166 HISTORY OF THE 



fused with buff, the jugulnm, sides of the neck and flanks indistinctly streaked 

 with grayish; bill black; iris brown; feet dull yellowish green; claws black." 



Stretch of 

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



Male 8.25 15.50 5.00 2.00 1.60 1.50 



Female . . . 9.25 16.75 5.25 2.20 1.75 1.65 



I have met with this rare species in the State on several occa- 

 sions, at all times in small flocks, and along the edges of old 

 channels of rivers or muddy pools of water, in which it wades 

 while feeding; immersing the head and feeling with its sensi- 

 tive bill in the thin mud for worms and minute forms of life. 

 It moves about rather slowly as compared with the true Sand- 

 piper, but in an easy, graceful manner. In resting, draws its 

 head down between the shoulders and often stands upon one 

 leg; and once when approaching a pair of these birds thus rest- 

 ing, they both dropped to the ground, and hugged it closely, in 

 hopes that I would pass them unobserved, and so remained until 

 I was within at least ten feet, when, with a sudden spring, they 

 launched into the air, uttering a sharp "Tweet, tweet," and 

 winged themselves away with the speed of an arrow. 



These birds are said to breed in the Arctic regions through- 

 out their range. The following, taken from "North American 

 Water Birds," is the only reliable description given that I can 

 find of their nests and eggs: 



"Mr. McFarlane found this species breeding at Rendezvous 

 Lake, in the Arctic region. June 27th. In situation and com- 

 position they are said to be similar to others previously met 

 with. The nest contained four eggs, the female having been 

 shot on leaving it. The contents of the eggs were slightly de- 

 veloped. This bird was everywhere very rare, except on the 

 Arctic coast at Franklin Bay, where it was found tolerably abund- 

 ant. At Island Point, July 5th, he obtained two young birds 

 in the down, with the female parent. Both parents displayed 

 much courage and ingenuity in defense of their young, two of 

 which were thus enabled to escape. He afterwards, in the same 

 neighborhood, procured other young in the down, with both 

 parents. Another nest obtained at Langston Harbor, in July, 

 1865, contained four eggs quite fresh. The nest was a mere 



