ZOOLOGY. 
239 
TRINGA ALPINA, Linn., var. AMERICANA, Cass. 
Red-backed Sandpiper. 
Tringa alpina, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1, 1766, 249.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 25; pi. Ivi.— Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831. 383.— 
NuTT. Man. 11, 106.— Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835,580; pi. 290.— Ib. Syn.234.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 
266; pi. 332, var. Americana, Baird & Cassm, Gen. Eep. Birds, 719. 
Tringa cinclm, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 251.— Wils. Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 39; pi. Ivii. 
Figures— Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pi. 7, fig. 3 ; pi. 56, fig. 2.— Aud. B. of Am. pi. 290 ; oct. ed. V, pi. 332. 
Sp. Ch.— Bill longer than the head, wide at base, curved, slightly widened and flattened towards the end; nasal groove and 
another groove in the under mandible long and very distinct ; wings long ; tail short, wich the two middle feathers longest and 
pointed; legs rather long and slender, lower half of the tibia naked; toes moderate, free at base, flattened underneath and 
slightly marginated; claws much compressed, hind toe small. Upper parts yellowish red, mixed with ashy, and every feather 
having a lanceolate, ovate or narrow spot in the centre, most numerous on the back and rump. Front, sides of the head, and 
entire under parts, ashy white, nearly pure white on the abdomen and under tail coverts ; a wide transverse band of black 
across the lower part of the breast ; neck before and upper part of the breast with narrow longitudinal spots of brownish 
black. Under wing coverts and axillary feathers white ; quills light ashy brown, darker on their outer edges, with their shafts 
white ; tail feathers light ashy brown ; middle feathers darker, outer nearly white. Bill and legs very dark brownish black. 
Sexes alike. 
Winter plumage. — Entire upper parts dark ashy, nearly black on the rump and upper tail coverts; throat, abdomen, axillaries, 
and under wing coverts, white ; breast pale ashy, with longitudinal lines of dark brown. 
Total length, 8^ to 9 inches; extent, 15^ to 16; wing, 5; tail, 2\; bill from gape, IJ; tarsus, 1 inch. 
Hab. — Entire temperate regions of North America. 
This bird is very abundant on the salt marshes at the mouths of the rivers emptying into 
Puget Sound, where the species is resident throughout the year. In habits they do not differ 
from those recorded in Nuttall's ManuaL Early in the season, before they have been rendered 
wild by being much shot at, I have observed that upon a volley being fired into a flock the 
unharmed birds in terror sweep around in several circles, and hovering ^'huircJi,'' as the 
sportsmen say, over their wounded companions, and sometimes realight with them. At the 
moment of their hovering in a compact body over the wounded is the time generally seized to 
fire the reserved barrels, two or three shots will frequently bring down from thirty to sixty 
birds ; and I have known one instance where an officer of the army bagged ninety-six birds 
from one discharge of his fowling piece. After being fired into once or twice the flocks, 
learning to avoid sympathizing with their dead and wounded, become shy and wary. At Puget 
Sound this species is very fond of alighting in flocks upon the half submerged drift logs which 
lie stranded on the flats off the entrances of the Nisqually and other rivers, especially at high 
water, when the surrounding marshes and flats are generally covered. Upon these logs the 
birds will sometimes for hours sit compactly huddled together and motionless — perhaps for 
the purpose of aiding the digestion of their food — pei'haps simply because the high tide 
having covered their feeding grounds they have learned by experience that the most philoso- 
phical plan is "to take it easy" and await the subsidence of the waters. — S. 
The red -backed alpine snipe, or ox-bird, is common in the same season and places as the 
preceding species. — C. 
TRINGA MACULATA, Vie ill. 
Jack Snipe. 
Tringa maculata, VrEiLiOT, Nouv. Diet. XXXIV, 1819, 465. — Baird & Cassin, Gen. Eep. Birds, 720. 
Tringa pecU/ralis, Sat, Long's Exped. I, 1823, 171.— Bon. Am. Orn. IV, 1832, 43 ; pi. xxiii.— Nutt. Man. II, III. — 
AuD. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 601; V,582; pi. 294 — Ib. Syn. 233.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 269; 
pi. 329. 
