174 HISTORY OF THE 



This species, during migration, is found from the Atlantic 

 coast to the Rocky Mountains. (I have met with the birds in 

 Texas and Eastern Colorado.) The only mention I can find of 

 the birds west of the Rocky Mountains, south of Alaska, is of a 

 single specimen reported from Oakland, California, by Walter 

 E. Bryant, in "The Auk," YoL 4, p. 78. If as stated, (''feet 

 and legs yellow,") it cannot be this species; but as the birds 

 breed in Northern Alaska, and have been found by Stejneger 

 west on Behring Islands, they will probably prove to be migrants 

 on the Pacific side, though not as common as eastward. " They 

 frequent the sandy beach as well as the marshy shores upon the 

 coast; but inland seem to prefer the edges of pools of water 

 upon the uplands. They move in small flocks, are very social, 

 often associating with other waders; are not as a rule shy or 

 timid, and, when startled, usually fly but a short distance, drop 

 back and run about in an unconcerned and heedless manner, 

 picking up the minute forms of life that usually abound in such 

 places, occasionally uttering a rather sharp, piping "Weet, 

 weet." Their flight is swift and well sustained. il 



The following description of their nest and eggs is from 

 "North American Water Birds," Vol. I, p. 229: "Mr. L. Kum- 

 lin states that this species breeds in Kinguah and Kinguite fords, 

 and in other suitable localities on both shores of Cumberland 

 Sound. Considerable numbers were observed along the beach 

 near Nuboyant, on the west shore, in July, where they were in 

 all probability breeding. Mr. MacFarlane was so fortunate as 

 to meet with several nests, with the eggs, of this species on or 

 near the Arctic coast. One of these, taken July 3d, on the 

 shore of the Arctic Sea, contained four eggs with very large 

 embryos. Another, found on the following day, contained three 

 eggs. A third, found June 29tli, on the Barren Grounds, was 

 a mere depression in the ground, lined with a few decayed 

 leaves, containing four eggs with very large embryos. A fourth, 

 obtained on the banks of a small river, was composed of a few 

 decayed leaves, and held four eggs. 



"Eggs of this species found on the Barren Grounds, near the 

 Arctic coast, by Mr. MacFarlane (S. I. No. 11329), are pyri- 



