CALIDRIS ARENARIA : SANDERLING ; RUDDY PLOVER. 229 



distinguished from its congeners, is a common spring and 

 autumn migrant through New England, where it is 

 found chiefly in small flocks along the seashore. Ac- 

 cording to Mr. Merriam it has been observed in Con- 

 necticut, near Middletown, " in summer ; " but this 

 probably means late in that season, and does not imply 

 that the bird ever passes the whole summer with us. 

 Mr. Boardman speaks of its appearance in Maine in 

 August and September. It usually arrives the latter 

 part of August, remaining for a couple of months, and re- 

 appears in April and May. 



SANDERLING; RUDDY PLOVER. 



CaLIDRIS ARENARIA {L.) IlHg. 



Chars. Readily distinguished from any other Sandpiper by 

 having no hind toe, like a plover. Entire upper parts and neck 

 all around variegated with black, light ashy and bright-reddish. 

 Under parts white, immaculate. Winter and young birds with 

 little if any trace of the reddish, the upper parts being regularly 

 mottled with blackish and whitish, the under parts white. Bill 

 and feet blackish. Length, 7.50-8.00 ; extent, 15.00-16.00 ; wing, 

 4.90 ; tail, 2.25, bill about i.oo; tarsus rather less ; middle toe and 

 claw 0.75. 



The "Beach-bird," as this species is called by the 

 gunners, is one of the most abundant of its tribe in 

 New England during the vernal and autumnal migra- 

 tions. It also occurs, though more sparingly, in winter, 

 and Mr. Verrill found it abundant in summer on the 

 coast of Maine, where he was of opinion it might breed. 

 We have, however, no sufficient evidence that it does so, 

 and in fact the probability is the other way ; for the 



