G R A L L A T R E S, 



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6. Genus TRINGA, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 247 (17G6). 

 1. Tringa parvirostris, Peale. 



Tringa parvirostris, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 235 (1st ed. 1848). 



Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXXVIII, fig. 2. Adult. 



Rostra hrevi, recto, supra timbrma, lineis paUide cinereis et ruhescetite- 

 fulvis, siihtus cinerascerde-alba, vittis angustis transversis profunde 

 fuscis. Long, tot, 7 a j^oUices. 



Bill short, straight, slender ; wings long, first, second, and third quills 

 very nearly equal ; tertiaries but little longer than the secondaries ; 

 tail rather long, wide, rounded ; legs and toes long, the former ro- 

 bust ; tibia feathered for more than half its length. A distinct 

 stripe over and behind the eye ashy white. Entire upper parts 

 umber-brown, unspotted on the top of the head, but on other upper 

 parts edged and tipped with ashy white and reddish-fulvous. Tail- 

 feathers umber-brown, with irregular and imperfect transverse nar- 

 row bands of ashy and pale reddish-white, and tipped with the 

 same. Under parts white, with a tinge of ashy ; throat and middle 

 of the abdomen unspotted ; breast, sides, and under coverts of the 

 tail, spotted, and with irregular transverse bars of brown, the latter 

 (bars) most apparent on the sides, flanks, and under coverts of the 

 tail. Inferior coverts of the wing ashy white, irregularly spotted 

 with brown. Bill greenish, darker at the tip; legs dark green. 

 " Irides dark brown" (Peale.) Sexes very nearly alike, female 

 slightly paler. 



Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about seven and a half inches ; 

 wing, four and one-fourth inches ; tail, two and a half inches ; "extent 

 of wings, thirteen and a half inches" (Peale). 



Hab. — Paumotu Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington City. 



This remarkable species, which appears only to have been noticed 

 by the naturalists of the Exploring Expedition, may be distinguished 



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