THE WESTERN SANDPIPER. 66i 



male, .85-.95 (21. 6-24.1 ) : average .88 (22.4) : female, r.00-1.15 (25.4-29.2), aver- 

 age 1.05 ( 26.7 (. 



Recognition Marks. — Like preceding, but brighter (in summer plumage), 

 and with bill averaging longer, that of male averaging longer than that of female 

 pusillns. 



General Range. — Breeding in Alaska and migrating chiefly thru western 

 United States to Central and South America. Casually eastward to Atlantic Coast 

 during migration. 



Range in Washington. — Common during migrations thruout the State; 

 sometimes abundant on Puget Sound and western coast. Irregularlv resident in 

 winter on Puget Sound. Also non-breeding birds present thruout the vear. 



Migrations. — Northward movement continuous to middle of Alav or later; 

 southward movement sets in about July 4th. 



Authorities. — Lawrence, Auk, \"ol. IX. Jan. 1892, p. 43=". (T). L'. Rh. 

 Kk. B. E. 



Specimens.— (U. of W.) Prov. P. B. E. 



THESE birds, with an indeterminable percentage of Least Sandpipers 

 (Pisobia iiiiiiiitilluj . and a possible admixture of Semipalniateds. consti- 

 tute the immense flocks of "Sand-peeps," which probably exceed in number 

 all other shore birds combined. One somehow gets the impression that they 

 are always with us. but the few which linger thru June are unquestionably 

 non-breeding birds. By the loth of July little wisps of peeps come drifting 

 southward along the Pacific shore, stopping e\ery half mile or so for refresh- 

 ments, whether upon the sand beaches or upon the barnacle-covered rocks. 

 One may encounter a hundred flocks a day at this season, and yet, curiously 

 enough, find none containing over a hundred birds, or such a matter. Many 

 spots on Puget Sound, however, present more permanent attractions, and the 

 birds will assemble to the number of thousands in certain bays which boast 

 abundant tributary fiats of mud and sand. 



Thus in August, 1905, the Drayton Harbor population numbered some 

 5,000 birds. This little army fed regularly at low tide along the California 

 Creek flats or in the protected area of Blaine. At high tide, they were to be 

 found resting with the gulls upon the pile booms wdiich lay at anchor on the 

 lee of Semiahmoo spit. By Januar_\- of the following year the company had 

 been reduced to about one-third of its former dimensions, wdiether thru the 

 defection of those who fa\-ored wintering in California, or because of in- 

 cessant persecution, I cannot say. 



Xo better opportunit}- is afforded to study and speculate upi:)n the mys- 

 tery of flock mo\"ement than in the case of these gentle peeps. In flock flight 

 they weave and twist about, now flasliing in the sunlight, now darkening to 

 invisibilitv, charge and recharge, feint and flee, all as a single bird. And be- 



a. It is incredible that Cooper and Suckley should not have seen this bird, hut they evidently let it 

 pass as Pisobia tninulilla. 



