142 The Birds of Albany County 



especially near water, a few individuals are occasionally seen, 

 and it is known to breed. The two black bands across the 

 breast and the common call, render it easy to identify. Three 

 or four eggs, light buffy ground, speckled and etched with 

 dark umber, are laid in a mere depression on the ground, in 

 a dry, stony field. 



American Golden Plover. — Charadrius dominicus 

 10.50 



Not Uncommon in the Autumn 



Field marks. — Upper parts black, faintly spotted with dull 

 yellow; under parts very slightly lighter; on close view 

 the entire upper parts have a lustrous golden tinge. 



Expert gunners tell me that every Fall they take several 

 bags of this handsome Plover. A number have already been 

 taken this Fall (1907) in Rensselaer County. The novice 

 will find it difficult to identify this bird in the field and the 

 best way to study it is to examine the skin in a museum. 



Family Scolopacidas 



Spotted Sandpiper. — Actitis macularia. 7.50 



Very Common Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Teeters constantly; upper parts light grayish- 

 brown; under parts white, spotted with dark brown; bill 

 nearly an inch in length. 



From late in April until toward the last of August, this 

 bird is found very numerously along inland streams and old 



