^°1891."'] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 427 



away from the nest on being approached, passing closely by me, and 

 then fluttered along drooping her wings as if wounded, endeavoring 

 thus to lead me away therefrom. It is very uncommon in any northern 

 quarter through which we passed, although nests were subsequently 

 discovered in the same as well as in other localities. 



242. Tringa minutilla Vielll. Least Sandpiper. 



This species was found breeding abundantly at Fort Anderson, on 

 the borders of as well as in the Barren Grounds, and on and near the 

 Arctic coast. Upwards of twenty nests were secured, and in all re- 

 spects the latter were similar to those already described under this 

 genus. 



246. Ereuuetes pusillus (Linn.). Semipalmated Sandpiper. 



Fairly abundant in the Barren Grounds, but more so on the shores of 

 Franklin Bay, where a number of specimens with eggs were secured. 

 The female when disturbed frequently glides from the nest, pretending 

 to be disabled and thereby endeavors to draw a^vay intruders. Occa- 

 sionally the nests are hidden by tufts of grass. In reference to one of 

 these, procured on 30th June, 1865, between two small brackish lakes 

 near the seashore, it may be mentioned that one of our party, a French 

 Canadian servant, once heard the female parent utter a shrill note of 

 alarm as she flew away when he approached her nest. After searching 

 about for a few minutes he failed to find the eggs, and he then hid 

 himself in order to watch where she would alight on her return. In a 

 short time she cajue back accompanied by three companions, all of 

 which flew and moved about, but not discovering anything they seemed 

 to hold a brief consultation, after which they separated, the female to 

 her eggs. Another search failed to discover the nest, and the female 

 returned again with the same birds, who appeared to be in a state of 

 great excitement, judging from the chattering they kept up. After a 

 little while they again separated, when the nest was found and the 

 parent shot. The report of the gun brought the others once more to 

 the spot, but they soon beat a hasty retreat. The nest was a mere' de- 

 pression in the midst of a tussock of hay, and lined witn a few withered 

 leaves and grasses. 



248. Calidris arenaria (Linn.). Sanderling. 



On 29th June, 1863, we discovered a nest of this species, " the only 

 one at that time known to naturalists," on the Barren Grounds about 

 10 miles west of Franklin Bay. The nest was composed of withered 

 hay and leaves placed in a small cavity or depression in the ground, 

 and it contained four egg^^, which were quite fresh. The female was 

 snared. It is a very rare bird in that quarter, and we never afterwards 

 succeeded in finding another nest. " The eggs measure 1.44 inches by 

 0.95 to 0.99 in breadth, and their ground color is a brownish olive, 



