126 
BART ram's sandpiper. 
Length about ten inches : beak short, one inch 
and a half in length, and yellowish brown: irides 
clear brown : the top of the head and of the back are 
blackish-brown ; all of the feathers edged with yel- 
lowish : the cheeks, neck, and breast are yellowish, 
longitudinally striped with fine black lines : the sides 
are transversely rayed with black zigzags : the belly, 
thighs, and abdomen are white : the under tail-coverts 
are clear unspotted reddish- white : the scapulars and 
wing-coverts are reddish-yellow, with each feather 
tinged with brown in the centre, and transversely 
rayed with fine black bands : the lateral tail-feathers 
are deep isabella colour, diagonally and distantly 
striped with black bands : the four middle feathers 
are brown, diagonally striped with closer bands : the 
legs are flesh colour. The young have the upper 
parts, except the back, marked with large brown spots : 
on the fore part of the neck, on the breast, and on 
the sides, are several lance-shaped spots of the same 
colour : the zigzag bands on the tail are less distinct 
than in the old. 
This species inhabits North America : it makes its 
appearance on the banks of the Schuylkill in August 
and September, and runs about amongst the grass in 
search of beetles. During its migration it has been 
known to visit Germany and Holland, according to 
Temminck. These birds are extremely watchful, 
silent, and shy, and of difficult approach : they run 
with great celerity : they are said to be most exquisite 
food, being extremely delicate and tender. 
