SCOLOPACIDJi — THE SNIPp: FAMILY — ACTODKOMAS. 235 



Its note is a low whistle, wliich is not often repeated, except when the bird appre- 

 hends danger. This is known us the " ^Meadow Snipe " on Long Island, and is also 

 called the " Short-neck." It is rpute common at Egg Harbor, X. J., in the autumn, 

 and sometimes remains there until Xovember; toward the latter part of the season 

 it is in excellent condition. On the sea-coast of New Jersey it is known as the 

 "Fat-bird." It is found in its migrations in the interior of Pennsylvania, and is there 

 also known as the " Jack Snijje." Stragglers also occur on Long Island in the month 

 of July ; but there is no reason to suppose that any breed there. In the autumn its 

 flesh becomes very juicy and finely flavored, and when procured late in the season it 

 is said to be superior to that of any of our shore-birds, and fully equal to any upland 

 game. 



This species has been taken several times in Great Britain, where they occiu" as 

 stragglers only; they were shot in the months of May, September, and October. 

 According to Prince Charles Bonajiarte, the Pectoral Sandpiper is found in Brazil 

 and at Montevideo. 



Nuttall states that in his day many birds of this species were killed on the shores 

 of Cohasset and other parts of Massachusetts Bay, where they arrived in flocks about 

 the end of August, and remained into September. While there they fed on small 

 coleoptera, larvaj, and the common green Viva latisshna, as well as on several species 

 of sea-weed. When startled, they uttered a low plaintive whistle. Like the Snipe, 

 it seems fond of damp meadows and marshes. 



Eeinhardt includes this bird among those of Greenland on the authority of a 

 specimen taken in 1851, and two in 1859, at Nenortalik. Mr. B. Koss reports this 

 species common on the Mackenzie Eiver. 



It is not known to breed sg far to the south as Labrador, but makes its first ap- 

 pearance there about the middle of August, in the course of its migrations southward. 

 Wherever found, the " Grass Snipe," as it is called in Massachusetts, is seldom seen 

 on open sandy beaches, preferring low, wet inland meadows. When found near the 

 shore it frequents the muddy flats left bare by the receding tide and the higher salt- 

 marshes. It has more of the habits of the Common Snipe than of the Tringce. As 

 it starts up suddenly from the grovind in alarm, its zigzag flight is very Snipe-like, 

 and it is then quite as difiicult to shoot as is that bird. 



Nothing whatever is known about its breeding, either as to locality or manner. 

 It has been thought that this may take place somewhere along the forty-ninth paral- 

 lel ; this is but a conjecture, not amounting to a probability. 



Actodromas acuminata. 



THE SHAKP TAILED SANDPIPER. 



Totami^ acuminahis, HoESF. Lini). Trans. XIII. 1821, 192. 



Tringa acuminata, SwiTsR. P. Z. S. 1863, 315 ; Ifiis, 186-3, 412. — Sciri.EO. Miis. P. -P. Tringa;, 38. 



Limnocinclvs acuminalus, Gkay, Hand-I. III. 1871, 49. 



Actodromas acuminata, Ridgw. Proc. XJ. S. Nat. Mus. 1881, 199, 222 ; Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 



533. — COUES, Check List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 619. 

 Tringa ajistralis, Jap.d. Illustr. Om. II. pi. 91. 

 Schcenichis atistralis, Gould, Birds Austr. VI. pi. 30. 

 Tringa riifesccnn, Vox JIiddend. Sibir. Reise, 221 (nnc Vieill.). 



H.\B. Eastern Asia, migrating south to Australia, and northeastward to coast of Alaska (St. 

 ifichael's ; E. Vv. Xelsox). 



Sp. Char. Adult: Above, brownish gray, the feathers blaek centrally ; pileum cinnamon, in 

 marked contrast, and broadly streaked with black ; rump and middle upper tail-coverts browni.sh 



