192 HISTORY OF THE 



These birds are very common in the United States during 

 migration, east of the Rocky Mountains, especially during the 

 spring in the western portion; and, although considered rare on 

 the Pacific side, I am inclined to think that in suitable localities 

 it will prove to be a regular and not uncommon migrant. I 

 met with it at Whatcom, Washington (also at San Jose, Guate- 

 mala), Capt. Chas. Bendire reports it an abundant migrant in 

 Oregon, and it has been found breeding in Alaska. 



In habits, this noisy bird does not appear to differ from the pre- 

 ceding species, though less watchful and more easily approached. 



Their nests are mere depressions in the ground, occasionally 

 lined with a few leaves or grasses. Eggs usually four, 1. 69 x 

 1.15; cream to drab buff, spotted and blotched irregularly with 

 varying shades of dark brown and purple shell stains; in shape, 

 pyriform. 



Subgenus HELODROMAS Kaup. 



"Similar to Totanus, but smaller, and with middle toe nearly as long as tar- 

 sus." 



Totanus solitarius (Wils.). 



SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 

 PLATE XI. 



Migratory; common. Arrive the first of March to middle of 

 April; a few remain during the season. Probably breed in the 

 State. 



B. 541. E. 550. C. 637. G. 256, 89. U. 256. 



Habitat. The whole of temperate North America; breeding 



chiefly in the northern portion; winters in California, the Gulf 



States and southward to Brazil and Peru. 



Sp. Char. ''Adult, in summer: Above, olivaceous slate, rather sparsely 

 speckled with white, the crown and nape indistiuelly streaked with the same; 

 outer upper tail coverts barred with white; primaries and primary coverts plain 

 slate black. Tail white (the middle feathers dusky), all the feathers widely 

 barred with dusky, these bars most numerous on outer webs, where extending to 

 the base of the feathers. Eyelids, supraloral stripe and lower parts white; the 

 sides of the head, neck (all round) and jugulum streaked with brownish slate; 

 remaining lower parts immaculate. Lining of wings and axillars slate color, 

 regularly barred with white. Winter phimage: Similar to the summer dress, but 

 dark ashy above, less distinctly speckled, and foreneck very indistinctly streaked, 

 or simply washed, with ashy. Young: Above, grayish brown (lighter and more 

 olivaceous than the adult), thickly speckled with buff; crown and nape plain 



