in northern Labrador, about Hudson Bay and in Iceland. Its eggs are a
grayish buff color handsomely splashed with rich shades of brown and
obscure markings of darker gray. Data.--Northern Iceland, June 7, 1897.
Four eggs. Nest a hollow in the ground among grass and weeds and lined
with a few grasses. Collector, C. Jefferys.
235a. ALEUTIAN SANDPIPER. _Arguatella maritima couesi_.
Range.--Supposed to be a resident on the coast and islands of Alaska,
from the Aleutians northward.
A very similar species to the preceding; scarcely distinguishable. These
Sandpipers, which are found in Alaska at all seasons of the year, breed
during May and June. Their nesting habits are the same as those of the
preceding bird and the eggs are indistinguishable. Size 1.40 × 1.00.
Data.--Unalaska, Bering Sea, June 3, 1898. Nest containing four eggs, a
depression in the moss, lined with grasses and bits of moss. The eggs
were laid with their small ends together.
[Illustration 148: Knot. Purple Sandpiper.]
[Illustration: Grayish buff.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 147
237. PRIBILOF SANDPIPER. _Arquatella maritina ptilocnemis_.
Range.--Coast and islands of Bering Sea, south in winter to southern
Alaska.
This bird, which is ten inches in length, has the feathers of the upper
parts edged with rusty, and the underparts light, with a distinguishing
patch of black on the breast. Similar in appearance to the Red-backed
Sandpiper, but not so reddish above, and the latter has the black patch
on the belly. They breed commonly on the Pribilof and other islands in
Bering Sea, nesting the same as other Sandpipers. Their four eggs are
similar to those of the preceding, but average darker. Size 1.50 × 1.05.
238. SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER. _Pisobia aurita_.
Range.--An Asiatic species, quite abundant in Alaska in the summer;
supposed to migrate south in winter, wholly on the Asiatic side of the
Pacific.
A similar bird, in appearance, to the following, but slightly smaller
and with the breast more ruddy. Its nesting habits probably do not
differ from those of the following Sandpiper.
239. PECTORAL SANDPIPER. _Pisobia maculata_.
Range.--Whole of North America, breeding in the Arctic regions, and
wintering south of the United States, most abundant in the eastern parts
of the United States during migrations.
This species is blackish brown above, with light brown edgings to the
feathers, and white below, except the chest, which is brownish, streaked
with black. A very peculiar species, having the power, during the mating
season, of inflating the throat to a great extent, making a balloon-like
appendage, nearly the size of the bird. They have more the habits of
Snipe, than do most of the Sandpipers, frequenting grassy meadows or
marshes, in preference to the seashore. Their nests are grass lined
depressions, and the eggs are grayish or greenish buff, blotched with
brown. Size 1.45 × 1.00. Data.--Cape Smythe, Alaska, June 1900. Four
eggs in a hollow in the ground, lined with grass.
[Illustration 149: Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Pectoral Sandpiper.]
[Illustration: egg, no caption.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 148
240. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. _Pisobia fuscicollis_.
Range.--North America, breeding from Labrador and southern Greenland,
northward and wintering from central to Southern South America; most
common on the Atlantic coast.
This species is 7.5 inches in length, and has white upper tail coverts;
otherwise it is marked similarly to the preceding Sandpiper. Its nesting
habits are the same as those of the majority of the family, and the
three or four eggs that they lay cannot be distinguished from those of
the following species. Size 1.30 × .90. These are one of the most common
of the beach birds along the Atlantic coast during migrations; they are
very often known as Bonaparte Sandpipers.
241. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. _Pisobia bairdi_.
Range.--North America, chiefly in the interior, breeding along the
Arctic coast and about Hudson Bay, and wintering south of the United
States.
A very similar species to the preceding, but without the white rump.
Their nests are hollows in the ground, generally concealed in a tuft of
grass, and lined with grasses and a few leaves. They lay three or four
eggs having a grayish colored ground, and marked with different shades
of brown, and also with some faint markings of lilac. Size 1.30 × .90.
Data.--Peel River, Arctic America, June 18, 1898. Four eggs, taken with
the bird by an Indian. Eggs in a slight hollow on the river bank.
242. LEAST SANDPIPER. _Pisobia minutilla_.
Range.--North America, breeding from the southern parts of the British
Provinces northward; winters from southern United States southward.
Common in the interior and on both coasts.
