244 PR.'ECOCIAL G-RALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



and on the coast of Davis Strait. Eicliardson states that it is abundant, and that 

 it breeds on the Arctic coast of America. He also met with it on the Saskatchewan 

 Plain in its passage north, and in autumn on the shores of Hudson's Bay. He 

 describes its eggs as having a ground of an oil-green marked with irregular spots of 

 liver-brown, of different sizes and shades, confluent at the obtuse end. The eggs are 

 said to be 1.28 inches long, and to measure .96 of an inch where broadest, the ends 

 differing greatly in size. 



Mr. J. A. Allen mentions finding this species in the eastern portion of Kansas in 

 the earlier part of May. It was quite abundant in the neighborhood of lagoons. 

 Later — during the second week of August — he again met with others of this spe- 

 cies at Lake Pass in Colorado. In the following September he again found it quite 

 common in the Valley of Great Salt Lake. Mr. Eidgway states that an individual 

 of this species was shot by one of his party in May on an alkaline pond near Pyramid 

 Lake. 



Mr. Boardman informs us that this species occurs, in spring and fall, in the neigh- 

 borhood of Calais, but he does not think that it is ever abundant. It comes to Massa- 

 chusetts from the north in October, and remains into November, and is then quite 

 common on the coast. In its spring migrations it passes north late in May. On Long 

 Island this species is known both as the Pted-backed Sandpiper and as the Black- 

 breast. According to Giraud, it arrives on the shores of Long Island in the month 

 of April, but soon leaves and passes north, returning in September, at which time it 

 is quite abundant there, and still more so on the coast of New Jersey. 



This species associates in flocks, frequenting the shores, sandbars, and muddy 

 flats, feeding on worms and such minute shelltish as abound in localities of this 

 kind. In the month of October it is usually very fat, and is considered excellent 

 eating. The autumnal plumage is so entirely different from the vernal that by hun- 

 ters this bird is generally regarded at those seasons as representing two different 

 species. The same thing was once true of the European form, the plumage of those 

 two seasons being so unlike as not only to deceive sportsmen, but even ornitholo- 

 gists ; hence the common names of Dunlin and Purre, and the two scientific terms 

 alpina and cincliis. By hunters generally — both in New England and along the 

 shores of Long Island and Ncav Jersey — the autumnal form is known as the 

 "Winter Snipe." In this plumage it closely resembles the winter dress of the Cur- 

 lew Sandpiper. During the autumn the Red-backed Sandpiper may be found, both 

 on sandy and on muddy shores, along the whole of our central Atlantic coast. It 

 is said to be a restless, active bird, gleaning its food with great dexterity, and seeming 

 to be ever desirous of changing its position. Soon after alighting, the flock collects 

 together, making short excursions over the water, and again settling down at but a 

 short distance from the spot from which they had only just flown. These birds usually 

 crowd so closely together when whirling about in these excursions, that many may 

 be killed at a single shot. Mr. Giraud mentions that on one occasion no less than 

 fifty-two Avere killed by the discharge of both barrels of a gun into a flock. This 

 is an unusual number ; but the killing of ten or tAvelve at a time is said to be not an 

 uncommon thing. 



On the shores of the Atlantic, south of Chesapeake Bay, this species is very abun- 

 dant in its spring migrations, coming late in April and not leaving until nearly 

 the end of May. In September it reappears, a portion remaining throughout the 

 winter. Many of these birds assume their spring plumage before they leave ; proba- 

 bly the greater number of them do so. In their habits they are more like the 

 maculata than the other TringcB, and are ranked as Snipe by the hunters, from their 



