388 GAME BIBDS OF CALIFORNIA 



clay color, in many instances (especially on larger eggs), almost concealed by 

 fine superficial spots and streaks of light reddish brown; other specimens 

 have the sjiots in larger masses and ground color more apparent (Nelson, 1887, 

 p. 114). 



General distribution — North America and northern South America. Breeds 

 on Alaskan coast from mouth of Yukon Eiver to a little north of Cape Prince 

 of Wales. Winters on Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Florida and on 

 Pacific coast from southern California to southern Mexico and Venezuela, and 

 probably in Lesser Antilles. In migration occurs along Atlantic coast north 

 to Massachusetts, and in the West Indies, but is extremely rare in central 

 United States. Abundant along Pacific coast and to some extent inland 

 (A. O. U. Check-list, 1910, p. 117; Cooke, 1910, p. 47). 



Distribution in California — Abundant spring and fall migrant both coast- 

 wise and in the interior; also sparing winter visitant from San Francisco 

 southward, but more numerous in southern part of the state. Fall migration 

 begins in late July and lasts through October. Spring migration occurs from 

 early April until first of June, the species being most abundant from about 

 April 10 until middle or last of May. Non-breeding individuals may remain 

 within the state throughout the summer months. 



The Western Sandpiper, a close relative of the Semipalmated 

 Sandpiper of eastern North America, is an abundant species along our 

 coast and in the interior during the fall and spring migrations, and 

 is present also during the winter, but then only in limited numbers. 

 This species is one of a number among the shore birds in Avhieh cer- 

 tain apparently barren individuals fail to follow the northbound 

 migrants in the spring and are thus to be found within the state 

 throughout the summer season. 



The first undoubted migrants from the nortli appear along our 

 coast during the latter part of July or first week in August. Two 

 adult females in worn breeding plumage were taken at Markham's, 

 Sonoma County, July 13, 1895 (Mailliard coll.). Emerson (in Beld- 

 ing, MS) records the species at Hayward, as "common at once" 

 August 2, 1895, and one was taken in "Alameda County," August 

 10, 1897 (Mailliard coll.). From this time on, tlie species becomes 

 increasingly abundant and is found within the state in large numbers 

 during August, September and October. The numbers decrease dur- 

 ing November, and during the period from December to February 

 there are only a few records of occurrence ; but these are sufficient 

 to indicate that stragglers remain in winter at least as far north as 

 San Francisco, and that the species winters in fair numbers in the 

 southern portion of the state. Some of these records are as follows: 

 San Francisco Bay, December 29, 1897 (four specimens in Mailliard 

 coll.) ; Monterey, December 13, 1910 (Mus. Vert. Zool.) ; Santa 

 Barbara, up to December 5, 1909 (Bowles and Howell, 1912, p. 9), 

 and winter of 1885 (Streator, 1886, p. 89) ; Alamitos Bay, Los Angeles 

 County, December 2 to 26, 1905 (specimens in Richardson coll.) ; 



