142 WADING BIRDS. 



in flocks, but disappear early in December, on their way south 

 to their winter quarters within the tropics. On their return 

 they appear on the coast of the Middle States early in May, on 

 their way to their congenial retreats in the North ; but at this 

 time few are to be seen, compared with the accumulating flocks 

 of autumn ; while at the same season in Holland they are 

 most abundant. Some of these birds in their rufous plumage 

 have been observed to linger on the neighboring coast till the 

 20th of July, so that they must either have bred in the vicinity, 

 or have passed the season in celibacy, lingering behind the 

 migrating flocks, — a habit which appears to be more or less 

 common with many other of the aquatic and wading birds. 



The Knot is found throughout North America, breeding in the 

 Arctic regions, wintering in Florida (sparingly) and southward, and 

 migrating by inland routes as well as along the sea-coast. It is a 

 common bird on the New Engalnd shores in spring and autumn, 

 but rare in the Mississippi valley. 



BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. 

 Tringa bairdii. 



Char. Upper parts grayish buff, varied with dusky ; stripe over eyes 

 white ; middle tail-feathers dusky, others gray ; chest tinged with buff 

 and streaked with dusky, other under parts white; bill and feet black. 

 Length about 7^ inches. 



Nest. On the margin of a lake or pond ; a slight depression, hidden by 

 tall grass and lined with leaves and grass. 



Eggs. 4 ; huffish or creamy, spotted with rich reddish brown ; 1.30 X 

 0.90. 



Baird's Sandpiper was described by Coues in 1861 from speci- 

 mens taken in the West, and it was not until 1870 that the bird was 

 known to occur on the Atlantic. Up to the present a few examples 

 only have been captured to the eastward of the Mississippi vallej^, 

 and very little is known of the bird's distribution. Reports from 

 different sections of the country lend probability to the conclusion 

 that the bulk of these Sandpipers migrate across the Great Plains 

 and nest along the Mackenzie River valley north of latitude 60° 

 and in Alaska. They are abundant on the plains and amid the 

 foot hills of the Rockies. In winter they range to Chili and the 

 Argentine Republic. 



