SHORE BIRDS 



237. Pribilof Sandpiper. 



Arquatella rnaritina ptilocnemis. 



Range. — Coast and islands of Bering Sea, south 

 In winter to southern Alaska. 



This bird, which is ten inches in length, has 

 the feathers of the upper parts edged with 

 rusty, and the underparts light, with a distin- 

 guishing patch of black on the breast. Similar in 

 appearance to the Red-backed Sandpiper, but not 

 so reddish above, and the latter has the black 

 patch on the belly. They breed commonly on 

 the Pribilof and other islands in Bering Sea, 

 nesting the same as other Sandppers. Their four 

 eggs are similar to those of the preceding, but 

 average darker. Size 1.50 x 1.05. 



238. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. 

 Pisobia aurita. 



Range. — An Asiatic species, quite abundant in 

 Alaska in the summer; supposed to migrate 

 south in Vy'inter, wholly on the Asiatic side of 

 the Pacific. 



A similar bird, in appearance, to the following, 

 but slightly smaller and with the breast more 

 ruddy. Its nesting habits probably do not differ 

 from those of the following Sandpiper. 



239. Pectoral Sandpiper. Pisobia maculata. f- 



Range.^ — Whole of North America, breeding in 

 the Arctic regions, and wintering south of the 

 United States, most abundant in the eastern parts 

 of the United States during migrations. 



This species is blackish brown above, with 

 light brown edgings to the feathers, and white 

 below, except the chest, which is brownish, 

 streaked with black. A very peculiar species, 



having the power, during the mating season, of in- 



v^'?*?i\> - flating the throat to a great extent, making a balloon- 



J^fX''\ like appendage, nearly the size of the bird. They 



'*^'^ ' have more the habits of Snipe, than do most of the 



^y- ^ _ 'lii^- .>'' Sandpipers, frequenting grassy meadows or marshes, 



4' '"ft^"% *^,V' in preference to the seashore. Their nests are 



' ' "' ' grass lined depressions, and the eggs are grayish 



or greenish buff, blotched with brown. Size 1.45 x 



1.00. Data. — Cape Smythe, Alaska, June 1900. Four 



eggs in a hollow in the ground, lined with grass 



Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. 

 Pectoral Sandpiper. 



147 



