1G2 HISTORY OF THE 



B. 525. R. 5270. C. 610. G. 242, 75. U. 232. 



HABITAT. North America in general (except northeastern 

 portion), but chiefly in the western provinces; south in winter to 

 northern South America, West Indies; breeding in Alaska, etc., 

 to the Arctic Ocean. 



SP. CHAR. "Shaft of first primary strong, pure white; axillars, tail coverts 

 and lower part of rump white, barred or transversely spotted with slate color; 

 upper part of rump white, usually immaculate; tail slate colored or dusky, barred 

 with white (or, in summer, adult with pale cinnamon on middle feathers). 

 Adult, in summer: Head, neck and lower parts light cinnamon; breast scantily 

 speckled, and sides barred with dusky; the head and neck streaked with the 

 same; upper parts mixed black, light cinnamon and white, the first prevailing. 

 Winter plumage: Belly and anal region white, usually unmarked; rest of plum- 

 age nearly uniform ash gray, somewhat mixed with white on breast and sides; 

 a whitish superciliary stripe, and wing coverts bordered with white. Young: 

 Back, scapulars and tertials varied with black and light clay brown, the latter 

 chiefly on edges of the feathers; lower parts dull whitish, soiled with dull buff 

 or clay color, especially across breast, the jugulum and sides usually indistinctly 

 speckled with dusky. Bill dark olive; iris reddish hazel; feet light yellowish 

 olive; claws black." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 11.00 18.50 5.70 2.25 1.55 2.65 



Female... 11.50 18.75 5.75 2.35 1.60 2.90 



The sand bars, edges of lagoons and mud flats upon the sea- 

 coast appear to be the natural haunts of this widely-distributed 

 and excellent table bird. It is largely replaced, along the At- 

 lanic coast, by its cousin, M. griseus; increasing in numbers 

 westward, and, during migration to and from its breeding 

 grounds, very common inland, where it seems to prefer the al- 

 kali marshes and pools of water. 



These birds are social and generally move in small flocks. 

 They are rather timid, and, as approached, bunch together like 

 sheep, affording an easy shot. The survivors rise with a startled 

 "Tweet, tweet, tweet," but instead of beating a retreat, as a 

 rule return, and hover over the dead and wounded, giving the 

 heartless "pot hunter" another opportunity to slaughter. When 

 much hunted they become wild, but at such times a passing 

 flock are easily drawn within range by putting out decoys, or, 

 from a blind, uttering their call note; curiosity, love of one an- 

 other, or stupidity, (call it what you may,) makes the birds an 

 easy capture. In flight they are swift and strong; their feeding 



