BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 129 



four weeks, that I strongly suspect that while they principally 

 go farther north to breed, some remain to do so with us. 



For evident reasons already mentioned, if such is the case» 

 there is little occasion for surprise that the nests have not been 

 discovered. Their constant note, repeated in a subdued tone, 

 tioeet, tweet, is similar to that of the other species. Indeed, all 

 their habits are indistinguishable, and I am compelled to have 

 the bird in my hands to identify it with any feeling of certainty. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill about the length of the head, rather thicker than usual 

 in this group; both mandibles somewhat expanded and flattened 

 at the tip, and minutely punctulated as in the genera Scolopax 

 and GalUnago; wings, long; legs, moderate, rather slender; 

 toes united at the- base by a membrane which is large, between 

 the outer and middle toes, extending to the first joint; hind toe 

 small; tail, short, with the middle feathers longest; outer 

 feathers frequently longer than the third, presenting a doubly 

 emarginate character to the tail; under coverts nearly as long 

 as the tail; upper parts, light brownish -ashy, with lanceolate 

 or ovate spots of brownish-black in the middle of the feathers; 

 rump and upper tail coverts, black; front, band of the eye, and 

 entire under parts, ashy-white, with small spots on the breast 

 of ashy-brown; quills, brownish-black, lighter on their inner 

 webs, and with their shafts white; middle feathers of the tail, 

 brownish-black; outer feathers, pale brownish-ashy; under 

 wing coverts and axillaries, white; bill, greenish-black; feet 

 dark, the lower parts of the tarsus and toes, frequently tinged 

 with yellow; upper part in summer, mixed with light reddish; 

 iris, brown. 



Length, 6.50; wing, 3.75; tail. 1.75; bill from gape, 0.75; 

 tarsus, 0.75 to 1. 



Habitat, Eastern Province of North America. 



CALIDRIS ARENARIA (L ). (248.) 

 SANDERLING. 



The Sanderling has long been a common bird on the sea 

 coasts, and I had not expected to be permitted to list it in Min- 

 nesota, when Mr. W. L. Tiffany (then a resident of this city 

 and enthusiastically interested in birds) brought me an adult 

 male in the spring of 1875. Since then I have found it a rather 

 regular visitor in both migrations, but some years I am confi- 

 dent that they fail to appear, or in one of the migrations at 

 least. 



They are never numerous, but come to us about the middle 

 of April in company with the Sandpipers and Snipes. It is 

 usual to find them mating to some extent while here, but they 



