264 8ANDPIPER. 



ginous, the latter with white ; tertials black, bordered with white ; 

 primaries plain black ; shaft of the exterior quill snowy, its inner 

 vane pectinated with white ; secondaries pale brown, spotted on the 

 outer vanes with black, and tipped with white ; greater coverts 

 dusky, edged pale ferruginous, each broadly bordered with white, 

 within this a concentric semicircle of black ; rump and tail coverts 

 deep brown black, slightly bordered with white ; tail tapering, pale 

 brown orange, spotted with black ; the middle feathers centered 

 with dusky ; legs yellow, tinged with green. The male and female 

 much alike. 



Inhabits America : first found on the banks of the River Schuyl- 

 kill, occasionally seen three or four in company, during August and 

 September, running among the grass, feeding on beetles, and other 

 winged insects, and are very shy ; but where they breed is not known. 



Mr. Wilson also informs us, that when plump, the bird weighs 

 three quarters of a pound ; and that the flesh is superior, in point of 

 delicacy, tenderness, and flavour, to any other of the tribe. This 

 has been once or twice killed in Germany and Holland.* 



23— RUFOUS-SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 



LENGTH eleven inches and three quarters ; breadth twenty-one 

 inches and a half. Bill straight, pale red, the top and tip dusky ; 

 plumage on the upper parts and the breast more or less brown, the 

 feathers margined with pale rufous, appearing as a yellow rufous 

 ground, spotted with brown ; on the crown of the head a narrow 

 streak of white down the middle; chin and throat white ; belly from 

 the breast, thighs, and vent, the same; quills plain dusky, the 

 outmost with a white shaft ; greater wing coverts and quills nearly 

 even ; tail ferruginous yellow, barred with dusky ; lower part of 



* M. Temminck. 



