NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 
203 
each feather with a central brownish black field, deepening into pure black on 
the scapulars, where also the edgings of some of the feathers have a reddish 
tinge. Tertials sooty brown, fading with light ashy on the edges. Secondaries 
and greater coverts dark greyish ash, edged and broadly tipped with white. 
Primaries deep dusky, almost black on the outer vanes and at the tips, the in- 
nermost edged with white ; shafts of all brown at base and black at tip, the 
central feathers being white. Upper tail coverts white, with sagittate spots of 
dusky. Tail feathers ashy brown, the central pair darkest. Under parts white ; 
the jugulum, breast, and sides of the neck with a slight reddish tinge, and, to- 
gether with the sides, with numerous streaks and oval spots of dusky, which 
become large and Y-shaped on the flanks. 
Length (of skin) 9 5 inches ; wing 5*75, tail 2 -80, bill above 1-23, tarsus 1.14 
middle toe 1. 
Habitat. — Long Island. 
' In order to exhibit more fully the features and peculiarities of this curious 
Sandpiper, differing in many essential respects from any other described as 
North American, the following additional remarks may be required, that we 
may be better enabled to judge of its relationships and affinities, which are mat- 
ters of some uncertainty. The characters are taken from the type of the 
species, the original of the description in the General Report. 
The bill and feet though rather stout for an Actodromas, are slender in com- 
parison with Tringa. The tip of the former is but slightly expanded, and rather 
obtuse. The grooves in both mandibles are long and distinct, that of the lower 
being narrow but deep. The position of the nostrils is nearly intermediate be- 
tween Tringa and Actodromas. The nature of the encroachment of the feathers 
on the bill is identical with that of A. Bonapartei , and very different from that 
of Tringa. The wings are long and pointed, the first primary much the longest, 
as in Tringa canutus , and the graduation of the others exactly as in that species. 
The tertials are rather long, narrow, and flowing. The emargination of 
the tail, though not great, is decided ; the central feathers project a little be- 
yond the others, but are not much darker than the others ; the outer pair are 
next in length, and the third are the shortest. The legs and feet are long and 
comparatively slender. The tibia} are long and much denuded, the bare por- 
tion being nearly two-thirds the tarsus. The latter is rather shorter than the 
bill, but at the same time slightly exceeds the middle toe and claw. The toes 
are all long, slender and slightly margined, and the hind one is well developed. 
The coloration of the upper parts is very different from that of T. canutus , and 
exceedingly similar to that of A. Bonapartei , almost the only difference being a 
rather less amount of reddish on the back. The rump and upper tail coverts 
are much the same as in T. canutus being white, with sagittate spots and waved 
bars of dusky. The pattern, and colors of the under parts, though agreeing 
with A. Bonapartei in the absence of a decided pectoral wash, are yet very dif- 
ferent, the spots being sparse, and extending over the whole breast, instead of 
being very numerous and confined strictly to the jugulum and sides. In this 
respect it approaches the young Tringa canutus or still more the adult Ereunetes 
pusillus, the similarity being heightened by the slight reddish tinge on the 
jugulum. 
Having thus presented the chief peculiarities of this very unique Sandpiper, 
we are prepared to discuss the question of its affinities. Were the size and 
proportions of bill, tarsus, and toes the same as in the A. Bonapartei , it might 
almost be a question whether it were not an accidental variety of that species ; 
but the discrepancies in these particulars are too great to admit the doubt. The 
differences from all other species are sufficiently obvious. Granting, then, that 
it is a distinct bird, it only remains to settle the question of its generic relation- 
ships ; which, as it presents a most remarkable combination of the characters 
of both Tringa and Actodromas , is a matter of some uncertainty. We cannot 
but think, however, that all the most important characters of the bird incline 
1861.] 
