SCOLOPACID^ — THE SNIPE FAMILY — CALIDRIS. 251 



pairs in the aggregate, and found one of tlieir nests, containing two eggs, in latitude 

 82° 33' N., on the 24th of June, 1876. The nest — from which he killed the male 

 bird — was placed on a gravel ridge, at an altitude of several hundred feet above the 

 sea. The eggs were deposited in a slight depression in the centre of a recumbent 

 plant of Arctic willow, the lining of the nest consisting of a few withered leaves and 

 some of the last year's catkins. On the 8th of August, 1876, along the shores of 

 Eobeson Channel, Mr. Feilden saw several parties of young ones — three to four in 

 number — following their parents, and, led by the old birds, searching most dili- 

 gently for insects. At this date they were in a very interesting stage of plumage, 

 being just able to fly, but retaining some of their down. 



The migrations of the Sanderling appear to be made indifferently along the coast 

 or through the interior, both in the Old and in the New World. Wherever -there are 

 large bodies of inland water, to the banks of these it is attracted alike in its spring 

 and in its autumnal migrations. It is an abundant visitant along the shores of our 

 own Great Lakes, arriving in full breeding-plumage about the 20th of May, and is 

 seen, according to Mr. Nelson, in flocks of from flve to seventy-flve along the shore 

 of Lake Michigan until the 10th of June. It returns about the 1st of August, still 

 wearing its breeding-dress which is changed about the last of the month for the 

 more sober colors of winter. It departs about the 20th of October. It is found 

 almost exclusively along the bare sandy beach, 



Mr. E. Swinhoe mentions the passage of flocks along the coast of Formosa early 

 in the fall, and their return late in the spring, very few appearing to remain on the 

 shores through the winter. He afterward met with this species at Hungpe Creek, 

 in the Island of Hainan, March 30. On the Red Sea it was met with by Dr. Heuglin, 

 but was not seen there from June to September. It was first noticed, about the end 

 of September, near Ras Belul, on the marshy coast, in small flocks, some being still 

 partly in their summer dress ; and in October and November it Avas very frequent 

 in winter plumage near Zeila, Berbera, Beude, Gam, etc. Specimens have also been 

 procured from India ; and Mr. Temminck received them from Japan, from the Sunda 

 Islands, and from New Guinea. Dr. A. Smith obtained specimens in South Africa ; 

 and Mr. J. H. Gurney (" Ibis," 1865) mentions the occurrence of this species in the 

 Colony of Natal, also in South Africa, where he found it gregarious on the sea-beach, 

 running about with great activity while feeding, following the waves as they retired, 

 obtaining its food on the very edge of the water, and very rapid in its flight. This 

 bird was observed in the Ionian Islands by Mr. T. L. Powys ; and Mr. C. A. Wright 

 (" Ibis," 1864) mentions the capture of a single specimen in Malta, Sept. 24, 1862. 

 It was found by Mr. Saunders abundant in Southern Spain during the autumn and 

 part of the winter, but was not seen by him after the early spring, nor in its breeding- 

 plumage. 



The Sanderling, according to Yarrell, is well known on most of the sandy shores 

 of Great Britain and Ireland, where it is found at the water's edge, usually in com- 

 pany with the Tringa alpina. It also associates Avith the smaller Plovers, resembling 

 them in its habits, frequenting the harder part of the sandy shore, and apparently 

 running or flying with equal ease and rapidity. It has been seen as late as June, 

 and as early in the fall as August ; bat is not knoAvn to breed in that country, and its 

 eggs were unknoAvn to Yarrell. ScA^eral in full summer livery — says Mr. Heysham — 

 Avere killed on the coast in the vicinity of BroAv-Houses as late as June 4. Others 

 were observed by Mr. Bullock at the northern extremity of Scotland as late as the end 

 of June ; bi;t they were believed to go farther north to breed. This species visits 

 the shores of Sweden and Iceland, but breeds — so far as known — still farther north. 



