384 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



Form. — Size, greater than the English Dunlin. Bill, when compared with that of 

 the latter, considerably shorter, more nearly straight, less deep at the base, and altogether 

 weaker ; the under mandible in particular being considerably more slender. The ridge of 

 the upper mandible, close to the tip, is likewise more rounded, and not appearing as if 

 pared down. The lateral tail feathers are broader than those of the English bird ; the form 

 of the tail, however, is the same in both, namely, very slightly doubly emarginate, inde- 

 pendent of the central pair of feathers, which are acute, and two lines longer than any of 

 the others. Wings a little shorter than the tail. Toes quite free ; hind one articulated 

 near the sole. Nails slender, acute, and considerably curved ; hind one turning inwards. 



Dimensions. 

 Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin. 



Length, total . . .83 Length of bill to rictus .0 11 Length of middle nail . 2^ 



,, of tail 2 4J „ of naked thigh .00 ,, of inner toe . . 6^ 



„ of wing . .49 „1 of tarsus . . 11 ,, of inner nail . .0 2 



„ of bill above 11 ,, of middle toe .08 „ of hind toe and nail 3 



[152.] 6. Tringa Schinzii. (Brehm.) Shim's Sandpiper. 



Genus, Tringa, Bhiss. 



Pelidna cinclus, var. Say, Long's Exped., i., p. 337- 



Tringa Schinzii, Bonap. Syn., No. 249. 



This species is not unfrequent on the shores of the small lakes which skirt 

 the Saskatchewan plains. 



DESCRIPTION 

 Of a male, killed on the Saskatchewan, June, 1827. 



Colour. — Centres of the upper plumage blackish-brown ; edges rust-coloured on the 

 shoulders and scapulars ; grey on the neck, posterior part of the back, and rump : the pale 

 edges of the neck broadest. Lateral tail coverts white, marked near the tip with clove- 

 brown ; central-pair blackish-brown, tipped with white. Tail-feathers broccoli-brown, edged 

 all round with white, the central pair blackish-brown with narrower edgings. Wings 

 blackish-brown ; margins of the lesser coverts paler ; outer borders of the quills, middles of 

 their shafts, and tips of the secondaries and greater coverts white. Region of the bill, a 

 streak on the lores, and the ear feathers, brownish. Under plumage white ; the sides of the 

 head, throat, breast, and flanks spotted with blackish-brown. Bill dark-brown ; paler at 

 the base beneath. Legs brown. 



Form. — Bill shorter than the head, straight, the tip depressed and slightly drooping, 

 grooved to near the point, which is obsoletely pitted when dry. Tail doubly emarginate ; 

 outer feather and that next the central pair equal in length ; all the feathers nearly of the 



