SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 93 



through the summer, probably breeding, and in winter the birds are 

 not uncommon on the coast prairies of Texas. They go in close 

 flocks, whether feeding among the larger waders on the shores and 

 mud flats, or wheeling and circling in air on fast buzzing wings. 

 They are nervous, active little birds, always on the move and quick 

 to take alarm. VERNON BATLEY. 



Subgenus Pelidna. 

 243a. Tringa alpina pacifica (Coues). RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 



Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw ; bill longer than tarsus, slightly 

 curved; middle of wing with a large white patch. Adults in summer: 

 crown, back, and upper tail coverts bright rusty 

 ochraceous, more or less spotted or streaked 

 with black ; middle of belly black ; chest gray- 

 ish white, thickly streaked with dusky ; sides 

 and back part of belly white. Adults in winter : 

 upper parts plain ashy gray, obscurely streaked with dusky ; chest light 

 gray, more or less streaked with dusky ; rest of under parts, sides of rump, 

 and upper tail coverts white. Young : like adults in winter but upper 

 parts spotted and streaked with black and ochraceous, and breast coarsely 

 spotted with black. Length: 7.60-8.75, wing 4.60-4.95, bill 1.40-1.75, 

 tarsus 1.00-1.15. 



Distribution. North America and eastern Asia, breeding far north and 

 wintering in California, the Gulf States, and southward. 



Nest. A bed of dry grass. Eggs : 3 or 4, pale greenish to pale brown- 

 ish clay color, spotted with dull chocolate and dark brown. 



The red-backed sandpiper is common in migrations or in winter 

 along the coasts of the United States, but is rarely seen in the inte- 

 rior. The breeding plumage marked by rusty back and black belly 

 is sometimes acquired before the birds leave the, United States for 

 their northern breeding grounds, but the winter plumage is the more 

 common dress up to the first of May. 



t 



GENUS EREUNETES. 



General Characters. Toes distinctly webbed at base ; bill slightly 

 widened and flattened at tip. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. Bill shorter than tarsus pusillus, p. 93. 



1'. Bill as long as or longer than tarsus .... occidentalis, p. 94. 



246. Ereunetes pusillus (Linn.). SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 



Adults in summer. Upper parts dusky and black, streaked with gray 

 and pale buff ; chest light gray, finely streaked ; chin, 

 belly, and sides white. Adults in winter : upper parts 

 dull gray, obscurely streaked with dusky; under 

 parts white tinged with gray across chest. Young : fie. 111. 



back spotted with black, and scalloped and streaked 

 with buff and white; chest tinged with gray; rest of under parts whitish. 



