RED-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 257 



towards the end, when it becomes considerably broader, the sides sloping, 

 the tip convex above and ending in a blunt point, the edges thick and flat- 

 tened. Nasal groove extending to near the tip; nostrils basal, linear, per- 

 vious. Lower mandible with the angle long and very narrow, the dorsal 

 line straight, the sides sloping outwards, with a long narrow groove, the tip 

 a little broader, but tapering. 



Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Eyes of moderate size. Neck 

 of ordinary length. Body rather full. Feet rather long, slender; tibia bare 

 a third part of its length; tarsus somewhat compressed, anteriorly and 

 posteriorly with numerous small scutella; hind toe very small, the rest of 

 moderate length, slender, the fourth slightly longer than the second, the 

 third longest; all free, broadly marginate, flattened beneath, and with 

 numerous scutella above. Claws small, slightly arched, compressed, rather 

 obtuse, that of the third toe much larger, with the inner edge dilated. 



Plumage very soft, blended on the head, neck, and lower parts, the 

 feathers rather distinct above. Wings very long and pointed; primaries 

 tapering, obtuse, the first longest, the second two-twelfths of an inch shorter, 

 the rest rapidly decreasing; outer secondaries slightly incurved, inner elon- 

 gated, straight and tapering, one of them extending when the wing is closed 

 to an inch and a quarter from its tip. Tail rather short, nearly even, of 

 twelve rather broad feathers, which taper to a broad point. 



Bill and feet black. Iris dark hazel. Upper part of the head and hind 

 neck light grey, tinged with buff, and longitudinally streaked with dusky; 

 fore part of back and scapulars variegated with brownish-black and yellow- 

 ish, and each feather with several spots of the latter and tipped with whitish; 

 the hind part of the back, rump, and upper tail-coverts white, barred with 

 black; wing-coverts ash-grey, edged with paler. Alula and primary-coverts 

 brownish-black, tipped with white; primaries similar, their shafts and the 

 outer margins of all excepting the first three, white, the inner webs towards 

 the base light grey; secondaries and their coverts grey, margined with white. 

 Tail-feathers ash-grey, tinged with brown, and narrowly edged with white. 

 The sides of the head, fore part of neck, breast, and abdomen rich brownish- 

 orange; lower tail-coverts and feathers of the legs white, each of the former 

 with a central dusky narrow-shaped or elongated spot, axillaries white, barred 

 with dusky; lower wing-coverts dusky, with white margins. 



Length to end of tail 10i inches, to end of wings lOf, to end of claws 11^; 

 extent of wings 21; wing from flexure 7; tail 2^; bill along the ridge Iff; 

 along the edge of lower mandible Iff; tarsus li; hind toe and claw y^; mid- 

 dle toe and claw l-£f. Weight 5\ oz. 



The female is similar to the male, but considerably larger. 



Length to end of tail lOf inches. Weight 6 ounces. 



