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V, 
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Shore Birds of Oape Cod. 
* John C. Cahoon. 
Semipalmated Sandpiper, Ereunetes pusillus 
(Linn.) Sandpiper, or Peep on Cape Cod. An 
abundant spring, summer and autumn migrant. 
The first comers in the spring reach Monomoy 
Island about May 1, becoming common the 
12th, abundant the 16th, and last seen June 25. 
: On return migration, the first ones reach us as 
1 early as July 4, becoming common July 15, and 
| abundant through August. Usually by the 
last of September all have departed for the 
| south. This bird is more of a beach peep than 
its little cousin, T. minutilla, with whom it 
often associates. They frequent sand flats, 
bars, pebbly beaches and about the sedge 
grass that is found on portions of the fiats. 
They are sometimes seen on the marshes, and 
at high tide they retire to the high beaches to 
rest until the tide begins to ebb. It is interest- 
ing and sometimes amusing to watch them as 
they run about on the sand flats industriously 
searching for some tiny flea, worm or mollusk 
: to satisfy their capricious appetite. One little 
fellow finds a choice morsel, but before he has 
time to devour it, he is beset by a number of 
his companions all eager to have a share in the 
j feast, and the wrangle is finally ended by the 
last comer seizing the prize, and running away 
a few yards hastily swallows it before the 
: | views of his expectant companions. 
O,& 0. XIII. Sept. 1888 p. 129 
jifi 
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