THE BIRD BOOK 



Knot. 

 Purple Sandpiper. 



234. Knot. Tringa canutus. 



Range. — Arctic regions in summer; south 

 through the United States, chiefly on the At- 

 lantic coast, to South America. 



Of about the same size as the Dowitchers, length 

 10.5 inches, but with a much shorter bill. In 

 summer the entire under parts are a uniform red- 

 dish chestnut color. They are known to breed 

 in Arctic America, from Point Barrow and Hud- 

 son Bay, northward, but no authentic eggs are 

 known, at present, to exist in collections. One 

 taken from a bird by Lieut. Greely, was a pea 

 green color, specked with brown; size 1.10x1.00. 

 As it was not fully developed, it was probably 

 correct neither as to size nor color. 



235. Purple Sandpiper. Arquatella maritima 

 maritima. 



Range. — Arctic regions, wintering south to the 

 Middle States and the Great Lakes, but chiefly 

 on the coast. 



A grayish and blackish colored species, about 

 nine inches long. It nests in northern Labrador, 

 about Hudson Bay and 

 in Iceland. Its eggs are 

 a grayish buff color 

 handsomely splashed 

 with rich shades of 

 brown and obscure 

 markings of darker 

 gray. Data. — North- 

 ern Iceland, June 7, 

 1897. Four eggs. Nest 

 a hollow in the ground Grayish buff, 



among grass and weeds and lined with a few 

 grasses. Collector, C. Jefferys. 



235a. Aleutian Sandpiper. Arguatella maritima couesi. 



Range. — Supposed to be a resident on the coast and islands of Alaska, from 

 the Aleutians northward. 



A very similar species to the preceding; scarcely distinguishable. These 

 Sandpipers, which are found in Alaska at all seasons of the year, breed during 

 May and June. Their nesting habits are the same as those of the preceding 

 bird and the eggs are indistinguishable. Size 1.40 x 1.00. Data. — Unalaska, 

 Bering Sea, June 3, 1898. Nest containing four eggs, a depression in the moss, 

 lined with grasses and bits of moss. The eggs were laid with their small ends 

 together. 



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