382 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



Calidris leucophaea (Pallas). 

 sanderling. 



The only Sanderling seen was an adult female taken at Demarca- 

 tion Point", August 30, 1913. 



EuRYNORHYNCHUS PYGMAEUS (Linne). 

 spoon-bill sandpiper. 



This interesting species was observed both at Providence Bay and 

 Cape Serdze. 



Its status at Providence Bay we failed to ascertain for its coloring 

 and actions agree so with Pisohia minuta ruficollis that we did not 

 discover its presence until June 20, after which we only had part of a 

 night to continue our work on this Bay. 



The males of both species during the nesting season have a habit 

 of rising to a height of forty or fifty feet and flying a short distance 

 by a series of dips, then hovering a moment with rapidly beating wings, 

 and slowly descending to the ground uttering a pretty, twittering 

 song. The only difference between the actions of these species was 

 that the Spoon-bill Sandpiper seemed to ascend to a greater height be- 

 fore singing the flight song. ^ 



A glint of light on the flat surface of the bill finally betrayed the 

 bird and on the night of June 22, 1913, Mr. Dixon discovered on a 

 large marsh on the west side of Providence Bay a nest containing two 

 eggs. The male was on the nest. It seems improbable that more 

 than three or four pairs were about this marsh. 



At Cape Serdze, we also observed Spoon-bill Sandpipers near the en- 

 trance of a large lagoon. Here there were only seven or eight pairs in 

 two small marshy areas on either side of the entrance. A brood of three 

 downy young was taken on July 17, the male being with them at the 

 time. 



PisoBiA minuta ruficollis Scebohu. 



EASTERN LEAST STINT. 



The Eastern lieast Stint was seen at Providence Bay and Cape 

 Serdze. 



At the head of Providence Bay a few pairs were breeding. Two 



