SNIPES, SANDPIPERS 169 



softly uttered. When alighting the whole flock seem to pitch 

 simultaneously, holding their wings upstretched a mere second 

 after they strike the sand, and then folding them. 



The food consists of sand fleas, small crustaceans, sea-worms 

 and similar small forms of life which are also eaten by their 

 close associates, the Least Sandpipers. 



In the north a mere hollow does duty for a nest in which 

 four eggs are laid, usually not far from the water. The eggs 

 are laid in early June in the Fur Countries. They are described 

 as clay or grayish buff", boldly spotted or sometimes finely dotted 

 with brown and umber, the spots being thickest about the larger 

 end. The measurement of an egg is 1.22 x 0.83. 



Genus CALIDRIS Cuvier. 



248. Calidris arenaria (Linn.). Sanderling; Surf-snipe; 

 Ruddy "Plover"; Beach Bird. 



Plumage of summer adults : above rusty, spotted with blackish in center 

 of feathers and tipped with white ; wings and wing coverts fuscous, the 

 greater coverts white tipped ; outer web of inner primaries white ; tail gray- 

 ish with feathers white margined ; below white with rufous tinge and black- 

 ish spots on throat and breast. Plumage of winter adults : like preceding 

 except that above the color is pale brownish gray and below white. Immature 

 plumage : feathers of upper parts white-tipped and without rusty color ; 

 under parts white, unspotted. Toes only three, which character distinguishes 

 this species from all other Sandpipers or Snipe. Wing 4.75 to 4.97 ; culmen 

 0.98 ; tarsus 0.98. 



Geog. Dist. — Cosmopolitan, breeding in Arctic regions ; in winter on 

 American side ranging south to Chili and Patagonia. 



County Records. — Cumberland ; transient, abundant in autumn, late July 

 to November 5, the only spring specimens known were shot at Old Orchard, 

 May 30, 1882, (Brown, C. B. P. p. 27). Hancock; fall, not many, (Knight). 

 Knox; migrant, (Rackliff). Penobscot; a specimen was killed at High 

 Head, near Bangor, some years ago, (Crosby). Sagadahoc ; common in fall, 

 (Spinney). Waldo; one seen in September, 1883, (Howe, J. M. O. S. 1900, 

 p. 29). Washington; common, (Boardman). 



General along the coast in fall migration from July through 

 September, and sometimes to November 5, very rare in spring, 

 known only once in late May, and exceedingly rare inland. 



