THE SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 513 



us for the study of water- and shore-birds. It is annoying to find our favorite 

 beach prostituted to the purposes of the average "summer resort," and our 

 favorite swamp domesticated into a corn-field. The ornithological pessimist 

 may raise his voice here, and there shall be none to rebuke him. At the same 

 time it is instructive to note the efforts made by the birds to adjust themselves 

 to the changed conditions, and to see how bravely they will venture into the 

 old haunts. It was in a riverside swamp in the city of Lorain that I once 

 saw a little group of Red-backed Sandpipers. The tiny stretch of bog-water 

 and sedge was completely engirdled by railroads, and the air was filled with 

 the jargon of strange tongues, and the attendant din and roar of the ore- 

 handling trade; yet on the 25th day of July, 1898, in the muddy heart of 

 this tiny oasis, five "Dunlins" and a half dozen "Peeps" paused to rest and 

 spend the day, undisturbed save for the harmless inquisitiveness of the bird- 

 man. It is thus for the most part that some thirty species of shore-birds accept 

 our waning but ungrudged hospitality, and pass unhindered to those distant 

 bournes appointed them by the Father's will. 



No. 237. 



SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 



A. O. U. No. 246. Ereunetes pusillus (Linn.). 



Synonyms. PEEP; SAND-PEEP; OX-EYE. 



Description. Adult in summer: Above blackish or fuscous, with much 

 brownish gray and some whitish or pale rusty edging; darker on crown and back, 

 lighter on neck and wings ; tips of greater coverts white, rump grayish brown ; 

 upper tail-coverts and central tail-feathers dusky; remaining tail-feathers ashy 

 gray ; a white superciliary line, and a dusky line from bill to eye ; under parts white, 

 except across breast, where tinged with brownish gray, and distinctly streaked 

 with dusky brown; bill and feet dark brown. Adult in unnter: Above plain, 

 brownish gray, with darker shaft-streaks or central areas ; below pure white, 

 marked, if at all, with faint streaks on sides of breast. Immature: Similar to 

 adult in summer, but feathers of back and scapulars rounded, and with conspicuous 

 edgings of pale rufous and white; breast tinged with buff, and faintly streaked on 

 sides only. Length 5.50-6.75 (139.7-171.5); av. of seven Columbus specimens: 

 wing 3.67 (93.2) ; tail 1.60 (40.6) ; bill .80 (20.3) ; tarsus .82 (20.8). 



Recognition Marks. Sparrow size. A little larger than Actodromas minu- 

 tilla, with which alone it could be confused. Distinguished by longer, stouter bill, 

 somewhat lighter coloration of back, clearer white below, with streaked area of 

 breast not so extensive. Partial webbing of feet distinctive. 



Nesting. Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, on the ground, a slight depres- 

 sion, scantily lined with grass. Eggs, 3 or 4, grayish buff, greenish drab, or olive, 

 finely speckled or spotted with dark brown or obscure lilac. Av. size, 1.23 x .85 

 (31.2 x 21.6). 



