THE SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 659 
are in high plumage during the spring migrations, and they not infrequently 
return to our borders before having exchanged the nuptial dress for the prosy 
grays of winter. This species also wanders largely into the interior, and stray 
birds may be picked up in almost any situation which provides water. 
In feeding, the Red-backs usually maintain close order, and in flight as 
well, so that hostile fire is very destructive to their ranks. One shot seldom 
suffices to teach its lesson of caution, and they are back again the next minute 
to look after their fallen comrades, and to invite repeated slaughter. Suckley 
tells of an army officer of his acquaintance who once tumbled ninety-six birds 
at a single discharge of his fowling piece. It is perhaps needless to add that 
there ar’n’t enough birds to go around at that rate. 
Suckley recorded this species as “resident thruout the year,” but it is 
highly improbable that it has nested so far south within historic times. Mr. 
I. W. Nelson enjoyed unique opportunities at the mouth of the Yukon in the 
Seventies, and he says of these birds: “Soon after they arrive in spring they 
are engaged in pairing, and the male may be seen upon quivering wing flying 
after the female and uttering a musical, trilling note, which falls upon the 
ear like the mellow tinkle of large water-drops falling rapidly into a partly 
filled vessel. Imagine the sounds thus produced by the water run together 
into a steady and rapid trill some five or ten seconds in length, and the note of 
this Sandpiper is represented. It is not loud, but has a rich, full tone difficult 
to describe, but pleasant to hear among the discordant notes of the various 
water-fowl whose hoarse cries arise on all sides. As the lover’s suit approaches 
its end, the handsome suitor becomes exalted, and in his moments of excite- 
ment he rises fifteen or twenty yards, and hovering on tremulous wings over 
the object of his passion, pours forth a perfect gush of music, until he glides 
back to earth exhausted, but ready to repeat the effort a few minutes later.” 
No. 265. 
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 
Vs. O. U. No. 246. Ereunetes pusillus (Linn.). 
Synonyms.— PEEP. SAND-PEEP. OX-EYE. 
Description.—Adult im swmmer: Above blackish or fuscous, with much 
brownish gray and some whitish or pale rusty edging; darker on crown and back, 
lighter on neck and wings; tips of greater coverts white, rump grayish brown; 
upper tail-coverts and central tail-feathers dusky; remaining tail-feathers ashy 
gray ; a white superciliary line, and a dusky line from bill to eye; underparts white, 
except across breast, where tinged with brownish gray, and distinctly streaked 
with dusky brown; bill and feet dark brown. Adult in winter: Above plain, 
brownish gray, with darker shaft-streaks or central areas; below pure white, 
