BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 137 



there is no possible distinction between the eggs of the two 

 species. Nothing less than the simultaneous obtaining of the 

 bird with the eggs will satisfy me now. 



As in my first remarks respecting the species, I was at a loss 

 to see why it was named Solitary until I learned for myself 

 the difficulty of finding the birds at all during their breeding. 

 By going to those sections where they are most commonly 

 found at other times, very early in the morning, as I have done 

 many times to observe other birds, I have occasionally seen a 

 single Sandpiper of this species at the season of nesting. 

 Finally I discovered them between sunset and twilight, silently 

 running about as if not far from the rest of the family. Then I 

 resorted to the locality in the middle of the day, and "pros- 

 pected" every square yard of considerable territory, but never 

 yet have been rewarded by the discovery of the nest, or indeed 

 the birds either at such a time. In the early days of August 

 they begin to come out of their hiding places, and are more 

 and more frequently seen as the season advances, until in 

 September they are often on the wing in small flocks which 

 again increase in size until they leave for the winter. I must 

 conclude that the setting bird possesses the same instinct for 

 secreting the nest and eggs which is well known to be shown 

 in other orders of birds. On the approach of an intruder, the 

 bird slips silently off the nest and at once covers it with such 

 debris as surrounds it, and wends a dubious way rapidly to a 

 place of unquestioned safety. 



I cannot resist the impulse of quoting from Coues' "Birds of 

 the Northwest," page 500, where is to be found an example of 

 his almost peerless genius in the description of the minuter 

 traits of those humbler forms of bird life overlooked by less 

 observing ornithologists, in which this species has his attention 

 until immortalized. He says: ' ' I generally found two or three 

 to half a dozen together; frequently one at a time; occasionally, 

 but not often, upwards of a score, that seemed, however, to be 

 drawn together by their common tastes in the matter of feeding 

 grounds rather than by any gregarious instinct. They are 

 moreover pretty exclusive in their own set; rather declining, 

 than encouraging, familiarity on the part of other waders; 

 though the Peetweets and others sometimes intrude their hoy- 

 denish society upon the more sedate and aristocratic members 

 of the long-legged circle. They should rightly, however, rather 

 embrace than merely endure such company, for they are easy 

 going, contemplative natures, and their sharp-eyed associates 



