vol. xxviii j ReceM LUerature i21 



and 9 subspecies — represented in North America are here treated in detail 

 in respect to their migrations and general distribution throughout the 

 year. Of these 85 forms 7 are found only south of the United States, 

 5 only in Greenland (in the Western Hemisphere), and 15 others occur 

 only as stragglers from Europe and Asia, 58 belonging properly to the 

 avifauna of North America north of Mexico. Of these 8 are Arctic and 

 subarctic species that never visit the United States, and the breeding 

 range of 36 others is wholly north of the United States. 



In the introductory pages of this excellent summary the species are 

 listed in twelve categories on the basis of their areas of occurrence in 

 North America and their breeding and migration ranges. Following 

 these a few pages are devoted to the general subject of the migration of 

 Shorebirds, which in most cases make migratory journeys of over a thou- 

 sand miles, and in some instances breed in arctic tundras and winter from 

 the southern border of the United States south, according to the species, 

 to the southern extremity of South America, some of them thus making 

 semiannual migrations of 7,000 miles. The spring route is also different, 

 in the case of some species, from that taken in the fall. The following 

 statement is of special interest, since it is undoubtedly founded on thorough 

 investigation - "Though many of the shorebirds breeding in North America 

 winter in the southern parts of South America, none of them breed in 

 their winter home. Special attention needs to be called to this fact, 

 because nearly a dozen species of this family — among which may be 

 noted particularly the Greater and Lesser Yellow-legs and White-rumped 

 Sandpiper — have been reported as breeding near the southern end of 

 South America. In no case has it been claimed that the eggs have been 

 found, and all the records are based on the finding of young not fully 

 grown or in most cases simply from the presence of individuals during the 

 usual breeding season of local species. This latter reason is not even 

 presumptive of breeding. . . " 



The species are considered, in systematic sequence, with reference (1) 

 to their breeding range, (2) their winter range, (3) their migration range, 

 (4) the spring migration, (5) the fall migration. In the case of the Old 

 World stragglers occurring in America, each is disposed of in a paragraph 

 of ten or twelve lines, while from one to three pages are required to deal 

 with the species of regular occurrence. The breeding range is given in 

 considerable detail, while a few lines are sufficient to state the winter 

 range, but both the spring and fall migrations are stated in very satis- 

 factory detail as regards localities and dates; the more important records 

 include the name of the authority for the record. 



"The data," says the author, "on the breeding and wintering of the 

 shorebirds has [have] been collected from all available printed sources, from 

 the manuscript reports of the field naturalists of the Biological Survey, 

 and from the specimens and catalogues of the United States National 

 Museum. The dates of migration have been obtained principally from 

 the migration schedules sent in by the several hundred observers in the 



