1 8 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



The presence of the latter subspecies, heretofore considered a bird of 

 the Northwest and straying only occasionally to the Atlantic coast, was 

 another of Sable Island's surprises. They are outnumbered by the Semi- 

 palmated Plovers perhaps a liundred fold, but Ihey are moderately 

 abundant. They lay their eggs in hollows made in the sand, without any 

 attempt at a nest. The eggs are like those of the ordinary Piping Plover 

 (which bird I did not find on the island), finely speckled on a light 

 ground, and quite unlike the eggs of the Semipalmated Plover, which are 

 heavily spotted on a dark ground. The birds themselves, including the 

 females, had the neck-ring of black complete and conspicuous. The 

 question of distribution raised by these facts is an interesting one. 



Another unexpected species found on Sable Island was the Least Sand- 

 piper, although Dr. Gilpin mentions it back in 1858. Recent observers 

 have found it breeding in Labrador, and doubtfully refer it to Newfound- 

 land and the Magdalen Islands. On Sable Island it abounds, though 

 far less abundant than the Semipalmated Plover, and unlike the latter 

 confines itself to the turfy stretches adjacent to the inland ponds. This 

 is another water-bird whose love song has never been mentioned by those 

 who seem to have been well acquainted with the species in its northern 

 haunts. This is all the more surprising, inasmuch as the song is striking 

 — quite musical in fact, and more metallic than that of the Semipalmated 

 Plover, which, however, it resembles in monotonous repetition. It, too, 

 is delivered on the wing, but the flight of the little Sandpiper is quite 

 different. He poises often high in air with a series of rapid flaps of 

 the wings, followed by a soaring forward (never in circles) while the 

 wings are stiffl}' set for a few moments. The flight of the Meadowlark, 

 or of the Spotted Sandpiper, is suggested. Meanwhile the song, consisting 

 of two rapidly repeated syllables, the inflection rising, and the emphasis 

 falling on the second, continues to vibrate in the air. The intonation 

 is very like that of the spring note of the common toad, and the couplet 

 too-Hr' is repeated one hundred and thirty times every minute. As the 

 length of the whole performance is usually about ten minutes without 

 any break, the monotony of such a song is very obvious, although it 

 blended pleasantly with the harsh cries of the ever-present Terns and had 

 a silvery tinkle about it when heard oft" in the drifting fog. At its close 

 the performer would glide to the ground with the low, cheerful chuckle 

 that is familiar to us during the migration, and perhaps scamper away with 

 his mate along the margin of some sandy pool. The nest is placed in the 

 dry turf where there is actually not enough grass to conceal a croquet- 

 ball, and the males assist in incubating the eggs which are so extraordin- 

 arily large for the size of the birds. They sit on the nests until fairly 



