brooks: birds from east Siberia and arctic Alaska. 381 



Neither sex showed any more concern than the other when an in- 

 truder was at the nest. In most cases the bird disturbed would 

 flutter along a few yards and then remain walking quietly and 

 watching. On one occasion, a female made a great disturbance, as 

 does Baird's Sandpiper. Fresh eggs were found as late as June 27 

 and a very advanced set was taken on July 6. 



Young in the down were found as early as June 25. Four broods 

 were found, and in each case the male was caring for them. 



Twice I carefully brought broods of downy young back to the cabin, 

 only to have them die within half an hour, and yet on one occasion 

 during a snowstorm I saw a parent bird trying to cover a brood of 

 four with very poor success. No doubt they lived, for snow storms 

 are a common occurrence during June and July. 



Semipalmated Sandpipers on the breeding grounds are the most 

 gentle and interesting birds in the North. 



< Ereunetes MAURI Cabanis. 



WESTERN SANDPIPER. 



The only Western Sandpipers seen on the expedition were three 

 specimens taken in East Siberia — a male on the west side of East 

 Cape, July 14, 1913, and two males at Cape Serdze, July 16, 1913. 



I have not found a Siberian record for this species. 



Tringites subruficollis (Vieillot). 



BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 



We found no evidence of this species breeding at Demarcation 

 Point or Humphrey Point. 



They were first seen on May 20, at Demarcation Point, a flock of 

 twenty or more on a low hill near the shore. They were very active, 

 pursuing each other about and forming a confused mass of birds. The 

 bird pursuing invariably held one or both wings extended straight 

 over the body. Two taken from this flock were females. On May 

 27, 28 and 29, several pairs were observed about this hill ; three were 

 taken at Collinson Point, August 3. 



The protective coloration of the Buff -breasted Sandpiper is remark- 

 able; it is difficult to see one at a short distance even when moving 

 slowly. 



