BIRDS OF KANSAS. 211 



secured at Fort Reliance, on the Upper Yukon, at this date. As 

 the breeding season approaches, it is found as one of the com- 

 monest breeding waders over the grass and moss-grown country 

 extending along the shore of Behring Sea. In some cases they 

 have deposited their eggs by the first of June. 



"They are in full breeding dress, and are a beautiful sight as 

 they glide about on easy wing, or feed over the marshy flats. 

 Their soft, clear call note gives evidence of the rich song to be 

 heard later. They soon pair and disperse, so that within a 

 few days after the main arrival their nests may be looked for. 

 Their nests are generally in small depressions which may be 

 found among the moss and dried grass of a small knoll, and at 

 times a slight structure is made of dried grass. The grass, and, 

 perhaps, a few dead leaves of the dwarf willow are arranged in 

 a circular, saucer-shaped form, about four or five inches across, 

 and contain four eggs, which have a pale yellowish ground 

 color, with very dark, well-defined umber brown spots scattered 

 rather profusely over the shell, especially about the larger end. 

 One set of eggs measures: 1.98 by 1.35, 2.09 by 1.30, 2.00 by 



1.30, 2.08 by 1.33. This set of eggs was obtained at Stuart 

 Island, in June. Three odd specimens measure respectively: 

 1.90 by 1.25, 1.92 by 1.38, and 1.86 by 1.29. A second set, 

 obtained in June, 1880, near Saint Michael's, measures 2.00 by 



1.31, 2.09 by 1.26, and 2.02 by 1.29. The ground color is 

 very uniform, the only variation being to a slight buffy shade, 

 in some instances, and a slight increase, or decrease, in the 

 abundance of dark markings." [In shape, pyriform.] 



"The male at this season has a brighter plumage than the 

 female, and in places little frequented by man be becomes very 

 unsuspicious; near villages, however, he is always on the look- 

 out, and is difficult to approach even when he is found by his 

 nest. Toward the end of May and during the first of June the 

 male utters a clear, rich song, which is frequently heard during 

 the twilight of the short Arctic nights. 



' ' The courtship of this handsome bird is carried on very quietly, 

 and I have witnessed no demonstration of anger or quarreling 

 among the rivals. When two are satisfactorily mated they 



