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Remarks (Sanderling is the only one)
The Sanderling is the only one of our Snipes or Sandpipers having three toes, and it may always be known by this character in combination with its booted or transversely scaled tarsi. Range." Nearly cosmopolitan, breeding in arctic and subarctic regions; migrating, in America, south to Chili and Patagonia" (A. O. U.). Washington, casual T. V., two records. Long Island, common T. V., Mch. 15 through May; Aug. 1 through Sept. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V., to June 5; Sept. 9 to Oct. 5. Cambridge, casual, one instance, Sept. Eggs, three to four, light olive-brown, finely spotted or speckled with darker, the markings larger and more blended on the larger end, 1.41 × 91 (Ridgw.).
This is a true beach bird, and is usually found on shores washed by the sea. It frequently associates with the Semipalmated Sandpiper or Oxeye, which it resembles in habits, but its larger size and lighter colors distinguish it from that species. 249. Limosa fedoa (Linn.). MARBLED GODWIT; BROWN MARLIN. Ad.-Upper parts black, the head and neck streaked with buffy, the back barred or the feathers spotted on the sides and sometimes tipped with buffy or ochraceous-buff; inner web of the outer primaries and both webs of the inner ones ochraceous-buff or pale buffy, speckled with black; tail ochraceousbuff barred with black; throat white, rest of the under parts pale buffy, spotted or barred with black; bill curved slightly upward, yellowish at the base, black at the end. Im. - Similar, but the under parts with few or no bars except on the flanks and under tail-coverts. L., 18.00; W., 8.75; Tar., 2.75; B., 4:00. Range.-North America, breeding chiefly in the interior, from western Minnesota, and rarely Iowa and Nebraska, northward, and migrating southward to Central America and Cuba; rare on the Atlantic coast. Long Island, rare T. V., Aug. and Sept.
Eggs, three to four, clay-color or brownish ashy, blotched, spotted, and scrawled with grayish brown, 2.15 x 1.60.
Colonel Goss writes that this species "inhabits the salt- and freshwater shores, marshes, and moist ground upon the prairies. It feeds SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. upon crustacea, insects, worms, larvæ, etc., moving about in a horizontal position, picking and probing as it goes. Its flight is easy and well sustained, though not very rapid; in alighting, raises the wings over the back as it touches the ground. These birds as a rule are shy, and keep well out of reach....” 251. Limosa hæmastica (Linn.). HUDSONIAN GODWIT; RING-