HERON SANDPIPER. 355 



CHARADRIUS Semipalmatus, (Bon.) The semipalmated 

 ring plover breeds far north, being seen often in the icy re- 

 gions of Greenland. It is a small species, but much esteemed 

 as game, being well flavored, and generally fat. It passes 

 along the mountain in April north, returning south in 

 September. 



HERONS. 



ARDEA Herodius, (Linn.) Great blue heron. The great 

 heron is occasionally seen on the mountain, but is rare. It 

 is a traveler, and only seems to alight in the swampy spots 

 and around the rnill-dams for temporary repose or food. It 

 is a large bird, being four feet six inches in length, and is 

 quite an imposing form, either on the wing or wading in the 

 swamps, and are voracious and stupid, feeding on reptiles 

 and fish. 



ARDEA Yirescens, (Linn.) Green bittern. This is the 

 most common species in the United States. It comes to 

 Pennsylvania early in April and leaves in October. Range, 

 from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, visiting Hayti and 

 Jamaica. It is an abundant species on the mountain along 

 all the streams and marshy places. 



SANDPIPERS. 



(Tringa, Briss.) 



These are wandering and gregarious birds, frequenting 

 marshes, rivers, lakes, and living on larvae, worms, insects, 

 small shell-fish, etc. They migrate in mixed crowds, breed 

 generally in the north, are wild in their habits, and found in 

 every part of the world. 



TRINGA Alpina, (Linn.) Dunlin, red-backed sandpiper. 

 The Dunlin has a wide range, even the northern hemisphere. 

 It penetrates the arctic circle, and breeds, according to the 

 ornithologists, " on the wintry shores of Melville Pen- 

 insula." It is thus a regular hyperborean, only stopping 



