THE SANBERLIAG^ 111 



plumage^ and the continuous wlaistling cry uttered during 

 flight. 



The Sanderling breeds in the far norths and in mucii 

 higheHatitudes than any part of Great Britain. The coasts 

 of Hudson's Bay^ Greenland, and Lajjrador have been 

 mentioned by natm-alists as amongst the favourite breeding- 

 places of this bird. Cajitain Fielden found a Sanderling^'s 

 nest in the month of June^ ^l876 , on the slwres of the 

 Frozen Ocean ; this nest contained twq^ eggs, and as the 

 mjile bird was killed at the nest, it would ap^iear that 

 both sexes assist in the process of incubation. 



The nest is placed on the ground, and is some\vhat 

 ronghly built of dried grass; the eo-gs number about four, 

 and are of a dusky colour, spotted wath black, most of the 

 markings being on the larger end. 



Only one brood apjiears to be reared during the 

 yeai', ])ut this is not absolutely certain. 



In summer the male Sanderling has the beak black ; 

 irides brown ; feathers on the top of the head and back of 

 the neck black in the centre, with a rufous edging; back 

 and rump black ; wings blackish, with markings of red- 

 dish-grey and greyish-white ; chin, throat, sides of the 

 neck, and upper part of the breast covered with small spots 

 of rufous and black on a white ground ; the whole under- 

 surface of the body is pure white ; tail greyish-black in 

 centre, and the outer feathers greyish-white ; legs, toes, 

 and claws black. 



In winter the bird is much lighter in appearance ; the 

 plumage of all the upper parts is a very light ash-grey, 

 with a dark streak in the centre of each feather ; the tail is 

 ash-colour, edged with white ; chin, throat, and remaining 

 portions the same as in summer. 



