123 



31st to the last of October. The 2nd of July, 1873, I obtained several 

 specimens of this species near Chicago. From the condition of the 

 abdomen and ovaries of one specimen, and the presence of several 

 recently fledged young, I came to the conclusion that they had nested 

 in the vicinity. It is barely possible, however, that these birds were 

 unusually early arrivals from more northern breeding grounds, al- 

 though the arrivals from the north generally begin about the last of 

 the month. My suspicions that the species either breeds in this state, 

 or at no far distant point, were strengthened the following season 

 when several females examined the last of May contained eggs which 

 would have been deposited within a short time. > 



202. HE meloda var. circumcincta Eidg. WESTERN PIPING 

 PI.OVKR. Very common summer resident along the Lake shore, 

 breeding on the flat, pebbly beach between the sand dunes and shore. 

 Arrives the middle of April and proceeds at once to breeding. 



From a specimen shot the 2ith of April, 1876, at Waukegan, I ob- 

 tained a perfect egg, and the abdomen of several females obtained the 

 same day exhibited unmistakable signs that they were already breed- 

 ing, as did, also, the actions of the birds. Some thirty pairs were 

 breeding along the beach at this place, within a space of two miles, 

 and I afterwards found the birds as numerous at several points along 

 the shore. Every effort was made to discover their nests without 

 success, although the birds were continually circling about or stand- 

 ing at a short distance uttering an occasional note of alarm. The 

 first of July, the year previous, Dr. Velie obtained young but a very 

 few clays old, at this same locality, showing that there is considerable 

 variation in the time of breeding. This was also shown by specimens 

 obtained the last of May, and which I think were later arrivals than 

 those found breeding in April, having the ova just approaching 

 maturity. 



Departs the last of September. The'larger portion of the speci- 

 mens examined show the complete ring of circumcincta, while others 

 exhibit but little more black: than in meloda, or. have the complete 

 ring of the former indicated by faint blaok tips to the feathers across 

 the breast. 



Family H-ZEMATOPODIDJ3. 



* 



Genus Strepsilas Linn. 



203. S. interpres (Linn.). TURNSTONE. Common migrant along 

 L;ike Michigan. Arrives May loth in full breeding plumage and is 

 found until the first week in June. Returns early in August, still in 

 breeding plumage, which is exchanged for that of winter during the 

 last of the month. Departs about the 20th of September. While 



