SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 277 



small lanceolate central brownish-black spots; the rest of the lower parts 

 white. 



Length to end of tail 7^ inches, to end of wings l^- s , to end of claws l-i^'i 

 extent of wings 14f, bill along the back y|, along the edge of lower mandi- 

 ble |£; wing from flexure 4y| ; tail 2^', tarsus T £; middle toe -ff, its claw T 2 ^. 



Adult Female in winter. 



The female is similar to the male, but a little smaller. 



In some individuals, about six of the middle tail-coverts are black, the 

 lateral barred with white and dusky. 



SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 



— Tbinga semipalmata, Wils. 

 PLATE CCCXXX VI.— Adult. 



This species enters the Texas early in April, in great numbers, although 

 in small parties, some composed of young, others of old birds, and not unfre- 

 quently accompanied by other species. At this season it moves northward 

 with celerity, both along the shores of the sea and those of some of our larger 

 streams, by routes which they also follow in their retrograde migration at 

 the approach of winter. Many, however, remain in the southern parts of 

 the United States all summer, and I have seen numbers of them on the coasts, 

 as well as on the Keys of Florida. There being a very remarkable difference 

 of size in individuals of the same sex, and still more between males and fe- 

 males, the latter being the larger, I was induced to compare a great number 

 of them, and in consequence have concluded that the difference depends on 

 age, for the young of either sex are generally pretty similar as to the length 

 of the bill and legs, during their first autumn and winter. In Labrador I 

 shot a whole brood when just able to fly, together with several old birds, 

 which kept apart. Among the latter I found differences as to size and pro- 

 portions enough to induce persons having nothing better than skins, to ima- 

 gine that several species might be made out of them. 



About the period when these birds prepare to return southward, they con- 

 gregate in large flocks, the young separate from the old. In Labrador this 



Vol. V, 39 



