WATER BIRDS. 219 
with flocks of the smaller species of sandpipers” (Bull. Essex Inst. VIII, 
1876, 123). 
This is strictly a shore bird, spending its time on beaches and flats con- 
stantly wet by the waves, and probing in the sand and among the pebbles 
for the minute forms of animal life on which it mainly subsists. It nests 
at the far north, on the ground, close to the beach, where it lays from two 
to hed light olive eggs, speckled with brown, and averaging 1.58 by 1.13 
inches. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Bill shorter than head, straight, stout, spike-like; toes without trace of connecting webs. 
Adult: Entire top of head, nape and hind neck, grayish white more or less streaked with 
brownish black; loral region, chin, and upper throat white, without streaks or spots; a black 
patch or streak above and in front of eye, joining another below the eye, this in turn con- 
tinuous with the black of breast and sides of neck, which forms a large breast patch and 
almost or quite encircles the middle of the neck as a black collar; lower breast and remainder 
of under parts pure white; back, scapulars and wing-coverts marbled or mottled with 
black and rufous or chestnut, some of the feathers with whitish edges; rump and long 
upper tail-coverts pure white, shorter coverts black; tail-feathers with basal half and 
narrow tips white, the rest black; primaries brownish black, with white shafts; greater 
wing-coverts white-tipped; bill black; legs orange-red. Young: Similar, but with little 
or no chestnut or rufous above, and with much more buff and whitish. Sexes alike. 
Length 9 to 9.90 inches; wing about 6; culmen .80 to .90; tarsus 1. 
