508 THE WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. 
silent. They both glean and probe on land, or wade about busily in the 
grassy plashes. At the approach of danger, the waders will often crouch 
low upon the ground in the hope of escaping observation. During the 
return movement in late summer and early autumn, they scatter even more 
widely, and frequently each individual shifts for himself independent of 
his fellows. At this season it is said to lie well to a dog; and upon being 
flushed it moves off with a rapid zigzag flight, much admired by the knights 
oi the reeking tube. 
Very interesting accounts of the breeding habits of these birds, in their 
far northern home, reach us through the pen of Mr. E. W. Nelson. Accord- 
ing to this careful observer the males are able to distend the loosened skin 
of the breast, inflating it with air until it becomes nearly as large as the 
rest of the body. With these absurd appendages they run up and down 
before the females, or attempt strange sallies in the air. While engaged in 
these attempts to win attention, they utter notes which are “hollow and 
resonant, but at the same time liquid and musical, and may be represented 
by the syllables too-w, too-u, too-u.” 
No. 233. 
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. 
/ 
JA. O. U. No. 240. Actodromas fuscicollis (Vieill.). 
Description.—Adult in summer: ‘op of head ochraceous-butf, broadly 
streaked with black; upper tail-coverts pure white, or with a few dusky streaks ; 
rump brownish gray centrally, but showing white laterally; remaining upper 
parts blackish centrally, but with much edging of light brownish gray and ochra- 
ceous-rufous; central tail-feathers blackish, lateral feathers brownish gray; su- 
perciliary stripe and under parts white, the fore-neck, breast, and sides finely 
streaked with dusky and washed with ochraceous-buff. Adult in winter: Above 
plain brownish gray, the blackish reduced to central streaks; streaking of breast 
less distinct. Jmmature: Like adult in summer, but black feathers of back with 
rounded tips and ochraceous edge; those of lower scapulars rounded and white- 
tipped; feathers of crown indistinctly, and the tertials sharply bordered with 
ochraceous-rufous; not so sharply streaked, and less heavily tinged with buffy 
on breast. Length 7.00-8.00 (177.8-203.2) ; wing 4.95 (125.7) ; tail 2.15 (54.6); 
bill .96 (24.4); tarsus .96 (24.4). 
Recognition Marks.—Sparrow to Chewink size; finely streaked breast; 
white upper tail-coverts distinctive. 
Nesting.—Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, on the ground, lined scantily with 
dead leaves. Eggs, 3-4, light olive, or olive-brown spotted boldly or finely with 
deep reddish brown, chiefly about larger end. Av. size, 1.37 x .94 (34.8 x 23.9). 
