68 WATER BIRDS 



instance in which a bird returned to her eggs across 

 a man's outstretched arms. During migrations the 

 Western Sandpiper rests occasionally for two or three 

 days in one locality. It is less timid than most of its 

 family. : . 



248. SANDERLING. — Calidris leucophaea. 



(Common names : Surf Snipe ; Ruddy Plover ; Beach 



Bird.) 



Family : The Snipes and Sandpipers. 



Length: 7.00-9.00. 



Adults in Summer : Upper- parts mottled white, gray, and black ; darker 



through crown and middle of back ; wing-bar and entire under parts 



white. 

 Adults in Winter: Upper parts ashy gray; bend of wing blackish; 



under parts uniform clear white. 

 Young: Upper parts pale gray, spotted with black and white ; under 



parts white. 

 Geographical Distribution: "Nearly cosmopolitan." In America a 



few winter in Texas and California, and from there southward to 



Patagonia. 

 Breeding Range : Arctic and subarctic regions. 

 Breeding Season: June 15 to July 15. 

 Nest : A slight depression in ground ; lined with grasses. 

 Eggs: 3 or 4 ; greenish buffy, speckled with brown. Size 1.41 X 0.91. 



The Sanderling inhabits the entire American con- 

 tinent, and may be found during spring and fall mi- 

 grations picking up its food on nearly every salt-water 

 beach. It follows closely in the wake of each receding 

 wave, scampering out of the way of the returning water 

 with swiftness and dainty grace. This game of tag with 

 the ocean would seem to be as much for fun as for food, 

 for I have often watched them as they ran back and 

 forth after the waves for several minutes without pick- 



