132 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
On July 10th, 1884, I shot a specimen of the Solitary Sand- 
piper, Rhyacophilus solitarius, at Maple Creek, 597 miles west of 
Winnipeg; it was doubtless breeding. In the dry bed of the 
creek I also caught a nestling bird, which was probably of this 
species. 
During the summer no bird is more familiar on the Manitoban 
prairies than the Upland Plover or Bartram’s Sandpiper, Bar- 
tramia longicauda, commonly there known as the “ Quaily,” 
from its note. Surely no bird ever differed more completely from 
the generality of its relatives than this! It is a Sandpiper which 
does not appear to frequent marshes, which breeds habitually on 
the dry open prairies, and which is frequently to be seen perched 
among the branches of trees. Its tameness is excessive. Often 
when driving over the prairie I have seen it remain within three 
yards of the passing vehicle without the slightest concern. When 
on the wing, it offers a shot so temptingly easy that few can 
resist. Its note is a highly remarkable one, not easily forgotten 
when once heard. Dr. Coues well describes it as a ‘‘long-drawn, 
soft, mellow whistle, of a peculiarly clear, resonant quality.” It 
breeds abundantly on the open prairie, and I have several times 
caught the young in down. The majority left Manitoba towards 
the latter end of August, but I was several times surprised at 
hearing or seeing a belated pair until quite late in September. 
The Carolina Rail, Porzana carolina, is common during the 
summer among the reeds and rushes round the lakes, where it 
also breeds. 
In the open and less frequented parts of the country, like the 
gand-hills south of Carberry and the prairies of the Upper 
Assiniboine, the Sand-hill Crane, Grus pratensis, breeds pretty 
commonly. They often feed in the swamps, and their loud, 
hoarse, rattling croak may be heard for long distances when 
their solitudes are invaded. Their speed when on foot is very con- 
siderable ; I one day drove across a moist portion of country after 
a pair, which for a short time seemed inclined to rely for safety on 
their legs rather than on their wings. During September small’ 
parties of from ten to twenty were seen almost daily passing over 
southward at an immense height, and attracting attention by 
their loud croaking, which gradually died away in the distance as 
the birds disappeared. 
During the whole of the autumn the southward migration of 
ae oe ee 
