SCOLOPACIDiE — THE SNIPE FAMILY — EREUNETES. 207 



on the side of the head, from the bill across the lores, and beneath the eyes over the auriculars ; 

 remainder of the head white, streaked, except on the throat (where also sometimes finely flecked) 

 with grayish dusky. Lower parts pure white, the jugulum and breast thickly marked with broad 

 streaks of dusky, these broadest and of triangular form on the sides of the breast ; sides marked 

 with sagittate dusky spots. Adult, winter plumage : Not distinguishable from typical imsillus in 



E. pusillus occidentalis. 



the same .stage, except by greater average length of bill and tarsus. Young : similar to young of 

 E. jnisillus, but with rusty ochraceous prevailing on the dorsal region and pileum. Downy young : 

 Similar to the same stage of E. ^^usillus, but the rusty areas of the upper parts more extended and 

 more castaneous. 



Wing, 3.60-3.90 (3.74); culmen, .85-L15 (.95) ; tarsus, .85-.95 (.89); middle toe, .55-.65 

 (.60). [Eighteen summer adults measiired.] 



The range of individual variation, as regards proportions, is probably greater in this species 

 than in any other limicoline bird of its size. The length of the bill, in forty-two adult examples 

 measured, varies from .68 of an inch to L15 inches, and the wing from 3.50 to 4.00, the other 

 measurements varying in proportion. The variations are of exactly the same character as in 

 Macrorliamplins griseus, the scolopaceus type of the latter corresponding to the occidentalis form of 

 Ereunetcs, both being distinguished by a greater average length of bill and tarsus, and an excess 

 of the ferruginous coloring. 



The common Semij)almated Sandpiper is found nearly or quite tkrougliout North 

 America. Accepting the form which occurs on the Pacific coast — called by some 

 writers the occidentalis — as identical witli this, we have for the species a very gen- 

 eral distribution. It breeds in the extreme northern portions of the Fur Country ; 

 is abundant, both in the spring and fall migrations, along the sea-coasts, and also the 

 banks of rivers and inland lakes. In the winter it is found in the extreme South- 

 western States, in Mexico, Central America, the Bahamas, and some of the West India 

 Islands, and a considerable portion of South America. 



Mr. Salvin mentions that a single bird of this species was shot near Dueiias in 

 the month of April, in a flock of Actodromas maculata, and that afterward he again 

 found this species very common on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. According to 

 Wedderburn, it occurs in Bermuda during its fall migrations ; and from the 1st of 

 August to the beginning of November small flocks are to be seen on most of the 

 sandy bays along the coast. Professor Newton mentions this species as occurring in 

 autumn in St. Croix, frequenting the pastures in flocks of from ten to twenty. Its 

 first arrival was observed by Mr. E. Newton. Leotaud also speaks of it as occurring 

 on the Island of Trinidad, arriving there in July, and leaving in October. It is 

 always seen in flocks, and these are sometimes very numerous, not only frequenting 

 the marshy edges of the sea, but quite as commonly the low damp meadows. Some 

 are said to remain in Trinidad all the year round, and these may be found on the 

 swampy edges of pools from October until July. At this season of the year the 



