127 



dissections I am confident these are barren birds and, as Mr. Maynard 

 suggests, probably young of the preceding year. Migrations : May 

 1st to 25th, and the last of August to October. 



Genus Tringa Linn. 



214. T. minutilla Vieill. LEAST SANDPIPER. Common migrant. 

 Not so numerous as the preceding. Arrives the 1st of May and re- 

 mains until the last of the month; returns with the preceding. The 

 5th of June, 1875, I found one of these birds building its nest near 

 the Calumet River. When first observed it was busily at work in the 

 midst of a small bunch of grass, but upon my approach it ran a few 

 feet to one side and watched my movements. The nest was nearly 

 finished, and was a shallow depression in the centre of the tuft of 

 grass, formed by the bird, which had just commenced lining it with 

 small straws. Unfortunately work was not resumed upon the nest 

 after my visit, but the birds were noticed several times in the vicinity,, 

 and they probably had a nest in some safer spot. Several least sand- 

 pipers were observed near Waukegan the first of July, 1875, by Mr. 

 Rice, who is certain they had nested in the vicinity. 



215. T. bairdii Vieill. BAIHD'S SANDPIPER. A rather uncommon 

 migrant during the middle of May, and the last of August and first of 

 September. It is generally found in small parties or singly, with 

 other species of sandpipers, but it sometimes occurs in large flocks. 



216. T. maculata Vieill. GRASS SN'IPK. Very abundant migrant. 

 Sometimes uniting into large flocks containing several hundred and 

 frequents wet prairies or marshes. At otjier times it can only be 

 found singly scattered over the same territory. March 25th to May 

 10th, and the middle of September to the first of November. A fevy 

 remain through the summer, but whether they breed or not I have 

 been unable to decide. 



217. T. bonapartei Schleg. BONAPARTE'S SANDPIPER. Rather 

 uncommon migrant. Dr. Hoy writes "that it was formerly abundant 

 during the migrations but is now rare" (at Racine). June 9th, 187(5, 

 I obtained one specimen and saw quite.a number of others upon the 

 Lake shore near Waukegan. Mr. R. P. Clarke informs me that he 

 has taken it late in autumn upon the Lake shore near Chicago. 



218. T. Hiaritima BrUnn. PURPLE SANDPIPER. Very rare visi- 

 tant during migrations. A fine adult male obtained on the Lake 

 shore, near Chicago, November 7th, 1871, is in the collection of Dr. J. 

 W. Velie. When first seen it was in company with a flock of sander- 

 lings. This is the only instance of the occurrence of this species of 

 which I have learned. 



.219. T. alpina var. americana Cass. RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 

 Very abundant migrant. Arrives in full breeding plumage the last of 



