320 RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 



RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. {Tringa alpina) 



PLATE LVL— Fig. 2. 



Arct. Zool. p. 476, No. 391.— Beivick, ii. p. 113.— La Brunette, Buff. vii. 493. - 

 Peale's Museum, No. 4094. 



TRINGA ALPINA.— Tenant* 



Dunlin, Mont. Om. Diet. — The Dunlin, Bew. Br. Birds, ii. p. 113. — Purre, Id. 

 ii. p. 115. — Becasseau brunette ou variable, Temm ii. 612. — Tringa alpina, 

 Mem. Br. Zool. p. 108. — Bonap. Synop. p. 25. — Tringa alpina, the American 

 Dunlin, North. Zool. ii. p. 383. 



This bird inhabits both the old and new continents, being 

 known in England by the name of the Dunlin, and in the 

 United States, along the shores of New Jersey, by that of the 



* This species is again figured, on the next plate, in the plumage 

 of the winter, and the decided change undergone at the different ages 

 and seasons has caused great multiplication and confusion among the 

 synonyms. Wilson's two figures show very well the distinctions 

 between the nuptial dress and that of winter ; and, in the bird of the 

 first year, the plumage assumes a ruddy tinge on the upper parts, but 

 wants the greater part of the black, so conspicuous during the love 

 season. 



On the coasts of Great Britain, the purre is the most common of 

 the whole race, and may generally be met with, no matter what is the 

 character of the shore. Before they have been much driven about and 

 annoyed, they are also one of the most familiar. During winter, the 

 flocks are sometimes immense, and will allow a person to approach 

 very near, looking, and running a few steps, or stretching their wings 

 in preparation for flight, listlessly, and indicative of little alarm ; a few 

 shots, however, render them as timorous and wary as they were before 

 careless. In spring, they separate into pairs, when some perform a mi- 

 gration to a considerable extent northward, while others retire to the 

 nearer marshes and sea-merses, a few to the shores of inland lakes, and 

 still fewer to the higher inland muirs. Having there performed the 

 duties of incubation, they return again in autumn to the shore, where 

 they may be found in small parties, the amount of the broods, and 

 which gradually congregate as the season advances and more distant 

 travellers arrive, until many hundreds are thus joined. Their nests 

 are formed beneath or at the side of any small bush or tuft of grass, 

 rather neatly scraped, and with a few straws of grass round the sides. 

 The male is generally in attendance, perched on some near elevation, 



