RED-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 
257 
towards the end, when it becomes considerably broader, the sides sloping, 
the tip convex above and ending in a blunt point, the edges thick and flat- 
tened. Nasal groove extending to near the tip ; nostrils basal, linear, 
pervious. Lower mandible with the angle long and very narrow, the 
dorsal line straight, the sides sloping outwards, with a long narrow groove, 
the tip a little broader, but tapering. 
Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Eyes of moderate size. Neck 
of ordinary length. Body rather full. Feet rather long, slender ; tibia bare 
a third part of its length ; tarsus somewhat compressed, anteriorly and 
posteriorly with numerous small scutella ; hind toe very small, the rest of 
moderate length, slender, the fourth slightly longer than the second, the 
third longest ; all free, broadly marginate, flattened beneath, and with 
numerous scutella above. Claws small, slightly arched, compressed, rather 
obtuse, that of the third toe much larger, with the inner edge dilated. 
Plumage very soft, blended on the head, neck, and lower parts, the 
feathers rather distinct above. Wings very long and pointed ; primaries 
tapering, obtuse, the first longest, the second two-twelfths of an inch shorter, 
the rest rapidly decreasing ; outer secondaries slightly incurved, inner 
elongated, straight and tapering, one of them extending when the wing is 
closed to an inch and a quarter from its tip. Tail rather short, nearly 
even, of twelve rather broad feathers, which taper to a broad point. 
Bill and feet black. Iris dark hazel. Upper part of the head and hind 
neck light grey, tinged with buff, and longitudinally streaked with dusky ; 
fore part of back and scapulars variegated with brownish-black and yellow- 
ish, and each feather with several spots of the latter and tipped with whitish ; 
the hind part of the back, rump, and upper tail-coverts white, barred with 
black ; wing-coverts ash-grey, edged with paler. Alula and primary coverts 
brownish-black, tipped with white ; primaries similar, their shafts and the 
outer margins of all excepting the first three, white, the inner webs towards 
the base light grey; secondaries and their coverts grey, margined with white. 
Tail-feathers ash-grey, tinged with brown, and narrowly edged with white. 
The sides of the head, fore part of neck, breast, and abdomen rich brownish- 
orange ; lower tail-coverts and feathers of the legs white, each of the former 
with a central dusky narrow-shaped or elongated spot, axillaries white, 
barred with dusky ; lower wing-coverts dusky, with white margins. 
Length to end of tail 10 J inches, to end of wings 101, to end of claws 
lli ; extent of wings 21 ; wing from flexure 7 ; tail 2 r \ ; bill along the 
ridge 1{^ ; along the edge of lower mandible 1}|- ; tarsus 11 ; hind toe and 
claw r 4 2 5 middle toe and claw lj^. Weight oh oz. 
The female is similar to the male, but considerably larger. 
Length to end of tail 101 inches. Weight 6 ounces. 
