l64 WADING BIRDS. 



BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER. 

 upland plover. field plover. 



Bartramia longicauda. 



Char. Upper parts brown, varied with buff and black ; crown dusky 

 and divided by line of buff; wings and rump dusky; outer tail-feathers 

 rich buff and with a subterminal band of black and tips of white ; under 

 parts light buff, paler on chin ; breast streaked with dusky. Bill about 

 as long as the head ; legs rather long. Length about 12 inches. 



Nest. In an open pasture or old meadow, — a mere depression in the 

 turf. 



Eggs. 4; pale buff or creamy, marked with brown and lavender; 

 I. So X 1.25. 



Bartram's Tatler, known here by the name of the Upland 

 Plover, so very distinct from the rest of the tribe with which 

 it is associated in the systems, is one of the most common 

 birds along the sea-coast of Massachusetts, making its appear- 

 ance, with its fat and well fed-brood, as early as the 20th of 

 July, becoming more abundant towards the middle of August, 

 when the market of Boston is amply supplied with this delicate 

 and justly esteemed game. 



According to the season of the year, these birds are found 

 throughout the continent, many retiring south of the equator 

 to pass the winter. They are observed in May already busily 

 gleaning coleopterous insects on the remote boreal plains of 

 the Saskatchewan, and abound in the extensive prairies west 

 of the Mississippi. At this time and in June they are seen 

 common also in Worcester County (Mass.), and are believed 

 to breed there. They are equally frequent on the plains of 

 Long Island and New Jersey, and in similar bare and dry 

 pastures in various parts of Massachusetts, particularly about 

 Sekonk, and in Rhode Island near to the sea-coast, where 

 they pass the greater part of the summer. Wilson, who first 

 described the species, met with it in the meadows of the 

 Schuylkill, pursuing insects among the grass with great activity. 



The breeding-range of this species extends, in all probability, 

 from Pennsylvania to the fur countries of Upper Canada^ a§ 



