NORTB AMERICAN BIRDS. 139 



usual pyrlform shape. They vary in size as follows: 1.58x1.06, 1.44x1.11, 1.42x1.08, 

 1.54x1.02 inches. They have a drab ground color, with a greenish shade in some 

 cases, and are spotted and blotched with umber-brown, varying in distribution on 

 different specimens, as Is usual among waders' eggs. The average is 1.45x1.04. 



240. WHITE-RtrMPED SANDPIPER. Tritiga fuscicolUs Vleill. Geog. 

 Dist.— Eastern North America; breeds far north. In winter migrating through the 

 United States, the West Indies, Central and South America and Falkland Islands. 

 Occasional in Europe. 



Bonaparte's Sandpiper during the breeding season is found in the Arctic regions. 

 It Ife a species of wide distribution in the migrations, wandering into tropical regions. 

 The bird is said to breed in suitable places on the shores of Cumberland Sound. 

 MacFarlane met with its nests and eggs on or near the Arctic coast; one taken July 

 3 contained four eggs with large embryos; another found the day following con- 

 tained three eggs. A third, obtained June 29 on the Barren Lands, was a mere de- 

 pression in the ground, lined with a few decayed leaves and contained four eggs 

 with very large embryos. A fourth found on the banks of a small river, of similar 

 construction, held 4eggB. Theggsare pyriformin shape,of lightolive or olive-brown, 

 spotted with bold and sometimes rather fine markings of deep chestnut-brown, 

 almost into blackness, chiefly about the larger end in confluent groups. Average 

 size, 1.37X.94. 



841. BAIBD'S SANDPIPER. Tringa hairdii (Coues.) Geog. Dist.— North 

 America, chiefly the interior. Rare on the Atlantic coast; wintering in Mexico, Cen- 

 tral and South America. 



Baird's Sandpiper is distributed throughout North America generally, but is 

 - said not yet to have been observed west of the Rocky Mountains. It is found chiefly 

 in the interior. Known to breed in the Arctic regions; winters south of United States. 

 This bird was entirely unknown to ornithologists until within the last thirty-five 

 years; when discovered and for sometime after was confounded with other species. 

 Dr. Coues first gave It rank and name in 1861. It breeds in the Arctic regions — on 

 the Barren Lands; nests in the latter part of June, usually within the vicinity of 

 lakes and small ponds. The nest is made of a few dry leaves and grasses in a small 

 depression, shaded by a tuft of grass. The eggs are usually four in number; buff 

 or clay colored, spotted and blotched with varying shades of chestnut-brown; in 

 most instances the markings are fine and innumerable, of definite size, irregular in 

 shape and thickness at the greater end, where they are occasionally massed in 

 blotches; size about 1.30x.90. ■ 



242. LEAST SANDPIPER. Tringa minutilla Vieill. Geog. Dist. — Whole ot 

 North America; breeding north of the United States. 



The smallest of the Sandpipers, measuring five and a half or six inches in length. 

 It has the same habits as characterize its Semipalmated cousins, frequenting the 

 same localities, and fiocks of birds are often composed of both species. When this 

 is the case the Semipalmated Sandpipers even if largely in the minority, take the 

 lead, as they are of somewhat larger size, stronger in flight and they have a louder 

 note. When not in company with other species none of our shore birds are 

 more confiding and unsuspecting than these, large flocks continuing their search 

 for food almost under the feet of the observer. The Least Sandpiper breeds from 

 Canada, Newfoundland arid Labrador northward into Arctic regions, and in Alaska. 

 June 5, 1875, one was found building its nest in the vicinity of Chicago, 111. Nests in 



