SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 277 
small lanceolate central brownish-black spots ; the rest of the lower parts 
white. 
Length to end of tail 7 T V inches, to end of wings 7 T 7 2, to end of claws 7 T 9 2 j 
extent of wings 141, bill along the back V°i , along the edge of lower mandi- 
ble r? ; wing from flexure 4{°|; tail 2^; tarsus middle toe its claws T V 
Adult Female in winter. 
The female is similar to the male, but a little smaller. 
In some individuals, about six of the middle tail-coverts are black, the 
lateral barred with white and dusky. 
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 
Tringa semipalhata, Wils. 
PLATE CCCXXXVI.— Adult. 
This species enters the Texas early in April, in great numbers, although 
in small parties, some composed of young, others of old birds, and not unfre- 
quently accompanied by other species. At this season it moves northward 
with celerity, bo'th along the shores of the sea and those of some of our larger 
streams, by routes which they also follow ip their retrograde migration at 
the approach of winter. Many, however, remain in the southern parts of 
the United States all summer, and I have seen numbers of them on the coasts, 
as well as on the Keys of Florida. There being a very remarkable difference 
of size in individuals of the same sex, and still more between males and fe- 
males, the latter being the larger, I was induced to compare a great number 
of them, and in consequence have concluded that the difference depends on 
age, for the young of either sex are generally pretty similar as to the length 
of the bill and legs, during their first autumn and winter. In Labrador I 
shot a whole brood when just able to fly, together with several old birds, 
which kept apart. Among the latter I found differences as to size and pro- 
portions enough to induce persons having nothing better than skins to ima- 
gine that several species might be made out of them. 
About the period when these birds prepare to return southward, they con- 
gregate in large flocks, the young separate from the old. In Labrador this 
Vol. V. 39 
