248 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



in spring, the presumption being that the bird has remained 

 here during the winter, having wandered from its home during 

 the autumn migration, as so many of the waders do. Some 

 twenty-five instances of its capture were recorded by Mr. 

 Howard Saunders up to the year 1889. 



Eange outside the British Islands. The Pectoral Sandpiper breeds 

 in the tundras of North Ameiica, and migrates south in winter 

 to South America, where it has been obtained even in Pata- 

 gonia and Chili. It has not yet been noticed on the continent 

 of Europe. 



Habits. Mr. Nelson gives the following account of the 

 species in Alaska: "The last of May, 1879, I pitched my 

 tent in a lonely island in the Yukon delta and passed several 

 weeks in almost continual physical discomfort owing to the 

 cold rains and snow-storms which prevailed. However, I 

 look back with pleasure upon the lime passed here among the 

 various water-fowl, when every day contributed new and strange 

 experiences. 



"The night of May 24th I lay wrapped in my blanket, and 

 from the raised flap of the tent looked out over as dreary a 

 cloud-covered landscape as can be imagined. The silence 

 was unbroken save by the tinkle and clinking of the disinte- 

 grating ice in the river, and at intervals by the wild notes of 

 some restless Loon, which arose in a hoarse, reverberating cry 

 and died away in a strange gurgling sound. As my eye-lids 

 began to droop and the scene to become indistinct, suddenly 

 a low, hollow, booming note struck my ear and sent my 

 thoughts back to a spring morning in Northern Illinois, and 

 to the loud vibrating tones of the Prairie Chickens. Again the 

 sound arose nearer and more distinct, and with an effort I 

 brought myself back to the reality of my position and, resting 

 upon one elbow, listened. A few seconds passed and again 

 arose the note ; a moment later and, gun in hand, I stood out- 

 side the tent. The open flat extended away on all sides, with 

 apparently not a living creature near. Once again the note 

 was repeated close by, and a glance revealed its author. Stand- 

 ing in the thin grasses ten or fifteen yards from me, with its 

 throat inflated until it was as large as the rest of the bird, was 

 a male T. maculata. The succeeding days afforded oppor- 



