THE RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 
268 
From Nova Scotia to Texas, along- all muddy or sandy shores, during 
autumn and spring. Common. Breeds in great numbers on the Arctic 
coasts. 
Adult Male in summer. 
Bill longer than the head, slender, sub-cylindrical, nearly straight, being 
slightly curved towards the end, compressed at the base, the point rather 
depressed and obtuse. Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, 
slightly sloping at the base, and slightly decurved towards the end, the ridge 
narrow, towards the end flattened, at the point convex, sides sloping, edges 
rather blunt and soft. Nasal groove long, extending to near the point; nostrils 
basal, linear, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle long and very 
narrow, the dorsal line slightly concave, the sides sloping outwards, towards 
the end convex. 
Head x-ather small, oblong, compressed. Eyes rather small. Neck of 
moderate length. Body rather full. Feet slender, of moderate length ; tibia 
bare a considerable way up, anteriorly and posteriorly scutellate, as is the 
compressed tarsus ; hind toe very small and elevated, anterior toes of mode- 
rate length, slender ; inner toe slightly shorter than outer, middle toe con- 
siderably longer, all scutellate above, marginate with prominent papillae, and 
free. Claws small, slightly arched, extremely compressed, blunt ; edge of 
middle claw dilated and thin. 
Plumage very soft, blended ; on the back the feathers rather distinct. 
Wings long and pointed ; primaries tapering, obtuse, the first longest, the 
second a little shorter, the rest rapidly gi’aduated ; secondaries l-ather short, 
Dbliquely cut at the end with a recurved blunt point, the inner elongated 
and tapering. Tail rather short, even, but with the two middle feathers 
considerably longei-, of twelve feathers. 
Bill and feet black. Iris dark brown. The upper part of the head, the 
back and the scapulars, are chestnut-i-ed, each feather brownish-black in the 
centre, and the scapulars barred with the same colour. The wing coverts 
greyish-brown, as are the quills, the bases and tips of the secondaries and 
part of the outer webs of the middle primaries white. Tail light brownish- 
grey, the two middle feathers dai'ker. Forehead, sides of the head and hind 
neck pale reddish-grey, streaked with dusky ; fore neck and .anterior part 
of breast greyish-white, streaked with dusky ; on the breast a large patch 
of brownish-black ; abdomen and lower tail-coverts white, the latter with 
dusky markings. 
Length to end of tail 8£ inches, to end of wings 8/2 ; extent of wings 15 , 
wing from flexure 4 H ; tail 2/2 ; bill along the l'idge 1 T 7 2! along the edge of 
lower mandible 1 T \- ; tarsus 1 ; middle toe its claw f|. Weight 3 oz. 
Adult in winter. 
