BIRDS OF NORTH DAKOTA 13 



73242. Least Sandpiper. Triuga minutilla, 



Fairly abundant migrant. First arrivals, May 2, staying from three to 

 four weeks. As a rule they feed around the shores of alkaline ponds, often in 

 shallow ponds of the prairie. 



74 243a. Red-backed Sandpiper. Tringa alpina pacifica. 



Fairly common migrant in 1895. Like most of the other sandpipers, they 

 are found around alkaline, or ponds that are free from vegetable growth. 

 An observer must put in a great deal of his time around such, if he wishes 

 to catch a glimpse of most of the sandpiper family. 



75246. Semipalmated Sandpiper. Ereunetes pusillus. 



Equals the Least Sandpiper in numbers. This species reaches here about 

 the time the Least begin, to leave, and takes the place of that Sandpiper 

 around the lakes and ponds. This species can hardly be distinguished from 

 the other except by close observation. 



76247. Western Sandpiper. Ereunetes occidental!*. 



Found with the last, which they closely resemble. 

 77248. Sanderling. Calidris arenaria, 



Not common, only an occasional small flock being seen around the alkali 



ponds. First date seen, May 28. 



78249. Marbled Godwit. Liraosa fedoa. 



A few pair breed in this county. Commonly seen in pairs in spring 

 migrations. They assemble in quite large flocks in late summer at the larger 

 lakes before going south. Spring migrants first seen early in May. 



79251. Htidsonian Godwit, Limosa haemastica. 



A fairly common migrant in 1895. First seen April' 24. 

 80 254. Greater Yellow-legs. Totanus melanoleucus. 



Fairly common migrant. First noted in third week in April. From the 

 first of June they can be seen singly and in pairs, feeding with flocks of the 

 Lesser Yellow-legs. After the tenth of July, a few male and barren female 

 birds are noted migrating south. 



81 255. Lesser Yellow-legs. Totanus flaripes. 



Common migrant. Arrives in flocks about the twentieth of April. They 

 are seen almost anywhere until along in May. Their noisy whistle is missed 

 until early in July, when a noticeable southern movement commences. 



82256. Solitary Sandpiper. Totanus solitarins. 



Tolerably common around Rock Lake. Also seen in other suitable locali- 

 ties. Will undoubtedly be found breeding in Turtle Mountains. 



83 258a, Western Willet Symphemia semipalamata inornate. 



Common summer resident. Nests seldom located. One found was at a 

 great distance from water. Arrives the first week in May. Conspicuous from 

 their size and their loud, shrill cries of "per-willet," "per-willet." Some- 

 times called silver-wing snipe by hunters presumably on account of the large 

 white patch on the wings, seen while flying. 



84261. Bartramian Sandpiper. Bartramia longicaiida, 



Abundant summer resident, nesting on upland prairie, and is one of the 

 most noticeable birds of the prairies. Arriving the last. week in April, they 

 feed in flocks until late in May when they pair off and nest. The male birds 

 are seen flocking together late in June and early July, and commence migrat- 

 ing south. Female and young are very shy, and disappear so gradually that 

 their leaving is scarcely noticed until they are all gone. (In 1910 one would 

 say that this species was uncommon for where once were small flocks, now 

 only pairs are seen and they seem to be growing less in numbers very rapidly.) 



85262. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Tryngites subnificollis. 



A few single birds and one large flock seen the last week in May, 1895. 



