129 



tion a few miles north-west of that place, and from the description of 

 the parent bird driven from the nest he decided they must belong 

 to this species. I perfectly agree with Mr. Rice's decision, for the 

 prominent characteristics noticed by the collector are obviously -ap- 

 plicable to this bird. 



The nest was situated in a slight depression at the base of a small 

 hillock near the border of a prairie slough, and was composed of grass 

 stems and blades. The eggs measure respectively 1-70 X 1-30; 1-72 

 X 1 31 ; 1-74 X 1 32; 1-80 X 1'38 inches. The ground color is a deep 

 grayish white, marked ou three eggs with spots of dark, brown, and 

 on the other egg with spots and well defined blotches of a considera- 

 bly lighter shade of the same. In addition there are shell markings 

 and obscure spots of lilac. The markings are disposed quite abun- 

 dantly over the surface of the egg, but are more numerous about the 

 large end. 



226. T. flavipes Gmel. .LESSER YELLOW-LEGS. Much more nu- 

 merous than the preceding. Frequents the same localities. Arrives 



a few days later and departs earlier for the south. A few breed. I 

 obtained the young, barely able to fly, near a prairie slough the first 

 of July, 1874, a few miles from Chicago, and have since observed 

 several pairs during the breeding season about the Calumet Marshes. 



227. T. solitarius Wils. SOLITARY TATLER. Common migrant. 

 Arrives the first of May and remains until about the 25th, when the 

 majority go farther north. I have several times taken young of this 

 species just able to fly, and have observed the adults throughout the 

 breeding season. I do not think there is the slightest doubt of its 

 breeding in this vicinity. Departs for the south in August and Sep- 

 tember. 



Genus Tringoides Bonap. 



228. T. macularius Linn. SPOTTED TATLER. Very common 

 summer resident. Arrives in April and departs late in autumn. 

 Breeds in abundance among the small sand hills along the Lake shore. 

 Near Waukegan, the first of June, 1876, I saw Mr. T. H. Douglas 

 secure over two dozen of their eggs in considerably less than an hour. 

 The nests were generally placed under a small shrub or in a thin tuft 

 of grass and the eggs could be seen several yards away. 



Genus Actiturus Bon. 



229. A. bartramius (Wils.'). FIELD PLOVER. Very common 

 summer, resident. Arrives early in April and departs in September. 

 Frequents in greatest abundance the borders of marshes and half wild 

 prairies. Quite difficult to approach when it first arrives, but during 



