BARTRAM^S SANDPIPER. Ill 



Atlantic coast and along the inland '^fly-lines," wintering in the Sonthcrn 

 States, Mexico, the West Indies, Central America, and in Sonth America, 

 at least as far as Peru and Brazil. It is possible that its breeding-range may- 

 extend much further north, as it has been obtained nearly as far north as 

 the Arctic circle in Alaska. It appears occasionally to wander very far 

 from its ordinary winter-quarters during migration. There is no record 

 of its occurrence on the Pacific coast of North America; but it has been 

 obtained on the Bermuda Islands, in Australia, and in Italy, Malta, 

 Holland, and Germany. 



Bartram^s Sandpiper leaves its winter-quarters and migrates to its 

 breeding-grounds early in spring. Although many of the birds pass along 

 the coast northwards, the great line of migration seems to be across the 

 boundless prairies lying between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains : 

 on these endless grassy plains the '' Prairie-Pigeon," as this bird is locally 

 called, occurs in countless numbers during April and May. On the 

 prairies of Northern Dakota Bartram's Sandpiper is the commonest of the 

 Waders. At the end of May those birds which are going to breed further 

 north take their departure, for the snow will have melted by the time they 

 arrive, and those that linger prepare for their nesting-duties. Bartram's 

 Sandpiper is very tame, and runs along the roadside within a few yards of 

 the traveller, or stands quietly amongst the prairie-grass, allowing him to 

 pass it quite closely. 



Coues says that in Northern Dakota the eggs are laid by the second 

 week in June, and that only one brood is reared in the year. The nest is 

 very difficult to find, sometimes placed amongst the sun-dried scanty 

 herbage on the open prairie, but more generally near to small pools and 

 swamps or near the border of a wood in an open spot. The nest is 

 very slight — a small depression in the ground, carelessly lined with a few 

 straws or bits of herbage, being all the provision that is made. The 

 eggs are always four in number when the full complement is laid. They 

 vary in ground-colour from pale greyish buff to pale huffish brown, rather 

 sparingly spotted and blotched with reddish brown and with grey under- 

 lying markings. Some eggs have a few delicate streaks of brown at the 

 large end. The markings are never very large, varying from the size 

 of a pea to a mere speck ; the spots are largest and most numerous 

 round the large end. The eggs vary in length from 1'9 to 168 inch, 

 and in breadth from 1-35 to 1-25 inch. The eggs of Bartram's Sandpiper 

 are very similar in general appearance to those of the Common and 

 Green Sandpipers, but may always be distinguished by their larger 

 size. 



The female is a very close sitter, often allowing herself to be nearly trodden 

 upon before she quits her charge, and will then in many cases feign lame- 

 ness, especially if incubation is well advanced. Several pairs of birds often 



