SHORE BIRDS 129 



The note is deep, hollow, and resonant, but at the same 

 time liquid and musical, and may be represented by a repe- 

 tition of the syllables "too-u, too-u, too-u, too-u, too-u." 

 The bird may frequently be seen running along the ground 

 close to the female, its enormous sac inflated. 



Mr. Murdock says the birds breed in abundance at Point 

 Barrow, Alaska, and that the nest is always built in the 

 grass, with a preference for high and dry localities. The 

 nest was like that of the other waders — a depression in the 

 ground, lined with a little dry grass. The eggs are four, 

 of pale purplish-gray and light neutral tint. It is some- 

 times called Grass Snipe. 



THE LEAST SANDPIPER* 



This lively, social little Sandpiper is common through- 

 out America, nesting in the Arctic regions. It is migra- 

 torj^ arriving the last of INIarch to the first of May, a few 

 occasionally remaining until November. It has been found 

 breeding as far south as Sable Island, Nova Scotia, but 

 its usual breeding grounds are north from Labrador and 

 Alaska to Greenland, wintering from California and the 

 Gulf States southward. It is more restless and active than 

 the larger sandpipers, but in habits it differs little, if any, 

 from them. It i-uns nimbly about, often with the large 

 waders, feeding around and beneath them, apparently heed- 

 less of danger. "Wliile watching the birds, they will often 

 pass close to the feet, but at the least motion the whole 

 flock will spring into the air "like a flash, with a startled 

 'Peep, peep!' and in a compact form swiftly sweep about 



