303 



Genus IV.— TOTANUS, Bechst. TATLER. 



Bill much longer than the head, very slender, sub-cylindrical, straight, 

 flexible, compressed at the base, the point rather depressed and obtuse; upper 

 mandible with the dorsal line straight, the ridge convex, as are the sides, 

 the edges thick, the tip slightly deflected; lower mandible with the angle 

 very long and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, with a slight 

 groove in their basal half, the edges grooved longitudinally, as are those of 

 the upper, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, linear. Head of moderate size, 

 oblong; neck rather long and slender; body slender. Feet very long and 

 slender; tibia bare for half its length; tarsus compressed, scutellate before 

 and behind; hind toe very small, anterior of moderate length, connected by 

 webs at the base, all scutellate above. Claws small, slightly arched, rather 

 obtuse. Plumage soft and blended; wings long, narrow, pointed; first quill 

 longest, inner secondaries long; tail short, of twelve rounded feathers. 



SPOTTED SANDPIPER, OR TATLER. 



ToTANUS MACULARIUS, Wils. 



PLATE CCCXLII.— Male and Female. 



In the course of my last journey in search of information respecting the 

 birds which at one season or other are found within the limits of the United 

 States, I observed so vast a number of them in Texas, that I almost con- 

 cluded that more than two-thirds of our species occur there. Among them 

 I observed the beautiful bird now before you. 



The Spotted Sandpiper has a wonderfully extensive range, for I have met 

 with it not only in most parts of the United States, but also on the shores of 

 Labrador, where, on the 17th of June, 1833, I found it breeding. On the 



