SCOLOPACID^ — THE SNIPE FAMILY — ACTODROMAS. 233 



washed -with light rufous or rusty ochraceous ; the feathers bhick centrally, producing conspicuous 

 streaks, which widen into spots on the scapulars and back ; rump and middle upper tail-coverts 

 brownish black ; lateral upper tail-coverts wlute, with dusky sliaft-streaks. Middle tail-feathers 

 dusky, edged with lighter ; other rectrices pale brownish gray, bordered with white. Wiug-coverts 

 light grayish l)ro\vn, witli paler borders and darker centres ; a light superciliary stripe, and a 

 darker loral one. Cheeks, sides of the neck, whole jugulum, and breast, pale clay-color or liglit 

 grayish buff, streaked with dusky ; sides sparsely streaked. PuMnaining lower parts immaculate 

 white. "Basal half of ))ill dull greenish yellow" (Nklson, >rs. ). Adult in ivinter : Simihu' to 

 summer plumage, but the rusty tint alH)ve almost or wholly absent, and the black markings less 

 sharply defined. Yoimg, first plumage : Quite similar to the summe:r adult, but the scapulars and 

 outer interscapulars conspicuously tipped externally with white, the breast, etc., more distinctly 

 buff, and rather more narrowly streaked. 



Total length, about 9.00 inches ; wing, about 5.00; culnien, 1.10; tar.sus, 1.00-1.10; middle 

 toe, .90. 



The history of this bird is very imperfectly known. Dnring its seasons of 

 migration it is qnite abundant, both on the sea-coast and in the interior, about the 

 borders of ponds and the shores of lakes and rivers. As to its distribution during 

 the breeding-season, we have no positive information. Solitary individuals have been 

 observed by Mr. Kumlien about Lake Koskonong during the summer, and at first he 

 supposed they Avere breeding ; but as no nests were found, it is supposed that these 

 individuals were only unmated birds. This species has also been observed in the 

 vicinity of Boston late in July, in company Avith the minutllla ; but it is impossible 

 to determine whether the birds tlms seen were immature, or such as had thus early 

 completed the duties of incubation. It is comparatively rare on the Pacific coast. A 

 single specimen was collected at Sitka by Bischoff, and Dall speaks of it as iiot uncom- 

 mon at Plover Bay, Siberia ; Init it Avas not noticed by him on the Aleiitian Islands. 

 Dr. Cooper has met Avitli none on tlie California coast, but states that they have been 

 taken at Puget Sound ; and as they visit South America, he thinks that they must 

 occasionally be found on the southern coast of California : but tliis is purely conjec- 

 tural. It Avas taken at Fort Simpson by Mr. B. R. Ross, at Fort Anderson by Mr. 

 MacFarlane, and at Fort Eesolution by Mr. Kennicott. 



In the Avinter this bird visits the West Indies, Central America, Avhere it is very 

 abundant, as Avell as various portions of South America. Mr. Salvin states that 

 about the beginning of April, and toAvard the end of the dry season, a great portion 

 of the stream is diverted from the Eiver Guacalate and thrown on the open pasture- 

 land near Dueiias, in Guatemala. During this period large numbers of Seolojiacidce 

 frequent the inundated region ; of these the present species of Wader is by far the 

 most abundant. At this season, as it thus takes its food from fresh Avater, it is excel- 

 lent eating. Mr. EdAvard ISTeAvton speaks of having occasionally met Avith this bird, 

 after September 14, at St. Croix, Avhere he obtained several examples. He did not 

 at any time see more than two of them together. Leotaud gives this species as one 

 of the migratory visitants of Trinidad, Avhither it goes in August, remaining into 

 October. It is ahvays found in flocks, and frequents the Ioav meadows rather than 

 the sea-shore. It is often seen to crouch on the ground, and is knoAvn on the island 

 as the '' crouching shore-bird." Not unfrequently, it is seen accompanying a number 

 of the canutus, the latter seeming to act as its guides. 



Mr. IST. B. Moore procured several examples of this species in the Bahamas as 

 early as August 5. In South America its occurrence has been noted even as far 

 south as Patagonia. Mr. H. Durnford ("Ibis," 1877) found it abundant in the Chupat 

 Valley, Avhere he saw large flocks of this bird about the salt lagoon to the north of 

 the village, and also on the sandy flats at the mouth of the river. In tlieir movement 



A'OL. I. — 30 



