SANDERLING 319 
(H. E. Dresser, ‘ Ibis,’ 1904, pp. 229-230, from translated 
notes of Walter’s paper on ‘‘ Ornithologische Beobachtungen 
an der westlichen ''aimyrhalbinsel, vom September, 1900 
bis August, 1901,” published in the ‘Annuaire du Musee 
Zool. de l’Acad. Imp. des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg.’) 
Geographical distribution. —'The Sanderling has also 
been found nesting, and the eggs have been obtained by 
several travellers on many of the Island-Groups in the far 
north of Arctic America, Asia, and Europe; in fact it has 
almost a circumpolar distribution in summer. It appears 
to have bred in some districts of Iceland as well as in 
Greenland. On migration in autumn, it is widely distributed 
over the coast-lands of Temperate Europe, Asia, and America; 
while as the season advances towards winter, hundreds 
journey to the Southern Hemisphere, ultimately finding 
suitable quarters in Southern Asia, Africa, and America, 
as well as in Australia and many of the Island-Groups in 
the Southern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.' Like the Knot 
no doubt this bird undertakes vast journeys on the wing 
in spring and autumn. It probably breeds in great numbers 
in Polar regions hitherto unexplored by man. 
DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 
PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial—Top of head, back, 
scapulars, inner secondaries, and wing-coverts, variegated 
with black,” warm chestnut,’ and grey; rest of head, neck, 
and upper ‘preast, of similar shades, but the dark markings 
are in the form of spots, exhibiting a finely freckled appear- 
ance ; primaries, dull brown, the shorter ones showing some 
white near their bases; secondaries, brownish, marked with 
a considerable amount of white ; tail, light ash-grey, except 
the central feathers, which are blackish ; central upper tail- 
' Yet many remain in latitudes even north of Great Britain during 
winter. 
* T have shot adult Sanderlings in early August, in which the rch 
chestnut shade had disappeared to such an extent, that the back 
exhibited almost a uniform black colour. 
’ T have shot and examined Sanderlings in spring, in full nuptial 
plumage, in which the chestnut shade predominated so much that the 
back, head, and breast, displayed chiefly a rich brick-red colour; other 
specimens (usually females) obtained at the same time of year also in 
full nuptial garb, displayed a predominance of grey and black, the chest- 
nut colour being much subdued. 
