412 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 



at Nachvak. Turner found them breeding plentifully at Fort Chimo 

 in the extreme north, and Spreadborough found them common on 

 the rocky islands in James Bay, and on all the hills between Richmond 

 Gulf and Ungava Bay. He took a nest with five eggs on June 18, 

 1896. 



We found Pipits commonly wherever we landed on the Labrador 

 coast, and we frequently saw or heard them as we steamed along the 

 shores. We noted 49 individuals on our way north, and 103 on our 

 return trip. Their slim graceful forms and quaker-gray and brown 

 plumage make them very attractive birds. We frequently saw them 

 walking on the roofs of the tilts and fish houses as well as on the rocks 

 close to the dwellings of the inhabitants. There were about eight 

 pairs on Battle Island. They frequented commonly the rocky and 

 pebbly shores of the sea. During our visit they appeared to be busy 

 feeding their young, and could frequently be seen with their bills full 

 of insects. We found a full-fledged young at Battle Harbor on July 

 15th. 



The habit of wagging the tail up and down is shared even by the 

 young that are able to fly but a short distance, birds whose tails are 

 only half grown. In walking, Pipits thrust their feet well out in front 

 and nod their heads gracefully in a dove-like manner. 



Their call note tsei-ket, so familiar on the Massachusetts coast in 

 the autumn migrations was occasionally heard, but the common note 

 at this season, and one constantly repeated by reason of the solicitude 

 for their young was a loud whistling tswit, resembling at times very 

 closely the alarm note of the Spotted Sandpiper. Once or twice we 

 heard a churr like that of a Red-poll. 



The flight song of the American Pipit is an interesting performance. 

 One was observed at Great Caribou Island on July 11th under espe- 

 cially favorable circumstances. He was standing on a rock in a 

 valley about 150 feet nearly vertically below us. He suddenly sprang 

 into the air, mounting nearly vertically, but circling slightly. As he 

 went up he sang repeatedly a simple refrain, che-wMe, che-wh6e 

 with a vibratory resonance on the whee. Attaining an eminence of 

 some 50 feet obliquely above us, perhaps 200 feet from the ground, 

 he checked himself and at once began the descent. He went down 

 faster and faster, repeating his song at the same time faster and faster. 

 Long before he reached the ground he set his wings and tipped from 

 side to side to break his descent. After remaining quiet on the ground 



