266 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Broad- 

 billed Sandpiper cannot readily be confused with those 

 of any other Palaearctic species, the small size of the 

 markings, their density and colour, being sufficient for 

 easy identification. 



Family CHARADRIID.^. Genus Tringa. 



Sub-family SCOLOPACINyE. 



AMERICAN PECTORAL SANDPIPER. 



Tringa acuminata pectoralis {Say). 



(British : Rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, June. 



Breeding area : Northern Nearctic region. The 

 American Pectoral Sandpiper breeds on the barren 

 grounds above the limits of forest growth in Arctic 

 America, from Alaska in the west to Davis Strait in 

 the east. 



Breeding habits : The American Pectoral Sind- 

 piper passes along the coasts and river valleys of the 

 United States on its way north in spring, and reaches 

 its breeding grounds towards the end of May. It 

 migrates in flocks, but these disperse at the summer 

 haunts after the birds liave paired. Of the nesting 

 habits of this Pectoral Sandpiper absolutely nothing 

 was known until the eggs were obtained near Point 

 Barrow, in Alaska, at the end of June 1883. The nest 

 is said always to be made amongst the grass in a dry 

 part of the tundra, but has not yet been minutely 

 described. Of the habits of the bird at the nest nothing 

 has yet been recorded. 



