114 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



236. Aleutian Sandpiper. Arquatella couesi. 



Range. Supposed to be a resident on the coast and islands of Alaska, from 

 the Aleutians northward. 



A very similar species to the preceding; scarcely dis- 

 tinguishable. These Sandpipers, which are found in 

 Alaska at all seasons of the year, breed during May 

 and June. Their nesting habits are the same as those 

 of the preceding bird and the eggs are indistinguish- 

 able. Size 1.40 x 1.00. Data. Unalaska, Bering 

 Sea, June 3, 1898. Nest containing four eggs, a de- 

 pression in the moss, lined with grasses and bits of 

 moss. The eggs were laid with their small ends 

 together. 



237. Pribilof Sandpiper. Arquatella ptilocnemis. 



Range. Coast and islands of Bering Sea, south in winter to southern Alaska. 



This bird, which is 10 inches in length, has the feathers of the upper parts 

 edged with rusty, and the underparts light, with a distinguishing patch of 

 black, on the breast. Similar in appearance to the Red-backed Sandpiper, but 

 not so reddish above, and the latter has the black patch on the belly. They 

 breed commonly on the Pribilof and other islands in Bering Sea, nesting the 

 same as other Sandpipers. Their four eggs are similar to those of the preceding 

 but average darker. Size 1.50 x 1.05. 



238. Sharp tailed Sandpiper. Actodromas acuminata. 



Range. An Asiatic species, quite abundant in Alaska in the summer; sup- 

 posed to migrate south in winter, wholly on the Asiatic side of the Pacific. 



A similar bird, in appearance, to the following, but slightly smaller and with 

 the breast more ruddy. Its nesting habits probably do not differ from those of 

 the following Sandpiper. 



239. Pectoral Sandpiper. Actodromas metadata. 



Range. Whole of North America, breeding in the Arctic regions, and win- 

 tering south of the United States, most abundant in the eastern parts of the 

 United States during migrations. 



This species is blackish brown above, with light 

 brown edgings to the feathers, and white below, ex- 

 cept the chest, which is brownish, streaked with 

 black. A very peculiar species, having the power, 

 during the mating season, of inflating the throat to a 

 great extent, making a balloon-like appendage, near- 

 ly the size of the bird. They have more the habits of 

 Snipe, than do most of the Sandpipers, frequenting 

 grassy meadows or marshes, in preference to the sea- 

 shore. Their nests are grass lined depressions, and 

 the eggs are grayish or greenish buff, blotched with brown. Size 1.45 x 1.00. 

 Data. Cape Smythe, Alaska, June, 1900. 4 eggs in a hollow in the ground, 

 lined with grass and a few leaves. Collector, H. H. Bodfish. 



