482 SANDPIPERS AND RELATED SPECIES 



numbering several thousands, which pass along the north-west coasts 

 in May and June, have assumed the full breeding plumage. The 

 majority have nearly done so, but many show very little signs of 

 change. 1 



Although a very common species, the breeding quarters of the 

 sanderling are so remote that until recent years very few authenticated 

 eggs had been secured, and very little learned of the nesting habits 

 of the bird. On the Russian Polar expedition to the Taimyr Penin- 

 sular in 1900 and 1901, Dr. H. Walter whose death unfortunately 

 took place during the expedition collected eggs of this species, the 

 knot, and the curlew-sandpiper; and his notes, embodying much 

 interesting information relating to their habits, were published in the 

 Annuaire da Muse'e Zool. de VAcad. Imp. des Science* de St. Petersburg. 

 An abbreviated translation by Mr. H. E. Dresser was printed in the 

 Ibis for 1904, p. 228 et seq. Herr A. L. Manniche, on the Danish 

 expedition to North-east Greenland, 1906-1908, was equally successful 

 with regard to the sanderling, and included a very full account of its 

 activities in the breeding season, in his work 2 on the mammals and 

 birds collected and observed on that expedition. The following is 

 gathered from Herr Manniche's account except when otherwise 

 stated. 



The sanderling arrived in North-east Greenland in company with 

 other Waders, and large flocks of snow-buntings, on June 2, 1907, and 

 May 28, 1908. 3 At first the birds frequented such spots on the marshes 

 and stony places as were free from snow, but as the snow melted 

 forming small ponds, and food became more plentiful, they began to 

 show signs of pairing. Herr Manniche says that they then retired in 

 couples to the dry stony plains, occasionally visiting the fresh-water 

 ponds and lakes to bathe and feed. They were not observed to resort 

 to the salt-water shores. 



1 Macpherson, Fauna of Lakeland, p. 390. 



2 A. L. V. Manniche, The Terrestrial Mammals and Birds of North-East Greenland. 



3 In 1900 and 1901 they arrived in the Taimyr Peninsula on May 28 and June 10 respectively 

 (Ibis, 1904, p. 229). 



