202 PR^COCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



feathers light gray, the others varied longitudinally with white and pale gray. Pileum dusky, 

 streaked with whitish ; a dark-biown Imal stiiiH', from base of maxilla to the eyes ; auriculars and 

 patch on each side the occiput, light cinnamon-rufous. Lower parts dirty white, the throat and 

 juguluni streaked, other i^ortions transversely barred with dusky. Lining of the wing, and axillars, 

 white, the latter slightly marked with gray. Adult in ivinter: Above, uniform ash-gray, the upper 

 tail-coverts, tail, and wings, only, as in the summer plumage. Superciliar}- stripe and lower parts 

 wliite, the jugulum, sides of the neck, and crissum, streaked with gray. Young: Back and scap- 

 uLus V)lackish, all the feathers widely Viordered with buffy wliite, the middle of the back tinged 

 willi lusty ; wing-coverts bordered with pale buff and white ; upper tail-coverts nearly immaculate 

 wliite. Pileum streaked wdth dusky, pale buff, and grayish; nape nearly uniform ash-gray. 

 Li)\ver parts soiled white, the breast and sides more or less strongly suffused with buff, the jugu- 

 lum, sides of the neck, and Hanks, indistinctl}' stieaked with gra3'ish. "Bill black ; iiis brown ; 

 feet dull yellowish green, claws black " (Audubon). 



Wing, about 5.00-5.25; culinen, 1-50-1.75 ; tarsus, 1.50-1.75 ; middle toe, .80-.85. 



The Stilt SandpipLT, oiiee regarded as a very rare species, lias witliiu a few years 

 been found to be far from uncommon in different parts of tbe country. It has not 

 been met with, that I am aware, on any portion of the Pacific coast north of Central 

 America ; a single individual only was observed by Mr. Salvin in Guatemala. This 

 was taken in the interior, near ])uefias, from among a flock of Actodromas maculata, 

 in April. According to Major Wedderburn. it occasionally occurs in Bermuda ; and 

 Mr. N. B. Moore mentions procuring four specimens of this species on one of the 

 Bahamas as early as August o. It visits in winter the West Indies and a large part 

 of South America to Brazil and Peru. 



In j^ew England — Avhere it has not been recognized as occurring at all till wdthin 

 a few years — it is of irregular appearance in the summer and fall, but is not known 

 to occur in its spring migrations. It has been seen along the coast of Massachusetts, 

 Xew^ Hampshire, and Maine, west of Portland ; ^ but not in the interior. A single 

 specimen has been taken ou Nantucket, and one reported from Cape Cod. It is only 

 occasionally met with, usually singly, or in pairs, and generally in comjiany with 

 Totaniis Ji(n-ipi'}<. It is an occasional straggler rather than a regular ndgrant, and 

 only very rarely knoAvn to appear in flocks, or even in family groups, but usually has 

 the air of having Avandered off in company with non-kindred species. They evidently 

 move in a due south ccxirse, leaving our shores at Buzzard's Bay over the open sea, 

 and some of them reaching the West India Islands early in August. Tavo instances 

 are recorded of the capture of this bird in Massachusetts as early as Jidy 24 ; others 

 were taken as late as September 29. 



Mr. Lawrence records the obtaining of a single specimen at San Mateo, Mexico, in 

 February, 18G9. Professor Snow mentions it as a rare migrant in Kansas, his only 

 record of its occurrence there being three specimens taken near Lawrence in Septem- 

 ber, 1874, by Mr. William Osburn. Dr. Merrill records it as occurring in the Eio 

 Grande region, on Uct. 13, ] S77. Mr. J. Dwight, Jr., mentions meeting wdth it on the 

 Jersey coast at Squam Beach. ( )ut of ten examples all Avere single birds except three, 

 shoAving the straggling character of its movements. Mr. N". T. LaAvrence speaks of 

 this species as being not uncommon on the south side of Long Island, AAdiere it was 

 seen in parties of from three to five. Tavo in adult breeding-plumage AA^ere taken in 

 July ; all the others, in the fall plumage, in September. IVIr. George IST. LaAvrence 

 informs us that on one occasion, at EockaAvay, there was a large flight of this species 

 and of Totunus Jiavipcs, t\\Q latter being the more abundant. Six Stilt Sandpipers 

 Avere killed at a single shot ; he never saAv so many together at any other time. 



1 y[Y. M. Chaiiibprlaiu has recently recorded its capture in Xew Brunswick. — J. A. A. 



