306 
PRAiCOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^E. 
Under parts light ochraceous or pale fawn-color, many feathers tipped with white, and paler on the 
flanks and abdomen, on the breast with partially concealed small spots of black ; axillary feathers 
white. Quills with their outer webs light brown, inner webs ashy white marbled with black and 
narrowly tipped with white ; middle tail-feathers brownish black ; outer feathers lighter, with 
transverse waved lines of black on the terminal half, and tipped with white ; under primary-coverts 
beautifully marbled with black. Bill greenish black ; legs greenish yellow. Young: Generally 
similar, but the upper parts with the black and fawn-color less sharply contrasted, and each feather 
with a conspicuous terminal border of white. Marbling on inner webs of primaries and on under 
primary-coverts much more minute and delicate than in the adult. “ Bill dull olive-green, dusky 
toward the point ; iris hazel ; feet dull yellowish green, claws dusky ” (Audubon). 
Total length, about 7.50 to 8.00 inches ; wing, 5.10-5.50 ; culmen. .75-80 ; tarsus, 1,15-1.30; 
middle toe, .75-.85. 
This is a little bird of rather peculiar form and of handsome plumage. Its relationship appears 
to be to Bartram’s Tattler. Both species more habitually frequent plains and other dry localities 
than any of the true Sandpipers. 
Dr. Heermann’s type specimen of his Actidurus ncevius represents the usual adult plumage. 
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is found nearly or quite throughout North America, 
and its occurrence is not uncommon in the northern and middle portions of South 
America. It is found both on the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts, is migratory in all 
parts of the United States, breeds in high Arctic latitudes, and is of occasional ap- 
pearance in Europe. Its presence on the Atlantic coast, however, is regarded as an 
infrequent event ; but Mr. Boardman mentions it as having been found near Calais, 
both in the spring and in the fall. It has also been taken at Bye Beach by Mr. 
Brewster, and in Boston Harbor by Mr. Hensliaw ; and about the 20tli of August a 
few are usually to be seen in the Boston market. 
Mr. Giraud did not consider that it was a common bird on Long Island, although 
during almost every season a few are noticed along its southern shore. In September 
this bird is occasionally seen exposed for sale in the markets of New York, together 
with the Pectoral Sandpiper, from which, however, the Buff-breasted is easily distin- 
guished by the comparative shortness of its bill. 
Mr. Giraud also states that in August, 1841, his friend Mr. Brasher observed five 
of this species together on the shore of Gowanus Bay — a number much larger than 
is usually seen in one group. They appeared to be very gentle, allowing him to ad- 
vance within shooting distance without seeming to notice his presence, and three 
were killed at the first discharge of his gun. The surviving two made a short flight 
over the water, returning in a few minutes to the shore at a short distance from the 
point at which they had previously taken wing, thus giving him an opportunity to 
secure the whole number. When flying from the observer, this bird appears not 
unlike the Pectoral Sandpiper, on account of the resemblance of the upper plumage 
of the two species. 
