JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



37 



expeudiiig their untiring energy upon the 

 beach. 



Here we again meet with the small 

 birds mentioned, but in less numbers. 

 We now turn our attention to a flock of 

 small birds wliich are flying along the 

 beach just over the line of surf, in close 

 but irregular fliglit, now in over the 

 beach, to again quickly wheel out over 

 the surf, their pure white under parts 

 gleaming like alabaster, contrasted the 

 next moment by the silvery sheen of 

 their darker backs, repeating these 

 manoeuvres an indefinite number of 

 times, as if dissatisfied with the feeding 

 grounds. They at last alight on the 

 beach at the edge of the surf. These 

 are the Sanderling (Calidris ai-enaria) 

 known to the sportsmen as 8urf Snipe 

 and Whiting. The last name because 

 of their appear.-ince, already mentioned, 

 when on the wing. 



As a wave recedes they follow its wet 

 path to the waters edge, eagerly search- 

 ing for the small crustaceans known as 

 sand fleas, which on the advance of a 

 wave are able to at once disappear in 

 the L,and, to again as it recedes, reappear 

 at the surface and jumping about on the 

 sand become an easy prey for the birds. 

 As a wave- advances the birds retreat 

 before it with the same sideways move- 

 ment as before mentioned, forming a 

 compact column, to again follow it as it 

 recedes back to its source. 



This habit of coming together so 

 closely when forced back by a wave is 

 taken advantage of by the sportsmen. 

 And I have heard of their picking up 

 fifty of these birds from a single dis- 

 charge of their gun. 



As we approach near to them they do 



not stoj) to watch us as did the Sand- 



ipers, but run along with a sideways 



movement, watching us over their 

 shoulders, exerting themselves to their 

 uttermost speed to widen the distance 

 between us and themselves. If we 

 advance too rapidly they take wing 

 again, alighting a short distance ahead, 

 repeating these movements until our 

 persistence causes them to leave for 

 other feeding grounds, or they again 

 alight a long distance in our rear. 



As we walk along the beach flock 

 after flock of these birds may be seen, 

 some seeking new feeding grounds while 

 others are searching for food as de- 

 scribed, all restless and active. 



We have now reached a long point of 

 rocks which, rising out of the sand, ex- 

 tends a short distance into the sea. At 

 high tide all but the extreme end is sub- 

 merged, this remaining a few feet 

 above high tide limit. A few small 

 rocks appear from out the sand along its 

 edge, and motionless among them we 

 notice one or two small birds. 



These remind us of the Ringneck 

 Plover excepting their much lighter 

 color blends with the bleached sands of 

 the beach, whereas that of the former 

 blends with the darker sands of the 

 bays, their favorite feeding grounds. 



We also listen to their mellow piping 

 cries, recognizing them to be the Piping 

 Plover (jEgialitis meloda). They re- 

 main motionless a few moments sus- 

 piciously watching us, then running 

 rapidly away for a few yards, repeat 

 the former movement. 



They are very shy, taking wing when 

 a long distance away. 



I have seen but few of this species, 

 and they were invariably around such 

 grounds as described, or on the beach 

 above high tide limit. 



Now advancing out toward the point 



