SCOLOPACID^ — THE SNIPE FAMILY — TOTANUS. 275 



is quite common, in its migrations, beyond the Kocky Mountains. How common it 

 may be in California at any time remains to be ascertained. It is found during the 

 winter in suitable localities throughout Mexico, Central and South America, and the ' 

 West Indies. Dr. Burmeister mentions finding this species both at Mendoza and at 

 Parana, on the banks of rivers and the shores of lakes. Salvin speaks of meeting 

 with a small flock near Duenas, in Guatemala, duriiig the early part of the month of 

 April, in company Avith Actodromas macidata. It is included by Gundlach among 

 the birds of Cuba, and by Marsh among those of Jamaica. In the latter island Gosse 

 speaks of flnding it always solitary, and Avading in shallow Avater. The stomachs of 

 specimens he procured contained a mass of pulverulent matter which, on being sepa- 

 rated in Avater, Avas found to contain fragments of insects. According to Professor 

 NcAvton, this bird occurs, but not plentifully, in >St. Croix in the spring and autumn ; 

 but it probably does not remain in the island through the Avinter. He obtained a 

 single specimen, July 26, 1857 ; and J\Ir. EdAvard ]S[ewton first met Avith it Aug. 3, 

 1858. It is a regular Aasitant of the Island of Trinidad, coming each year in the 

 month of August, and AvithdraAving in October. Ahvays in flocks, sometimes of great 

 size, it keeps about the borders of the sea, only leaving them for moist meadoAvs or 

 ncAvly ploughed fields. It requires a soft soil, into which its beak can easily pene- 

 trate in quest of Avorms. In its moA^ements it is said to resemble the Solitary Tattler. 

 After the general departure of this species, a few remain along the edges of pools in 

 swampy tracts. It is much sought after by sportsmen, but its flesh is not of good 

 quality. It feeds largely upon ants and the larA^a' of dipterous insects. 



It occurs as far, at least, to the south as Patagonia, where Mr. H. Durnford (" Ibis," 

 1877) mentions finding it common along the banks of the rivers and in the adjacent 

 swamps and pools in the Chupat Valley. He does not indicate it as breeding there ; 

 and as his visit only continued from the 1st to the 29th of Xovember, it is probable 

 that it does not do so. 



It Aasits the Bahamas in its migrations ; and jorobably passes through nearly the 

 whole of the interior regions of both North and South America. Captain Bendire 

 notes its abundance in Oregon during its migrations ; and Mr. Nelson found it quite 

 numerous in Xortheastern Illinois, arriving late in April and returning in September. 

 He has no doubt that a few breed, as he obtained the young, barely able to fly, on the 

 1st of July, 1874, near Chicago ; and since then he has noticed scA^eral pairs, during 

 the breeding-season, about the Calumet marshes. 



In the summer this species extends its migrations to the extreme Arctic regions. 

 Reinhardt includes it among the birds of Greenland, a single specimen having been 

 received from that region by Pastor Moschler in 1854. Captain Blakiston met Avith 

 it on the SaskatchcAvan, obtaining a single specimen near Fort Carlton. Mr. Murray 

 records it as from Hudson's Bay, and Mr. Ross found it abundant on the Mackenzie. 

 Richardson speaks of it as very common in the Fur Countries, Avhere it is seen, either 

 solitary or in pairs, on the banks of every riA^er, lake, or marsh, up to the most north- 

 ern extremities of the continent. While breeding, it is A^ery impatient of any intru- 

 sions, betrays the approach of the sportsman to less vigilant birds by flying round 

 his head, its legs hanging down and wings drooping, uttering its incessant and plain- 

 tive cries. Previous to its departure south it collects in small flocks, and stops for 

 a time on the shores of Hudson's Bay. In this locality it Avas observed by Hearne 

 in 1772, and its habits noted. He speaks of it as the " Spotted GodAA^ait," and states 

 that it visits the Hudson's Bay in considerable numbers, and is even more abundant 

 in the interior, usually frequenting the flat, muddy banks of rivers. In the summer 

 it was generally very poor, but in the autumn it became one mass of fat. Hearne 



