SCOI.OPACID^. 



583 



THE SANDERLING. 



Calidris arenaria (Linnreus). 



This species — easily recognizable by the absence of a hind-toe — 

 usually arrives on the coasts of the United Kingdom by the middle 

 of August, and, contrary to the rule among waders, the early 

 flocks frequently consist of old as well as young birds. Through- 

 out the autumn it is plentiful on the sandy portions of our shores, 

 though less numerous on the mud-flats, and it occasionally visits 

 large expanses of water inland ; comparatively few, however, remain 

 on any part of our coasts throughout the entire winter. By April 

 the return passage — in smaller numbers — commences ; birds in lull 

 breeding-dress being observed through May and even in June. 



To the Faeroes the Sanderling is a somewhat rare migrant, but 

 it undoubtedly nests in some districts of Iceland ; and ten eggs 

 were obtained by the German expedition on Sabine Island, East 

 Greenland, while on the west side nestlings have been captured 

 near Godthaab, and also in 81° 38' N. by Dr. Besselsof the ' Polaris.' 

 Col. Feilden shot a male from two eggs in lat. 82° 33' on June 24th 

 1876 in Smith Sound, where the bird was not uncommon; Sabine 

 has recorded it as breeding freely on the Parry Islands ; and Mr. 

 MacFarlane killed a female from the first authenticated eggs on the 



