BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. ' 3 



Mr. John Murdoch gives the following details respecting the breeding habits 

 of this Sandpiper, as observed by him at Point Barrow, Alaska * : — " This is an 

 abundant summer resident, and was more plenty in the season of 1883 than it was 

 the year before. 



" They arrived both seasons in a body at about the same date (June 6 to 8), 

 and were first seen on the dry banks below the village feeding greedily on the flies 

 and beetles which were out sunning themselves. 



" By the middle of June they had spread pretty well over the dryer parts of 

 the tundra, both above and below the station. They were never seen on the lower 

 marshy portions of the tundra, but always confined themselves to the high and dry 

 banks, or what we called the black tundra. 



" The eggs, as might be inferred from their colors, are laid in the latter 

 locality, as a rule, where they harmonize very well with the black and white of 

 the ground and moss. We were unable to find the nest in 1882, but the next 

 spring we collected the eggs in considerable abundance. Like the rest of the 

 waders they build no nest, but deposit the four eggs, small end down, in a shallow 

 depression in the ground lined with a little moss. Four is the usual number of 

 eggs in a complete set, though we collected one set of five. 



" During the greater part of the breeding season, that is, from the time they 

 arrive till the end of June, the males indulge in curious antics, which we had 

 frequent opportunity of observing. 



" A favorite trick is to walk along with one wing stretched to its fullest 

 extent and held high in the air. I have frequently seen solitary birds doing this 

 apparently for their own amusement, when they had no spectators of their own 

 kind. Two will occasionally meet and ' spar ' like fighting cocks for a few 

 minutes, and then rise together like ' towering ' birds, with legs hanging loose, 

 for about thirty feet, then drifting off to leeward. A single bird will sometimes 

 stretch himself up to his full height, spread his wings forward, and puff' out his 

 throat, making a sort of clucking noise, while one or two others stand by and 

 apparently admire him. They are very silent, even during the breeding season. 

 When they first arrive they are to be found associating with Actodromas maculafa 

 for a few days. After the breeding season they disappear gradually, never 

 gathering into flocks, but quietly slipping away, and none are to be seen after 

 the first week in August." 



* ' Report of the International Polar Expedition to Point Barrow, Alaska : Birds,' by John 

 Miirdoch, p. 114. 



