SANDPIPERS 103 



WESTERN SANDPIPER: Ereunetes mmri Cabanis. 



State records. — The western sandpiper is known in Ala- 

 bama only from the coast region, where it occurs as a migrant 

 and winter resident from July to the middle of February and 

 probably later. It is found in company with the semi- 

 palmated, and, judging from the number of specimens taken, 

 seems to be more common than that bird. J. S. Outsell found 

 the western sandpiper fairly common at Bayou Labatre and 

 on Dauphin and Petit Bois Islands from July 22 to September 

 1, 1911, six specimens having been taken during that period. 

 He collected another at Perdido Bay, September 15. On 

 Dauphin Island, February 13, 1912, I found this sandpiper 

 common, and on July 5, 1913, saw several small flocks and 

 collected two specimens there. 



General habits. — This is the western representative of the 

 semipalmated sandpiper, from which it differs in having a 

 longer bill and redder back. In habits the two are practically 

 alike, and are often found associated. 



Food habits. — Six stomachs of this bird collected in Ala- 

 bama showed its food to be minute fly larvae, aquatic beetles 

 and bugs, marine worms, and small snails. 



SANDERLINO: Crocethia alba (Pallas).* 



State records. — The sanderling, or "beach snipe" as it is 

 sometimes called, is a common inhabitant of the coast beaches 

 during a large part of the year. It is found on the Gulf coast 

 from late July till the following May, and a few may even 

 linger into June. Small flocks were observed in January, 

 1912, near the mouth of Perdido Bay and in February on 

 Petit Bois and Dauphin Islands; one was seen also on Petit 

 Bois, November 25, 1915, and two on Coffee Island, November 

 20, 1915. Specimens were taken by Outsell on the Islands, 

 July 27 and August 29, 1911; by Holt, July 28, 1913; and by 

 Avery, September 21, 1892. Peters saw five on Dauphin 

 Island, June 3, 1914. 



General habits. — This little sandpiper is a true beach bird, 

 feeding in small or medium-sized flocks along the shores, fol- 



*CaUdri« Icocophaeii of the A. O. U. Check-list; for change of name see The Auk, 

 vol. 87, p. 443, 1920. 



