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SANDERLING PLOVER. 
now about to describe would have undoubtedly been classed 
with the Sandpipers.* 
The history of this species has little in it to excite our inte- 
rest or attention. It makes its appearance on our seacoasts ear- 
ly in 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 numerous 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 already described. As the succeeding 
wave returns, it bears the whole of them before it in one crowd- 
ed line; then is the moment siezed by the experienced gunner 
to sweep them in flank, with his destructive shot. The flying 
survivors, after a few aerial meanders, again alight, and pursue 
their usual avocation, as busily and unconcernedly 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, scapu- 
lars and tertials, are gray 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 grayish ash colour, 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; 
* It is now arranged by naturalists in the genus Calidris, of Illiger; a genus 
constructed expressly for this bird; and it is the only species of the genus 
yet discovered. 
