SANDERLING PLOVER. 



69 



September; continues during the greater part of winter; and on 

 the approach of spring, returns to the northern regions to breed. 

 While here it seems perpetually busy running along the wave-worn 

 strand, following the flux and reflux of the surf, eagerly picking up 

 its food from the sand amid the roar of the ocean. It flies in nu- 

 merous flocks, keeping a low meandering course along the ridges 

 of the tumbling surf. On alighting, the whole scatter about after 

 the receding wave, busily picking up those minute bivalves alrea- 

 dy described. As the succeeding wave returns it bears the whole 

 of them before it in one crowded line; then is the moment seized 

 by the experienced gunner to sweep them in flank with his de- 

 structive shot. The flying survivors, after a few aerial meanders, 

 again alight, and pursue their usual avocation as busily and uncon- 

 cernedly as before. These birds are most numerous on extensive 

 sandy beaches in front of the ocean. Among rocks, marshes, or 

 stones covered with sea weed, they seldom make their appearance. 



The Sanderling is eight inches long, and fourteen inches in 

 extent; the bill is black, an inch and a quarter in length, slender, 

 straight, fluted along the upper mandible, and exactly formed like 

 that of the Sandpiper; the head, neck above, back, scapulars and 

 tertials are grey white; the shafts blackish, and the webs tinged 

 with brownish ash; shoulder of the wing black; greater coverts 

 broadly tipt with white; quills black, crossed with a transverse 

 band of white; the tail extends a little beyond the wings, and is of 

 a greyish ash color, edged with white, the two middle feathers 

 being about half an inch longer than the others; eye dark hazel; 

 whole lower parts of the plumage pure white ; legs and naked part 

 of the thighs black ; feet three-toed, each divided to its origin and 

 bordered with a narrow membrane. 



Such are the most common markings of this bird, both of 

 males and females, particularly during the winter; but many others 

 occur among them, early in the autumn, thickly marked or spotted 

 with black on the crown, back, scapulars and tertials, so as to ap- 



VOL. VII. s 



