FAMILY SCOLOPACIDAE 419 



men in American Museum of Natural History). I have identified 

 one taken at Almirante, Bocas de Toro, Oct. 29, 1964. Other re- 

 ports are sight records, which as explained above may be subject to 

 question. 



It is probable that the semipalmated sandpiper is regular in occur- 

 rence along the Caribbean coast, and that it comes also along the 

 Pacific in company with the migrant flocks of the western sandpiper. 



Loftin (Carib. Journ. Sci., 1963, p. 65) found them abundant at 

 Panama Viejo from August 12 to October 13, 1962, when he captured 

 and banded 43. 



EREUNETES MAURI Cabanis: Western Sandpiper; Playerito Occidental 



Ereunetes Mauri Cabanis, Journ. fiir Om., vol. 4, 1856 (1857), p. 419. (South 

 Carolina.) 



Similar to the semipalmated sandpiper, but with longer bill. 



Description. — Length, 140 to 155 mm. Toes webbed; bill thick at 

 base, with tip very slightly decurved. Breeding dress, like the semi- 

 palmated sandpiper in general but separated by the much greater ex- 

 tent of the rufous brown markings on the dorsal surface ; lower sur- 

 face more heavily marked, with dark spots and streaks much heavier, 

 and covering more of the lower foreneck, sides, and upper breast. 



Winter plumage, similar to that of the semipalmated sandpiper. 



Iris brown ; bill, tarsus, and toes black. 



Measurements (from Ridgway, I.e., p. 216). — Males, wing 91-99 

 (94.6), tail 37.5-42 (40.2), exposed culmen 20.5-23.5 (22.5), tarsus 

 20.5-22 (21.2) mm. 



Females, wing 90-99.5 (96.4), tail 38-47 (41.7), exposed culmen 

 23-28 (25.9), tarsus 21-24 (22.1) mm. 



Migrant from the north. Abundant locally along the Pacific coast ; 

 recorded less commonly from the Caribbean side ; Isla Coiba ; Isla del 

 Rey. Present, in the main, from August to April ; considerable num- 

 bers of non-breeding individuals remain through the other months of 

 northern summer. 



Small groups of western sandpipers may be found on beaches and 

 mudflats anywhere, while flocks of thousands often congregate at 

 such favorable localities as the mouth of the Rio Santa Maria, at 

 Panama Viejo, and the mouth of the Rio Chico. I have specimens 

 from Alvina near the Rio Santa Maria opposite Parita, Herrera, from 

 El Real, Darien, and from Isla Coiba. There is one in the U. S. Na- 

 tional Museum secured at Farfan Beach, Canal Zone, July 21, 1931, 



