122 Birds of Colorado 



company of which it is frequently found. It comes back early from 

 the north — in fact it was taken on July 23rci by Thome at Fort Lyon, 

 and may possibly have been breeding there. Other records are : 

 Pueblo, May 8th (Beckham), El Paso co.. May 7th (Aiken coll)., 

 Barr Lake where very common, and observed through May, June and 

 July, but not known to breeed (Hersey & Rockwell) ; Loveland, 

 April 15th (W. G. Smith), while Carter noticed it in Middle and 

 South Parks, and Rockwell on the Grand Mesa, at 10,000 feet, in the 

 mountains. 



Genus HELODROMAS. 



Bill moderate, slightly exceeding the head ; tarsus short, slightly 

 exceeding the middle toe and claw, approximately equal to the culmen ; 

 resembling Totanus in most respects, but the sternum with only one 

 notch instead of two posteriorly, and lajang its eggs in trees in the 

 deserted nests of other birds. 



This genus contains one Old World and one New World species, 

 the latter separated into an eastern and western race. The western 

 one is characterized by its larger size and greyer wings. 



Western Solitary Sandpiper. 

 Helodromas solitarius cinnamormus. 



A.O.U. Checklist no 256a— Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 152, 

 159; Henshaw 75, p. 459; Tresz 81, p. 244; Allen & Brewster 83, 

 p. 198 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 67, 200 ; 

 Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 228 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160 ; Cary 09, 

 p. 180 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. 



Description. — Adult — Above dark olive-brown, streaked on the head, 

 speckled elsewhere with white ; primaries and edge of the wing rather 

 darker, almost black ; central tail-feathers and their coverts like the 

 back with a few white spots at the edges ; lateral tail-feathers and their 

 coverts white, barred with black ; below white, the throat and breast 

 streaked, the sides and under wing-coverts closely barred wuth dusky ; 

 iris brown, bill and legs dusky-greenish. Length 8-5 ; wing 5-15 ; 

 tail 2-0 ; culmen 1-3 ; tarsus 1-25. 



The sexes are alike ; there is but little seasonal change, but the tone 

 is more aahy and there is less white speckling above in winter. Young 

 birds have distinct cinnamon spots above instead of white. 



Distribution. — Western North America, breeding in northern Alberta 

 and probably south to Colorado and Utah, wintering in California 

 and probable south to Peru. 



