68 
TRINGA RUFA. 
in October they were abundant. How tar to the south' 
ward they extend their migrations, we have no fact^ 
that will enable us to ascertain, though it is probable 
that the shores of the West India islands afiford theif 
shelter and resources during our winter. 
220 . TRIlfGA SUFA, WILSON. KED-BRE.ISTET) SANDPIPEB. 
WILSON, PLATE LVII. FIG. V.* — EMNHUIIGH COLLEGE ML’SEU><' 
Ok this prettily marked species I can find no dejr 
cription. The Tringa Icelandica, or Aberdeen san^ 
piper of Pennant and others, is the oiilj' species tb** 
has any resemblance to it; the descriptions of thatbirih 
however, will not apply to the present. 
The common name of this .species on our sea coast 
the gray-back, and among the gunners it i.s a particul** 
favourite, being generally a plump, tender, and excellc*] 
bird for the table; and, consequently, brings a goO’ 
price in market. 
The gray-backs do not breed on the shores of tb' 
Middle States. Their first ajipearance is early in Ma)'j 
They remain a few weeks, and again disappear unt^ 
October. They usually keep in small flocks, alight W 
a close body together on the sand flats, where they 
search for the small bivalve shells already dcscrib<?“' 
On the approach of the sportsman, they frequently 
stand fixed and silent for some time ; do not appear 1*' 
be easily alarmed, neither do they run about in tb^ 
water as much as some others, or with the same rapiditf' 
but appear more tranquil and deliberate. In the moul® 
of November, they retire to the south. 
This species is ten inches long, and twenty in exte»*; 
the bill is black, and about an inch and a half louf' , 
the chin, eyebrows, and rvhole breast, are a pale brown*^^ I 
orange colour ; crown, hindhead from the Tipper 
dible backwards, and neck, dull white, streaked 
black ; back, a pale slaty olive, the fcathei*8 tipt 
* Is Tringa Icelandica^ LiniiEeus, in its summer dress. 
