416 NATURAL HISTORY. 



Spring and autumn visitant. In spring from May 1 to 15; in fall 

 from AuLTUst 25 to October. In habits very similar to preceding. 



172. Ereunetes pusillas, (Linn.,) Cass. — Semipalmated Sandpiper. 

 Rare; perhaps accidental; occasionally met with in spring and fall 

 along the banks of the river. [Possibly a second species, {Ereunetes 

 mino)\ Gundl.)] 



173. Symphemia semipalmata, (Gm.,)Hartl. — Willet. Rare; spring 

 and autumn visitant. 



174. Gambetta melanoUuca, (Gm.,) Bon. — Greater Tell-tale Tatler. 

 "Yellow-shanks Plover." Spring and autumn visitant. Common. 

 In spring, from May 1 to 15; in autumn, middle of September to 

 November. Generally seen singly or two or three together. Banks 

 of the rivers, boggy meadows, commons intersected with pools, &c. 



175. Gambetta flavipes, (Gm.,)Bon. — Lesser Tell-tale Tatler. "Yel- 

 low-shanks Plover." Identical in times of appearance and in habits 

 with preceding. 



176. Bhyacophilus solitarius, Wils. — Solitary Tatler. Spring and 

 autumn visitant; very abundant, especially in spring. May 1 to 

 15, and August 25 to October 15. Very familiar and unsuspicious; 

 decidedly gregarious, both in spring and fall. Frequents ditches 

 and puddles, in low, boggy commons, &c. 



177. Tringoides macularius, (Linn.,) Gray. — Spotted Sandpiper. 

 "Sand Snipe." Summer resident; very abundant in spring. The 

 only sandpiper that breeds. Arrives April 20 and remains through 

 greater part of September. Found chiefly on Rock creek and banks 

 of the river. 



178. Actituriis bartramius, (Wils.,) Bon. — Bartram' s Tatler. Grass 

 Plover. Field Plover. Summer resident; rare. Found altogether 

 on high, open fields and ploughed lands. 



179. Numenius hngirostris, Wils. — Long-billed Curlew. Not un- 

 common. Spring and autumn visitant; remaining a very short time 

 at each season. In fall, about the middle of September. Found in 

 places similar to those which the Yellow-legs frequent. 



180. Ballus elegans, Aud. — Fresh-water Marsh-hen. "King Orto- 

 lan." Found sparingly in early autumn in the marshes along the 

 rivers, with the P. Carolina. 



181. Ballus virginianus, (Linn.) — Virginia Rail. Spring and autumn 

 visitant. Very rare in the spring, and not abundant in the fall. Ar- 

 rives in fall the last week in August; departs about the same time 

 with the P. Carolina. 



182. Forzana Carolina, Vieill. — Common Rail. Sora. Ortolan. 

 Spring and autumn visitant. Rare in spring, but very abundant in 

 fall from the last week in August until the first frost. Found ex- 

 clusively in the marshes bordering the Potomac and Eastern Branch. 



[Porzana noveboracensis, though not detected, is undoubtedly an 

 inhabitant of the District.] 



183. Porzana jamaicensis. — Black Rail. Very rare, perhaps only 

 accidental, during the early fall. (Specimen seen by ourselves Sep- 

 tember, 1861.) 



184. Eulica americana, Gem.— Coot. "Crow Duck." Spring and 



