BAY SNIPE. 



31 



inch and one-eighth ; length of tarsi one inch ; hind toe want- 

 ing. Adult with bill straight, about as long as the head. Spring 

 plumage, upper parts, with the throat, fore-neck and upper part 

 of the breast rufous, intermixed with dusky and grayish-white, 

 deeper red on the back ; lower part of the breast, abdomen, 

 and sides of the body pure white ; tarsi and feet black ; claws 

 small, compressed ; primaries, outer webs black, inner webs 

 light-brown ; shafts brown at the base, tips black, rest pure 

 whi e ; secondaries light-brown, broadly margined with white. 

 Winter dress, lower parts white ; upper parts grayish-white, 

 intermixed with black or dusky, darkest on the back. Length 

 seven inches and three-quaiters, wing four and seven-eighths. 



" The Sanderlmg is said to be an inhabitant of both Europe 

 and America. According to Latham, it is known to be an in- 

 habitant of the remote coasts of Australia, and is found on the 

 shores of Lake Baikal in Siberia. To the coast of the United 

 States it is one of the most common species, but with us I have 

 never observed very large numbers during spring. About the 

 middle of August it arrives in flocks on the shores of Long Is- 

 land, and usually by the first of September is very abundant. 



' Sometimes it is seen occupying, with other small species of 

 Sandpipers, the shoals and mud-flats that occur in the shallow 

 part of the bay, though generally it seems to prefer the more 

 immediate borders of the ocean. I have rarely, during the 

 early part of autumn, visited the surf without meeting with large 

 groups of Sanderlings collected along the beach, of which they 

 have almost entire possession, as most of our shore birds find 

 more productive feeding-grounds on the richer soil that is daily 

 oversown by our inland bay. 



" The Sanderling is of a sociable disposition, and searches for 

 food in company, and is observed probing the sand for small 

 bivalve shells and marine worms — to which article of diet, how- 

 ever, it is not altogether confined, as at times it is seen attending 

 the retiring wave, which furnishes it with shrimps and the like. 

 " When feeding along the extreme verge of the ocean, it is 

 pleasing to watch its active movements, when advancing or re- 



