NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



113 



232. Long-billed Dowitcher. Macrorhamphus scolopaceus. 



Range. Whole of North America, but not common on the Atlantic coast; 

 breeds in the Arctic regions and migrates chiefly through the central and west- 

 ern parts of the United States to Mexico. 



This bird is practically the same as the last, but 

 is a trifle larger and the bill averages about a half 

 inch longer. They are very numerous in their 

 breeding haunts, and, during their migrations, fly 

 in large compact flocks. They are not very timid, 

 and consequently fall an easy prey to the gunners. 

 Their nesting habits and eggs are the same as the 

 last species, except that the eggs may average a 

 trifle larger. Size 1.75 x 1.15. Data. Norton Is., 

 Alaska, June, 1900. Nest a small hollow in the 

 dry ground. 4 eggs. Collector, Capt. H. H. Bodfish. 





-<xr> 



[Greenish buff.J 



233. Stilt Sandpiper. Micropalama himantopus. 



Range. North America, east of the Rocky Mountains; breeds in the Arctic 

 regions and winters from the Gulf States southward. 



In the summer, these birds may be known by the reddish coloration of the 

 underparts, which are numerously barred; they are smaller than the preceding, 

 length about 8 inches. Their nesting habits are the same as those of the ma- 

 jority of the members of the family. The three or four eggs are buffy or grayish, 

 and are blotched and spotted with shades of brown. Size 1.40 x 1.00. 



234. Knot. Tringa canutus. 



Range. Arctic regions in summer; south through the United States, chiefly 

 on the Atlantic coast, to South America. 



Of about the same size as the Dowitchers, length 10.5 inches, but with a much 

 shorter bill. In summer the entire under parts are a uniform reddish chestnut 

 color. They are known to breed in Arctic America, from Point Barrow and 

 Hudson Bay, northward, but no authentic eggs are known, at present, to exist 

 in collections. One taken from a bird by Lieut. Greely, was a pea green color, 

 specked with brown; size 1.10 x 1.00. As it was not fully developed, it was prob- 

 ably correct neither as to size nor color. 



235. Purple Sandpiper. Arquatella marltima. 



Range. Arctic regions, wintering south to the Middle States 

 Lakes, but chiefly on the coast. 



and the Great 



A grayish and blackish colored species, about 9 

 inches long. It nests in northern Labrador, about 

 Hudson Bay and in Iceland. Its eggs are a grayish 

 buff color, handsomely splashed with rich shades of 

 brown and obscure markings of darker gniy. 

 Northern Iceland, June 7, 1897. 4 eggs. Nest a hollow 

 in the ground among grass and weeds and lined with 

 a few grasses. Collector, C. Jefferys. 



