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204 



PR.ECOCIAL GllALLATORES — LI^flCOL.E. 



ing along an extended line (it the shore for thirty yards, alternately and simultane- 

 ously advancing and retreating with tlie niovt'nient of the water. In about three 

 (quarters of an hour they removed a few yanls beyond the highest wash of tlie waves, 

 huddled close together, and lu'gau to pluiue themselves. Suddenly they ceased their 

 occupation, stood still, and several of them uttered a sharp firrrf-tu-cct, somewhat 

 like the notes of the Solitary Sandj)i|ier. Soon after this st'ven other birds of the 

 same species alighted near those he was watching, and began to feed. Fearing that 

 the first flock might join them, and he might lose the opportuinty of procuring speci- 

 mens, he lired into the flock and killed eleven. lie afterward saw them on almost 

 every island and bay on his way to Texas, and also jirocured some on Cialveston 

 Island. He describes its flight as being rajiid and regular. This Sandpiper moves 

 in compact flocks, and often when about to alight, or after being disturbed, inclines 

 the body to either side, showing alti-rnately the upper and thi' lower parts. On foot 

 it moves more like a Curlew than a Triiuja, and is nun'c sc(hite in its motions than 

 the true Sandpiper. At times, on being apitroachcd, it will s(puit on tlu! ground after 

 the manner of the Escpiinuiux Curlew. Its flesh is said to be extrcnudy delicate. In 

 the stomachs of those he killed he found small worms, miiuite shellfish, and vegetable 

 substances, among which were hard seeds of sonu' unknown plant. He found great 

 differences in the color of the plumage of those he killed. He adds that its jiassagc 

 through the United States is very rapid, both in spring and in autnnni. A few of 

 these birds are said to spend the winter in Lower Louisiana, but nearly ixll pass on 

 southward beyond Texas. 



Mr. Moore twice met with this species in Florida — once Aug. 4, and tagain Sept. 

 17, 1869. Part were in an oozy jiool near the I>ay of Sarasota; the rest were in a 

 fresh pond. He had an opportunity t)f witnessing its manner of feeding from a hid- 

 ing-jdace near the j)ond. It was feeding in water that nearly covered its tarsi. It 

 slowly stepped ahmg, carrying its bill innnersed nearly up to the base, and sweeping 

 it slowly from side to side, nmch in the manner of the Koseate Sjioonbills, which 

 were at the same moment feeding nearby. He noticed no action like that of swal- 

 lowing at any time, its motions being contiuut)Us. This accounts for the black mud 

 found in the stomachs of several kinds of Sandjiipers : it is taken in by suction, and 

 with it probably vari(nis kinds of animalcuhe. 



Mr. MacFarlane found this species breeding at Rendezvous Lake, in the Arctic 

 Region, June 27. In situation and composition they are said to be similar to others 

 previously met with. The nest contained four eggs, the female liaving been shot on 

 leaving it. The contents of the eggs were very slightly develojx'd. This bird was 

 everywhere very rare, except on the Arctic coast at Franklin I5ay, where it was found 

 tolerably abundant. At Island Point, .Tidy H, he obtained two young birds in the 

 down, with the female parent. Both parents disi)layed mu(di courage and ingeinuty 

 in defence of their young, two of which were thus enabled to escape. He afterwards, 

 in the same neighborhood, procured other young in the down, with both parents. 

 Another nest, obtained at Langston Harbor in July, 1805, contained four eggs (]inte 

 fresh. The nest was a mere deju-essiim in the ground, lined with a few withered 

 leaves and grasses. Examples of this species were also procured at Fort Resolution 

 by Mr. Kennicott, at Fort Simpson by Mr. R. R. Ross, and at Big Island by ISh. 

 J. Reid. 



A set of eggs (S. I. No. 9389) obtained on the Arctic coast by Mr. MacFarlane, 

 June 22, 1863, was in a nest composed of decayed leaves and placed in a hollow partly 

 concealed by tufts of grass. The eggs are three in number, of an oblong pyriform 

 shape, and have a ground-color of a light and bright drab or grayish white, with large 



