THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 137 



Notwithstanding Dr. Abbott's statement^ that this species "breeds 

 in the State as regularly as Spizella socialis," the Chipping Sparrow, 

 no one else has found the nest, and none of the alleged nests or eggs 

 seems to have been preserved. There is no doubt, 1 think, but that 

 this species nests on the Pocono Mountains, in Pennsylvania, and 

 there is, of course, a chance of its breeding in the mountainous coun- 

 ties of Northwestern New Jersey, but hardly in Mercer county. 



This is almost the only migrant Sandpiper that one is likely to see 

 regularly away from the coast. We come upon them singly or in 

 parties of two or three about some pond or meadow. In general ap- 

 pearance they recall the Spotted Sandpiper, but may be easily recog- 

 nized by their larger size. 



258 Catoptrophorus semipalmatus (Gmelin). 

 Willet. 



Adults in spring.— Jumgth, 15-17. Wing, 7.50-9. Gray above, tinged with 

 brown, streaked and barred with dusky ; rump and a large patch on the wing 

 feathers, white ; middle tail feathers, barred ; others white, mottled with gray ; 

 under parts white, washed with gray on the neck and buff on the sides ; neck 

 and chest streaked and sides barred with dusky. 



Adults and young in autumn. — Pale gray above, white beneath, rump and 

 wings as in spring. 



Rare fall migrant. Formerly common along the coast, April 20tli 

 to May loth and July 17th to September loth; and casual up Dela- 

 ware Bay. Also bred extensively. 



Wilson (1812) says: "This is one of the most noisy and noted 

 birds that inhabit our salt marshes in summer. * * * j^ breeds in 

 great numbers, and has eggs May 20th." Turnbull (1869) records it 

 as still common from the middle of April to October. 



At Long Beach Scott- (1879) writes: "Said to have been fonnerly 

 one of the most abundant breeding species, but is fast becoming rare 

 by the inroads of gunners and egg-hunters. I took a male April 6th, 

 1877, and saw no others until May. On the 17th of July they began 

 coming from the north, and were very common for a time." Mr. S. 

 N. Rhoads secured one September 1st, 1881, on the same beach, and 

 another October, 1882, and Mr. W. L. Baily got one at Atlantic City 

 in the fall of 1884 ; saw a number at Five Mile Beach July 23d to 

 August 17th, 1896; three at Cape May in August, 1897; one at Five 



> Amer. Nat.. IV.. p. 548. 



= Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. 1870, p. 225. 



