64 
TRIXGA ALPINA. 
the bill is black, an inch lonrr, and very slightly beH* 
crown and body above, dusky bro\\ n, the plumage edgf 
with ferruginous and tipt with m hite ; tail and win? 
nearly of a length ; sides of the rump, white; rump a"! 
tail-covcrts, black ; wing-cpiills, dusky black, shaft** 
and banded with white, much in the manner of 
least snipe ; over the eye a line of white ; lesser covert* 
tipt with white ; legs and feet, blackish ash, the latt*' 
half webbed. Males and females alike in colour. 
These birds varied greatly in their size, some beit)! 
scarcely live inches and a half iu length, and the b® 
not more than three quarters; others measured nearl.' 
seven inches in the whole length, and the bill upward 
of an inch. In their general a[ipearanco they greatt 
resemble the stints or lca.st snipe; but unless we alk>* 
that the same species may sometimes have the to*! 
half webbed, and sometimes divided to the origin, — a®* 
this not iu one or two solitary instances, but in wbel^ 
flocks, which would be extraordinary indeed. 
cannot avoid classing this as a new and distinct speci** 
SUBGENUS II. TMIXGA, 
218 . TBIXOA ALPINA, I.INNaSUS. — TMINCA ALPINA, WILSOl'- 
RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 
WIDSON, PLATE LVI. ITG. II. EDINHURGII COLLEGE MUSED?** 
Tins bird inhabits both the old and new contineufj 
being known in England by the name of the dunlin, aw 
in the United States, along the shores of New Jersey, W 
that of the red-back. Its residence here is but trausie®*' 
chiefly in April and May, while passing to the ard'^ 
regions to breed, and in Sejitember and October, vvb*'’ 
on its return southu'ard to winter quarters. Oiiri**? 
their stay, they seldom collect in separate flocks bf 
themselves, but mi.v with various other species of stra'>“ 
birds, among u'hom they are rendered conspicuous b? 
the red colour of the upper part of their plumag*' 
They frequent the muddy flats aud shores of the siJ’ 
