316 
RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 
RED-BACKED SANDPIPER TRINGA ALPINA. 
Plate LVI. Fig. 2. 
Arct. Zool. p. 476, No. 391 — Bewick, ii. p. 113. — La Brunette, Buff. vii. 493. — 
JPeale’s Museum, No. 4094. 
TRINGA ALPINA. — Pennant.* 
Dunlin, Mont. Orn. Diet. — The Dunlin, Bew. Br. Birds, ii. p. 113. — Purre, Id. 
ii. p. 115. — Becasseau brunette ou variable, Temm. ii. 612. — Tringa alpina, Flem. 
Br. Zool. p. 108 Bonap. Synop. p. 25. — Tringa alpina, The American Dunlin, 
North. Zool. ii. p. 383. 
This bird inhabits both the old and new continents, being 
known in England by the name of the Dunlin, and in the 
United States, along the shores of New Jersey, by that of the 
* This species is again figured, on the next plate, in the plumage of the 
winter, and the decided change undergone at the different ages and seasons, 
has caused great multiplication and confusion among the synonyms. Wilson’s 
two figures shew very well the distinctions between the nuptial dress and that 
of winter ; and, in the bird of the first year, the plumage assumes a ruddy tinge 
on the upper parts, but wants the greater part of the black, so conspicuous 
during the love season. 
On the coasts of Great Britain, the Purre is the most common of the 
whole race, and may generally be met with, rio matter what is the character of 
the shore. Before they have been much driven about and annoyed, they are 
also one of the most familiar. During winter, the flocks are sometimes 
immense, and will allow a person to approach very near, looking, and running 
a few steps, or stretching their Avings in preparation for flight, listlessly, and 
indicative of little alarm ; a few shots, however, render them as timorous and 
wary as they were before careless. In spring, they separate into pairs, when 
some perform a migration to a considerable extent northward, while others 
retire to the nearer marshes and sea merses, a few to the shores of inland 
lakes, and still fewer to the higher inland muirs. Having there performed the 
duties of incubation, they return again in autumn to the shore, where they may 
be found in small parties, the amount of the broods, and which gradually 
congregate as the season advances, and more distant travellers arrive, until 
many hundreds are thus joined. Their nests are formed beneath or at the 
side of any small bush or tuft of grass, rather neatly scraped, and with a few 
straws of grass round the sides. The male is generally in attendance, perched 
on some near elevation, and, on any danger approaching, runs round, uttering. 
