BIRDS OF KANSAS. 163 



habits similar to Wilson 1 s Snipe, but in more open grounds and 

 in deeper waters; and when too deep to wade, I have seen them 

 boldly swim across a narrow channel or strip of water. Mr. 

 Nelson, in his "Report upon Natural History Collections made 

 in Alaska, between the years 1877 and 1881," says: 



"This is one of the most common waders on the shore of 

 Norton Sound in summer, and is also present in small numbers 

 all along the Yukon, where suitable locations occur. It is a 

 rather scarce summer resident about Point Barrow, according to 

 Murdock. In spring, the middle of May, as the snow disap- 

 pears, and the first pale leaves of grass begin to thrust their 

 spear points through the dead vegetable mat on the ground, or 

 as early as the tenth on some seasons, this peculiar Snipe returns 

 to its summer home. At the Yukon mouth I found them on 

 May 12th, when they were already engaged in love making, 

 though the ground was still to a great extent covered with 

 snow, and only here and there appeared a thawed place where 

 they could feed. Toward the end of this month they are plen- 

 tiful, and their curious habits and loud notes make them among 

 the most conspicuous denizens of the marshes. At the Yukon 

 mouth, on May 28th, I came across a female busily at work, 

 preparing a little hollow in a tussock for her eggs, and, as I drew 

 near, she moved a little to one side and uttered a sharp, queru- 

 lous note, as if protesting against the intrusion. We took the 

 hint and left her; but a second visit, some days later, showed 

 the spot deserted. These are very demonstrative birds in their 

 love making, and the last of May and first of June their loud 

 cries are heard everywhere about their haunts, especially in 

 morning and evening. 



"Two or three males start in pursuit of a female, and away 

 they go, twisting and turning, here and there, over marsh and 

 stream, with marvelous swiftness and dexterity. At short inter- 

 vals, a male checks his flight for a moment to utter a strident 

 "Peet-u-weet; wee-too, wee-too;" then on he goes full tilt again. 

 After they have mated, or when a solitary male pays his devo- 

 tions, they rise fifteen or twenty yards from the ground, where, 

 hovering upon quivering wings, the bird pours forth a lisping 



