SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 99 



bill straight and slender, longer than tarsus ; tarsus equal to length of mid- 

 dle toe and claw. Adult* in summer : upper parts plain slaty or plumbeous 

 gray ; under parts thickly barred with white and dusky, becoming more 

 spotted on throat and pure white on anal region. Adults in winter : middle 

 of belly and chin white ; chest, sides, and upper parts gray. Young : like 

 winter adults but with fine specks and narrow scallops of white on wings 

 and back. Length: 10.50-11.30, wing 0.50-7.30, bill 1.50-1.60, tarsus 

 1.25-1.35. 



Distribution. Pacific coast of America, from Norton Sound to Lower 

 California and Galapagos Islands ; west to Kamschatka and the Hawaiian 

 and Polynesian Islands ; breeding from Vancouver Island northward. 



Nest and eggs apparently not recorded, but young birds taken by 

 Macoun on the west coast of Vancouver Island. 



GENUS BARTRAMIA. 



261. Bartramia longicauda (Bechst.). BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER: 

 UPLAND PLOVER. 



Tail long and graduated, the end reaching well beyond tips of folded 

 wings ; base of toes webbed only between outer and middle. Adults : 

 rump black, rest of upper parts dusky, or greenish black, scalloped and 

 streaked with buff ; crown blackish, with a median line of light buff ; 

 sides and lower surface of wing barred with black and white ; throat 

 streaked and chest marked with dusky; chin and belly white. Length: 

 11.00-12.75, wing 6.50-7.00, bill 1.10-1.15, tarsus 1.90-2.05, tail 3.40-3.50. 



Distribution. Most of North America, but mainly the plains and prairie 

 region east of the Rocky Mountains ; north to Nova Scotia and Alaska ; 

 west to Utah and Oregon ; breeding from southern Kansas and Utah north- 

 ward ; migrating to Brazil and Peru. Accidental in Europe and Australia. 



Nest. A slight depression, usually in bare ground, sometimes with a 

 little grass lining. Eggs : 4, creamy or buffy, spotted with dark brown 

 and purplish gray. 



While in habits more plover than sandpiper, Bartramia combines 

 even more the characteristics of the curlew and the god wit. It is 

 rarely found near water, being preeminently a bird of the prairie. 

 Sometimes during migrations it gathers in large flocks but is usually 

 found in pairs catching insects in the prairie grass and flowers or 

 following the plough picking up worms from the fresh earth. To the 

 plough-boy of the plains it is a confiding companion, trusting him at 

 a friendly distance and confidently answering his low whistles, while 

 he in turn marks its nests, leaving many a bit of unploughed ground 

 for its home. The soft bubbling whistle of the old birds as they 

 come over the prairie to meet you, and with curved trembling wings 

 circle about, trying to coax you away from their nests or young, is 

 one of the sweetest, most characteristic sounds of the prairie. 



But, for the morsel of meat on their breasts, these beautiful, 

 friendly birds are counted game, even on their breeding grounds, 

 and in migration they are slaughtered by thousands on the southern 

 prairies. VERNON BAILEY. 



