THE SANDERLING. 135 



plumage, and the continuous whistling cry uttered during 

 flight. 



The Sanderling breeds in the far north, and in much 

 higher latitudes than any part of Great Britain. The coasts 

 of Hudson's Bay, Greenland, and Labrador have been 

 mentioned by naturalists as amongst the favourite breeding- 

 places of this bird. Captain Fielden found a Sanderling's 

 nest in the month of June, 1876, on the shores of the 

 Frozen Ocean; this nest contained two eggs, and as the 

 male bird was killed at the nest, it would appear that 

 both sexes assist in the process of incubation. 



The nest is placed on the ground, and is somewhat 

 roughly built of dried grass ; the eggs number about four, 

 and are of a dusky colour, spotted with black, most of the 

 markings being on the larger end. 



Only one brood appears to be reared during the 

 year, but this is not absolutely certain. 



In summer the male Sanderling has the beak black ; 

 irides brown ; feathers on the top of the head and back of 

 the neck black in the centre, with a rufous edging; back 

 and rump black ; wings blackish, with markings of red- 

 dish-grey and greyish- white ; chin, throat, sides of the 

 neck, and upper part of the breast covered with small spots 

 of rufous and black on a white ground ; the whole under- 

 surface of the body is pure white; tail greyish-black in 

 centre, and the outer feathers greyish- white ; legs, toes, 

 and claws black. 



In winter the bird is much lighter in appearance ; the 

 plumage of all the upper parts is a very light ash-grey, 

 with a dark streak in the centre of each feather ; the tail is 

 ash-colour, edged with white ; chin, throat, and remaining 

 portions the same as in summer. 



