490 BIRDS — SCOLOPACID^. 



Above blackish with a slight greenish reflection, vari^at^d with tawny and whitish ; 

 below, pale tawny of varying shade, bleaching on throat and bally; jugnlum with 

 stieakB, braiast and sides with arrowheads and bars of blackish ; axlllars and lining of 

 wings pure white, black-barred; quills blackish, with white- bars on the inner webs; 

 taU varied with tawny, black and white, chiefly in bars, bill and legs pale, former black- 

 tipped. Length, 11-13 ; wing, 6-7 ; tail 3-i ; bill, l-lj ; middle toe and claw abont the 

 same ; tarsn^, about 2. 



Habitat, North America. North to the Yukon. Not observed in the United Staies 

 west of the Kooky Monntains. Atlantic coast to Nova Scotia. Breeds :&om the Middle 

 districts northward. Winters in Mexico, West Indies, Central and South America to 

 Efrazil. Caeoal in Europe. 



Bartram's Sandpiper or the Field Plover, as it is commonly termed with 

 us, is an abundant migrant and common summer resident, being found 

 from the middle of April to the latter part of September. It frequents, 

 in large flocks, plowed fields, meadows and retired fields ; more rarely is 

 seen in pairs along the banks of streams, never, however, according to 

 my observation, wading in the water. When on its migrations it is 

 very wary and difficult to approach, but during the breeding season its 

 whole nature seems to be changed in this respect. In the protection of 

 its nest and young it resorts to va:Sous devices to attract and hold the 

 attention of the intruder to itself, mimicking lameness of leg and wing, 

 tumbling in the air and on the ground, much after the manner of the 

 Woodcock at similar times. After the breeding season is over it often 

 imitates the smaller hawks in its flight, soaring, sailing and hovering, 

 so as to entirely mislead one who is not familiar with this habit. This 

 latter habit has been noticed by Mr. Wm. Brewster in the Rufi" {Philo- 

 machus), to which he supposed it to be peculiar. 



It has also the frequent habit in spring of alighting on the tops of 

 fences, after the manner of the Meadow-lark. Individuals thus perched 

 seem to be acting as sentinels for the flock feeding below. During the 

 breeding season, they often perch on the tops of willow trees, when an 

 intruder makes his appearance. 



Its ordinary note is a loud pleasing whistle, but in summer it often 

 utters a loud, tremulous, piercing scream, which for wierdness is not sur- 

 passed by the cry of the Screech Owl or Loon. 



The eggs are four, pale clay-color or drab, thickly spotted with umber- 

 brown in small pattern for birds of this family. They measure 1.75 

 by 1.28. 



Gmtub TETHGITES. Cabanis. 



BUI very small, straight, stout, shorter than tarsus or middle toe with claw, feathered 

 above as far as the nostrils, still farther below. Gape extending considerably beyond 

 ctdmen. Webbing of toes radimentary. Tail not half as long as wing, rounded, with 

 central feathars projecting. 



