SCOLOPACIDiE — THE SNIPE FAMILY — EREUNETES. 
207 
on the side of the head, from the bill across the lores, and beneath the eyes over the auriculars ; 
remainder of the head white, streaked, except on the throat (where also sometimes finely flecked) 
with grayish dusky. Lower parts pure white, the jugulum and breast thickly marked with broad 
streaks of dusky, these broadest and of triangular form on the sides of the breast ; sides marked 
with sagittate dusky spots. Adult, winter plumage : Not distinguishable from typical pusillus in 
E. pusillus occidentalis. 
the same stage, except by greater average length of bill and tarsus. Young : similar to young of 
E. pusillus, but with rusty ochraceous prevailing on the dorsal region and pileum. Downy young : 
Similar to the same stage of E. pusillus, but the rusty areas of the upper parts more extended and 
more castaneous. 
Wing, 3.60-3.90 (3.74); culmen, .85-1.15 (.95) ; tarsus, .85-. 95 (.89); middle toe, .55-65 
(.60). [Eighteen summer adults measured.] 
The range of individual variation, as regards proportions, is probably greater in this species 
than in any other limicoline bird of its size. The length of the bill, in forty-two adult examples 
measured, varies from .68 of an inch to 1.15 inches, and the wing from 3.50 to 4.00, the other 
measurements varying in proportion. The variations are of exactly the same character as in 
Macrorhamphus griseus, the scolopaceus type of the latter corresponding to the occidentalis form of 
Ereunetes, both being distinguished by a greater average length of bill and tarsus, and an excess 
of the ferruginous coloring. 
The common Semipalmated Sandpiper is found nearly or quite throughout North 
America. Accepting the form which occurs on the Pacific coast — called by some 
writers the occidentalis — as identical with this, we have for the species a very gen- 
eral distribution. It breeds in the extreme northern portions of the Pur Country ; 
is abundant, both in the spring and fall migrations, along the sea-coasts, and also the 
banks of rivers and inland lakes. In the winter it is found in the extreme South- 
western States, in Mexico, Central America, the Bahamas, and some of the West India 
Islands, and a considerable portion of South America. 
Mr. Salvin mentions that a single bird of this species was shot near Duenas in 
the month of April, in a flock of Actodromas maculata, and that afterward he again 
found this species very common on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. According to 
Wedderburn, it occurs in Bermuda during its fall migrations ; and from the 1st of 
August to the beginning of November small flocks are to be seen on most of the 
sandy bays along the coast. Professor Newton mentions this species as occurring in 
autumn in St. Croix, frequenting the pastures in flocks of from ten to twenty. Its 
first arrival was observed by Mr. E. Newton. Leotaud also speaks of it as occurring 
on the Island of Trinidad, arriving there in July, and leaving in October. It is 
always seen in flocks, and these are sometimes very numerous, not only frequenting 
the marshy edges of the sea, but quite as commonly the low damp meadows. Some 
are said to remain in Trinidad all the year round, and these may be found on the 
swampy edges of pools from October until July. At this season of the year the 
