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, ILLIGER. 



Ereunetes, ILLIGEK. Prod. (1811), 262. 



The bill of our species of Ereunetes is quite stout, and considerably expanded, by 

 which it is readily distinguished from Actodromas Witsonii, 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, although 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. 



ERETJNETES PETBIFICATUS. TUiger. 

 The Semipalmated Sandpiper; Peep. 



Ereunetes petrificatus, Illiger. Prod. (1811), 262. (Proved identical with Tnngn 

 semipalmata, Wils , by Cabanis.) 



Tringa semipalmata, Wilson. Am. Orn., VII. (1813) 131. Aud. Orn. Biog., V. 

 (1839) 111. lb., 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 grcup; both 

 mandibles somewhat expanded and flattened at the tip, and minutely punctulated, 

 as in the genera Scolopax and GaUinago; 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 



