NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 129 



530. Purple Sandpiper — arquatella maritima. Clay color, shaded 

 with olivaceous, with large and distinct markings of rich umber-brown of 

 different depths of intensity all over the shell, but most numerous as well 

 as largest on the greater half ; pyriform ; the eggs are usually four in 

 number, and measure about 1.40 by i. The Purple Sandpiper is a spe- 

 cies of circumpolar distribution, breeding only in the high north, where it 

 often winters. In America it is found as far south as the Middle States, 

 but is chiefly maritime, and it also occurs on the Great Lakes. In New 

 England it is chiefly a winter resident, appearing late in the fall and 

 remaining until spring. It is a rare visitor on Lake Erie, The nest is a 

 mere depression in the ground. 



532. Prybilov Sandpiper — arquatella ptilocnemis. The Black- 

 breasted Sandpiper is only known from the Prybilov or Fur Seal Islands, 

 where it breeds; and is found northward to St. Matthew and St. Law- 

 rence Islands. The eggs are four in number, and like those of the Purple 

 Sandpiper. 



537. Baird's Sandpiper — actodromas bairdl Buff or clay-colored, 

 spotted and blotched with varying shades of chestnut brown ; in most in- 

 stances the markings are fine and innumerable, of indefinite size, irregular 

 in shape and thickest at the greater end, where they are occasionally 

 massed in blotches; size about 1.30 by .90. Baird's Sandpiper is dis- 

 tributed throughout North America generally, but is said not yet to have 

 been observed west of the Rocky Mountains. It is found chiefly in the 

 interior. It is only known to breed in the Arctic regions; and winters 

 south of United States. The eggs are deposited in a slight depression of 

 the soil. 



Hab. North America, chiefly the interior. Rare on the Atlantic coast; not observed west of Rocky 

 Mountains; wintering in Mexico; Central and South America. 



539rt. Red-backed Sandpiper — pelidna alpina Americana. The 

 Red-backed Sandpiper is distributed throughout the whole of North 

 America, breeding in the Arctic regions. It migrates through and winters 

 in the United States, especially coastwise. It is a common spring and fall 

 migrant on Lake Erie, where specimens have been taken near Cleveland, 

 Ohio, in full breeding plumage. Rather common in the fall and rare in 

 spring in the interior of the State. The eggs of this sandpiper are de- 

 posited in a slight depression of the ground on a little grass, etc. It is 

 known by several other names: American Dunlin, Black-bellied Sandpiper, 

 and Ox-bird. 



