SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — EREUNETES. 205 



rounded and scattered markings of bistre ; these markings are larger and more 

 numerous at the obtuse end. The eggs range from 1.47 to 1.50 inches in length, and 

 have a breadth of one inch. Another set (No. 11331), obtained in 1866, have spots 

 that are larger and more confluent about the greater end, and are more rounded in 

 shape, varying between 1.45 and 1.46 inches in length, and in breadth between 1.05 

 and 1.10 inches. 



Genus EREITNETES, Illigek. 



Ercundcs, Illigkk, Prodromus, 1811, 262 (type, E. petrificatus, Illig., = Triiuja 'pusilla, LiXN.) 

 Hemipalama, Bonap. Obs. Wils. 1825, no. 212 (same type). 

 Hcteropoda, NirxT. Man. II. 18.34, 135 (nee Latreille, 1804). 



Char. Size small ; anterior toes webbed at the base ; a well-developed hind toe. Bill about 

 as long as or a little longer than the head, straight, somewhat expanded at the end, about as long 

 as the tarsus ; middle toe more than half as long as the tarsus ; bare portion of tibia nearly equal 

 to the middle toe. 



The bill of Ereunetcs is c|uit<; stout and considerably expanded, by which it is readily distin- 

 guished from Actodromas minutilla independently of the semipalmated feet. The tarsus and mid- 

 dle toe are about equal ; the tibia demided anteriorly for about two thirds the length of tarsus. 

 The basal membrane of toes is more scoUoped out interiorly than exteriorly ; the notch externally 

 not quite as deep as to the first joint, although the membrane extends beyond the second. There 

 is a tendency to hexagonal subdivision in the bare portion of tibia anteriorly. The tail is doubly 

 emarginate. 



But one species is known, the common Semipalmated Sandpiper or " Peep." 



Ereunetes pusillus. 



THE SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 



a. pusillus. 



Tringa pusilla, LiXN. S. N. I. 1766, 252. 



Ereunetes pusillus, VAi^ii. Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. XIII. 1860, 195. — CouES, Key, 1872, 254; 



Check List, 1873, no. 417 ; 2d ed. 1880, no. 612 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 481 (part). — Kidgw. 



Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 541. 

 Ereunetes iKtrificahis, Illig. Prodr. 1811, 262 (Bahia). — Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 724 



(part). — Baikp, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 535. 

 Tringa semipalmata, AVils. Am. Orn. VII. 1813, 131, pi. 63, fig. 3. — Sw. & Eich. F. B. A. II. 



1831, 381. — AiJD. Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 111, pi. 408 ; Synop. 1839, 236 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 277, 



pi. 336. 

 Tringa (ffeterojmla) semipalmata, Nuxr. Man. II. 1834, 136. 

 Tringa brevirostris, Srix, Av. Bras. II. 1825, 76, -pi. 93. 

 Tringa Brissoni, Less. Man. II. 1828, 277. 

 Hetcropoda Maim, Bonap. Comp. List, 1838, 49. 

 Hemipalama minor, Lemb. Av. Cuba, 1850, 97. 



b. occidentalis. 



Ereun-etes ocddentalis, Lawr. Pr. Philad. Acad. 1864, 107. 

 Ereunetes imsillus, var. occidentalis, CouES, Check List, 1873, no. 417 a. 



Ilreunetcs inisillus occidentalis, PtiDGW. Norn. N". Am. B. 1881, no. 541 a, — CouES, Check List, 2d 

 ed. 1882, no. 613. 



Ereunetes pusillus, | ^^^,^_ (citations of western localities). 

 Ereunetes petrificatus, ) 



Hab. The whole of North and Middle, and a considerable portion of South, America ; through- 

 out the West Indies ; Bermuda ; south to New Granada and Brazil ; breeding chiefly, if not 



