SCOLOPACID^ — THE SNIPE FAMILY — PELIDNA. 243 



mage, the three specimens before us from Europe are decidedly lighter ash, and (}uite distinctly 

 streaked ahove. A young bird from Hungary is nuich less distinctly spotted beneatli than one 

 from Alaska (the only American example in this plumage we are able to compare it with), but is 

 otherwise very similar. Tiie differences between the true P. alpinco and the American race appear 

 to be quite constant, being verified by all writers who have made actual comparison of specimens. 

 Mr. J. E. Harting, who has made the Limicoke a special study, and who is therefore the best 

 authority on this group of birds, gives his views regarding these representative forms as follows 

 (cf. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 115): — 



" On comparing a specimen from New Jersey, in lull summer plumage, with one which was 

 shot off the nest in Benbecula (Hebrides), not only are the dilferences pointed out by Prof. Baird 

 apparent, but it is also observable that the upper portions of the plumage in the American bird 

 are considerably pervaded by bright rufous-brown, whereas in the same parts of the Scottish 

 bird black is the prevailing color. Further, the black of the under parts, which in the Scottish 

 bird extends (as in Squatarola Jielveticii) from the vent almost to the chin, is confined in the Ameri- 

 can bird (as in Eudromias morinellus) to the belly only. Whether this lai-ge race of Dunlin, known 

 as Tringa americana, is specifically distinct or not, it is not confined to America, as is generally 

 supposed. I have specimens in winter plumage now before me procured by Mr. Swinhoe at Amoy, 

 and others in autumnal plumage shot by myself in this country, which, as regards measurements 

 of bill, wing, and tarsus, correspond in every way with examples from New Jersey. They difl"er 

 only in color, having been obtained at different seasons of the year. As far as I can judge by the 

 data before me, the smaller bird appears to have a more restricted range, and remains to nest in 

 this country ; while the larger bird does not breed with us, but is found on our coasts in spring 

 and autumn, during the migration." 



This form, so closely allied to tire Common Dunlin or Purre of Europe, lias a wide 

 distribution over the continent of North America. It is found in high Arctic regions, 

 and on the shores of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans. Mr. Dall states that it 

 was seen frequently at St. Michael's by Mr. Bannister, and in British Columbia by Mr. 

 Elliott. A number of specimens were obtained at Sitka by Bischoff. Mr. Dall also 

 met with it at Nulato, where it was not uncommon ; and it was also abundant at 

 the mouth of the Yukon, where an example of its egg was obtained. Its nest is said 

 to be like that of the Lobipes hyperboreais. Mr. E. Browne also includes it among 

 the birds of Vancouver Island. Dr. Cooper is of opinion that it never goes farther 

 on the Californian coast than San Francisco, as he has not met with it on the coast 

 to the south of that place. This bird is, however, very common toward the north from 

 October to May, frequenting chiefly the sandy bars about bays, but not going far into 

 the interior. It is seen in very large flocks, sometimes associating with the other 

 small Sandpipers, from which it is not usually distinguished by hunters. 



The American Dunlin — the Cher-oo-me-no'k of the Esquimaux — is cited by Mr. E. 

 Adams (" Ibis," 1878) as one of the birds observed by him on the shores of Norton 

 Sound, where a few of this species frequented the salt-marsh together with flocks of 

 Actodromas m'mut'dla. They built their nests — Avhich consisted merely of a few dry 

 leaves scraped into a slight hollow — on the higher ground surrounding the marsh, 

 and were very often hovering over them and singing a low twittering song. The 

 eggs — four in number — are described as marked with large spots of three shades of 

 brown upon a light olive-green ground, principally about the larger end. The small 

 ends were always placed together in the nest, as is the case with all the Waders. 



The Dunlin is included by Eeinhardt among the birds of Greenland, where the 

 European species is known to have been taken ; and it may be to this that the Green- 

 land examples belong. Professor Newton states that Dr.. Paulsen more than once 

 received this species from Greenland, both in the immature and in the autumnal plu- 

 mage. It probably breeds there, as it is also known to do on Melville Peninsula 



