368 The Water-fowl Family 



Closely resembling the forms just described, 

 the habits of the Pribilof sandpiper are similar to 

 its relatives'. 



On the Pribilofs this bird is abundant and 

 tame, living on the moss-covered tundra, on the 

 shores of the pools, and in late summer along the 

 beaches. The young leave the nest as soon as 

 hatched and are well protected by the resemblance 

 of their upper parts to the colors of the vegetation 

 around. When they are approached, the mother, 

 feigning lameness, attempts to draw the intruder 

 away, while the young, flat on the ground with 

 outstretched necks, will allow themselves to be 

 touched rather than betray their location by a 

 movement. 



SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER 

 (Tringa acuminata) 



Adult male and female in breeding plumage — Above, reddish buff, 

 feathers with black centres ; top of head, ear-coverts, and neck 

 posteriorly, streaked with black and rusty ; rump and middle 

 upper tail-coverts, brownish black; lateral upper tail-coverts, 

 white, streaked with dusky ; middle tail feathers, dusky, edged 

 with white; remainder, deep brownish gray, bordered with 

 white ; a white superciliary stripe ; breast, pale brownish gray ; 

 rest of lower parts, white ; lower parts marked with dark brown 

 spots, which are small on the throat and breast, large and squa- 

 mate on the flanks and abdomen, and large and lanceolate on 

 the under tail-coverts ; iris, brown ; bill, black at tip, greenish 

 yellow at base ; legs and feet, greenish yellow. 



Adult male and female in winter — Upper parts, grayish brown, 

 streaked and striped with dusky ; top of head, rusty ; superciliary 

 stripe and lower parts, dull white ; chest and sides of breast, 



