304 CHAKADBIID^ 



almost unknown until July 3rd, 1897, when Mr. H. L. 

 Popham obtained a nest with four eggs near the mouth of 

 the River Yenesei. The eggs were identified as the female 

 was shot on her nest. This nest " was a rather deep hollow 

 in a ridge of the Tundra ; the four eggs resemble some of 

 those of the Common Snipe, though smaller " (Saunders). 



Dr. Walter, in his researches on the Taimyr Peninsula, 

 noted that this species " arrived on the 10 T ay and nested 



lo June 



numerously in the district. Early in June they chased 

 each other in threes and fours over the Tundra. The 

 nests were placed in grassy places, and consisted of shallow 

 depressions lined with a few dry straws and a white 

 tangle. In the middle of June the nests contained full 

 clutches of eggs. On the approach of a person the sitting 

 bird, warned by its mate, leaves the nest quickly, and both 

 birds remain very passive and unobtrusive. Usually the 

 observer has to wait long before the female decides to return 

 to her nest and thus betray its position, and often he has to 

 wait in vain. Some individuals of this species also wander 

 about in small flocks during the breeding-season, while later 

 both old and young collect in large flocks and remain until 

 late in the autumn." 



The eggs were " Blunt pyriform, fine grained with a 

 faint gloss. Ground-colour pale yellowish-white with a 

 greenish tinge, with large and small brown to blackish- 

 brown spots, which are more confluent, and to some extent 

 quite confluent at the thick end, and a few washed-out pale 

 violet-grey spots." Average measurements ranged from 34'6 

 by 25-1 mm. to 39'6 by 25'6 mm. (H. E. Dresser, ' Ibis,' 

 1904, p. 231, from translated notes of Walter's paper 

 on " Ornithologische Beobachtungen an der westlichen 

 Taimyrhalbinsel, vom September, 1900 bis August, 1901," 

 published in the ' Annuaire du Musee Zool. de 1'Acad. Imp. 

 des Sciences de St. Petersbourg '). 



Geographical distribution. From observations made on 

 this interesting species by various Arctic travellers, it appears 

 that its breeding-grounds are in Eastern Arctic Siberia 

 and the adjoining Islands still further north. Its breed- 

 ing-range probably extends to Behring Straits. On the 

 southern migration in autumn, the birds spread far and 

 wide, 1 visiting the European coast-lands, as far west as 



1 It is wonderful to think that an immature bird some three months 

 old can travel such an immense distance as from Lena Delta to Australia, 

 and no doubt some Curlew- Sandpipers do. 



