COUES ON BIRDS OF DAKOTA AND MONTANA. 639 



/ MICKOPALAMA HIMANTOPUS, {Bjh) Bd. 



Stilt Sandpiper. 



This biglily interesting species is not known to breed except in high 

 latitudes, and has usually been regarded as rather rare in the United 

 States. I was delighted to find it on the same lucky pool where I got the 

 Northern Phalarope, for I had never before seen it alive. We can only 

 surmise whether or not it had bred in the vicinity — the date was August 

 16 ; butthebirds were fully flocking, and seemed to be en route. On repass- 

 ing the pool August 29, returning from the mountains, I saw it again, 

 and added another specimen to the half dozen secured at my first visit. 

 In their general appearance and actions, the birds so closely resembled 

 the Eed-breasted Snipe that at gunshot range I at first mistook them 

 for the latter, and did not recognize them until the specimens were in 

 hand. They gathered in the same compact groups, waded about in the 

 same sedate, j)reoccupied manner, fed with the same motion of the head, 

 probing obliquely in shallow water with the head submerged, were 

 equally oblivious of my approach, and when wounded swam with equal 

 facility. The close structural resemblances of the two species are evi- 

 dently reflected in their general economy. 



List of specimens. 



EREUNETES PUSILLUS, {Limi.) Cass. 

 SeMIP alma TED SANDPIPER. 



This abundant and familiar little species was noticed at various points 

 along the Line during the month of August. 



List of specimens. 



