THE SANDERLING. 



(Calidris arenaria.) 



By the beach border, where the breeze 

 Comes freighted from the briny seas, 

 By sandy bar and weedy rock 

 I frequent meet thy roving flock; 

 Now hovering o'er the bending sedge, 

 Nor gather'd at the ocean edge; 

 Probing the sand for shrimps and shells, 

 Or worms marine in hidden cells. 



— Isaac McClellan. 



This little shore or beach bird is some- 

 times called the White or Surf Snipe, and 

 the Ruddy Plover. It breeds only in the 

 colder portions of the northern hemis- 

 phere and migrates southward, even be- 

 yond the equator where it makes its home 

 during the winter months. It frequents 

 chiefly those regions near the surf-beaten 

 shores of the oceans. It is also a com- 

 mon visitor to the beaches of larger in- 

 land waters. On these shores its beautiful 

 form and habits are very noticeable. It 

 walks and runs in a dignified and grace- 

 ful manner as it chases the receding wa- 

 ter searching for its food. 



The pure white of the plumage of the 

 under parts of the bird is a striking char- 

 acteristic as they reflect the sunlight dur- 

 ing flight. It is a silent bird and it some- 

 times appears alone, though it is usually 

 seen in flocks and is frequently associated 

 with other species of the snipe family. 

 Regarding its habits, some one has said : 

 "When feeding along the extreme verge 

 of the ocean it is pleasant to watch its 

 active movements when advancing or re- 

 treating with the influx of the sea. It is 

 naturally very unwary and regards man 

 with less suspicion than most of our 

 snipes. When a flock is fired into, those 

 which survive rise with a low whistling- 

 note, perform a few evolutions and pres- 

 ently resume their occupation with as 

 much confidence as previously exhibited." 



The feet of the Sanderling are unlike 

 the other members of its family, being 

 without a fourth toe, entirely divided and 



without a membrane. This indicates that 

 it frequents firm surfaces and that it is 

 fitted for running and walking upon the 

 long, shelving beaches over which the 

 tides and surf roll, leaving an abundance 

 of its particular food. 



The nest of the Sanderling, rudely 

 constructed of dried grass and decayed 

 leaves, is placed in a depression in the 

 ground so situated as to be protected by 

 the natural vegetation of the region. The 

 eggs, usually three or four in number, 

 have an ashy or greenish brown ground 

 color and are finely spotted with different 

 shades of brown. 



The food of the Sanderling consists 

 mainly of sea worms, small bivalve shells 

 and crustaceans, though it will also eat 

 buds and insects. It would seem as if its 

 hunger was never satiated — always busy,, 

 always moving. These expressions de- 

 scribe its habits, as with its fellows and 

 the other snipes .with which it associates, 

 it seeks its food in the wake of the retreat- 

 ing wave and turning, runs before the in- 

 coming water which seldom engulfs it. 



For those who are so fortunate as to be 

 located near the feeding grounds there 

 can be no more interesting recreation than 

 to sit on the beach and watch the peculiar 

 antics of these delicate creatures. Fre- 

 quently, without an apparent reason an 

 entire flock will rise as if in answer to a 

 signal and, after executing a few turns 

 alight, and again resume the occupation it 

 had left. 



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