128 BIRDS 



no rufous whatever on the upper surface. The cinnamon 

 color of the lower parts also varies in intensity." 



Little is known of the nest and eggs of the knot, owing 

 to its retiring habits at the nesting time and the fact that 

 it breeds in the region of the Arctic Circle, so little fre- 

 quented by man. One authentic report, that of Lieutenant 

 A. W. Greeley, describes a single egg that he succeeded in 

 obtaining near Fort Conger, while commanding an expedi- 

 tion to Lady Franklin Sound. This egg was a little more 

 than an inch in length, about one inch in diameter. Its 

 color was a " light pea-green, closely spotted with brown in 

 small specks about the size of a pinhead." 



THE PECTORAL SANDPIPER* 



The Sandpiper is distributed through North, Central, 

 and South America, breeding in the Arctic regions. It is 

 also of frequent occurrence in Europe. Low, wet lands, 

 muddy flats, and the edges of shallow pools are its favor- 

 ite resorts. The birds move in flocks, but, while feeding, 

 scatter as they move about, picking and probing here and 

 there for their food, which consists of worms, insects, and 

 small shellfish, tender rootlets, and birds. "But at the 

 report of a gun," says Colonel Goss, " or any sudden fright, 

 spring into the air, utter a low whistling note, quickly 

 bunch together, flying swift and strong, usually in a zigzag 

 manner, and when not much hunted often circle and drop 

 back within shot; for they are not naturally a timid or 

 suspicious bird, and when quietly and slowly approached, 

 sometimes try to hide by squatting close to the groimd." 



