BIRDS OF KANSAS. 199 



(June 6th to 8th), and were first seen on the dry banks below 

 the villag'c, feeding greedily on the flies and beetles which were 

 out sunning themselves. 



"By the middle of June they had spread pretty well over 

 the dryer parts of the tundra, both above and below the station. 

 They were never seen on the lower, marshy portions of the tun- 

 dra, but always confined themselves to the high and dry banks, 

 or what we call the black tundra. 



"The eggs, as might be inferred from their colors, are laid 

 in the latter locality, as a rule, where they harmonize well with 

 the black and white of the ground and moss. We were unable 

 to find the nest in 1SS2, but the next spring we collected the 

 eggs in considerable abundance. Like the rest of the waders 

 they build no nest, but deposit the four eggs, small end down, 

 in a shallow depression in the ground, lined with a little moss. 

 Four is the usual number of eggs in a complete set, though we 

 collected one set of five. 



"During the greater part of the breeding season, that is, 

 from the time they arrive till the end of June, the males indulge 

 in curious antics, which we had frequent opportunity of ob- 

 serving. 



"A favorite trick is to walk along with one witig stretched 

 to its fullest extent and held high in air. I have frequently 

 seen solitary birds doing this apparently for their own amuse- 

 ment, when they had no spectators of their own kind. Two 

 will occasionally meet and 'spar' like fighting cocks for a few 

 minutes and then rise together like 'towering' birds, with legs 

 hanging loose, for about thirty feet, then drifting off to leeward. 

 A single bird will sometimes stretch himself up to his full height, 

 spread his wings forward, and puff out his throat, making a sort of 

 clucking noise, while one or two others stand by and apparently 

 admire him. They are very silent, even during the breeding- 

 season. When they first arrive they are to be found associating 

 with Actodromcm maculata for a few days. After the breeding 

 season they disappear gradually, never gathering into flocks, 

 but quietly slipping away, and none are to be seen after the 

 first week in August." 



