PECTORAL SANDPIPER. 441 
family, though in reality long, with the first primary longest ; 
the tertials and scapulars shorter than the primaries. The 
tail is rather short, subequal to the wings when closed, and 
always of twelve feathers and no more. 
With the exception of thesubgenera Falcinellus, distinguished 
by an arched bill, and Calidris, by a short, straight one, and, 
both three-toed, all our Zringw are tetradactyle, having the 
short hind toe. With the exception of my subgenus Hemi- 
palama, whose character is to have the fore toes all connected 
at base by a membrane, and of Machetes, which has only the 
outer ones connected, all the 7ringe have the feet cleft to the 
base. Of the species that remain after the separation of these 
four well-marked groups, and which are still the most numer- 
ous, we form our subgenus Zringa. We must not, however, 
pass by unnoticed the Hurynorhyncus of Nilsson, a group so 
important as perhaps to merit generic distinction: it is the 
Platalea pygmeea of Linné, of which a single specimen of un- 
certain nativity is known.* In this, by an extreme develop- 
ment of the Tinga character, the bill is remarkably flattened 
and widened at tip, somewhat in the manner of the spoon- 
bill. 
In the sandpipers the female is similar to the male, being 
only somewhat larger. The young differ from the adult, and 
they moult twice a year, changing greatly the colours of their 
plumage. These are a mixture of white and cinereous, 
changing in summer to rufous and black. 
The sandpipers are maritime birds that live in flocks, 
oftentimes composed of different species, on sandy beaches or 
muddy shores, preferring mostly salt water. They migrate 
with the changes of the seasons along coasts and rivers, and 
are seldom seen in the temperate climates of North America 
and Hurope, except during autumn, winter, and more especially 
in spring, when they are the most numerous. ‘They retire to 
the north to breed, which they do socially among the grass 
near the water, but never in our climates. They feed on 
* See Thunberg, Ay. Sv. Holm. 1816, p. 194, tab. vi. 
