BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 137 
there is no possible distinction between the eggs of the two 
species. Nothing less than the simultaneous obtaining of the 
bird with the eggs will satisfy me now. 
As in my first remarks respecting the species, I was at a loss 
to see why it was named Solitary until I learned for myself 
the difficulty of finding the birds at ail during their breeding. 
By going to those sections where they are most commonly 
found at other times, very early in the morning, as I have done 
many times to observe other birds, I have occasionally seen a 
single Sandpiper of this species at the season of nesting. 
Finally I discovered them between sunset and twilight, silently 
running about asif not far from the rest of the family. Then I 
resorted to the locality in the middle of the day, and ‘‘pros- 
pected” every square yard of considerable territory, but never 
yet have been rewarded by the discovery of the nest, or indeed 
the birds either at such a time. In the early days of August 
they begin to come out of their hiding places, and are more 
and more frequently seen as the season advances, until in 
September they are often on the wing in small flocks which 
again increase in size until they leave for the winter. I must 
conclude that the setting bird possesses the same instinct for 
secreting the nest and eggs which is well known to be shown 
in other orders of birds. On the approach of an intruder, the 
bird slips silently off the nest and at once covers it with such 
debris as surrounds it, and wends a dubious way rapidly to a 
place of unquestioned safety. 
I cannot resist the impulse of quoting from Coues’ ‘‘Birds of 
the Northwest,” page 500, where is to be found an example of 
his almost peerless genius in the description of the minuter 
traits of those humbler forms of bird life overlooked by less 
observing ornithologists, in which this species has his attention 
untilimmortalized. Hesays: ‘‘I generally found two or three 
to half a dozen together; frequently one at a time; occasionally, 
but not often, upwards of a score, that seemed, however, to be 
drawn together by their common tastes in the matter of feeding 
grounds rather than by any gregarious instinct. They are 
moreover pretty exclusive in their own set; rather declining, 
than encouraging, familiarity on the part of other waders; 
though the Peetweets and others sometimes intrude their hoy- 
denish society upon the more sedate and aristocratic members 
of the long-legged circle. They should rightly, however, rather 
embrace than merely endure such company, for they are easy 
going, contemplative natures, and their sharp-eyed associates 
