254 SCOLOPACIDH, SNIPE, ETC.—GEN. 206, 207-211. 
generally dispersed, but apparently not very common anywhere ; West Indies ' 
in winter; U. S. during the migrations; breeds in high latitudes. Avp., 
v, 271, pl. 334; Nurr., ii, 138, 140, 141; Sw., F. B.-A. ii, 379, 380, pl. | 
66; Cass. in Bp., 726; Cours, Proc. Phila. Acad. 1861, 174. HIMANTOPUS. 
206. Genus EREUNETES [Illiger. 
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Peep. Bill, tarsus and middle toe with its 
claw, about equal to each other, an inch or Jess long, but bill very variable, 
and apt to be shorter —%-§; feet semipalmate, with two evident webs; 
length 53-63; wing 34-32; tail 2, doubly emarginate, the central feathers 
projecting. Adult in summer: above, variegated with black, bay, and ashy 
or white, each feather with a black field, reddish edge and whitish tip; 
rump, and upper tail coverts except the lateral ones, blackish; tail feathers 
ashy-gray, the central darker; primaries dusky, the shaft of the first white ; 
a dusky line from bill to eye, and a white superciliary line ; 
below, pure white, usually rufescent on the breast, and with 
more or less dusky speckling on the throat, breast and sides, 
in young birds usually wanting; in winter the upper parts 
mostly plain ashy-gray ; but in any plumage and under any 
variation, the species is known by its small size and 
Fic. 165. semipalmate feet. The extreme variation in the length of 
the bill is from 4 to 14, or 86 per cent. of the average (§). N. Am., 
everywhere an abundant and well known little bird, thronging our beaches 
during the migrations. Tringa semipalmata WIxS., vii, 131, pl. 63, f. 4; 
Norr., ii, 136; Aup., v, 277, pl. 336; Hreunetes petrificatus Cass. in 
Bp., 724; #. pusillus Cougs, Proc. Phila. Acad. 1861, 177. Var. occidentalis 
LAwr., 202d. 1864, 10759 humor pl. 40. 9) ean ee EUStumUs. 
207-11. Genus TRINGA Linnzus. 
* Bill, tarsus, and middle toe with claw, of about equal length. (Actodromas.) 
t+ Upper tail coverts (except the lateral series) black or very dark* brown ; 
jugulum with an ashy or brownish suffusion, and dusky streaks. 
Least Sandpiper. Peep. Smallest of the sandpipers ; 53-6; wing 34-33 ; 
tail 2 or less; bill, tarsus, and middle toe with claw, about 2; bill- black; 
legs dusky-greenish; upper parts in summer with each feather blackish 
centrally, edged with bright bay, and tipped with ashy or white ; in winter, 
and in the young, simply ashy; quills blackish, the shaft of the first white ; 
tail feathers gray with whitish edges, the central blackish, usually with 
reddish edges; crojvn not conspicuously different from hind neck; chestnut 
edgings of scapulars usually scalloped; below, white, marked as above 
stated. North America, very abundant; this species and the last are usually 
confounded under the common name of “sandpeeps,” and look much alike ; 
but a glance at the toes is sufficient to distinguish them. Tringa minutilla 
ViEILLOT; Cougs, Proc. Phila. Acad. 1861, 191; 7. pusilla Wits., v, 32, 
pl. 37, f. 4; Aup., v, 280, pl. 337; 7. minuta Sw., F. B.-A., ii, 385; 
Nutt., ii, 119; Z. welsont Nurt., ii, 121; Cass. in Bp., 721. mMInuTILLA: 
ue 
