BIRDS — SCOLOPACIDAE — TRINGA ALPINA. 
719 
l i a 3 , Moehring. 1 
TRINGA ALPINA, var. AMERICANA, Cass. 
Red-backed Sandpiper. 
Tringa alpina, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 249.— Wilson Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 25; pi. lvi. — Sw. F. B. Am. II. 1831, 
383.— Nutt. Man. II, 106.— Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 580 ; pi. 290.— Ib. Syn. 234.— Ib. Birds 
Amer. V, 1842, 266; pi. 332. 
Tringa cinclus, Linn. Syst. Nat I, 1766, 251— Wils. Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 39 ; pi. Mi. 
Pelidna cinclus, " Cuv " Bon. List. 1838. 
Tringa ruficollis, Gm. I, 1788, 680. 
Tringa variabilis, Meter, Tasch. Deutsch. Vogel, II, 1810, 397. 
? Tringa schinzii, Brehm. Lehrb. Europ. Vogel, II, 1824, 571. (Not (if American writers.) 
Pelidna schinzii, Brehm, Nat. Vog. Deutschl. 1831, 663. 
Figures. — Buff. PI. Enl. 852 — Gould B. of Eur. IV, pi. 329.— Naumann, B. of Germ. pi. 186.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pi. 
57, 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, with 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 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 85 inches ; wing, 5 ; tail, 2£ ; bill from gape, 1| ; tarsus, 1 inch. 
Hab. — Entire temperate regions of North America. 
In its summer plumage this is the most handsome bird of the family of sandpipers, and is 
easily recognized by its wide black band across the under parts of the body. It is exceedingly 
abundant on the shores of the Atlantic. 
We have not a sufficient number of European specimens of the true T. alpina of that con- 
tinent for satisfactory comparison, especially as ornithologists mention differences in size at the 
same localities ; but of eight specimens from Europe and Asia, now before us, not one ought to 
be considered as specifically the same as the American bird. The size is invariably smaller and 
the bill disproportionately shorter. In fact, we have little doubt that the bird inhabiting both 
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the republic is quite distinct and may be easily recognized. 
1 Schoeniclus, Moehring, Gen. Av. 1752. Type Tringa cinclus. L. Equal to Pelidna, Cuv. 
