X " I | ,^. ) > X 1 General .Votes. 431 



had been noted aboul two weeks previously, this was the first large migra- 

 tion of the fall. In mixed flocks along the head of Cayuga Lake, the 

 following species were abundant: Semipahnated, Least and Pectoral 

 Sandpipers, Sanderling, Lesser Yellow-legs and Killdeer Plover. In 



addition, Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, feeding singly, were scattered 

 all along the shore and likewise one Ring-necked Plover. Three days 

 later, 1 found the same species in greater numbers, ami associated with 

 them, a flock of six Knots and one of seven Stilt Sandpipers. The number 

 of Knots did not change, but the flock of Stilt Sandpipers shortly increased 

 to eleven, although all were seldom seen at once. Two White-rumped 

 Sandpipers, two Black-bellied Plovers, a Turnstone, a Greater Yellow-legs, 

 and a Dowitcher soon added themselves to the assemblage. The majority 

 of these birds were adults and still in nuptial plumage. They remained 

 the greater pari of a week, when most of them moved on, leaving only a 

 -mall number of those species which had earlier been the most numerous. 



The presence of such a variety of Shore Birds, including the Stilt Sand- 

 pipers, induced me to make somewhat extended observations. Accord- 

 ingly a blind was constructed along the lake shore and many hours were 

 spenl in watching their movements. Inasmuch as the Stilt Sandpipers 

 are so generally overlooked on the migration or confused with the Yellow- 

 LegS, a few comparative observations on their habits may be of interest. 



Although they might have been actually more numerous, the largest 

 number seen toget her at one time was eleven. Usually they were in groups 

 of from two to six and mingled with the Yellow-legs. The adults of the 

 two species were easily distinguished as many of the Stilt Sandpipers still 

 retained more or less of the breeding plumage with buffy and rufous mark- 

 ing about the head, and heavy bars on the sides and flanks. The immature 

 and molting birds of the two species, however, were much more easily 

 confused for the Yellow-legs lacked the checker-board markings of the 

 adult ami approached very closely, in the back pattern, the mottling of 

 the Stilt Sandpipers. The bars on the sides of the young Stilt Sandpipers 

 being very faint, the two birds were therefore outwardly much alike. The 

 color of the legs distinguished t hem, when these were visible, but when they 

 waded in water an inch or more in depth, even this proved an uncertain 

 criterion a- the upper shanks of many of the Yellow-legs were dark. Again 

 in flight, the birds were very similar, although the white rumps and tails 

 of the Stilt Sandpipers seemed less conspicuous than those of the Yellow- 

 legs. The difference in size when the two birds stood side by side was very 

 appreciable but, at other times, was merely confusing. 



In their habits, however, the two species were quite different. The 

 Yellow-legs were always rangy birds and covered a great deal of ground 

 while feeding. Even when resting they were conspicuous by the nervous 

 jerking of the head and neck. In flight they usually fori 1 fairly compact 



flocks but scattered upon alighting. The Still Sandpipers on the other 



hand, were quid birds and went about their search for food very syste- 

 matically, gleaning everything in their way. They frequently fed in a 



