258 BULLETIN 142, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



has a slight luster, and is strongly constructed. The markings on the same set 

 of eggs always follow the same type in color, and likewise the ground color is 

 always the same shade. In the series of eggs the prevalent ground color is 

 " cream color." but the shades vary from dull white, which is very rare, to 

 equally rare "wood brown." The ground color is often almost obliterated by 

 the profusecess of the markings, especially on the larger two-thirds of the egg. 

 The color of the surface markings is usually " Kaiser brown," but they show 

 considerable variation, dependent upon the amount of pigment deposited, rang- 

 ing from " brick red " to " chestnut brown." The spots are somewhat elongated 

 and vary from small pin points to large blotches that may completely cover the 

 larger end of the egg. These have a decided tendency to spiral from left to 

 right. The underlying markings are inconspicuous and are only visible on 

 eggs having a pale background and then they are of small size and indistinct. 

 The eggs are generally flecked with additional markings consisting of a few 

 intense irregular spots or fine lines of slate black to black. These blackbird- 

 like markings are almost always on the larger end, although on many eggs 

 they are entirely wanting. In series the eggs of the western sandpiper have 

 a decidedly bright red appearance, and are thus distinct from any eggs occur- 

 ring in the Hooper Bay region. 



The western sandpiper has been known to lay five eggs. 



The measurements of 120 eggs, furnished by Mr. Brandt, average 

 30.8 by 21.9 millimeters; the eggs showing the four extremes measure 

 32.5 by 22.3, 32 by 22.8, 28.7 by 21.6, and 30.3 by 21.1 millimeters.. 



Young. — H. B. Conover tells me that both sexes incubate, at least 

 both had incubation patches. He says in his notes : 



On June 15 the first newly hatched young were found. The parents were 

 very solicitous and flew about twittering anxiously. Soon other old birds 

 joined them and seemed just as anxious as if the young were their own. This 

 habit of these sandpipers in joining forces to help their neighbors was very 

 noticeable both before and after the eggs had hatched. By June 30 half- 

 grown young that could already fly for a few yards were being seen. Western 

 sandpipers with their chicks were everywhere, and during a walk around the 

 tundra you had a constant attendance of anxious mothers and fathers wheeling 

 about. Eggs were still being found on July 5. By July 18 the mud flats were 

 covered with fully fledged young of this species. 



The incubation period for this species seems to be about 21 days. A nest 

 found on May 26 with four eggs hatched on June 15 late in the evening. An- 

 other found on May 29 with three eggs in it, had four eggs on May 30, and 

 three young and a pipped egg on the evening of June 19. The rapidity with 

 which these birds lay and hatch their eggs and raise their young is very 

 remarkable. In 60 days from their arrival on the nesting grounds the young 

 are full grown and taking care of themselves. 



Air. Brandt in his manuscript says : 



It seemed to us as if every western sandpiper about Hooper Bay must have 

 deposited its first egg on practically the same day, because the four days 

 following May 26 more than 50 nests were recorded, and after June 15 

 the beautiful brown and black mottled young all of the same size were to be 

 found everywhere. These newly born bird mites are not long abed, however, 

 for in <me case an hour after hatching their cradle was empty. 



