SCOLOPACID^E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — TPJNGA. 213 



He ventures the opinion that it occurs in Finland and in the northeastern parts, as 

 it seems to make its first appearance on the eastern coast of Scandinavia. Wheel- 

 wright states tliat it was only seen by him in the south of Scandinavia during the 

 periods of its migrations, and he could learn nothing in reference to its breeding. He 

 received its eggs from Greenland, and describes them as less in size than those of 

 Gallmago media, and as resembling them in their markings, although not so dark. 



This species is given by Keinhardt as one of the birds of Greenland ; and Captain 

 Sabine, in his Memoir on the Birds of that country, states that examples were killed 

 at Hare's Island in June. It is known also to visit Iceland ; and that it goes to much 

 higher northern latitudes is attested by the records of most of the Arctic expeditions. 

 Dr. Middendorff includes it in his list of the birds of Siberia, and among those that 

 penetrate to the farthest north. Professor NeAvton, in his " Xotes on the Birds of Ice- 

 land," mentions its arrival there late in May ; and the opinion of Faber, to Avhich he 

 refers, that it breeds in the uplands of that island, seems to him very probably well 

 founded. But Mr. Fowler, whose attention was particularly called to this bird, could 

 not discover it, and does not believe that it is present on the island during the breed- 

 ing-season. On the southwest part of the island it is known to be a bird of passage. 

 At the end of May Professor Xewton encountered a large flock, which remained about 

 a week, when nearly all of them left ; he thinks it quite possible, however, that 

 a few remain behind and breed. I have in my cabinet an ^%% given me by Canon 

 Tristram as of this species, and taken on islands north of Iceland. It closely resem- 

 bles the eggs described by Wheelwright, but has a suspicious resemblance to the eggs 

 of Gallinago media. In his " jSTotes on the Birds of Greenland," published in 1875, 

 Professor iSTewton seems to have changed his views in regard to this bird's breeding in 

 Iceland, expressing the opinion that all pass on farther north. He speaks of it as 

 rare in Southern Greenland, but as often met with in the north, as not breeding below 

 latitude 68° X., remarking that it is thought to nest in the bays of Greenland. Pro- 

 fessor Newton adds, that after the breeding-season this bird resorts to the outer 

 islands, and that it was reported as having been found breeding on Melville Penin- 

 sula and in great abundance on the Parry Islands. The large flocks of these birds 

 that, in autumn and again in spring, throng the western coasts of Europe and the 

 eastern shores of America, make it more than probable that in its chief breeding- 

 quarters, wherever these may be, it must be very numerous. It has not been met 

 with on the east coast of Greenland, nor in Spitzbergen. It is presumed to breed in 

 countries west and north of Greenland. 



Mr. Nelson states that the Knot is another of the maritime species which regularly 

 visits its breeding-grounds by way of the Great Lakes. It is a regular migrant, pass- 

 ing north in May, and returning to the shores of Lake Michigan early in September, 

 where it remains until October. 



Mr. L. Kumlien mentions that a small flock of these birds alighted on the schoon- 

 er's deck in November, after the harbor had been frozen over. He saw none in the 

 spring or summer, but was told that it is quite common in North Greenland, but 

 that it does not nest south of latitude 70° N. There are no accounts of its eggs which 

 can be accepted as authentic. 



Mr. Henry W. Feilden, of the Arctic Expedition of 1875-1876, though not so fortu- 

 nate as to obtain the eggs of this species during his stay in the Polar Eegions, found 

 it breeding in some numbers along the shores of Smith's Sound and the north coast of 

 Grinnell Land. It is common throughout the Parry Islands during summer, as 

 Sabine found it in 1820 nesting in great numbers on ]Melville Island. It was pro- 

 cured by Dr. Anderson, of the "Enterprise," at Cambridge Bay (lat. 69° 10' N.), in July, 



