SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — ACTODIIOMAS. 239 



According to the observations of Mr. Moore, this species is seen in Florida 

 throughout the year, always in its winter livery, with no indications that it ever breeds 

 there. It is found in company with the Ereunetes imsillas. 



Professor Newton met Avith it in St. Croix in the autumn, where it was observed 

 to frequent the pastures as well as the sea-shore ; but rarely were more than two 

 seen together. Mr. E. Newton notes its first appearance, August 19. According to 

 Gosse, it does not become numerous in Jamaica before the end of the year, and is 

 then found in the morasses in flocks of about a dozen, running swiftly over the Avet 

 soil like other Sandpipers. In the stomachs of these birds were found fragments of 

 shells and comminuted animal mattei'. Mr. Marsh, however, claims that this bird 

 is resident in Jamaica throughout the year, and that it breeds on the Salinas and on 

 tlie sandy beaches. This, however, is questioned by Mr, Salvin, and we think on 

 good grounds. The eggs described by Mr. Marsh do not resemble those of this 

 species, either in ground-color or markings ; and the character of the nesting, as 

 indicated by him, is not that of this Sandpiper. 



Mr. Salvin, as quoted by Mr. Dresser, states that he possesses a specimen of this 

 bird from Costa Eica, and that an example was found near Panama by MacLeannan. 

 Mr. W. S. Wood ascertained it to be very common at Cartagena in November, 1857, 

 and Dr. Habel procured two specimens on one of the Galapagos Islands. Mr. Wal- 

 lace met with this bird at the mouth of tlie Amazon, and Natterer secured two speci- 

 mens in Brazil, one in April at Cuyaba, and the other at Matto Grosso in September. 

 In the department of Vera Cruz it has been taken in the interior, near Orizaba, and 

 also near the City of INIexico. In Guatemala, besides meeting Avith it on the Pacific 

 coast, Mr. Salvin found it to be a regular Avinter visitant, arriving in autumn and 

 departing in spring. In the Avinter it is found only on the shore, and its visits to 

 inland lakes appear to be limited to its passages. In November, 1861, Mr. Salvin 

 found it in the grassy swamps Avhich surround the small Lake of Dueiias, in the 

 highlands of Guatemala, nearly five thousand feet aboA^e the sea. 



It is mentioned by Leotaud as occurring in Trinidad in the months of August, 

 September, and October, at times in flocks by themselves, but more frequently 

 \\\i\\^^\Q{i \\\i\\ "Aock^ oi the Ereiinetes piisUlus. In the French West India Islands it 

 is knoAvn as the Petit Maitre. 



Mr. Dresser found this sjDecies making its appearance at Matamoras as early as 

 the latter part of July. — this affording remarkable evidence of the rapidity of its 

 flight, and confirming the hypothesis that such visitants must be birds that have not 

 raised a brood that season. In the early spring Mr. Dresser met Avith it near San 

 Antonio. 



Dr. Walker met Avith this species on the coast of Greenland ; and in the first part 

 of June folloAving he found it breeding in the marshy valleys near Bellot's Strait. 



Mr. Audubon, Avhilst in Labrador, found this species plentiful, breeding on the 

 moss-clad rocks within a short distance of the sea. When startled from its nest, it 

 would rise on the Aving and move off Ioav oA'cr the ground Avitli incurved Avings and 

 Avith a sloAv Avhirring motion ; or, if on the ground, it moves off slowly and limjiing 

 as if crippled. On the 20th of July, after soine search, he found the nest and eggs of 

 this species. The bird flcAV from the nest more in the manner of the Partridge than 

 of the Trhujce. The nest had been formed apparently by the patting of the bird's 

 feet on the crisp moss ; and in the slight holloAV thus produced Avere laid a fcAV blades 

 of slender dry grass, bent in a circular manner, the internal diameter being 2.50 

 inches and its depth 1.25. The eggs, he states, measured .93 by .75 of an inch. 

 Their ground-color Avas a rich cream-yelloAv, blotched with very dark umber, the 



