SCULOPACID.K — THE SXIPE FAMILY — Ll.MuSA. 259 



the crown, nape, and lores streaked with dusky. AxiHarsand liuin<^ of the wing white, irregularly 

 barred and spotted with dusky grayish, irinter plumage : Above, plain brownish gray, beneath, 

 plain v.'hiti.sh ; rump, upper tail-coverts, tail, axillars, etc., as in summer. Yountj: Above, includ- 

 ing wing-coverts, light grayish buff, or pale clay-color, coarsely and irregularly spotted -with dusky, 

 the latter chiefly along the centres of the feathers, and showing as conspicuous shaft-streaks on the 

 wing-coverts ; lower parts buffy whitish, shaded across the jugulum and breast with <leeper grayish 

 Iniff ; in otlier respects like tlie adult. 



Total length, about Ki inches ; wing, S. 2.^-9.15 ; culmen, 3.1.J-3..0.5 ; tarsus, 2.00-2.20 ; middle 

 toe, 1.10-1.20. 



There is considerable variation among individuals in the depth and continuity of tlie ciiniamon- 

 color on the lower surface. 



The relation.ship of this form is un(|ue.stionably very close to L. lapponica, of which it cannot 

 be considered more than a geographical race or sub-species, the differences being very slight, 

 although apparently constant. These consist in the rather paler shade of cinnamon on the lower 

 parts in the summer plumage, and in the grayish instead of distinctly white rump, in all stages of 

 plumage. 



Australian examples appear to l)e cpiite identical with those from Alaska. 



This species is incduded in tlic fauna of North America as a summer resident of 

 Alaska Territory, where it was met with by ]\Ir. Dall while engaged on the Telegraph 

 Expedition. Its discovery as a bird of Alaska was one of the most interesting among 

 the results of that survey, as its existence in North America hart lujt been even sus- 

 pected before it had been thus taken. 



So far as had been previously ascertained, its range, during the winter months, 

 had been over Polynesia, Australia, Eastern and Southern Asia, and Japan. In 

 summer it was known to go north to Siberia, where Middendorff found it breeding 

 on the Taimyr Eiver, in latitude 75° N. Specimens from Polynesia were brought 

 home by the United States Exploring Expedition. 



Mr. Swinhoe mentions that a pair of this species was observed feeding in company 

 with a large flock of Godwits in the shallows of the creek at Hungpe, on the Island of 

 Hainan, on the 30th of March. They were secured, and proved to be very nearly in 

 full summer plumage. Three days later another examijle, in the full winter plumage, 

 was obtained on the sandy shores of Hoehow Harbor. 



Gaptaiu E. W. Hutton (" Ibis," 1871) states that this bird was seen several times 

 on the Chatham Islands, although he did not succeed in obtaining any specimens. 

 These examples lyere apparently only migratory, leaving the Islands in w-inter. 



In the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy, 1858, M"r. Cassin refers to a 

 species of Limosa from Japan, whicdi Mr. Swinhoe states to be probably this one. 

 Both Mr. Swinhoe (" Ibis," 187i>) and Messrs. Blakiston and Pryer mention its 

 occurrence in different parts of Japan, especially Yeso and Yokohama. The Messrs. 

 Layard (" Ibis," 1878, p. 262) cite this species as a bird of New Caledonia. 



Mr. Dall states that this species was very common at the mouth of the Yukon 

 Eiver, and also on the Pastolik marshes to the north of it. It is the largest Snijjc 

 found in the country, Ijeing rpiitt; as large in body as a Teal, and very excellent eating. 

 He adds that it lays two light-olivaceous and spotted eggs in a rounded depression 

 in a sedge tussock, and that the nest consists of a lining of dry grasses. 



Mr. H. W. Elliott met with this species from time to time during his stay on the 

 Prybilof Islands, and speaks of it as onh' migratory there, and never breeding. It 

 comes in a straggling manner early in May, passing northward with but little delay, 

 and re-appearing toward the end of August in flocks of from a dozen to fifty. 



A set of these eggs, two in number, are in the Smithsonian Collection. One of 

 these measures 2.25 inches in length bv 1.45 in breadth. The ground-color of one is 



