STILT SANDPIPER. 133 



Although this species is abundant along the sea coast during the 

 season of migration, it can only be regarded as an accidental traveller 

 in Ontario. The specimen in my collection is the only one I have 

 ever found near Hamilton. In the " List of Birds of Western 

 Ontario " it is spoken of as rare, and Dr. Wheaton, in his exhaustive 

 " List of the Birds of Ohio," says he never saw it in that State, but 

 has had it reported as a rare spring and fall migrant. 



Geo. R. White has found it on one or two occasions at Ottawa, 

 but it is restricted to the Atlantic coast, and those found inland are 

 only stragglers from the ranks during the season of migration. 



They are gentle, unsuspicious birds, allowing a near approach, 

 and, as they Hy in compact flocks and gather very closely together 

 when alighting, there is great opportunity for unlimited slaughter 

 among them by anyone bent on filling the "bag." 



They are a very abundant species and must breed in great num- 

 bers somewhere, though exactly where I have not found on record. 



Dr. Coues says that it breeds in high latitudes, and Ridgway 

 describes it as " breeding far northward, Nushagak River, Alaska 

 (straggler)." It is spoken of by Dr. Richardson as having " an 

 extensive breeding range throughout the fur countries, from the 

 borders of Lake Superior to the Arctic Ocean." Which of the two 

 species he found on the borders of Lake Superior is not apparent. 



These birds are seen in greatest numbers along the shores of the 

 Atlantic States in fall and winter. They are highly esteemed for 

 the table, and are slaughtered in great numbers for the market. 



In the North-West, including Alaska, the class is represented by 

 the Long-billed Dowitcher, a bird very similar in habit and appear- 

 ance but of larger size, the bill, especially, being longer than in the 

 present species. 



Genus MICROPALAMA Baird. 

 MICROPALAMA HIMANTOPUS (Bonap.). 



95. Stilt Sandpiper. (233) 



Adult in ■summer : — Above, blackish, each feather edged and tipped with 

 white and tawny or bay, which on the scapulars becomes scalloped ; auriciilars, 

 chestnnt ; a dusky line from bill to eye, and a light reddish superciliary line ; 

 upper tail coverts, white with dusky bars ; primaries, dusky with blackish tips ; 

 tail feathers, ashy-gray, their edge and a central field white ; under parts 

 mixed, reddish, black and whitish, in streaks on the jugulum, elsewhere in bars ; 

 bill and feet, greenish-black. Youiuj and adult in u-inttr : — Ashy-gray above, 



