NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



117 



246. Semipalmated Sandpiper. Ereunetes pusillus. 



Range. Whole of North America, but chiefly in the eastern and central parts 

 breeding about the ponds and streams of Labrador and Hudson Bay, and north- 

 ward. These little Sandpipers are abundant during the 

 migrations either in marshes or on beaches. They are 

 most often found in company with other species, such 

 as the Spotted and Least Sandpipers. Their appearance 

 is very similar to that of the Least Sandpipers, but'they 

 are slightly larger and the feet are partially webbed. 

 Their eggs have a greenish buff or grayish ground color 

 and are spotted with brownish or blackish, sometimes, 

 so heavily as to completely obscure the shell color. 

 Size 1.20 x .80. Data. Small island near Okak, Lab- 

 rador, July 3, 1895. 2 eggs. Nest a hollow at the foot of a tuft of grass, lined 

 with a few bits of grass and small leaves. Eggs unmistakable in this dark 

 type. Collected for J. D. Sornberger. 



I Grayish J. 



247. Western Sandpiper. Ereunetes occidentalis. 



Range. Western North America, breeding in the Arctic 

 regions and migrating through the United States, chiefly 

 west of the Mississippi to the Gulf States and southward. 



Scarcely to be distinguished from the preceding species, 

 but the upper parts are said to be brighter and the bill, to 

 average a trifle longer. The nesting habits and eggs are 

 precisely the same as those of the Semipalmated variety. 

 Data. Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska, June 28, 1898. 

 Four eggs. Nest a neatly rounded hollow, sunk into a 

 mossy hummock in marshy ground. Collector, Joseph Grinnell. 



[Grayish buffj 



248. Sanderling. Calidris arenaria. 



Range. Found in all parts of the northern hemisphere, breeding within the 

 Arctic Circle and wintering, in North America, from California and South Caro- 

 lina southward. 



A handsome and abundant species, found during migrations by thousands 

 on beaches and about large bodies of water in the 

 interior. They are one of the lightest colored of the 

 Sandpipers, either in winter or summer plumage. In 

 summer the upper parts are a light rusty color and 

 black, and the whole underparts are white. Owing to 

 their extreme northerly distribution in summer, but 

 few of their eggs have been taken. Their nesting 

 habits are like those of the other Sandpipers. The 

 three or four eggs are greenish buff in color, spotted 

 and blotched with brown. Size 1.45 x .95. Data. 

 Peel River, Alaska, June 18, 1897. Three eggs in a 

 depression on the ground. 



i.nrnish buff]. 



