BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 
235 
beneath, the dark markings in the centre of the 
feathers are broader and more spread over the sur- 
face, and the whole is also tinted with buff-orange 
on the belly, often approaching near to the shade of 
reddish-orange incident to sienna. 
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper, T. rufescens, 
Vieillot. — Becasseau rousset, Temm. — Buff-breasted 
Tringa or Sandpiper of British authors. — Only 
four specimens of this Tringa appear to have occur- 
red in Britain up to the present time. These have 
all been killed in the more southern districts of 
England ; Scotland or Ireland being unable yet to 
reckon it in their fauna. On the European Con- 
tinent it also appears to be of rare and only acci- 
dental occurrence, and we are not aware of its being 
met with elsewhere in the Old World. In America, 
its true country (though it is generally a scarce bird 
even there), it extends from the Brazils* through 
the Northern Continent; and Mr. Audubon con- 
jectures that it may breed near tbo Arctic Circle, 
having seen a wing in the possession of Captain J. 
C. Boss. We have not access to a specimen, but 
give Mr. Audubon’s description, probably taken 
from various birds, as he states it to be “ by no 
means rare, at particular periods, along the shores 
of our eastern districts." The entire length is eight 
inches, the weight two ounces and a half, the female 
being somewhat larger. The “ bill, dull olive- 
* Notteren. 
