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The Red-backed Sandpiper 
Taken near 
Santa Barbara 
numerous Westerns (Ereunetes 
mauri) with which it freely mingles. 
Although considerably larger than 
the Western, it also is called “Peep,” 
and it shares several characteristics 
with its smaller kinsmen. For one 
thing, they are all fond of a ride. 
A floating log often proves an irre¬ 
sistible temptation to a passing flock, 
and they settle down upon it teeter¬ 
ing and peeping lustily, as though it 
were the greatest treat imaginable. 
Even more ludicrous it is to see a 
great company of Sandpipers to¬ 
gether with a few solemn gulls seated 
on the rear end of a moving log-boom. 
The convoying tug puffs officiously, 
while the water swirls away behind 
in dizzying eddies. But there are a 
hundred yards of stout cable and, it 
may be, a two hundred yard stretch 
of logs between the birds and the 
boat; so these urchins gather fear¬ 
lessly and snicker over their good 
fortune in stealing a ride. A pas¬ 
senger on a passing steamer, catching 
the drollery of the thing, feels like 
bawling out: “Hey, Mister! Cut 
behind!” 
The Red-backs are to be found 
upon the beaches and salt marshes 
of Humboldt Bay, San Francisco Bay, and Suisun, and in many southern 
localities at any time of year, save June and July, when they are at home 
in western Alaska. They are, however, not common in winter, and the 
migratory movement may be distinctly traced. The birds appear to ac¬ 
quire the full nuptial dress before starting out upon the northward mi¬ 
grations, but they not infrequently return in late summer before they have 
had time to lay it off. This species also wanders extensively into the 
interior, and stray birds may be picked up in almost any situation which 
provides water. 
In feeding, the Red-backs usually maintain close order, and in flight 
as well, so that hostile fire is very destructive to their ranks. One shot 
Photo by 
the Author 
A SILHOUETTE 
RED-BACKED SANDPIPER IN FALL PLUMAGE 
1244 
