102 iiTATDEAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS IN ALASKA. 



surface are couflned to a pectoral band having about the same distribution as the band on 

 Actodromas maculata. On the sides of the breast these markings have a decided tendency to 

 assume the form of a black bar across the feather in contrast to the oval or rounded markings of 

 grisetis; and in many cases these bars extend in a series across the upper breast, and they are 

 always found sparingly along the sides and flanks, but never extend to the feathers on abdomen. 

 The deep color of lower surface and restricted amount of maculations form the main char- 

 acters of this bird as distinguished from griseus, and not the comparative length of the beak, 

 which was formerly erroneously supposed to be the main difference, but which in fact is only of very 

 slight if of any value in separating the birds. The young and fall birds are much more difiacult 

 to distingush, and the lack of sufiacient material from the Atlantic coast prevents a presentation of 

 the differences which probably exist. 



; Tkinga cantjtus Linn. Knot. 



Dall found this bird rare at the Yukon mouth, and in his list of the birds of the Territory records 

 a single specimen taken at Sitka. During my residence at Saint Michaels, I secured a single 

 example of the young of the year, on August 14, 1877, but the bird was not seen again during my 

 residence there. Murdoch found it to be a rare summer resident near Point Barrow. Although it 

 is found throughout most of the circumpolar parts of the northern hemisphere it is rare in the 

 region under consideration. Farther east, about Hudson's Bay and north to Melville Peninsula, 

 it appears to be more or less common. During Parry's second expedition it was found breeding at 

 the last-named place, and was said to have laid eggs upon a tuft of withered grass with no attempt 

 at a nest. It rears its young along thecoast of Hudson's Bay south to the fifty-fifth parallel. The 

 eggs are reported to be of a dun-color, thickly marked with reddish spots, as described by Mr. 

 Hutchins. In the Auk for July, 1885 (pp. 312, 133), Dr. Merriam describes an egg taken at Fort 

 Conger, in latitude 81° 44' N., from notes furnished by Lieutenant Creely. The egg measured 1 ,10 

 by 1 inch, and was a light pea-green color, closely spotted with brown specks about the size of a 

 pin-head. It extends its range well to the north, and specimens are reported from high latitudes 

 by different exploring parties who have penetrated this region. 



During winter its southern range equals its summer range to the north, and it is taken in New 

 Zealand and Australia. A specimen is mentioned by Gould which was taken on the latter continent, 

 September 2, as it was just assuming its summer plumage. An interesting question arises whether 

 this bird was a resident of the southern hemisphere or a migrant from the north. In the latter 

 place it must have been preparing, for a second nidiflcation, thus having a breeding-season in 

 both hemispheres. Daring the late English Arctic Expedition of 1875-'76, Captain Fielden found a 

 Knot on the northern coast of G-reenland. On August 25, 1875, he observed several of these birds 

 near the water's edge in Discovery Bay, latitude 81° 44' N. The marshes were frozen at the time, 

 and the birds were feeding along the shore on the small crustaceans which are found abundantly 

 in the Arctic Sea. In pursuit of this food they ran breast-high into the water. On June 5, 1876, 

 in latitude 82^ 33' X., a flock of fourteen or more were seen circling over a hill-side, alighting on. 

 the bare patches, and feeding eagerly on the buds of Saxifraga oppositafolia. Specimens of this 

 bird were met with in considerable numbers, but they were wild and very difficult of approach. 



The cry of the Knot, Captain Fielden remarks, is slight and something hke that of the curlew. 

 Immediately after they arrived in June they began to mate, and he saw two males following a 

 single female. At this season they soar in the air like the common snipe, and when descending 

 from a height Ihey beat their wings behind their backs with a rapid motion, which produced a loud 

 whirring noise. After repeated search for the nest they were compelled to abandon the hope of 

 securing any eggs, but later in the season the parents with young were obtained. The following 

 description of the newly-hatched birds is presented by the naturalist just quoted : Iris black; tip 

 of mandible dark brown ; bill dark olive; toes black ; soles of feet greenish yellow ; • back of legs 

 the same ; under part of throat satin white ; back beautifully-mottled tortoise-shell. 



A young bird of the year secured by me at Saint Michaels, on the date already mentioned, 

 has the crown and back to the rump, including the wings, grayish ashy, darker on the primaries, 

 where it is ashy brown. A pale grayish superciliary stripe extends back from the base of the 



