1904] Observations on rare birds met with in 1904. 



141 



I saw a bird at a small lake in the township of Olden. This year 

 1904, I saw an unmistakable bird in immature plumage, with 

 down still adhering, rise from a pool by the road-side in dense 

 woods in the township of Kennebec, on 6th July. But as proof of 

 their breeding in this part of Ontario, I will relate my experience 

 this summer near Madoc, in the county of Hastings. I was driv- 

 ing past a road-side pool near a swampy meadow on 24th August, 

 when several sandpipers rose, and alighted on the neighboring 

 fence. I stopped the horse and watched them. They were a 

 brood, four young with the two old ones : were very tame ; they 

 would fly down to the muddy pool, then alight on the fen re again, 

 would sometimes perch on a stump on the dead branch of a neigh- 

 boring tree. I could get within eight or ten feet. I thought a 

 photograph would be interesting, so I came another day, but could 

 never get more than two on the fence together. I obtained photo- 

 graphs to that extent, after visiting the location on several after- 

 noons. The last time I saw any of them was the i6th September. 

 This brood was doubtless hatched in the vicinity, and having been 

 undisturbed, will probably locate themselves there another year, if 

 they survive the migration. I have heard from boys, whom I met 

 near by, of a snipe's nest having been found last spring in an apple 

 tree, and was assured by them that the bird flew out, and until 

 they saw this nest they always thought the snipe made its nest on 

 the ground. This had reference to the solitary sandpiper. 



But not much dependence can be placed on such a statement, 

 and until I see the nest, and examine any fragments of egg sh^U 

 there may be in it, I only mention the statement for what it is 

 worth. 



Madoc, September, 1904. 