This is the smallest of our Sandpipers, being under six inches in
length. Except for size, they are similar in appearance to Baird's
Sandpiper, only the back is browner. A very abundant species during
migrations, being found on the seashore or in marshes, nearly always in
company with other species of the family. Their nests are the same as
other Sandpipers, and the eggs are grayish, thickly specked with brown.
Size 1.15 × .80. Data.--Peel River, Arctic America, June 20, 1899. Nest
simply a depression in the river bank, lined with grass.
[Illustration 150: White-rumped Sandpiper. Baird's Sandpiper. Least
Sandpiper.]
[Illustration: Grayish.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 149
242.1. LONG-TOED STINT. _Pisobia damacensis_.
An Asiatic species accidentally found on the Alaskan shores. It is a
very similar bird to the Least Sandpiper, and about the same size. As
implied by its name, it has unusually long toes.
243. DUNLIN. _Pelidna alpina alpina_.
A very common Sandpiper in the British Isles and in Europe, but only
casually occurring as a straggler along the Atlantic coast. Very similar
to the next species, but a trifle smaller. The nest and eggs do not
differ from the following.
243a. RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. _Pelidna alpina sakhalina_.
Range.--Whole of North America, breeding from southern Greenland,
Labrador, Hudson Bay and the Yukon, northward, wintering from the Gulf
States southward. This handsome species is similar to the Pribilof
Sandpiper, but is smaller (length 8 inches), the upperparts are more
reddish, the breast more heavily streaked, and it has a black patch on
the belly instead of on the breast as in ptilocnemis. Their nesting
habits are similar to others of the family; they lay three or four eggs
with a brownish or greenish buff color, heavily blotched and spotted
with shades of brown and chestnut. Size 1.40 × 1.00. Data.--- Peel
River, Arctic America, June 30, 1899. Nest a simple cavity in the
ground, lined with a few grasses and three or four leaves. Collector, J.
O. Stringer.
244. CURLEW SANDPIPER. _Erolia ferruginea_.
Range.--A common Old World species, but regarded as rare in eastern
North America and northern Alaska.
A bird of slighter build, but similar coloration to the Knot; smaller
(length eight inches) and with a slightly decurved bill. Until within
recent years, eggs of these birds were rarely seen in collections, and I
believe they have not yet been taken in this country, although a few
pairs nest along our Arctic coast. Their eggs are very similar to those
of the Red-backed Sandpiper, but average somewhat larger. Size 1.50 ×
1.05. Data.--Kola, northern Lapland, June 15, 1898. Four eggs laid in a
grass-lined hollow in the ground. Collector, J. Ramberg.
[Illustration 151: Greenish buff.]
[Illustration: Red-backed Sandpiper. Curlew Sandpiper.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 150
245. SPOONBILL SANDPIPER. _Eurynorhynchus pygmeus_.
A very rare Asiatic species, which has been taken in Kotzebue Sound,
Alaska. A very peculiar bird having the end of the bill broadened and
flattened into a sort of spatula. Otherwise very similar to the Least
Sandpiper, but with the breast and sides of neck ruddy in summer. About
75 specimens of this rare bird are known to exist.
246. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. _Ereunetes pusillus_.
Range.--Whole of North America, but chiefly in the eastern and central
parts, breeding about the ponds and streams of Labrador and Hudson Bay,
and northward. These little Sandpipers are abundant during the
migrations either in marshes or on beaches. They are most often found in
company with other species, such as the Spotted and Least Sandpipers.
Their appearance is very similar to that of the Least Sandpipers, but
they are slightly larger and the feet are partially webbed. Their eggs
have a greenish buff or grayish ground color and are spotted with
brownish or blackish, sometimes, so heavily as to completely obscure the
shell color. Size 1.20 × .80. Data.--Small island near Okak, Labrador,
July 3, 1895. 2 eggs. Nest a hollow at the foot of a tuft of grass,
lined with a few bits of grass and small leaves. Eggs unmistakable in
this dark type.
[Illustration 152: Spoonbill Sandpiper. Semipalmated Sandpiper.]
[Illustration: Grayish.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 151
247. WESTERN SANDPIPER. _Ereunetes mauri._
Range.--Western North America, breeding in the Arctic regions and
migrating through the United States, chiefly west of the Mississippi to
the Gulf States and southward.
Scarcely to be distinguished from the preceding species, but the upper
parts are said to be brighter and the bill, to average a trifle longer.
