SNIPES, SANDPIPERS 175 



rule with the Solitary Sandpiper it explains why I never found 

 their nests, as though there were dozens of deserted nests of Red- 

 wings and Grackles near the spots where I felt sure their nests 

 must be I never thought of looking for the eggs in such places. 

 When near the breeding locality the birds are rather uneasy 

 and utter a low peevish call, especially when with young. Ordi- 

 narily they are very silent, uttering a slight whistle when flushed. 



During the nesting season they frequent just such shores as 

 are liked by the Grackles and Red-wings along grassy meadows 

 and boggy places. Often a Solitary Sandpiper may be seen 

 standing on the top of a stump or log which projects above 

 the surface of the water. They eat worms, insects, small crus- 

 taceans and similar material. They sometimes at least seek 

 their food by wading in shallow running water. 



Though eggs have been described as belonging to this species 

 the author prefers to withhold judgment regarding them and 

 refer the reader elsewhere for their description until we know 

 more about the actual breeding of the species. The downy 

 young are a general grayish buff above with darker suffusions on 

 the back; a darker line through each eye from bill to nape; dark- 

 ish crown line; below white with slight dusky suffusion on flanks. 



Genus SYMPHEMIA Rafinesque. 



258. Symphemia semipalmata (Gmel.). Willet. 



Plumage of summer adults : above brownish gray with dark streaks on 

 head and neck and blackish bars on back ; basal part of primaries and the 

 secondaries for most part white ; upper tail coverts white with darkish bars ; 

 middle tail feathers ashy, faintly barred; outer tail feathers lighter with 

 gra)ish mottlings ; below white with heavy bars of dark gray on breast and 

 sides. Plumage of winter adults : brownish gray above without bars on 

 back and tail ; below white with a grayish washing on breast ; axillars black. 

 Immature plumage : above brownish gray with buffy margins to feathers of 

 back ; sides buff tinged and grayish mottled. Wing 7.60 to 8.70 ; culmen 

 2.20; tarsus 2.40. 



Geog. Dist. — Eastern North America from New Jersey to Florida in breed- 

 ing season ; wintering south to the West Indies and Brazil ; very casual 

 north to Maine ; accidental in Bermuda and Europe. 



