumage are bordered with 

 cream-colour and black, thereby giving the whole a much 

 more varied colouring. 



The egg figured 182 is that of the Common Sandpiper. 



