148 



ORISTITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 12-Ko. 9 



Northern Phalarope, Lobipes liyperhoreus. 

 Despite the statements of writers as to the 

 great abundance of this species, I can i-ecord 

 but two instances of its capture within the lim- 

 its of our county, and have observed it but 

 once. 



Woodcock, Philohela minor. A common 

 summer visitor and breeds commonly with 

 us, as is attested by the broods of young we 

 flush from under our feet in early May. 

 Have observed this species as late as De- 

 cember lOtli and as early as March .5th, 

 thus showing it to be absent but a short time 

 from our county. 



Wilson's Snipe, GaUinago media wiUoni. 

 Noticed only in migrations, April and in au- 

 tumn. One flushed from a salt marsh Nov. 

 30th, 1883 is the latest date I have heard of 

 their being seen. 



Red-breasted Snipe, Macrorhamphus griseus. 

 Quite common in autumn along the beaches, 

 where it resorts in small flocks. Have secured 

 specimens as late as the last week in October. 



Semipalmated Sandpiper, Ereu)ietes pusilhis. 

 A few sometimes seen in spring; common in 

 autunni in flocks with the preceding. They re- 

 sort to the sandbars more commonly than any 

 other variety I have observed. 



Least Sandpiper, Actodromas minutiUa. 

 The only species that can be called abundant, 

 arriving in large flocks in August and resorting 

 to the meadows and sandbars on the coast, also 

 occurring inland, to some extent in the vicinity 

 of large ponds and rivers. 



Pectoral Sandpiper, Actodromas macrilata. 

 This species occurs commonly in autumn, fre- 

 quenting the "grassy salt meadows" in prefer- 

 ence to the sands of the coast. 



Red-backed Sandpiper, Pelidna alpina ameri- 

 cana. Occasionally seen in autumn, but the 

 majority pass us by in the migration, keeping 

 well oft' the coast. 



Robin Snipe, Tringa canutus. This species 

 is as commonly observed in spring as in au- 

 tumn, a number being taken May 11th, 1885, 

 that date being the usual period of previous 

 observations. 



Sanderling, Calidris arenaria. Common in 

 "flights" in autumn, frequenting the small 

 islands and beaches of our coast. 



Hudsonian Godwit, Limosa hcemastica. Only 

 one occurrence of this species in this county 

 can be noted, viz., one taken at Somerset, 

 Taunton River, Sep. 12th, 1883. 



Willet, Sijmphemia semipalmata. Commonly 

 observed in autumn, though a few are seen in 

 spring. Principally found on the marshes near 



the coast or along the shores of our principal 

 rivers. 



Greater Yellow-legs, Totnnus mpJanolenms. 

 This species occurs in every portion of the 

 county, being as often found about the large 

 inland ponds as along the coast. 



Yellow-legs, Totnnus flavipes. Only one 

 identified specimen of this species secured, 

 but they may occur in considenible numbers 

 in "flights," as they are common on our New 

 England coast. 



Solitary Sandi)iper, liliijacophilns solitnrins. 

 Again I can record but one authentic capture 

 of this species, Sep. 3rd, 1882 (Brown). It 

 aiay from its shy habits have been overlooked. 



Spotted Sandpiper, Tringoides mactilarius. 

 A common summer resident, breeding in all 

 portions of the county, building its nest with- 

 out regard to its proximity to water. 



Bartraraian Sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda. 

 A few regularly observed in dift'erent sections 

 of the county, but in no great numbers. 



Eskimo Curlew, Nnmenius horealis. Rarely 

 seen ; two instances have been recorded, Sep. 

 18th, 1881 (Dexter) and Sep. 21st, 1883 (Mil- 

 ler). 



Following the brief synopsis of their distri- 

 bution as given above there are several species 

 which may have visited our coast region and 

 should be included were we to give a list of 

 those likely to occur, and which future inves- 

 tigations and additional observers will doubt- 

 less record as such. 



Preparing Eggs. 



BY PHILO W. SMITH, JR., GREENVILLE, ILL. 



My instruments are all of my own make, and 

 consist of one or two glass blowers, two drills, 

 one embryo hook and a needle for starting the 

 holes. The blower is made of glass tubing 

 from six thirty-seconds to one-fourth inch in 

 diameter and from five to nine inches in length, 

 which may be had of any druggist. I prefer 

 the smaller size as it is less easily broken, and 

 about eight inches long. Take a small alcohol 

 lamp and bend the tube two inches from the 

 end. I next draw the tube to a long fine and 

 tapering point. With a very little practice this 

 may be easily done. I have two such tubes, one 

 with a point smaller than a pin-head for fresh 

 eggs, and one with a larger point for eggs with 

 embryos or large eggs. My blower is six inch- 

 es in length, so that I' can see the egg while 

 blowing, which is impossible with a much 



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