ASH-COLOURED SANDPIPER. 
143 
they follow and elude the tumbling surf, while at the same time 
they seem wholly intent on collecting their food. 
The Ash-coloured Sandpiper, the subject of our present ac- 
count, inhabits both Europe and America. It has been seen in 
great numbers on the Seal islands near Chatteaux Bay; is said 
to continue the whole summer in Hudson’s Bay, and breeds 
there. Mr. Pennant suspects that it also breeds in Denmark; 
and says that they appear in vast flocks on the Flintshire shores, 
during the winter season.* With us they are also migratory, 
being only seen in spring and autumn. They are plump birds; 
and by those accustomed to the sedgy taste of this tribe, are 
esteemed excellent eating. 
The length of this species is ten inches, extent twenty; bill 
black, straight, fluted to nearly its tip, and about an inch and a 
half long; upper parts brownish ash, each feather marked near 
the tip with a narrow semicircle of dark brown, bounded by 
another of white; tail-coverts white, marbled with olive; wing 
quills dusky, shafts white; greater coverts black, tipt with white; 
some of the primaries edged also with white; tail plain pale ash, 
finely edged and tipt with white; crown and hind-head streaked 
with black, ash and white; stripe over the eye, cheeks and chin, 
white, the former marked with pale streaks of dusky, the latter 
pure; breast white, thinly specked with blackish; belly and vent 
pure white; legs a dirty yellowish clay colour; toes bordered 
with a narrow thick warty membrane; hind-toe directed in- 
wards, as in the Turn-stone; claws and eye black. 
These birds vary a little in colour, some being considerably 
darker above, others entirely white below; but, in all, the con- 
centric semicircles on the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, 
are conspicuous. 
I think it probable that these birds become much lighter co- 
loured during the summer, from the circumstance of having 
shot one late in the month of June, at Cape May, which was of 
a pale drab or dun colour. It was very thin and emaciated; and 
Arct. Zool. p. 474. 