The nesting habits and eggs are precisely the same as those of the
Semipalmated variety. Data.--Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska, June 28,
1898. Four eggs. Nest a neatly rounded hollow, sunk into a mossy hummock
in marshy ground. Collector, Joseph Grinnell.
248. SANDERLING. _Calidris leucophaea._
Range.--Found in all parts of the northern hemisphere, breeding within
the Arctic Circle and wintering in North America, from California and
South Carolina southward.
A handsome and abundant species, found during migrations by thousands on
beaches and about large bodies of water in the interior. They are one of
the lightest colored of the Sandpipers, either in winter or summer
plumage. In summer the upper parts are a light rusty color and black,
and the whole underparts are white. Owing to their extreme northerly
distribution in summer, but few of their eggs have been taken. Their
nesting habits are like those of the other Sandpipers. The three or four
eggs are greenish buff in color, spotted and blotched with brown. Size
1.45 × .95. Data.--Peel River, Alaska, June 18, 1897. Three eggs in a
depression on the ground.
249. MARBLED GODWIT. _Limosa fedoa._
Range.--North America, breeding, chiefly in the interior, from northern
United States northward.
Godwits are large Plovers with long slightly up-curved bills. This
species is 19 inches in length, is of a nearly uniform ruddy color and
is handsomely marbled above, and barred below with black. Their eggs are
laid upon the ground in the vicinity of ponds or rivers; sometimes there
is no lining and again a few straws or grasses may be twisted around the
depression. Their eggs number three or four and have a ground color of
grayish or greenish buff, sometimes quite dark, and are blotched with
dark brown. Size 2.25 × 1.60. Data.--Devil's Lake, N. D., June 10, 1895.
Four eggs laid on the ground in the middle of an unused road. Lined with
a few grasses. Collector, W. F. Hill.
[Illustration 153: Grayish buff.]
[Illustration: Western Sandpiper. Sanderling. Marbled Godwit.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 152
250. PACIFIC GODWIT. _Limosa lapponica baueri._
Range.--Coasts and islands of the Pacific Ocean on the Asiatic side,
north in summer to Alaska.
This species is more uniform and brighter ruddy beneath than the
preceding, and the back is not marbled as strongly. Even in Alaska where
it breeds, it is not a common species, and it only occurs elsewhere on
the Pacific coast of America casually. The nesting habits are the same,
but the eggs are somewhat darker than those of the preceding, but not as
dark as those of the following species. Size 2.20 × 1.45.
251. HUDSONIAN GODWIT. _Limosa haemastica._
Range.--North America, east of the Rocky Mountains, breeding in the
Arctic regions and wintering south of the United States.
This species is apparently not as common or is more locally distributed
during migrations than is the Marbled Godwit. They are more abundant in
their breeding grounds and are occasionally seen in large flocks. They
are smaller than the Marbled Godwit (length 18 inches) and are deep
reddish brown below. They lay four eggs on the ground, in marshes or
near ponds or streams, lining the hollow with weeds and dried leaves.
The eggs have a dark brownish buff ground color and are blotched with
brownish black. Size 2.20 × 1.40. Data.--Mackenzie River, Arctic
America. Four eggs laid in a hollow in the ground. Collector, J. O.
Stringer.
252. BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. _Limosa limosa._
A European and Asiatic species only casually occurring in Greenland.
Very similar in appearance to our Hudsonian Godwit, which is frequently
called by the name of this species. The nesting habits and the eggs are
precisely like those of the American bird.
253. GREEN SHANK. _Glottis nebularia._
A common bird in Europe and the British Isles, but only American as
having been taken once in Florida. A very similar species to the
following.
[Illustration 154: Pacific Godwit. Hudsonian Godwit.]
[Illustration: Brownish.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 153
254. GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. _Totanus melanoleucus._
Range.--Whole of North America, nesting in the British Provinces and
rarely in the northern part of the Mississippi Valley.
This and the next species are much sought by sportsmen during their
migrations; they are commonly called "Tell-tale," the present species
being the "Greater Tell-tale." They are blackish above, speckled with
white, and below are white and, in summer, marked with arrowhead spots
of black. The legs, as implied by the name of the bird, are yellow and
long; length of bird, 14 inches. They nest most abundantly in localities
remote from habitations, in the interior of Canada. The eggs are
generally laid on the ground, near a marsh or on the bank of a stream,
with little or no lining to the nest. They are grayish white, boldly
splashed with several shades of brown, and with lilac. Size 1.65 × 1.25.
