Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 47 



and a light southerly wind prevails, flock after flock can be seen 

 migrating in a northwesterly direction. I have yet to see these 

 birds migrate along the coast line in the spring. 

 Audubon states in Birds of America:^ 



In South Carolina it is more abundant in the autumnal months than in spring, 

 when I should think they fly directly across from the Floridas towards Cape 

 Hatteras, as my friend Dr. Bachraan informs me that he never saw one of them 

 in spring in the vicinity of Charleston. 



As I have pointed out, Dr. Bachman was certainly in error, as 

 this species is resident (although it does not breed), and it is 

 even more common in spring than in autumn. 



These birds breed in Arctic America, from the eastern seacoast 

 to the Rocky Mountains. 



96. Macrorhamphus scolopaceus (Say) . Long-billed Dow^- 



ITCHER. 



Although the Long-billed Dowitcher occurs regularly on the 

 coast it is by no means an abundant bird like the preceding. It 

 is positively rare in the spring, but I have taken a few specimens 

 on April 30, in full breeding plumage. 



About July 20, the adult, in worn breeding plumage, some- 

 times appears in flocks of M. griseus. 



The greatest number of birds of this species that I positively 

 identified were observed on September 10, 1885, on Sullivan's 

 Island, when hundreds of individuals were seen, and a few se- 

 cured. I have yet to see a specimen taken during the winter 

 months, though the habits of this species are identical with those 

 of the preceding. 



The Long-billed Dowitcher breeds abundantly in Alaska.- 



97. Micropalama himantopus (Bonap.). Stilt Sandpiper. 

 This rare species is included on the authority of Dr. Bachman, 



who appears to have taken many specimens near Charleston. Dr. 

 Bachman says in his Essay on the Migration of the Birds of North 

 America:^ 



The pectoral sandpiper, (Pelidna pectoralis, Say ) and the long-legged sand- 

 piper, *{Tringa himanfopus Bonap.) which were formerly so exceedingly rare 

 that Wilson knew nothing of their existence, are now found every summer, in 

 small numbers, along our sea coast . . . From these facts, we may easily perceive, 



'VI, 12. 



' See Nelson, E. W., Report upon Natural History Collections made in .\la8ka, 1877- 

 1881. 

 'Am. Journ. Sci. (Silliman's Jour.), XXX. 1836, 91. 



