116 



North American Birds Eggs. 



[242.1] Long-toed Stint. Artodromas dainacciini^i. 



An Asiatic speeies accidentally tounil on the Alaskan shores. It is a very 

 similar bird to tlie Least Sandpiper, and about the same size. As implied by 

 its name, it has unusually long toes. 



[243.] Dunlin. Prlidna alpiiui. 



A very common Sandpiper in the British Isles and in Europe, but only cas- 

 ually occuring as a straggler along the Atlantic coast. Very similar to the 

 next species, but a trifle smaller. The nest and eggs do not differ from the 

 following. 



243a. Red-backed Sandpiper; American Dunlin. Pelidna aJpiiia pdcifica. 



Range.— Whole of North America, breeding from southern Greenland, Labra- 

 dor, Hudson Bay and the Yukon, northward, wintering from the Gulf States 



southward. This handsome species is similar to 

 the Pril)ilof Sandpiper, but is smaller (length 

 eight inches I , the upper parts are more reddish, 

 the breast more heavily streaked, and it has a 

 black patch on the belly instead of on the breast 

 as in ptUiinicmis. Their nesting habits are simi- 

 lar to others of the family; tliey lay three or four 

 eggs with a brownish or greenish buff color, heav- 

 ily blotched and spotted with shades of brown and 

 chestnut. Size 1.41) x l.Otl. Data.— Peel River, 

 Arctic America, June 30, 1809. Nest a simple 

 cavity in the ground, lined with a few grasses and three or four leaves. Collec- 

 tor, J. O. Stringer. 



244. Curlew Sandpiper. Eraliu ferrugi iica 



Range.— A common Old World species, but regarded as rare in eastern North 

 America and northern Alaska. 



A bird of slighter build, but similar coloration to 

 the Knot; smaller (length eight inches) and with a 

 slightly decurved bill. Until within recent years, 

 eggs of these birds were rarely seen in collections, 

 and I believe they have not yet been taken in this 

 country, although a few pairs nest along our Arctic 

 coast. Their eggs are very similar to those of the 

 Red-backed Sandpiper, but average somewhat larger. 

 Size 1.50 X 1.05. Data.— Kola, northern Lapland, 

 June 15, 1898. 4 eggs laid in a grass lined hollow in 

 the ground. Collector, J. Ramberg. 



((ireenish ))uffj. 



[245.] Spoonbill Sandpiper. E i( nj iiorJiynrhuK pjjfj in^euft. 



A very rare Asiatic species, which has Ijeen taken in Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. 

 A very peculiar bird having the end of the l)ill broadened and flattened into a 

 sort of spatula. Otherwise very similar to the Least Sandpiper, but with the 

 breast and sides of neck ruddy in summer. Aljout 75 specimens of this rare 

 bird are known to exist. 



