26 



RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 



rank it with the Snipes) slightly bent, grooved on the upper man« 

 dible, and wrinkled at the base ; crown, back and scapulars bright 

 reddish rust, spotted with black; wing coverts pale olive; quills 

 darker; the first tipt, the latter crossed with white; front, cheeks, 

 hind head and sides of the neck quite round, also the breast, grey- 

 ish white, marked with small specks of black; belly white, marked 

 with a broad crescent of black; tail pale olive, the two middle fea- 

 thers centered with black; legs and feet ashy black; toes divided 

 to their origin, and bordered with a slightly scalloped membrane; 

 irides very dark. 



The males and females are nearly alike in one respect, both 

 diflfering greatly in color even at the same season, probably owing 

 to difference of age; some being of a much brighter red than 

 others, and the plumage dotted with white. In the month of Sep- 

 tember, many are found destitute of the black crescent on the belly; 

 these have been conjectured to be young birds. 



