BIRDS FOUND ALONG THE BEACHES 67 



in the winter, and is found in the interior in spring and 

 fall. Early in May it leaves for its breeding grounds 

 in the arctic regions, returning in October. It is seen 

 usually in large flocks, and, being less active than most 

 shore birds, is oftener a victim to the surf of the winter 

 storms. Walking along the beach after a blustering 

 night or day, one occasionally may find the lifeless 

 bodies of these little birds half buried in the sand, not 

 in the same numbers as the more venturesome waders, 

 but enough to sadden a morning tramp. 



247. WESTERN SANDFIFER. — Ereunetes mauri. 



Family : The Snipes and Sandpipers. 



Length : 7.00 or 8.00. 



Adults in Summer: Upper parts black or dusky, conspicuously mottled 



with buffy and red-brown ; breast and sides streaked with blackish ; 



rest of under parts white. 

 Adults in Winter : Upper parts dull brownish gray, indistinctly streaked 



with dusky ; under parts white, with faint dusky spots on breast and 

 , sides. 

 Downy Toung: Upper parts bright rusty buff, spotted with black ; a 



black line through crown and middle of back ; hair-like feathers 



among the down, tipped with yellow ; under parts cream-white. 

 Geographical Distribution : "Western North America ; south in winter to 



Central America. 

 Breeding Range ; Alaska and British America. 

 Breeding Season: June 1 to July 1. 



Nest : A hollow in the grqund, with scauty lining of grasses. 

 Eggs: 4 ; clay-colored, thickly speckled with reddish brown. Size 



1.20 X 0.87. 



The Western Sandpiper is abundant on the Pacific 

 coast during the spring and fall migrations. In its 

 nesting grounds it is said by Mr. Nelson to be fearless, 

 and conspicuously devoted to its young. He gives an 



