242 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



intimately associate, either while feeding or in flight. The stomach 

 was crammed with small beetles and gravel. I observed another 

 example on the 29th August by a tank, thus proving that the 

 species is a rare visitor to the district at both seasons of migration. 



Ereunetes pusillus (Linn.) Semipalmaied Sandpiper. — An 

 autumn migrant in considerable numbers, frequenting the mar- 

 gins of prairie tanks during August and the early part of the 

 succeeding month in company with Actodrorjias minutilla and 

 Totanus fiavipes, from the former of which, however, it is easily 

 distinguishable, even in flight, looking both larger and lighter- 

 coloured than that species. Their food consists of small insects, 

 in search of which they wade out far into the water, frequently 

 out of their depth, in which case they swim well and strongly. 

 The great diversity in the ' length of the bill, which ranges 

 between 0*68 and 0"92, struck me as remarkable in this species, 

 even among waders. 



Totanus melanoletjcus (Gmel.) Tell-tale. — A common 

 migrant in our section, passing northward during the latter half 

 of March and early part of April, when they are met with singly 

 about the edges of prairie pools and creeks, but during the last 

 week of September and October large flocks appear in suitable 

 places, where, however, they only remain one day, even when 

 unmolested, passing on during the following night, this migration 

 being performed much more rapidly and regularly than the 

 spring passage. They are most expressively called "Tilt-up" here, 

 from their habit of rocking the body forwards when seated. 



Totanus flavipes (Gmel.) Yellow-legs. — During August and 

 September these birds pass in large numbers, but, unlike their 

 larger congener, they appear to be in no way hurried at this 

 season, frequently remaining about a suitable tank or pool for 

 several days, besides which they are almost invariably found 

 singly or in pairs, though usually consorting with other species ; 

 indeed I only saw more than two in company on one occasion, 

 when a flock of about fifty rested for a day by our tank. They 

 are the most utterly unsuspicious birds I ever met with — so 

 much so that I have often shot one of a pair, and its companion 

 has continued to feed beside it, perfectly unconcerned at the 

 noise of the report or the death of its mate. Theii' food chiefly 

 consists of water beetles and their larvse. 



