416 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
Spring and autumn visitant. In spring from May 1 to 15; in fall 
from August 25 to October. In habits very similar to preceding. 
172. Ereunetes pusillus , (Linn.,) Cass. — Semipalmated Sandpiper. 
Rare; perhaps accidental; occasionally met with in spring and fall 
along the banks of the river. [Possibly a second species, ( Ereunetes 
minor , Gundl.)] 
173. Symphemia semipalmata, (Gm.,)Hartl. — Willet. Rare; spring 
and autumn visitant. 
174. Gambetta melanoleuca , (6m.,) Bon; — Greater Tell-tale Tatler. 
“Yellow- shanks Plover.” Spring and autumn visitant. Common. 
In spring, from May 1 to 15; in autumn, middle of September to 
November. Generally seen singly or two or three together. Banks 
of the rivers, boggy meadows, commons intersected with pools, Ac. 
175. Gambetta flavipes, (Gm.,)Bon. — Lesser Tell-tale Tatler. “Yel- 
low-shanks Plover.” Identical in times of appearance and in habits 
with preceding. 
176. Rhyacophilus solitarius , Wils. — Solitary Tatler. Spring and 
autumn visitant; very abundant, especially in spring. May 1 to 
15, and August 25 to October 15. Very familiar and unsuspicious; 
decidedly gregarious, both in spring and fall. Frequents ditches 
and puddles, in low, boggy commons, Ac. 
177. Tringoides macularius , (Linn.,) Gray. — Spotted Sandpiper. 
“Sand Snipe.” Summer resident; very abundant in spring. The 
only sandpiper that breeds. Arrives April 20 and remains through 
greater part of September. Found chiefly on Rock creek and banks 
of the river. 
178. Actiturus bartramius, (Wils.,) Bon. — Bartram 7 s Tatler. Grass 
Plover. Field Plover. Summer resident; rare. Found altogether 
on high, open fields and ploughed lands. 
179. Numenius longirostris , Wils. — Long-billed Curlew. Not un- 
common. Spring and autumn visitant; remaining a very short time 
at each season. In fall, about the middle of September. Found in 
places similar to those which the Yellow-legs frequent. 
180. Rallus elegans , Aud. — Fresh-water Marsh-hen. “King Orto- 
lan. 77 Found sparingly in early autumn in the marshes along the 
rivers, with the P. Carolina. 
181. Rallus virginianus, (Linn.) — Virginia Rail. Spring and autumn 
visitant. Yery rare in the spring, and not abundant in the fall. Ar- 
rives in fall the last week in August; departs about the same time; 
with the P. Carolina. 
182. Porzana Carolina , Vieill. — Common Rail. Sora. Ortolan., 
Spring and autumn visitant. Rare in spring, but very abundant in 
fall from the last week in August until the first frost. Found ex- 
clusively in the marshes bordering the Potomac and Eastern Branch., 
[ Porzana noveboracensis , though not detected, is undoubtedly an 
inhabitant of the District.] 
183. Porzana jamaicensis. — Black Rail. Yery rare, perhaps only 
accidental, during the early fall. (Specimen seen by ourselves Sep- 
tember, 1861.) 
184. Fulica americana , Gm.— Coot. 
“Crow Duck. 77 Spring and 
