66 MousLEY, Birds of Hatley, Que. Uan. 



my most interesting find, especially in view of the fact that during the past 

 few years its numbers are considered to be increasing in northeastern 

 United States, and let us hope in eastern Quebec also. 



18. Actitis macularia (Linnaeus). Spotted Sandpiper. — Common 

 summer visitant ; INIay 1 to Sept. 24. Average date of arrival (for five j^ears) 

 May 4; of departure (for thi-ee years) Sept. 10. Eggs: May 20 to June 21. 

 Usually not less than six pairs of this familiar little sandpiper breed on the 

 margins of the marsh, and one of the most interesting events I have wit- 

 nessed happened with regard to this species. I had shot an immature bu-d 

 (for a cabinet specimen) which fell at the edge of the water, but on pro- 

 ceeding to the spot to pick it up as I thought was sm-prised to see it wading 

 out in the water, where after getting out of its depth it sank to the bottom, 

 and I could see it there in the clear water proceeding at a gi-eat pace by 

 means of its wings and feet for a small mud liank, where it came to the 

 surface and hid in the surrounding rushes. Persistent searching in late 

 June and through July has failed to reveal any evidence of a second brood. 

 Three eggs in a set are rare, only one out of fifteen nests examined having 

 this number all the others containing four. On one occasion only have I 

 seen a very excited parent bird with young alight on a cat-tail head, and 

 very out of place and uncomfortable it seemed to be. It may not be gen- 

 erally known that these birds if flushed whilst constructing their nest 

 invariably desert it, at least this has been my experience on four occasions, 

 when I have flushed both birds whilst in the act of scooping out or lining 

 the hole. In one instance, however, they made a fresh nest within forty-five 

 feet of the old one. Most of the birds leave about the end of July or be- 

 ginning of August, those remaining into September being immatures only. 



19. Oxyechus vociferus (Linnseus). Killdeer. — Rare transient; 

 July 31. The above date of the present year (1915) is the only occasion on 

 which I have come across this handsome plover, and then only one was seen 

 feeding by itself on the edge of the marsh. By careful stalking and hiding 

 in the cat-tail beds I was able on two occasions to get quite close to it. 



20. .ffigialitis semipalmata (Bonaparte). Semipalmated Plover. — 

 Rare transient; May 23 to 28; July 22 to Aug. 16. It is only during the 

 present year (1915) that I have come across this pretty little plover, and 

 then only fifteen examples have been noted between the above dates, the 

 greatest number seen together being four on two occasions. In three cases 

 they were alone and in the other five Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers 

 were their companions. 



21. Canachites canadensis canace (Linnseus). Canadian Spruce 

 Grouse. — Rare resident. This is decidedly a rare bird in the immediate 

 vicinity of Hatley. I have never shot or even seen one (during the past 

 five years) until the evening of Oct. 21 of the present year, 1915, when a 

 female was shown to me in the flesh that had been shot in the morning. 



22. Bonasa umbellus togata (Linnajus). Canadian Ruffed 

 Grouse. — Common resident; Eggs: May 15 to 30. As far as my ob- 

 servations have gone for the past five years, this fine game bird has remained 



