RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 
137 
mandible, and wrinkled at the base; crown, back and scapulars, 
bright reddish rust, spotted with black; wing-coverts pale olive; 
quills darker; the first tipt, the latter crossed, with white; front, 
cheeks, hind-head, and sides of the neck, quite round, also the 
breast, grayish white, marked with small specks of black; belly 
white, marked with a broad crescent of black; tail pale olive, 
the two middle feathers centred with black; legs and feet ashy 
black; toes divided to their origin, and bordered with a slightly 
scalloped membrane; irides very dark. 
The males and females are nearly alike in one respect, both 
differing greatly in colour even at the same season, probably 
owing to difference of age; some being of a much brighter red 
than others, and the plumage dotted with white. In the month 
of September, many are found destitute of the black crescent 
on the belly; these have been conjectured to be young birds. 
Note . — After an attentive examination of many of these birds 
on the coast of Cape May, in the month of April, I am perfectly 
convinced, that the hitherto supposed two species, the present 
and the Purre, constitute but one species, tbe latter being in 
immature plumage. In some instances, I found the Purres were 
beginning to get the broad band of black on the belly, and the 
black thickening with ruddy feathers, appearing almost perfect 
Black-bellied Sandpipers. 
Wilson’s MSS. 
VOL. III. T 
