276 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



Passes Behring Island, the coasts of Japan and China, and the 

 Malay Archipelago on migration, and winters in Australia and 

 New Zealand. Typical examples are said to be slightly smaller 

 than the American form (length of wing 5 -5 inches to 4'8 inches 

 instead of 57 inches to 5-0 inches), and the central tail feathers only 

 project •! inch beyond the next, instead of "25 inch. In breeding 

 plumage all the underparts are streaked ; in the American form 

 only the flanks. It is far from improbable that some of the 

 British examples of the Pectoral Sandpiper may be of this eastern 

 Palsearctic race ; and it therefore behoves possessors of specimens 

 to have them examined by competent authorities. T. bairdi, an 

 inhabitant of Alaska, and the valley of the Mackenzie, passing 

 through the western United States on migration, and wintering 

 in South America, occasionally straying even as far as South 

 Africa. Distinguished from the Pectoral Sandpiper by its black 

 legs and feet (those of the Pectoral Sandpiper are buff), and by 

 having the central tail feathers no longer than the outer ones. 



Time during which the American Pectoral Sandpiper 

 may be taken. — August ist to March ist. 



Habits. — During its migrations this Pectoral Sandpiper 

 passes along the coasts, as well as by inland routes down the 

 river valleys, of the United States during April and May. It 

 begins to return from its Arctic breeding grounds in August, and 

 the autumn flight continues through the two following months. 

 It frequents by preference low sandy or muddy coasts, swampy 

 meadows, and salt marshes, running about in a restless, active 

 manner, tame and trustful. Like the Dunlin, it is sometimes 

 observed in large flocks and parties, and is often met with solitary 

 or in the company of other Waders. Its flight is rapid, some- 

 times rather wavering, and when in flocks the birds often perform 

 graceful evolutions after they are flushed. The birds of a flock 

 scatter about a good deal whilst feeding, but when alarmed they 

 soon form into a compact body in the air, and often rise to a 

 considerable height after being fired at. It is much attached to 

 its feeding grounds, resembling the Ringed Plover in this respect, 

 and continues to haunt certain spots in spite of much disturbance. 

 The food of the Pectoral Sandpiper consists of small mollusks, 

 crustaceans, insects of various kinds, notably beetles, scraps of 



