2l8 Nelson on the Pectoral Sandpifer. [J"ly 



mid-August, and in seasons of heat and drought ahnost fails at 

 that time. Towards the end of the month, however, there is 

 usually an accession of vocal energy. 



With individuals of no other one of our birds is singing so con- 

 tinuous as with the Red-eyed Vireos. They are often to be heard 

 in full song for a great part of the day about one spot in the 

 woods or even on the same tree. I have watched single birds 

 singing for many minutes uninterruptedly ; that is, with no rests 

 save the slight natural pauses between the diflerent sets of notes 

 that make up the song. 



In August while the species is still in song, it is undergoing a 

 change of plumage ; this is consummated in September, when 

 the bird soon becomes fat. I have shot individuals in August 

 which, though in an active stage of feather-growth, were never- 

 theless in song. 



Vireo gilvus. Warbling Vireo. 



In favorable seasons this Vireo sings through May, June, July, 

 and the first half of August. But, whether it be because of un- 

 favorable conditions or from scarcity of birds, in some years its 

 song is so interrupted in July that during most of the month 

 singing is the exception rather than the rule. 



Singing may cease at an}? time during the first two weeks of 

 August : later in the month the species is not often heard from, 

 although I have a few dates of song in the third and fourth weeks. 

 The true second song-period seems not to begin before the last 

 days of the month, or September, when for a week or more the 

 species may be generally in song. Latest dates for singing are 

 September 14 and 18. 



( To be continued^ 



THE BREEDING HABITS OF THE PECTORAL 

 SANDPIPER {ACTODROMAS MACULATA). 



BY E. W. NELSON. 



During my residence in Alaska I found this Sandpiper — the 

 E-a-b6uk-ki-ag-i-shu-'i-a-guk of the natives of Alaska — to be 



