NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 115 



240. White-rumped Sandpiper. Actodromas fuscicollis. 



Range. North America, breeding from Labrador and southern Greenland, 

 northward and wintering from Central to southern South America; most com- 

 mon on the Atlantic coast. 



This species is 7.5 inches in length, and has white upper tail coverts; other- 

 wise it is marked similarly to the preceding Sandpiper. Its nesting habits are 

 the same as those of the majority of the family, and the three or four eggs that 

 they lay cannot be distinguished from those of the following species. Size 

 1.30 x .90. These are one of the most common of the beach birds along the At- 

 lantic coast during migrations; they are very often known as Bonaparte Sand- 

 piper. 



241. Baird Sandpiper. Actodromas bairdi. 



Range. North America, chiefly in the interior, breeding along the Arctic / 

 coast and about Hudson Bay, and wintering south of the United States. / v 



A very similar species to the preceding, but without 

 the white rump. These birds are not uncommon at 

 their breeding ground, as a rule being found nesting 

 in the grass bordering small fresh ponds, rather than 

 near the seashore. Their nests are hollows in the 

 ground, generally concealed in a tuft of grass, and 

 lined with grasses and a few leaves. They lay three 

 or four eggs having a grayish colored ground, and 

 marked with different shades of brown, and also with 

 some faint markings of lilac. Sizel.SOx .90. Data. [Grayish.] 



Peel River, Arctic America, June 18, 1898. 4 eggs, taken with the bird by an 

 Indian. Eggs in a slight hollow on the river bank. 



242. Least Sandpiper. Actodromas minutilla. 



Range. North America, breeding from the southern parts of the British 

 Provinces northward; winters from southern United States southward, 

 mon in the interior and on both coasts. 



This is the smallest of our Sandpipers, being under 6 

 inches in length. Except for size, they are similar in 

 appearance to Baird Sandpiper, only the back is browner. 

 A very abundant species during migrations, being I 

 on the seashore or in marshes, nearly always in company 

 with other species of the family. Their nests are the same 

 as other Sandpipers, and the eggs are grayish, thickly 

 specked with brown. Size 1.15 x .80. Data.-Peel River, 

 Arctic America, June 20, 1899. Nest simply a depression in 

 [Grayish.] the river bari^ lined with grass. 



