176 HISTORY OF THE 



to Nevada. "^ In habits they are similar to tlie White-rumped 

 (which they so closely resemble), but are more inclined to wan- 

 der from the water's edge. I have flushed the birds on high 

 prairie lands, at least a mile from water.— 



They are said to breed all along the Arctic coast, west of Hud- 

 son's Bay to Alaska. The following description of their nest and 

 eggs is taken from "North American Water Birds:" 



"This species was found breeding on the Barren Grounds, 

 near the Arctic coast, June 24th, by Mr. MacFarlane. The nest 

 had been made upon the ground, in a swampy district between 

 two small lakes, and was composed of a few decayed leaves laid 

 loosely in a small hole or depression, shaded by a tuft of grass. 

 The female bird glided from the nest, on being approached, 

 passing closely to him, and then fluttering along, dropping her 

 wings as if wounded, endeavoring thus to lead him away from 

 the nest. This was a rare bird in that quarter. The eggs of 

 this species are usually four in number. One set (S. I. No. 

 14085) exhibited the following measurements: 1.40x. 99, 1.35 

 xl.02, 1.32X.98 and 1. Six. 98. Their ground color is a light 

 drab, generally and very uniformly sprinkled with dottings, 

 spots and a few larger confluent blotches of a bright sepia brown. 

 These are occasionally larger and a little morfe numerous at the 

 obtuse end, but generally are distributed with very little differ- 

 ence over the whole surface of the Q^^g.''^ 



Tringa minutilla ViEiLii. 



LEAST SANDPIPER. 

 PLATE XI. 



Migratory; abundant. Arrive the last of March to first of 

 May; begin to return early in August, a few occasionally re- 

 maining into November. 



B. 533. R. 538. C. 614. G. 248, 81. U. 243. 



Habitat. America in general; breeding throughout the Arc- 

 tic regions, also in sub-Arctic districts. 



Sp. Char. '■'■ Adult, summer plumage. Back and scapiilars black, the feathers 

 bordered and somewhat barred (not continuously, and mostly beneath the sur- 

 face), with rusty ochraceous, the tips of some of the feathers often whitish; rump 

 and middle upper tail coverts brownish black; lateral upper tail coverts white, 

 with wedge-shaped markings of grayish; middle tail feathers dusky, with paler 



