110 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 



edge of lower mandible li| ; wing from flexure 5A ; tarsus 1|| ; hind 

 toe and claw |^ ; second toe to the end of the claw Its i third toe 2 ; 

 fourth toe 2^. 



Young in autumn, Plate CCCCIV. Fig. 2. 



In this state the tufts of the head are not developed, and the fea- 

 thers of the neck are softer. The bill is greyish-blue, dusky above ; 

 the feet as in the adult. The upper parts are brownish-black, the 

 neck tinged with grey behind ; the secondary quills are white ; the 

 throat and a broad band, curving beneath the ear so as almost to meet 

 the other on the nape, greyish- white ; the neck brownish-grey all round 

 at its upper part ; the lower parts silvery-white, the sides of the body 

 and rump tinged with dusky grey. 



SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 



TrINGA SEMIPALMATA, WiLS. 

 PLATE CCCCV. Adult. 



This species enters the Texas early in April, in great numbers, 

 although in small parties, some composed of young, others of old birds, 

 and not unfrequently accompanied by Tringa pusilla, Charadrius semi- 

 palmatus, Ch. melodus, and Ch. Wilsonii. At this season it moves north- 

 ward with celerity, both along the shores of the sea and those of some 

 of our larger streams, by routes which they also follow in their retro- 

 grade migration at the approach of winter. Many, however, remain in 

 the southern parts of the United States all summer, and I have seen 

 numbers of them on the coasts, as well as on the Keys of Florida. 

 There being a very remarkable difference of size in individuals of the 

 same sex, and still more between males and females, the latter being 

 the larger, I was induced to compare a great number of them, and in 

 consequence have concluded that the difference depends on age, for the 

 young of either sex are generally pretty similar as to the length of the 

 bill and legs, during their first autumn and winter. In Labrador I 

 shot a whole brood when just able to fly, together with several old 

 birds, which kept apart. Among the latter I found differences as to 



