168 SANDERLING PLOVER. 



now about to describe would have undoubtedly been classed 

 with the Sandpipers.* 



The history of this species has little in it to excite our inte- 

 rest or attention. It makes its appearance on our seacoasts ear- 

 ly in September; continues during the greater part of winter; 

 and on the approach of spring, returns to the northern regions 

 to breed. While here, it seems perpetually busy, running along 

 the wave-worn strand, following the flux and reflux of the surf, 

 eagerly picking up its food from the sand, amid the roar of the 

 ocean. It flies in numerous flocks, keeping a low meandering 

 course along the ridges of the tumbling surf. On alighting, the 

 whole scatter about after the receding wave, busily picking up 

 those minute bivalves already described. As the succeeding 

 wave returns, it bears the whole of them before it in one crowd- 

 ed line; then is the moment siezed by the experienced gunner 

 to sweep them in flank, with his destructive shot. The flying 

 survivors, after a few aerial meanders, again alight, and pursue 

 their usual avocation, as busily and unconcernedly as before. 

 These birds are most numerous on extensive sandy beaches in 

 front of the ocean. Among rocks, marshes, or stones covered 

 with sea-weed, they seldom make their appearance. 



The Sanderling is eight inches long, and fourteen inches in 

 extent; the bill is black, an inch and a quarter in length, slender, 

 straight, fluted along the upper mandible, and exactly formed 

 like that of the Sandpiper; the head, neck above, back, scapu- 

 lars and tertials, are gray white; the shafts blackish, and the webs 

 tinged with brownish ash; shoulder of the wing black; greater 

 coverts broadly tipt with white; quills black, crossed with a 

 transverse band of white ; the tail extends a little beyond the 

 wings, and is of a grayish ash colour, edged with white, the two 

 middle feathers being about half an inch longer than the others; 

 eye dark hazel; whole lower parts of the plumage pure white; 



* It is now arranged by naturalists in the genus Calidris, of Illiger; a genus 

 constructed expressly for this bird; and it is the only species of the genus 

 yet discovered. 



