SANDERLING. GRALLATORES. ARENARIA. 209 
Charadrius rubidus, Gme/. Syst. 1. 688.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. 2. 740. sp. 2. 
—Wils. Amer. Ornith. 7. 129. pl. 63. fig. 3. 
Ruddy Plover, Penn. Arct. Zool. 2. 404.—Lath. Syn. 5. 195. 2.— Wils. 
Amer. Ornith. 7. 129. pl. 63. fig. 3. 
ProvinciaL,—Curwillet, Towilly. 
Tuts active little bird is a visitant to our shores during 
the winter season, being one of the various species whose 
polar migration extends far within the arctic circle. Its re- 
sidence in those dreary northern climes appears, however, to 
be confined to little beyond the time necessarily occupied by 
the duties attendant on reproduction, as it is seen on our 
coast sometimes as early as the month of August, at which 
time I have killed several individuals upon the Northum- 
brian strand. These have generally been the young of the 
year, and are probably stragglers from flocks of the earliest 
8 
broods, whose destination is pointed to more southern lati- 
tudes; as the great body, that resorts to our shores, and 
those of the opposite continent, seldom arrives before the 
middle of September. Upon their first appearance, we find 
few of them possessing the complete winter plumage, bearing 
still strong indications of their summer clothing, varied, of 
course, according to the advance in winter dress of each in- 
dividual, and presenting much diversity of appearance. The 
change, however, goes rapidly on, and, in October, they are 
perfectly clad in the plain garb that distinguishes them till 
the approach of spring, when it gives place to a gayer and 
more attractive suit, appropriately styled by Trmmtncx, 
** Plumage des Noces.” ‘This bird lives on the sandy shores 
of the ocean, but does not frequent those of an oozy or slimy 
nature; in habits it strongly resembles the smaller species of 
Charadrius, and sometimes associates with Charadrius hia- 
ticula. It runs very swiftly, and its flight is strong and ra- 
pid. It feeds on the smaller marine coleopterous insects and 
minute worms and larvee, which it finds on the beach. The 
distribution of the species, during its migrations, is widely 
spread, as it has been met with throughout the greater part 
VOL. I. Oo 
Summer 
Plumage. 
Periodical 
visitant. 
Food. * - 
