76 SHORE r.'RDR. 



h. Seinipalnia.ted SandpiperSo Breunetes. 



Differs from e chiefly in having a proportionately stout- 

 er bill and webs between the anterior toes ; plate 10. 



1. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, E. pusili^us. Differs 

 from e, 5 in being larger (6.75 ; bill, .75) ; grayer above witli 

 only a slight tingeing of reddish on sides of head and scapu- 

 laries and no bulf below ; in winter there is no buff anywhere 

 and but little above in the young; bill and feet, always 

 black, plate 10. An abundant species both spring and fall 

 all along our coast, but rather shy in frequented locations, 

 yet quite unsuspicious when not molested ; frequents sandy 

 beaches rather than mud flats and mud holes in the marsh- 

 es, although it is sometimes found in those places. Ordina- 

 ry call note not unlike that of e, 5 but rather more shrill. I 

 cannot refrain from quoting Dr. Townsend's cliarming de- 

 scription of the spring notes as he heard them at Ipswich, 

 Mass. He says; " A harsh rasping note and a peeping note 

 are sometimes heard. A low, rolling, gossipy note is often 

 emitted when they approach other birds. This latter note 

 is often imitated with success by gunners. In spring, how- 

 ever, the bird is delightfully musical on occasions, and his 

 flight song may be heard on the beach and among the bogs 

 of the dunes. Eising on quivering wings to about thirty 

 feet from the ground, the bird advances with rapid wing- 

 beats, curving the pinions strongly downward, pouring forth 

 a succession of musical notes, a continuous quavering trill, 

 and ending with a very few sweet notes that recall those 

 of a Goldfinch. He then descends to the ground where on e 

 may be lucky enough, if near at hand, to hear a low musi- 

 cal ^' cluck " from the excited bird. This is, I suppose, the full 

 love song, and is not often heard in its entirety, but the first 

 quavering trill is not uncommon, a single bird, or a member 

 of a flock singing thus as he flies over. I have seen birds 

 chasing one another on the beach with raised wings, emit- 

 ting a few quavering notes, and have been reminded of a 

 Long-billed Marsh Wren. " ( Birds of Essex County, p. 178 ). 



