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450 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
The Sanderling, most often called the ‘“ Beach-bird”’ by 
gunners, is pretty abundant on our shores in the autumn 
migrations. It is rarely seen in spring, but seems to move 
by us in passing to its northern breeding-grounds. Accord- 
ing to Mr. Hutchins, it breeds on the coast of Hudson’s 
Bay, where it constructs, on the marshes, a rude nest of 
grass, laying four dusky eggs, spotted with black, on which 
it begins to sit about the middle of June. Early in Septem- 
ber, sometimes by the 20th of August, it returns to our 
shores, where it associates with the Sandpipers in small 
flocks. It has all the habits and characteristics of these 
birds, busily seeking in the retreating waves, and in the 
pools on the beach, its food of small shells and crustaceans. 
It is quite fat in the autumn, and is esteemed by many, a 
fine-flavored bird for the table. 
EREUNETES, Ivuicer. 
Ereunetes, Iuxt1GER. Prod. (1811), 262. 
The bill of our species of Hreunetes is quite stout, and considerably expanded, by 
which it is readily distinguished from <Actodromas Wilsonii, independently of the 
semipalmated feet; the tarsus and middle toe are about equal; the tibia denuded 
anteriorly for about two-thirds the length of tarsus; the basal membrane of toes 
is more scolloped out interiorly than exteriorly; the notch externally not quite as 
deep as to the first joint, althongh the membrane extends beyond the second. 
There is a tendency to hexagonal subdivision in the bare portion of tibia anteriorly. 
The tail is doubly emarginate. 
EREUNETES PETRIFICATUS. — Jiliger. 
The Semipalmated Sandpiper; Peep. 
Ereunetes petrificatus, Mliger. Prod. (1811), 262. (Proved identical with Tringa 
semipalmata, Wils., by Cabanis.) 
Tringa semipalmata, Wilson. Am.-Orn., VII. (1818) 181. Aud. Orn. Biog., V. 
(1889) 111. b., Birds Am., V. (1842) 277. 
Tringa (heteropoda) semipalmata, Nuttall. Man., II. (1834) 136. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Bill about the length of the head, rather thicker than usual in this group; both 
mandibles somewhat expanded and flattened at the tip, and minutely punctulated, 
as in the genera Scolopar and Gallinago; wings long; legs moderate, rather slen- 
der; toes united at base by a membrane, which is large, between the outer and 
middle toes, extending to the first joint; hind toe small; tail short, with the middle 