Data.--Whale River, Labrador, June 10, 1902. Eggs laid on the ground in
an open marsh.
255. YELLOW-LEGS. _Totanus flavipes._
Range.--North America, breeding chiefly in the interior and eastern
parts of Canada, and rarely in the upper Mississippi Valley. This
species is very similar to the preceding, but is smaller; length 10.5
inches. It is also called the "Lesser Tell-tale," a name applied because
of their wariness, and because, when they fly, they warn all other
species within hearing, of danger. Their eggs are laid on the ground,
and in similar localities to the preceding. They are three or four in
number, grayish or buffy in color, and are quite heavily blotched and
spotted with rich brown and grayish or lilac. Size 1.60 × 1.20.
Data.--Whale River, Labrador, June 14, 1902. Four eggs laid on the
ground in a large marsh.
[Illustration 155: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: Greater Yellow-legs. Yellow-legs.]
[Illustration: Buffy.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 154
256. SOLITARY SANDPIPER. _Helodromas solitarius solitarius._
Range.--Eastern North America, breeding chiefly north of the United
States boundary, but apt to be found nesting in any part of its range;
winters south of the United States.
A bird with a greenish gray back, barred with white, and white below;
length 8.5 inches. This species is one of the oddities among the waders.
They are most always met with, singly or in pairs, and are very rarely
seen, even in very small flocks. Their preference is for small ponds or
streams in wet woods or open meadows, rather than marshes which are
frequented by other species. They are occasionally seen during the
nesting season, even in the southern parts of their range, and they
probably breed there although their eggs are very rarely found. The eggs
are clay-colored, spotted with brownish black. Data.--Simco Island,
Kingston, Ontario, June 10, 1898. 5 eggs in a shallow depression on the
ground, lined with a few grasses.
[Illustration 156: Solitary Sandpiper.]
[Illustration: Clay-colored.]
[Illustration: NEST OF SPOTTED SANDPIPER.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 155
256a. WESTERN SOLITARY SANDPIPER. _Helodromas solitarius cinnamomeus._
Range.--North America, west of the Plains; breeds in British Columbia
and probably south of there, also.
This bird is like the last, except that the spots on the back are buffy
instead of white. Its nest and eggs will not differ in any respect from
those of the eastern form.
257. GREEN SANDPIPER. _Helodromas acrophus._
This species, which very closely resembles our Solitary Sandpiper, is
common in the northern parts of the Old World. It has only accidentally
strayed to our shores.
258. WILLET. _Catoptrophorus semipalmatus semipalmatus._
Range.--Eastern United States, breeding north to the Middle States and
occasionally straying to the Canadian border, especially in the
Mississippi Valley.
These large waders are among the most abundant of the marsh or beach
birds. They breed in small companies in marshes, frequently in those
which are covered with water at high tide, building a frail nest of
grasses and weeds, where it will be barely out of reach of the highest
water. The three or four eggs have a brownish, or sometimes greenish,
buff ground color and are blotched with umber, and have fainter markings
of lilac. Size 2.00 × 1.50. Data.--Sandy Bank, South Carolina, May 3,
1901. Nest on the ground, secreted in the high grass. Made of dead marsh
grass, lined with finer grasses.
[Illustration 157: Western Sandpiper. Willet.]
[Illustration: Buff.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 156
258a. WESTERN WILLET. _Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus._
Range.--Western North America, breeding north to Manitoba and British
Columbia. Casually found on the South Atlantic coast during migrations.
A larger and paler form of the preceding species; length 15.5 inches.
The nesting habits are the same, and the eggs cannot be distinguished
from those of the common Willet. Data.--Refugio, Texas, May 18, 1900. 4
eggs in a grass lined depression on the bay shore flat. Collector, J. W.
Preston.
259. WANDERING TATTLER. _Heteractitis incanus._
Range.--Pacific coast of North America, breeding from British Columbia
northward.
This is a handsome species, uniform grayish above and white below,
closely barred (in summer) with blackish. During the breeding season it
is found on the rugged coasts and islands of Alaska, and casually south.
It breeds in the marsh grass near the shores and along the banks of
streams.
260. RUFF. _Machetes pugnax._
A common European species, occasionally found on the Atlantic coast of
North America. It is a species remarkable for its pugnacity during the
mating season; in size and appearance it is about like the Upland
Plover, with the exception of the "ruff" which adorns the neck and
breast of the male bird.
