25 



RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 

 TRINGA ALPINA. 

 [Plate LVI— Fig. 2.] 



JlrcL Zool. p. 476, JVo. 391.— -Bewick, II, p. 113— La Brimnette, Buff. VII, '493 — ^Peale's Mixseinrif 



JVo. 4094. 



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 Red-back. 

 Its residence here is but transient, chiefly in April and May, while 

 passing to the arctic regions to breed ; and in September and Oc- 

 tober when on its return southward to winter quarters. During 

 their stay they seldom collect in separate flocks by themselves; 

 but mix with various other species of strand birds, among whom 

 they are rendered conspicuous by the red color of the upper part 

 of their plumage. They frequent the muddy flats and shores of 

 the salt marshes at low water, feeding on small worms and other 

 insects which generally abound in such places. In the month of 

 May they are extremely fat. 



This bird is said to inhabit Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, 

 the Alps of Siberia; and in its migrations the coasts of the Cas- 

 pian sea.^ It has not, till now, been recognized by naturalists as 

 inhabiting this part of North America. Wherever its breeding 

 place may be, it probably begins to lay at a late period of the sea- 

 son, as in numbers of females which I examined on the first of 

 June, the eggs were no larger than grains of mustard seed. 



Length of the Red-back eight inches and a half, extent fifteen 

 inches; bill black, longer than the head, (which would seem to 



* Pennant. 



VOL. VII. G 



