600 LARGE-BILLED PUFFIN.
with bare orbits; over the upper eyelid an oblong, tapering horny body
directed upwards and backwards, on the lower a linear body of a similar
nature over its whole length. Neck short and thick. Body full and
rounded. Feet short, rather stout; tibia bare for a short space above the
joint. Tarsus very short, little compressed, anteriorly for three-fourths
of its length with a series of small scutella, the rest with reticular angular
scales. Hind toe wanting, toes rather long, and slender, scutellate above,
connected by reticulated entire membranes, the third and fourth toes
about equal, the second considerably shorter, with a narrow marginal
web. Claws strong, of moderate length, compressed, arched, that of the
inner toe much curved and acute.
Plumage close, blended, soft, very short on the head. Wings curved,
short, narrow, acute. Primary quills tapering, incurved, the first longest,
the second a little shorter, the rest regularly graduated; secondaries very
short and rounded. Tail very short, much rounded, of sixteen rounded
feathers.
Bill bright orange-red, soft edges of mouth gamboge. Edges of eyelids
orange-red ; the iris and horny appendages light blue. Feet orangered,
with the webs paler, the claw yellowish-brown. The sides of the
head and the lower parts in general, white ; upper part of the head light
brownish-grey tinged with lilac; a broad collar extending to the lower
mandible, of a dark greyish-brown tint below, and gradually passing into
the colour of the upper parts, which is brownish-black, glossed with blue;
primary quills and their coverts blackish-brown, very slightly margined
with paler.
Length to end of tail 13 inches, to end of claws 14 ; to end of wings
12J ; extent of wings 24^; bill along the ridge %\ ; along the edge of
lower mandible If; depth of bill at the base \ \ \ , its greatest diameter (j;
tarsus If ; middle toe 1 | , its claw
Adult Female. Plate CCXCIII. Fig. 2.
The Female is precisely similar to the Male.
( 601 )
T H E P E C T O R A L S A N D P I P E R.
TRINGA PECTORALIS, BONAP.
PLATE CCXCIV. MALE AND FEMALE.
THIS Sandpiper is not uncommon along the shores of our Eastern
States in autumn and winter. It has also lately been found in England,
and I have seen a specimen of it in the possession of WILLIAM YARRELL,
Esq. of London, who received it from a person who had shot it not far
from the metropolis. I first met with this species in the immediate vicinity
of Dennisville, in the State of Maine, feeding on the rocky bars of
the river at low water. In the neighbourhood of Boston it is more abundant
than elsewhere. Mr NUTTALL states, that " they are killed in abundance
on the shores of Cohasset, and other parts of Massachussetts Bay,
and are brought in numbers to the market of Boston, being very fat and
well-flavoured." " They arrive," he adds, " in flocks about the close of
August, and continue there, as well as in New Jersey, till the month of
September. In some instances solitary individuals have been killed in
the marshes of Charles River, in Cambridge, about the 22d of July ;
these were in company with flocks of small Sandpipers (T. Wilsonii),
but whether pairs may perhaps breed in the neighbouring marshes or not,
we have not had the means of ascertaining. While here, they feed on
small coleóptera, larvae, and the common green Ulva latissima, as well as
some species of fucus or sea-weed, on which they become fat. They utter
a low plaintive whistle when started, very similar to that of other species.
Like the Snipe they seem fond of damp meadows and marshes, and solitary
individuals are often surprised by the sportsman in the manner of
that bird."
I have observed that the flight of the Pectoral Sandpiper resembles
that of the Knot, and is firm, rapid, and well sustained. It skims rather
low over the surface of the water or the land, and at times shoots high
up into the air, propelling itself with double rapidity and in perfect silence.
It runs with great agility, and probes the sand or wet earth, immersing
its bill up to the base. I never saw this species in any part of
the interior. Its places of resort during the breeding season, and the
changes of plumage which it undergoes, are unknown.