380 
ASH-COLOURED SANDPIPER. 
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 hindhead, 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 inwards, as in the 
Turnstone ; claws and eye, black. 
These birds vary a little in colour, some being considerably 
darker above, others entirely white below; but, in all, the 
concentric semicircles on the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, 
are conspicuous. 
I think it probable that these birds become much lighter 
coloured 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 on examination appeared to have been formerly wounded, 
which no doubt occasioned its remaining behind its companions. 
Early in December I examined the same coast every day 
for nearly two weeks, without meeting with more than one 
solitary individual of this species, although in October they 
were abundant. How far to the southward they extend their 
migrations, we have no facts that will enable us to ascertain, 
though it is probable that the shores of the West India islands 
afford them shelter and resources during our winter. 
