SNIPE AND SANDPIPERS: Family Scolofacidae [ 165 ] 



mum numbers on the coast, but it is also common inland wherever suit- 

 able water conditions are to be found. It is most numerous in May, 

 August, and September. Our earliest spring date is April 15 (Klamath 

 County); the latest, May 2.2. (Tillamook County). In the fall movement, 

 our earliest date is July 2. (Lincoln County); our latest, November 2.0 

 (Curry County). This last date suggests wintering birds, though we 

 have not yet found this species anywhere on the Oregon coast between 

 the months of December and March inclusive, but as it has been known 

 to winter on the Washington coast, it may reasonably be expected to be 

 found doing so in Oregon. 



Townsend (1839) first reported the Western Sandpiper from Oregon. 

 Bendire (1877) considered it a common spring migrant at Malheur Lake, 

 and Willett (1919) also found it common in July and August at the same 

 place. Woodcock (1901) recorded it from Yaquina, Scio, and Corvallis, 

 and Anthony (Bailey 1902.) considered it an abundant migrant about 

 Portland. There is a specimen in the Carnegie Museum taken by 

 Woodcock (1902.) at Corvallis on April 2.1, 1899. The manuscript reports 

 of Biological Survey workers contain many references to this bird during 

 migrations. Those of particular interest are a specimen taken out of a 

 flock of 10 by Preble, July 4, 1915, at Cow Creek, Lake Malheur, a speci- 

 men taken by him at Diamond Lake, August 12., 1896, and one taken at 

 Lakeview October i, 1914, by Goldman. From a huge flock on Yaquina 

 Bay, July z, 1934, Gabrielson and Braly took several birds showing 

 incubation patches. 



These little sandpipers, the most abundant of all the smaller species 

 grouped under the name "Peep" or "Sand-peep" by the general populace, 

 at times inhabit our beaches and lake shores in great swarms. Running 

 back and forth with the surf along the beaches, or wheeling, dipping, 

 and circling in perfect unison about the waterfront, they usually attract 

 the attention of all eyes. Often when tired, apparently from a long 

 migration trip, they settle on the beach in closely packed masses, all 

 sitting tight to the ground and facing the same direction. On such occa- 

 sions it is possible to approach almost within a step before the birds 

 move, and a gun fired into the closely packed ranks will kill or wound 

 dozens of the tiny creatures. It formerly was no unusual thing to find 

 numerous crippled Western Sandpipers on the beaches, the luckless sur- 

 vivors of such a slaughter, but the practice seems to be dying out slowly. 



Marbled Godwit: 



Limosa fedoa (Linnaeus) 



DESCRIPTION. "Adults: Plumage mainly light cinnamon brown, heavily mottled 

 with black on upper parts, and finely barred with blackish on chest, sides, and tail; 

 throat streaked and chin whitish; edge of wing black. Young: similar to adults but 



