268 SANDPIPER. 



quarter long, blackish ; in the roof of the mouth a double row of 

 spinous appendages, pointing inwards, the upper mandible the 

 longest ; tongue nearly the length of the bill ; head, back, and 

 wing coverts black, edged with greenish ash-colour and some white ; 

 cheeks and throat white, marked with oblong dusky spots; belly 

 and thighs white ; outer webs of the quills black ; the lower part 

 of the inner of the first four white ; under the wings on the sides, 

 are eight or ten black feathers, two inches or more in length ; 

 these have by insertion the appearance of under scapulars, answering 

 to those above, and hang half way over the thighs; rump white; 

 tail barred black and white, on the two middle feathers are six or 

 seven black bars ; the inner webs of the others barred only at the 

 ends, the outermost with only one faint bar near the tip ; legs pale, 

 dusky green, hind toe extremely small, and in some specimens 

 appearing merely as a claw, without a toe. Both sexes nearly alike. 



The Grey Sandpiper is found on the shores of this kingdom in 

 the winter, but does not appear to be a plentiful species; seen now 

 and then on the coast of Kent, in small flocks, but rarely beyond 

 the middle of March : common in Siberia, appearing in autumn in 

 great flocks, coming from the extreme north, where they breed ; 

 found in most parts of the Continent of Europe, not uncommon in 

 the province of Andalusia, and the neighbourhood of Gibraltar, all 

 the winter, but shy, and difficult to be shot; so that few are to be 

 obtained, though much valued for delicacy of flavour. 



Inhabits also Barbary, and no doubt the whole African Coast to 

 Egypt, where they are seen in flocks. We have observed it repre- 

 sented in drawings done in India. 



Inhabits Java ; called by the Javanese Chibugan : it is observed 

 that the colours in this are less vivid than in the European Species. 



