ANDERvSON — THK BIRDS OF IOWA. 217 



Genus Micropalama Baird. 



97. (233). .Vicropa/aina luniantopu^ (lionap.). Stilt Sandpiper. 

 The Stilt Sandpiper has onl}- been recorded from a few locali- 

 ties in Iowa and seems to be somewhat irres^ular in its occurrence. 

 It is listed by Allen (White's C.eol. of Iowa, 1870, 425). Keyes 

 and Williams' state that they observed it but once, "in early 

 autumn on the open prairie in Floyd county. There were four 

 individuals wading about in a small pond; a single specimen only 

 was secured" (Kds. of Iowa, 1889, 122). P. B. Peabody saw four 

 or five and shot one at Heron Lake, Minn., May 19, 1894 (061., 

 xii, I, 1895). 



Count}- records: Allamakee — "shot one Aug. 10, 1904, at Lan- 

 sing" (Bailey). Des Moines — Museum No. 16504, shot at Bur- 

 lington Sept. 28, 1889, by Paul Bartsch. Mills-Pottawattamie — 

 "common migrant" (Trostler). Winneshiek — "I shot a bird of 

 this species Aug. 26, 1896, the only record of its occurrence here" 

 (Smith). 



Genus Actodromas Kauj^. 



98. (239). Actodro)}ia^ ))iaculata {\\€\\\o\.). Pectoral Sandpiper. 

 The Pectoral Sandpiper, Gra.ss Snipe, or Jack-snipe, commonly 



known to Iowa hunters as the "Prairie Pigeon," is an abundant 

 migrant in nearly all parts of the state. This species is seldom 

 found along beaches, preferring wet, grassy meadows or muddy 

 fiats, and frequently feeding on higher grounds, usually in .small, 

 compact flocks. The Pectoral Sandpipers often arrive in Iowa 

 earl}- in April and remain until late in May. They pass north to 

 breed, but return very earl3\ usually by the first week in August. 

 I shot two in Winnebago county July 27, 1904, and saw a large 

 flock at Dubuque, July 27, 1901. A flock of about fort}- was seen 

 in an upland pasture August 6, 1901, and three shot (Winnebago). 

 Dr. C. C. vSmith reports that he has seen it "as early as March 29 

 and as late as October 31, in Winneshiek; rather rare since the 

 .spring of 1895." During the fall migration the birds are usually 

 very heavy and fat, so that the .skin of the breast often breaks 

 as the bird drops to the ground when shot. 



99. (240). Adodromas fuscicollis{y\€\\\o\.). Bonaparte Sandpiper. 

 This species was reported from Iowa l)y only a few ob.servers. 



Thomas Say (Long's Exp., 1819-20, i, 337) describes a specimen 



