2 1 2 SCOLOPACID^ : SNIPE, ETC. 



Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., xix, 1877, pp. 252-256), in 

 which the carefully adduced evidence sustains the 

 contrary of the proposition sought to be maintained. 

 In any event, we have laid before him the evidence 

 upon which he can form his own conclusions, perhaps 

 with needless prolixity. Thus, for example, the species 

 is omitted in Chadbourne's " Rarer Birds of Massachu- 

 setts," as too common to require comment (Quart. 

 Journ. Bost. Zool. Soc, i, 1882, p. 4). We may finish 

 with the remark upon the bird's general habitat made by 

 Coues in the " Key to North American Birds " : " North 

 America, generally dispersed but apparently not very 

 common anywhere ; West Indies, in winter ; U. S. during 

 the migrations ; breeds in high latitudes." The habits 

 are much like those of Macrorhamphus. 



SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 



Ereunetes pusillus (Z.) Cass. 



Chars. Feet semipalmate, with two evident webs. Bill, tarsus, 

 and middle toe with its daw of approximately equal lengths, an 

 inch or less long, but bill apt to be shorter, even down to 0.75 or 

 0.67. Length, 5.50-6.50; extent, 11.75; wing, 3.25-3.75; tail, 

 2.00, doubly emarginate, the central feathers projecting. Adult 

 in summer : upper parts variegated with black, bay, and ashy or 

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

 rump and most upper tail-coverts blackish. Tail ashy, the cen- 

 tral feathers darker ; primaries dusky, the shaft of the first white. 

 A dusky line from bill to eye, and white superciliary line. 

 Below, white, usually rufescent on the breast, with dusky speck- 

 ling on the throat, breast, and sides. In winter the upper parts 

 mostly plain ashy-gray. Young in July and August has scarcely 

 any traces of spots beneath, being then almost entirely white, 

 with a wash of buff across the breast. 



