SCOLOPACID^ — THE SNIPE FAMILY — ACTODROMAS. 231 



distribution than was at fii'st supposed ; indeed it is already known to be generally 

 distributed tlu-oughout tliu interior ot Xortli America and to the western portions of 

 South America, and it has quite recently been ascertained to be of occasional occur- 

 rence on the Atlantic coast. Mr. H. W. Henshaw procured a single specimen, Aug. 

 27, 1870, on one of the islands in Uoston Harbor ; and since then Mr. Maynard has 

 obtained some of this species near Ipswich, Mass., and examples have been taken on 

 the same coast by others. 



In his "Notes on the Birds of Colorado," Mr. J. A. Allen nieutious meeting with 

 this species in that State, not far from Colorado City ; and Dr. Woodliouse speaks of 

 seeing birds of this species at different times in various parts of the Indian Territory, 

 as well as in New Mexico, calling them Tnnga Schinzii. The specimens procured 

 by Dr. "Woodliouse near the Pueblo of Zuni are in the National Museum, and are now 

 known to belong to this species, thus extending its range to the region west of the 

 Eocky Mountains. 



It has also been ascertained that three examples, referred to by Mr. Cassin as 

 Tringa Bonapdiici, really belonged to this species. These were from Omaha, Fort 

 Kearney, and the Yellowstone Region ; and it is now known that during the fall 

 migration in tlie month of August this species is one of the most abundant Sandpi- 

 pers in Dakota, Idalio, and Montana. It occurs in small flocks along the rivers and 

 small lakes, and also in all other suitable places among the Eocky Mountains. It is 

 not only found among the small saline pools of the prairies, generally near water- 

 courses, but also at times at a distance from any permanent stream. It is described 

 as a very quiet and gentle species, and one that may be approached and secured with 

 ease. 



Mr. Henshaw, in his Report on the Birds of Utah and Colorado, states that during 

 its spring and fall migrations, Baird's Sandpiper occurs over most of the interior of 

 North America. Tlirougliout Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona he found it quite 

 evenly distributed, making its appearance from the north about the latter part of 

 Augu,st, and becoming tolerably common in September. He never met with it in 

 large flocks, not more than five or six being generally found together, the number 

 being often swelled by the addition of a few of other species of Waders. These birds 

 are so unsuspicious that he has often walked up to within a dozen feet of a little flock, 

 as they scattered about with hasty steps in search of food. They are not so partial to 

 the vicinity of water as most of the other members of the Wading family, although in 

 general sharing their habits. He not unfrequently met with them about the stock 

 corrals, and even in yards close to the houses. 



In the summer of 1872, late in August, Mr. Trippe saw large flocks of this species 

 near the summit of IMount Evans in Colorado, at an elevation of nearly fourteen 

 thousand feet above the sea; they were feeding on grasshoppers. 



Mr. Ridgway has also met with this species in Nevada, where he found it rather 

 common during the period of its migrations, associating with various other Sandpi- 

 pers, particularly with Actodromas miymtilla and Ereunetes jnisillus. It has also been 

 noticed on the Pacific coast, as Mr. Dall states that one specimen was obtained 

 by Bischoff at Sitka, and several at Kadiak ; and it is not rare on the Yukon. A 

 single specimen was procured on Amak Island, north of the peninsula of Alaska, by 

 Captain Everett Smith. 



Mr. J. Edmund Harting, in the '• Ibis. '" (1870, p. 151), states that a single specimen 

 of this species was taken at Walvisch Bay, Africa, Oct. 24, 1863. The finding of this 

 species in Southwestern Africa appears to be not a little remarkable, as it has thus 

 far not been recognized as occurring in Europe. The specimen from Walvisch Bay 



