SCOLOPACID.E - THE SNIPE FAMILY — PELIDNA. 



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jiieferences as to their feeding-grounrls. Mr. Audubon speaks of them as particularly 

 abundant during the winter in Florida; and ^Messrs. Allen, Maynard, and JJoardnian 

 have sinee confirmed this 8tat«;nient. They take their departure from the south alxjut 

 tlif 1st of April, 



The J{ed-ba(;ked Sandpiper passes through the interior, as well as along the coast, 

 in its migrations, pausing on its way to fet'd on the shores of inland lakes, ponds, 

 and rivers. It has been procured at both seasons by Mr. Kundien near Luke Kos- 

 konong, where, at times, it is (piite alnmdant. 



Sal)ine states that tiiis sjiecies was observed in Sir Edward Tarry's f st voyage; 

 liiit that it was rare on the coast of Davis Strait and Uathn's l>ay and among the 

 ishuulK of tiie INdar Sea. In the second voyage it was found breeding on Melville 

 i'cuin.sula. And J. C. IJoss, in the '• Xatiiral History of the Last Arctic Voyage," 

 speaks of this l)ird as very abundant during tlu.' breeding-season, near Felix Harbor, 

 where it builds its nest in the marshes and by tlu^ siiU-s of lakes. 



Tiu'ee eggs of this species from Soiitli Cireenland, taken in June, 1855, measure 

 MO by .98, 1..'55 by .•.)8, L.'W by 1.03. They are pyrii'orm in shape — extremely so — 

 liaviiig a giound-color varying from a dirty clayey-wliite, with a washing of rufous, t(j 

 a deep clay -color. The eggs are all si>otted with large blottdies of dark sienna-brown, 

 wliich occasionally have a purplish tinge, and an^ irregularly confluent, and more 

 numerous alH»ut the larger end than on the other one, where they are lew iu uundjcr, 

 small, and scattered. 



The liluroiH'au form of this siieeies, known as the Dunlin or I'urre, is entitled to a 

 place in a list of the birds belonging to the fauna of North America, since it is of 

 occasional occurrence in (.Jreenland, where the two forms appear to nu'ct on common 

 ground. It is not j»rolial)lt^ that tlie hal)its of the two forms are otherwise than 

 nearly, if not (piite, identical; and as somewhat illustrative of both varieties, we 

 copy, with slight changes, the following grai)lii(! summary of their peculiarities, 

 from the pen of Sir William Janiine: ''On the coasts of Great Dritain the I'nrre 

 is tlu! nu)st common of the whole race, and nuiy generally i»e mot with, no matter 

 wiiat is the character of the shore. IJefore they have been much driven about 

 and annoyed, they an^ also one of the most familiar. During winter the Hocks are 

 sdiuetimes immense, and will allow a jterson to aiiproaih very near, looking, and run- 

 ning a few steps, or stretching their wings in preparation for Higiit, listlessly an<l in 

 a manner indicative of little alarm ; a few shots, however, render them as timorous 

 and wary as they were before careless. In spring they sei)arate into iiai'^', when 

 some perform a migration to a consideral»le extent northward, wiiile others retire to 

 till' nearer marshes, a few to the shores of inland lakes, and still fewer to the higher 

 inland nmirs. Having there performed tlie duties of incubation, they return again 

 in autumn to the shore, where they nuiy be found in small parties, the amoinit of the 

 broods; and these gi-atliuilly congregate as the season advances, and more travellers 

 arrive, until many hundreds are tlius joined. Their nests are fornu'd beneath or at 

 tlie side of any small ImisIi or tuft of grass, very neatly scraped, and with a few 

 st raws of grass around the sides. The nuih^ is generally in attendaui^e, perched on 

 some near elevation ; and on any danger ajiproaching, runs round, uttering at (puck 

 intervals his shrill, monotonous whistle. The ft'uuile, when raised from the nest, 

 flutters off for a few yards, and then assumes the same manner with the male. The 

 young sit and squat amcmg the grass or reeds, and at that time the parents will come 

 within two yards of the jwrson in search of them." 



Mr. Macgillivray, as <|Uoted by Audubon, represents the Purre as l)eing seen feo 

 constantly in company with the (Jcjlden Plover when breeding, that it has obtained 



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