276 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Family CHARADRIID/E. Genus Tringa. 



Sub-family SCOLOPACIN^. 



BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 



Tringa rufescens, Vieillot. 



(British : Very rare abnormal autumn migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, June and early July. 



Breeding area: Northern Nearctic region, and 

 possibly extreme north-eastern Palaearctic region. The 

 Buff-breasted Sandpiper breeds in the Arctic regions of 

 America, from Alaska probably to Baffin Bay, and 

 south to about lat. 53°. It is just possible that this 

 species may cross Bering Strait, and breed on the 

 Siberian coasts. 



Breeding habits : The Buff-breasted Sandpiper 

 travels to and from its breeding grounds by inland 

 rather than coast routes, crossing the prairies, and 

 arriving in the Arctic regions early in June. On migra- 

 tion it is certainly gregarious, but the flocks apparently 

 disperse in scattered pairs over the breeding grounds, 

 although many nests may be found within a small area 

 of suitable country. Of the habits of this bird in the 

 nesting season but little has been recorded, not from 

 want of opportunities on the part of naturalists, but from 

 lack of observation. MacFarlane, who found this bird 

 breeding in large numbers on the barren ground between 

 the Horton River and the shores of the Arctic Ocean, 

 states that the nest is always made upon the ground, 

 and resembles that of the American Golden Plover. 

 Other observers describe it as a slight hollow scantily 

 lined with dry grass. Mr. Murdoch also met with this 

 Sandpiper breeding at Point Barrow in Alaska, and 

 says that it frequented the dry portions of the barren 



