SCOLOPAClUJi — THE SNIPE FAMILY — ACTODKOMAS. 239 



According to the observations of Mr. Moore, this species is seen in Florida 

 throughout the year, always in its winter livery, with no indications that it ever breeds 

 there. It is found in company with the Ereunetes pusillus. 



Professor Newton met with it in St. Croix in the autumn, w'here it was observed 

 to freipient the pastures as well as the sea-shore ; but rarely were more than two 

 seen together. ]\Ir. E. Newton notes its first appearance, August 19. According to 

 Gosse, it does not become numerous in Jamaica before the end of the year, and is 

 then found in the morasses in flocks of about a dozen, running swiftly over the wet 

 soil like other Sandpipers. In the stomachs of these birds were found fragments of 

 shells and comminuted animal matter. Mr. Marsh, however, claims that this bird 

 is resident in Jamaica throughout the year, and that it breeds on the Salinas and on 

 the sandy beaches. This, however, is questioned by Mr. Salvin, and we think on 

 good grounds. The eggs described by Mr. Marsh do not resemble those of this 

 species, either in ground-color or markings ; and the character of the nesting, as 

 indicated by him, is not that of this Sandpiper. 



Mr. Salvin, as quoted by Mr. Dresser, states that he possesses a specimen of this 

 bird from Costa Eica, and that an example was found near Panama by MacLeannan. 

 Jlr. A^'. S. Wood ascertained it to be very common at Cartagena in November, 1857, 

 and Dr. Habel procured two specimens on one of the Galapagos Islands. Mr. Wal- 

 lace met with this bird at the mouth of the Amazon, and Natterer secured two speci- 

 mens in Brazil, one in April at Cuyaba, and the other at JVIatto Grosso in September. 

 In the department of Vera Cruz it has been taken in the interior, near Orizaba, and 

 also near the City of Mexico. In Guatemala, besides meeting with it on the Pacific 

 coast, Mr. Salvin found it to be a regular winter visitant, arriving in autuuiu and 

 departing in spring. .In the winter it is found only on the shore, and its visits to 

 inland lakes appear to be limited to its passages. In November, 1861, Mr. Salvin 

 found it in the grassy swamps which surround the small Lake of DueSas, in the 

 highlands of Guatemala, nearly five thousand feet above the sea. 



It is mentioned by Leotaud as occurring in Trinidad in the months of August, 

 September, and October, at times in flocks by themselves, but more frequently 

 mingled with flocks of the Ereunetes pusillus. In the French West India Islands it 

 is known as the Petit. Moitre. 



Mr. Dresser found this species making its appearance at Matamoras as early as 

 the latter part of July, — this affording remarkable evidence of the rapidity of its 

 flight, and confirming the hypothesis that such visitants must be birds that have not 

 raised a brood that season. In the early spring Mr. Dresser met with it neai San 

 Antonio. 



Dr. Walker met with this species on the coast of Greenland ; and in the first part 

 of June following he found it breeding in the marshy valleys near Bellot's Strait. 



Mr. Audubon, whilst in Labrador, found this species plentiful, breeding on the 

 moss-clad rocks within a short distance of the sea. When startled from its nest, it 

 would rise on the wing and move off low over the ground with incurved wings and 

 with a slow whirring motion; or, if on the ground, it moves off slowly and limping 

 as if crippled. On the 20th of July, after some search, he found the nest and eggs of 

 this species. The bird flew from the nest more in the manner of the Partridge than 

 of the Trinrjm. The nest had been formed apparently by the patting of the bird's 

 feet on the crisp moss ; and in tlie slight hollow thus produced were laid a few blades 

 of slender diy gi'ass, bent in a circular maimer, the internal diameter being 2.50 

 inches and its depth 1.25. The eggs, he states, measured .93 by .75 of an inch. 

 Their ground-color was a rich cream-yellow, blotched with very dark umber, the 



