656 SCOLOPACID.E, 



the sliorcs of Coliassct, and other parts of Massachusetts Bay, 

 and are brou2:ht in numbers to the market of Boston, beina- 

 very fat and well flavoured. Tliey arrive in flocks about the 

 close of August, and continue here, as well as in New Jersey, 

 till the month of September, and perhaps into October. In 

 some instances, solitary individuals have been killed in the 

 marshes of Charles river in Cambridge, about the 22nd of 

 July ; these were in company with the flocks of small Sand- 

 pipers, T. Wilsonii of Nuttall, T. pusilla of Wilson ; but 

 whether pairs may breed in the neighbouring marshes or not, 

 we have not had the means of ascertaining. While here they 

 feed on small coleoptera, larvae, and the common green Ulva 

 latissima, as well as some species of Fucus, or sea-weed, on 

 which they become very fat. They utter a low plaintive 

 whistle when started, very similar to tliat of some other spe- 

 cies. Like the Snipe they seem fond of damp meadows and 

 marshes, and solitary individuals are often surprised by the 

 sportsman in the manner of that bird.*" 



Mr. Audubon in his third volume says, " This Sandpiper 

 is not uncommon along the shores of our Eastern States in 

 autumn and winter. It has also lately been found in Eng- 

 land, and I have seen a specimen of it in the possession of 

 William Yarrell of London, which was shot at no great dis- 

 tance from the metropolis. I first met with this species in 

 the immediate vicinity of Dennisville, in the State of Maine, 

 feeding on the rocky bars of the river at low water. I have 

 observed that the flight of the Pectoral Sandpiper resembles 

 that of the Knot, and is firm, rapid, and well sustained. It 

 skims rather low over the surface of the water or the land, 

 and at times shoots high up into the air, propelling itself with 

 double rapidity and in perfect silence. It runs with great 

 agility, and probes the sand or wet earth, immersing its bill 

 up to the base. I never saw this species in any part of the 

 interior. Its places of resort during the breeding season, 



