412 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
at Nachvak. Turner found them breeding plentifully at Fort Chimo 
in the extreme north, and Spreadborough found them common on 
the rocky islands in James Bay, and on all the hills between Richmond 
Gulf and Ungava Bay. He took a nest with five eggs on June 18, 
1896. . 
We found Pipits commonly wherever we landed on the Labrador 
coast, and we frequently saw or heard them as we steamed along the 
shores. We noted 49 individuals on our way north, and 103 on our 
return trip. Their slim graceful forms and quaker-gray and brown 
plumage make them very attractive birds. We frequently saw them 
walking on the roofs of the tilts and fish houses as well as on the rocks 
close to the dwellings of the inhabitants. There were about eight 
pairs on Battle Island. They frequented commonly the rocky and 
pebbly shores of the sea. During our visit they appeared to be busy 
feeding their young, and could frequently be seen with their bills full 
of insects. We found a full-fledged young at Battle Harbor on July 
15th. 
The habit of wagging the tail up and down is shared even by the 
young that are able to fly but a short distance, birds whose tails are 
only half grown. In walking, Pipits thrust their feet well out in front 
and nod their heads gracefully in a doye-like manner. 
Their call note tseé-ket, so familiar on the Massachusetts coast in 
the autumn migrations was occasionally heard, but the common note 
at this season, and one constantly repeated by reason of the solicitude 
for their young was a loud whistling tswit, resembling at times very 
closely the alarm note of the Spotted Sandpiper. Once or twice we 
heard a churr like that of a Red-poll. 
The flight song of the American Pipit is an interesting performance. 
One was observed at Great Caribou Island on July 11th under espe- 
cially favorable circumstances. He was standing on a rock in a 
valley about 150 feet nearly vertically below us. He suddenly sprang 
into the air, mounting nearly vertically, but circling slightly. As he 
went up he sang repeatedly a simple refrain, che-whée, che-whée 
with a vibratory resonance on the whée. Attaining an eminence of 
some 50 feet obliquely above us, perhaps 200 feet from the ground, 
he checked himself and at once began the descent. He went down 
faster and faster, repeating his song at the same time faster and faster. 
Long before he reached the ground he set his wings and tipped from 
side to side to break his descent. After remaining quiet on the ground 
