152 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



streaks ; rump and upper tail coverts, like the back ; tail, axillars and lining of 

 wings, beautifully barred with black and white; quills, entirely blackish; bill 

 and feet, very dark olive-green. Young: Duller above, less speckled, jugulum 

 merely suffused with grayish-brown. Length, 8-9 ; wing, 5 ; tail, 2 ; bill, 

 tarsus and middle toe, each about 1-1; tibiae, bare, . 



HAB. North America, breeding throughout the temperate portions (more 

 commonly northward), and migrating southward as far as Brazil and Peru. 



Nest, a hollow in the ground, not far from water. 



Eggs, clay color with a reddish tinge, thickly marked with reddish and 

 blackish brown. 



As its name implies, this is a solitary bird, nowhere abundant, 

 yet widely distributed. It is seen during the summer months in 

 Southern Ontario. Prof. Macoun reports it as " of frequent occur- 

 rence on the plains " of the North- West, and it has been found in 

 Alaska. 



In the "List of Birds of Western Ontario," published in the Cana- 

 dian Sportsman and Naturalist, for November, 1882, it is stated that 

 "in the summer of 1879 this bird bred very commonly along the 

 streams in Middlesex, but has since then been quite rare." Most of 

 those I have seen near Hamilton have risen unexpectedly from some 

 pool by the roadside, frequently from places where cattle have been 

 in the habit of visiting to obtain water. I have not seen more than 

 two together. In their motions they are quiet and sedate, but have 

 the habit peculiar to others of this class, of nervously jerking their 

 hinder parts in a manner apparently satisfactory to themselves, 

 though what particular purpose is served by it, is not to us apparent. 

 From having seen this species in all the summer months, I have 

 placed it on the list as a rare summer resident here. 



I have often fancied myself in close proximity to its nest, but 

 so far I have not found it. I may state, however, that I do not 

 search for eggs, and, therefore, do little collecting during June and 

 July. 



There is no trouble in deciding the breeding range of a common 

 species, but the reverse is the case with a rare bird. In the " Birds 

 of Manitoba," several of the observers mention it as probably breed- 

 ing, but Macoun states positively: "Frequent throughout the Winni- 

 pegosis region, along the route of 1881, breeding, for young were 

 observed with some down yet." It is reported as breeding at several 

 points in Alaska, but even there it is not abundant, and the eggs are 

 still rare in collections. 



