228 PE^COCIAL GKALLATOEES — LIMICOL^. 



The history of the habits and manner of life of the Bonaparte Sandijijier is still 

 but imperfectly known, and the entire range of its distribution is, without doubt, 

 very far from having been fully ascertained. On the Atlantic coast and, to a certain 

 extent, in the interior, it is a migratory visitant, both in the spring and in the fall. 

 During the season of reproduction it visits high Arctic regions, is known to breed in 

 the vicinity of the Arctic coast, and is given by Eeiuhardt as one of the birds of 

 Greenland. It is stated by Holboll to breed near Julianehaab, where small flocks 

 of old and young were observed by him in August. A very young bird was obtained 

 at Nenortalik in 1835, another in 1840, and three others in 1841. 



It is also said to occur and to breed in the extreme southern portions of South 

 America, and to visit the Falkland Islands. During its autumnal migrations it is 

 found in Bermuda, where Major Wedderburn met with it in the fall, and where it 

 was in company with A. maculata. 



In Massachusetts it also occurs, but is not a very common bird. Mr. William Brews- 

 ter informs me that in this State, according to liis ol_)servations. it is not abundant, 

 although its visits are constant, uniform, and regular. It passes north in May, and 

 reappears in its southern migration as early as the 20th of July. It has a very 

 peculiar note, unlike that of any other Sandpiper, which is not in any sense a whist- 

 ling, but is a low lisping sound, and almost the only cry of a shore-bird which is 

 neither melhjw nor whistling. When disturbed, it moves quickly off, repeating this 

 rather low note, which, however, is always distinctly audible above that of the small 

 Tringw with which it associates. 



According to Cai^tain C. C. Abbott, this little Sandpiper makes its appearance in 

 the summer on the Falkland Islands, and is known to breed on East Falkland. He 

 met with the young birds, but was not able to find their nests. Mr. H. Durnford 

 also, in his Notes on the Birds of Central I'atagonia, speaks of this species as resident. 

 He found it very common in the valleys of both the Sengel and the Sengelen, and 

 always in flocks. 



This species, once confounded with distinct European species, was sujoijosed to 

 have a more cosmopolitan distribution than it is now credited with. At present it 

 is thought to be confined to the American continent, occurring along the entire 

 Atlantic sea-coast, and to be met with more sparingly on the banks of interior rivers 

 and lakes. 



On Long Island, according to Giraud, it is not a very plentiful species, having 

 never been observed l)y hinr in large flocks, although during his excursions he fre- 

 quently met with small parties distributed along the margins of creeks and pools, 

 feeding in company with the Semiijalmated Sandpiper, from which it can always be 

 distinguished by its superior size. It is described as being more watchful than that 

 species, seeming to be more alarmed at the report of a gun, and usually flying to a 

 greater distance. It seldom revisits the place from which it has been driven, although 

 its less timid eomj^anion always returns immediately to its feeding-grounds, seemingly 

 as unconcerned as before its flight. Mr. Giraud also states that he has met with tliis 

 species along the banks of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, and on the margins 

 of ponds in the interior counties of Xew York. 



Richardson states that he found this species not unfrequent on the shores of the 

 small lakes which skirt the Saskatchewan Blains. Mr. Audulion met with it at differ- 

 ent times in Kentucky, and along the Atlantic shores from Florida, to ■Maine. In the 

 United States he observed it only in the latter part of autumn and in the winter. 

 He procured exam])les in Labrador at the beginning of August, which were all young 

 birds about to take their departure. He secured also specimens at St. Augustine, 



