BAIRD’S SANDPIPER 151 
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER. 
(Actodromas bairdii.) 
Though probably not so rare here as com- 
monly supposed, this sandpiper is nowhere 
numerous along the coast of North America. 
It is generally distributed throughout the in- 
terior of our country, and while very rare on 
the Pacific coast of North America south of 
Alaska, is said to be a regular visitor to the 
west coast of South America. 
This variety differs but little in its habits and 
mode of life from our better known ‘‘peeps’’ ex- 
cept that as a rule it travels in smaller flocks 
and is less dependent on mud flats or marsh 
for its living. It 1s as much at home in the 
mountain pasture or prairie land as anywhere, 
and like the ‘‘upland,’’ is content to dwell in 
the highlands, far from ordinary shorebird 
haunts. In such places its food is of grasshop- 
pers, bugs and berries. In the east, Baird’s 
Sandpiper is found in the company of any of 
our own varieties. 
This bird breeds in the Arctic regions arriv- 
ing early on the the nesting grounds, and laying 
