232 



PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOLiE. 



was found in the collection made there by Mr. C. J. Anderson, and carefully 

 identified. 



JMr. Nelson regarded this species as, in his experience, a rather uncommon migrant 

 in Xortheastern Illinois, during the middle of May, and again in the last of August 

 and the first of September. It was generally found in small parties or singly, in 

 comi);iny with dtlicr s[)eeies of Sandpipers; but it was occasionally seen in large 

 flocks. The same writer, in his Notes on the Birds observed by him on the Humboldt 

 River, near Elko, Nevada, states that several flocks of Baird's Sandpiper were noticed 

 on the small sandbars along tlie river, and that a single example Avas obtained. 



Dr. James C. ^lerrill mentions that two specimens, both females, were taken by 

 hina on the Lower Rio Grande, March 30, 1876, on a sandbar in the river. 



This species was found breeding on the Barren Grounds, June 24, by Mr. Mac- 

 Farlane. The nest had been made on the ground in a swampy district, between two 

 small lakes, and was composed of a few decayed leaves laid loosely in a small hole 

 or d(>})ression, shaded by a tuft of grass. The female bird glided from the nest on 

 being approached, passing closely to him, and then fluttered along, drooping her 

 wings as if wounded, endeavoring thus to lead him away from the nest. This was a 

 rare bird in that quarter. The eggs of this species are usually four in number. 

 One set (S. I. No. 14.085) exhibit the following measurements : 1.40 by .99, 1.35 by 

 1.02, 1.32 by .98, and 1.31 by .98. Their ground-color is a light drab, generally and 

 very uniformly sprinkled with dottings, spots, and a few larger confluent blotches of 

 a bright sepia brown. These are occasionally larger, and a little nwve numerous at 

 the obtuse end, but generally are distributed with very little dift'erence over the 

 whole surface of the egg. 



Actodromas maculata. 



THE PECTORAL SANDPIPER. 



Tringa maculata, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. XXXIV. 1819, 465. — Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 



720. — Baiud, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 531. — CouES, Key, 1872, 255 ; Check List, 1873, no. 



420 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 486. 

 Actodromas maculata, Coues, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Bhilad. 1861, 197, 230 ; Check List, 2d ed. 1882, 



no. 616. — RiDGW. Nora. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 534. 

 Pelidna 2Kctoralis, Bonap. Comp. List, 1838, 50. 

 Tringa pccforalis. Say, Long's Exp. I. 1823, 171. — Nutt. Man. IL 1834, 111. — AuD. Orn. Biog. 



IlL 1835, 601 ; V. 1839, 582, pi. 294 ; Synop. 1839, 232; B. Am. V. 1842, 259, pL 329. 

 Tringa dominicensis, Degl. Oru. Eur. IL 1849, 232. 



Hab. The whole of North, iiiirl the greater part of Soutli, America, ranging south in winter 

 to Southern Brazil and Chili ; West Indies in general ; Bernuidas ; frequent in Europe ; North 

 China ? (Swinh. " Ibis," 1863, 97). Breeds in Arctic regions. 



Sp. Chau. Adult in svmimer : Above, light clay-color, the crown, back, scapulars, and tertials 



