Form.—Size, greater than the English Dunlin. Bill, when compared with that of
the latter, considerably shorter, more nearly straight, less deep at the base, and altogether
weaker; the under mandible in particular being considerably more slender. The ridge of
the upper mandible, close to the tip,. is .likewise more rounded, and not appearing as if
pared down. The lateral tail feathers are broader than those of the English bird; the form
of the tail, however, is the same in both, namely, very slightly doubly emarginate, independent
of the central pair of feathers, which are acute, and two lines longer than any of
the others. Wings a little shorter than the tail. Toes quite free; hind oue articulated
near the sole. Nails slender, acute, and considerably curved; hind one turning inwards.
Dimensions.
Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin. Length, total . . 8 3 * Length of bill to rictus . 0 11 Length of middle nail ,. 0 2*
„ of tail . , 2 4* ,, of naked thigh ., 0 6 ,, of inner toe . . 0 6*
,, of wing . . 4 9 „1 of tarsus . 0 11 ,, of inner nail . . 0 2
,, of bill above . 0 11 „ of middle toe 0 8 ,, of hind toe and nail 0 3
[152.] 6. T r in g a S c h in z i i . . (Brehm.) Shinz's Sandpiper.
Genus, Tringa, Bniss. -
Pelidna cinclus, var. Sa t , Long's Exped., L, p. 337.
Tringa Schinzii, Bonap. Syn., No. 249.
This species is not unfrequent on the shores of the small lakes which skirt
the Saskatchewan plains.
DESCRIPTION
Of a male, killed on the Saskatchewan, June, 1827.
C olour.—Centres of the upper plumage blackish-brown; edges rust-coloured on the
shoulders and scapulars; grey on the neck, posterior part of the back, and rump : the pale
edges of the neck broadest. Lateral tail coverts white, marked near the tip with clove-
brown ; central-pair blackish-brown, tipped with white. Tail-feathers broccoli-brown, edged
all round with white, the central pair blackish-brown with narrower edgings. Wings
blackish-brown; margins of the lesser coverts paler; outer borders of the quills, middles of
their shafts, and tips of the secondaries and greater coverts white. Region of the bill, a
streak on the lores, and the ear feathers, brownish. Under plumage white ; the sides of the
head, throat, breast, and flanks spotted with blackish-brown. Bill dark-brown; paler at
the base beneath. Legs brown.
F orm.—Bill shorter than the head, straight, the tip depressed and slightly drooping,
grooved to near the point, which is obsoletely pitted when dry. Tail doubly emarginate;
outer feather and that next the central pair equal in length; all the feathers nearly of the
same breadth; central pair rather acute, and longer than the others, which are rounded.
A very slight rudiment of a web between the middle and outer toes. Hind-toe short and
slender, with a very small nail.
Dimensions.
Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin.
ngth, total 7 6 Length of bill to rictus . n * Length of middle toe 0 8*
„ of tail . . 2 6 „ of tarsus . 0 0 10£ ,, of its nail. . , . 0 2*
„ ; of wing .
4
6
„ of bill above .
. 0
10*
,, of naked thigh '. 0 7 „ of hind toe and tail 0 2*
[153.] 7. T r in g a m in u t a . (Leisler.) Pigmy Sandpiper.
Genus, Tringa, Briss.
“ Tringa minuta. L eisler, Nachtr. Zu. Bechst. Naturg. Deut. Heft., i., p. 74.”
Beccasseau dchasses ( Tringa minuta). Tejvim., ii., p. 624.
Tringa minuta. Sab. Frankl. Journ., p. 686. Bonap. Syn., No. 254.
This species was seen abundantly in the autumn, feeding, during the recess
of the tide, on the extensive flats at the mouth of Nelson’s and Hayes rivers.
DESCRIPTION
Of a specimen from Hudson’s Bay, in the British Museum.
C olour.—Upper plumage dull hair-brown, blackish on the shafts. Quills of the wings,
rump, tail coverts, and middle pair of tail feathers, blackish-brown ; lateral tail feathers
broccoli-brown, their shafts, those of the greater quills, the tip edgings of the lesser quills,
the two lateral tail coverts, and the under plumage, white. Superciliary stripe, front of the
neck and breast, greyish-white ; the cheeks and sides of the breast striped on the shafts with
brown. Bill and legs brownish-black.
F orm.—Bill straight, shorter than the head. Wings equal to the tail, which is very
slightly doubly-forked. Outer and middle toes connected by a very short web.
A specimen, killed, on the 21 st of July, at the mouth of Hayes River, had the upper
plumage in general brownish-black, narrowly bordered with reddish-brown, in some places
almost white. The secondaries and their coverts slightly tipped with white ; the lateral tail
feathers edged with the same ; and the fore part of the neck striped on the shafts with dark
brown. Legs wax-yellow.
Dimensions
Of a specimen in the British Museum.
Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin.
Length, total . . . 6 0 Length of bill . . . 0 8* Length of middle toe . . 0 7
of tail 1 11 „ of tarsus . . 0 10 „ of its nail . . 0 1 *
” of wing . . 4 0 „ of naked thigh . 0 4* „ of hind toe and nail 0 1*
3 D