116 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



[242 . 1 ] Long-toed Stint. Actodromas damacensis. 



An Asiatic species accidentally found on the Alaskan shores. It is a very 

 similar bird to the Least Sandpiper, and about the same size. As implied by 

 its name, it has unusually long toes. 



[243.] Dunlin. Pelidna alpina. 



A very common Sandpiper in the British Isles and in Europe, but only cas- 

 ually occuring as a straggler along the Atlantic coast. Very similar to the 

 next species, but a trifle smaller. The nest and eggs do not differ from the 

 following. 



243a. Red-backed Sandpiper; American Dunlin. Pelidna alpina pacifica. 



Range. Whole of North America, breeding from southern Greenland, Labra- 

 dor, Hudson Bay and the Yukon, northward, wintering from the Gulf States 



southward. This handsome species is similar to 

 the Pribilof Sandpiper, but is smaller (length 

 eight inches), the upper parts are more reddish, 

 the breast more heavily streaked, and it has a 

 black patch on the belly instead of on the breast 

 as in ptilocnemis. Their nesting habits are simi- 

 lar to others of the family; they lay three or four 

 eggs with a brownish or greenish buff color, heav- 

 ily blotched and spotted with shades of brown and 

 chestnut. Size 1.40 x 1.00. Data. Peel River, 

 Arctic America, June 30, 1899. Nest a simple 



cavity in the ground, lined with a few grasses and three or four leaves. Collec- 

 tor, J. O. Stringer. 



244. Curlew Sandpiper. Erolia ferruginea 



Range. A common Old World species, but regarded as rare in eastern North 

 America and northern Alaska. 



A bird of slighter tjuild, but similar coloration to 

 the Knot; smaller (length eight inches) and with a 

 slightly decurved bill. Until within recent years, 

 eggs of these birds were rarely seen in collections, 

 and I believe they have not yet been taken in this 

 country, although a few pairs nest along our Arctic 

 coast. Their eggs are very similar to those of the 

 Red-backed Sandpiper, but average somewhat larger. 



Size 1.50 x 1.05. Data. Kola, northern Lapland, 

 June 15, 1898. 4 eggs laid in a grass lined hollow in 

 the ground. Collector, J. Ramberg. 



[Greenish buff]. 



[245.] Spoonbill Sandpiper. Eurynorhynchus pygmsem. 



A very rare Asiatic species, which has been taken in Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. 

 A very peculiar bird having the end of the bill broadened and flattened into a 

 sort of spatula. Otherwise very similar to the Least Sandpiper, but with the 

 breast and sides of neck ruddy in summer. About 75 specimens of this rare 

 bird are known to exist. 



