'mmmm 



SCOLOPACIDiE — THE SNIPE FAMILY — EREUNETES. 



207 



(111 the side of the head, from the bill across the lores, uiid beneath the eyen over the auriculars ; 

 it'maiudur of tliu head white, streaked, except on the throat (uliere also sometimes finely Hecked) 

 with grayish dusky. Lower juirts pure white, the jugulum and Itreast thickly marked with broad 

 ^'tl^•aks of dusky, these broadest and of tiiuiij,'ular form on llic sides of tlic lueast ; sides marked 

 with sagittate dusky spots. Adult, winter plumuje : Not distinj,'uishable from typical pusilluk in 



E. piisllltts occkleiitalis. 



the same stage, except by greater average length of bill and tarsus. Young: similar to young of 

 E. jiusillus, but with rusty ochraceous prevailing on the dorsal region and pileum. Downy youwj : 

 Similar to the same stage of i?. jntsillus, but the rusty areas of the upper parts more extended and 

 more castaneous. 



Wing, 3.(J0-3.9(» (3.74); culnien, .85-1.15 (.95) ; tarsus, .85-.95 (.89); middle toe, .55-.C5 

 (.60). [Eighteen summer adults measured.] 



The range of individual variation, as regards proportions, is probably greater in this species 

 than in any other liniicoline bird of its size. The length of the bill, in forty-two adult examples 

 measured, varies from .68 of an inch to 1.15 inches, and the wing IVom 3.50 to 4.0<), the other 

 /iiwisurements varying in proportion. The variations are of exactly the .same character as in 

 MiicrorhcDiiphiis grisnun, the sculujjitceus type of the latter corresponding to the occidentalis form of 

 Ercunetes, both being distinguished by a gi'eater average length of bill and tarsus, and an excess 

 of the ferruginous coloring. 



The common Semipalmatecl Sandpiper i,s found nearly or quite tlu'oughout North 

 America. Accepting the form which occurs on the Vacatic coast — called by some 

 writers the occidentalis — as identical with this, we have for the species a very gen- 

 eral distribution. It breeds in the extreme northern portions of the Fur Country ; 

 is abundant, both in the spring and fall migrations, along the sea-coasts, and also tlie 

 banks of rivers and inland lakes. In the winter it is found in the extreme South- 

 western States, in Mexico, Central America, the Bahamas, and some of the West India 

 Islands, and a considerable portion of South America. 



Mr. Salvin mentions that a single bird of this species was shot near Duenas in 

 the month of April, in a flock of Actodromas mamduta, and that afterward he again 

 found this species very common on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. According to 

 Wt'dderburn, it occurs in Iiornuida during its fall migrations; and from the 1st of 

 August to the beginning of Novend)er small flocks are to be seen on most of the 

 sandy bays along the coast. Professor Newton mentions this species as occurring in 

 autumn in St. Croix, frequenting t\\e i)astures in flocks of from ten to twenty. Its 

 first arrival was observed by 3Ir. E. Newton. Leotaud also si)eaks of ib as occurring 

 on the Island of Trinidad, arriving tiu're in July, and leaving in October. It is 

 always seen in flocks, and tliase are sometimes very numerous, not only frequenting 

 the marshy edges of the sea, but quite as commoidy the low damp meadoAvs. Some 

 are said to remain in Trinidad all the year round, and these may be found on the 

 swamp edges of pools from October until July. At this season of the year the 



