278 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 



takes place from the beginning to the middle of August. There I found this 

 species dispersed in pairs, and having nests, early in June; but all our en- 

 deavours to procure any were fruitless, so cunningly had they disposed of 

 them, and so effectually did they mislead us by squatting on the moss for 

 several minutes at a time, as if sitting on their eggs. On our approaching 

 them on such occasions, they would run or fly off to a short distance, in va- 

 rious directions, and renew their wiles. 



I have often seen considerable flocks of this species along the shores of the 

 Ohio and Mississippi during autumn, and have reason to believe that some 

 are also to be found then on the Missouri. At this season, when they feed 

 on fresh-water insects, worms, and small coleoptera, they are very fat, and 

 afford excellent eating; which is rarely the case when they are along the sea- 

 shores, as their food then consists of small shell-fish and marine insects, for 

 which they are often seen probing the sands in the manner of Curlews. 

 They are active, quarrelsome, and impatient, moving from one spot to an- 

 other unexpectedly, and perhaps returning to the same place a few minutes 

 after. On taking wing, they utter their tiveet tweet simultaneously, and 

 whilst on the ground emit murmuring sounds peculiar to themselves. Their 

 flight is swift and well-sustained, and when alarmed, or previous to alighting, 

 their evolutions through the air are very pleasing to the beholder. 



Semipalmated Sandpiper, Tringa semipalmata, Wils. Araer. Orn., vol. vii. p. 131. 



Tringa semipalmata, Bonap. Syn., p. 316. 



Semipalmated Sandpiper, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 136. 



Semipalmated Sandpiper, Tringa semipalmata, Aud. Orn. Biog - ., vol. v. p. 110. 



Adult, 6f, 12|. 



Exceedingly abundant from Texas to Maine, in winter, spring, and autumn. 

 Breeds from Labrador northward. Columbia river. Migratory. 



Bill as long as the head, slender, straight, compressed, tapering from the 

 base to near the point, which is slightly swelled, but with the tip rather 

 acute. Upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the ridge narrow and 

 convex, a little broader and flattened towards the end, the sides sloping, with 

 the nasal groove extending to near its tip; lower mandible with the angle 

 very long and narrow, the outline straight, towards the end slightly decli- 

 nate, the sides sloping a little outwards, with a groove extending to near the 

 tip, which is a little widened and rather obtuse. 



Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. Neck rather short. Body 

 compact, ovate. Feet of moderate length and slender; tibia bare a fourth of 

 its length; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, scutellate before and be- 

 hind, so as to leave scarcely any intermediate space; hind toe very short and 

 extremely slender; anterior toes rather long, slender, connected by webs, of 



