Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 55 



brood on this plantation (Oakland), as they were seen until 

 June 20. This is the most southerly record for the breeding of 

 this species. 



About the middle of July the "Field Plovers" used to appear 

 on the southward migration, remaining until October 28, which 

 is my latest date. 



On June 19, 1906, I secured an adult female which was moult- 

 ing the feathers of the head, neck, and body, as well as one of 

 the tertials in each wing. This specimen had undoubtedly bred 

 to the northward of this state, and is the earliest record I have 

 for the autumn migration. During the migrations in March 

 and April I have occasionally seen this bird alight on the top of 

 a dead tree. 



This species winters as far south as the Argentine Republic 

 and breeds as far north as Alaska. The eggs usually number 

 four, and are creamy white or clay, spotted with reddish brown 

 and purplish, and measure 1.75X1-25. 



113. Actitis macularia (Linn.). Spotted Sandpiper. 



Since this species is found during every month of the year it is 

 a permanent resident, although it does not breed. It is most 

 numerous in April and the early part of May, and there is scarcely 

 a place where it cannot be seen in large flocks during these months. 



A female taken on April 25, 1903, has the outer web of the first 

 primary margined with white for about three quarters of an inch 

 from the tip. In some winter specimens from South Carolina, 

 there are fine spots on the flanks. 



The Spotted Sandpiper winters as far south as Brazil, and breeds 

 locally in the United States and as far north as Hudson Bay. 



114. Numenius americanus Bechst. Long-billed Curlew. 

 The "Spanish Curlew," as this species is locally known, is 



now almost extinct on the South Carolina coast, where it once 

 swarmed in countless multitudes. Since 1885 it has been sup- 

 planted by the Hudsonian Curlew (N. hudsonicus) , which is still 

 exceedingly abundant during the spring and autumn migrations. 

 From 1879 to 1885, americanus was to be found in the immediate 

 vicinity of Charleston, but its numbers steadily diminished year 

 after year until at the present time it is so rare that it is seldom 

 seen; in fact I have not seen one since September 23, 1899. I do 



