Taverner and Swales^ on Birds of Point Pelee. 85 



46. *ActO(lromas maculata, — Pectoral Sandpiper, 



Mr. Saunders took this species in September, 1882, and again in the 

 same ijionth of 1900. Taverner took two of three seen on the mud 

 in the marsh near the east base of the Point, Oct. 29, 1905, and we 

 observed tlie same number in tlie same place, Oct. 15, 1906. This 

 species does not favor sand beaches as a rule, but is more often 

 found on mud flats. 



47. *Actodromus bairdil, — Baird's Sandpiper. 



Mr. Saunders says : "On Sept. 19. 1900, I saw four Baird's Sand- 

 pipers on the east beach, of which we got one or two." This remained 

 the sum total of our Ivnowledge of this species on the Point until 

 August 24, 1907, when we found it almost common. Every bunch, 

 nearly, of small waders that we saw contained one or more. We 

 never found them in flocks by themselves, but always a few individ- 

 uals mixed in with other species. After the 26th they began to thin out 

 with the rest of the waders, and the last was seen August .31. They 

 were easily distinguished from the Least and Semipalmated Sand- 

 pipers,' when associated with them, by their superior size, and the 

 more general and even suffusion of buffy on the throat and upper 

 breast. In general appearance they seem to be about half way be- 

 tween the Least and Pectoral Sandpipers, though the breast colora- 

 tion is softer, less streaked and more buffy and general than either. 

 We secured a number of specimens. 



48. ■' Actodromas in hint ilia, — Least Sandpiper. 



We have noted this little sandpiper much more commonly in the 

 spring than in the fall ; indeed, it seems to be one of the earliest fall 

 migrants, arriving in this latitude early in the first week in July, and 

 but a few stragglers remaining after the first of September. Our Sep- 

 tember dates are all for a few singles seen early in the month, and 

 even when we arrived on the Point, August 24, 3907, there were but 

 few individuals in company with other small waders, and none were 

 seen after the 2d of September. It is always difficult to separate this 

 species from the Semipalmated Sandpiper in life, but when they are 

 both together close attention will reveal the inferior size, redder back 

 and darker breast of the Least. Without doubt this species is a reg- 

 ular and common migrant at both seasons at the Point, as it is at 

 Detroit. 



49. *Pelidna alpiiia sakhaUna, — Red-backed Sandpiper. 



Observed by Saunders as late as June 10, 1884, and by us May 13, 

 1905, when about eleven were seen along the shores of the Lake Pond. 

 May 20, 1906, we saw one, and again another single May 31, 1907. It is a 

 late migrant, both spring and fall, and is likely both regular and com- 

 mon in its occurrence at the Point. We have met it but once in the 



