Birds qp Indiana. 715 



50. Gekus EREUNETES Illiskr. 



98. (246). Ereunetes pusillus (Li.\n.). 



Semipalmated Sandpiper. 



Adult in Summer. — Above, variegated with black, bay and ashy 

 ■or white, each feather with a black field, reddish edge and whitish tip; 

 rump and upper tail coverts, except the lateral ones, blackish; tail 

 feathers, ashy-gray, the central darker; primaries, dusky, the shaft of 

 the first, white; a dusky line from the bill to the eye, and a white 

 superciliary line; below, pure white, usually rufescent on the breast, 

 and with more or less dusky speckling on the throat, breast and sides; 

 in young birds, usually wanting; in winter the upper parts mostly 

 plain ashy-gray; but in any plumage or under any variation the spe- 

 cies is known by its small size and semipalmated feet. 



Length, 5.35-6.75; wing, 3.65-3.90 (in male); wing, 3.85-4.00 (in 

 iemale); bill, .68-.75 (.73) in male; bill, .80-.98 (.84) in female. 



Eange. — America, from Brazil, north to Arctic coast. Breeds from 

 Labrador and Hudson Bay northward. Winters from Gulf coast 

 southward. 



Nest, slight hollow in ground, lined with grass. Eggs, 3-4; pale, 

 dull, grayish-buff, speckled or spotted with dark brown and purplish- 

 gray; 1.21 by .85. 



Migrant; generally uncommon, but often common and perhaps sum- 

 mer resident in vicinity of Lake Michigan, and more numerous in 

 spring than the Least Sandpiper, with which it is often found. In 

 spring they have been noted from the latter part of April into the 

 beginning of June. It is most numerous in May. Prof. Evermann 

 noted it in Carroll County, April 24, 18,84, and April 21, 1885. Mr. 

 J. 0. Dunn found it common in Cook County, Illinois, June 9, 1894, 

 and obtained six specimens. Mr. Nelson notes that "many remain 

 through summer. From repeated dissections, I am confident that 

 these are barren birds, and probably, as Mr. Maynard suggests, young 

 of the preceding year" (Birds of Northeastern Illinois, pp. 136, 137). 

 Mr. Dunn has also taken it thefce July 37, 1893, still in summer plum- 

 age. And Mr. Parker reports it July 17 and July 26, 1893. 



This is another instance of the unusually early migration of such 

 species that year. Usually they do not appear until after the middle 

 ■of August and remain into September, occasionally to October. Mr. 

 Parker noted it August 19, 1896, in Cook County, Illinois, and August 

 24, 1896, at Miller's, Ind. 



Mr. V. H. Bamett took a specimen in Vermillion County, Indiana, 

 August 30 and 31, 1897. Messrs. L. A. and C. D. Test found it near 