261. UPLAND PLOVER. _Bartramia longicauda._
Range.--North America, chiefly east of the Rocky Mountains, breeding
from middle United States, northward.
A handsome bird, 12 inches in length, generally known as the "Upland
Plover," from its habit of frequenting dry side hills, where it feeds
upon grasshoppers and worms. It is a favorite bird with many sportsmen.
It builds a nest of grasses, on the ground in a tuft of grass in the
middle of fields. The three or four eggs have a buff ground and are
blotched with yellowish brown. Size 1.75 × 1.25. Data.--Stump Lake, N.
D., June 10, 1897. Nest of grass, lined with wool, under a tuft of grass
left by the mower. Collector, Alf. Eastgate.
[Illustration 158: Wandering Tattler. Ruff. Upland Plover.]
[Illustration: Buff.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 157
[Illustration 159: Walter Raine.
NEST AND EGGS OF UPLAND PLOVER.]
Page 158
262. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. _Tryngites subruficollis._
Range.--Interior of North America, breeding from the Hudson Bay region
to the Arctic coast.
A buffy colored species, with a peculiarly marbled back. Size 8.5 inches
long. It is an upland species like the last. The nests are scantily
lined depressions in the ground. The eggs have a grayish white ground
and are boldly blotched with rich brown and chestnut with fainter
markings of lilac. Size 1.45 × 1.05. Data.--Cape Smythe, Alaska, June,
1900. 4 eggs in a hollow in dry spot on a marsh. Collector, H. H.
Bodfish.
263. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. _Actitis macularia._
Range.--Whole of North America from Hudson Bay southward, breeding
throughout its range.
A small wader about 7.5 inches in length, with brownish gray upper
parts, and white underparts thickly spotted with blackish, especially on
the breast and flanks. This is the most abundant of all the shore birds,
and its "peet-weet" is a familiar sound to every country boy. It has a
peculiar habit of continually moving its tail up and down, when at rest
on a stone or when running along the shore; from these characteristic
actions it has received the very common names of "Teeter-tail" and
"Tip-up." They build their nests on the ground near ponds, brooks or
marshes, generally concealing it in a tuft of grass or weeds on the
shore or in the high grass at the edge of the meadows. The eggs number
from three to five and are of a grayish buff color, spotted and blotched
with blackish brown. The young, like those of all the shore birds, are
hatched covered with down, and run about as soon as born. They are
anxiously attended by the parents and at the least sign of danger,
conceal themselves beneath a tuft of grass or behind a small stone,
where they remain perfectly motionless until called by the old birds.
The adults frequently attempt to lead an enemy away from the young by
feigning a broken wing, or lameness. Size of eggs 1.35 × .90.
Data.--Parker County, Ind., May 22, 1901. Nest about six yards from bank
of creek, among weeds on a sand bar; a hollow in the sand lined with
weeds. Collector, Winfield S. Catlin.
[Illustration 160: Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Spotted Sandpiper.]
[Illustration: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: Buff.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 159
264. LONG-BILLED CURLEW. _Numenius americanus._
Range.--Breeds in the South Atlantic states and northward in the
interior to Manitoba and British Columbia.
This is the largest of the family of shore birds, having a length of
about 24 inches. Its plumage is of a buffy color, much variegated above
with black and brown; the bill is strongly curved downward and is from
four to eight inches in length. Their nests are located on the ground in
meadows or on the prairies, and three or four eggs are laid, of a buff
or greenish buff color, covered with numerous spots of brownish black.
Eggs of the common Curlew of Europe, have been very frequently used as
belonging to this species, but the eggs of our species have a lighter
and more greenish ground, and the spots are smaller and more numerous.
Size, 2.50 × 1.80.
265. HUDSONIAN CURLEW. _Numenius hudsonicus._
Range.--Whole of North America, breeding in the Arctic regions and
wintering south of the United States.
This species is smaller (length 17 inches), darker, more grayish and has
a shorter bill than the preceding species. It also has white median and
lateral stripes on the top of the head. The nesting habits are the same
as those of the Long-billed species; the three or four eggs have a
brownish buff ground color and are blotched with blackish brown. Size
2.25 × 1.60. Data.--McKenzie River, Arctic America. Nest a pile of
grass, moss and weeds on an island in the river.
[Illustration 161: Greenish buff.]
[Illustration: Long-billed Curlew. Hudsonian Curlew.]
[Illustration: Brownish buff.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 160
266. ESKIMO CURLEW. _Numenius borealis._