SHORE BIRDS 



237. PniBiLor Sandpiper. 



Arquatella maritina ptilocnemis. 



Range. — Coast and islands of Bering Sea, south 

 in winter to southern Alaslca. 



-This bird, which is ten inches in length, has 

 tha feathers of the upper parts edged with 

 rusty, and the underparts light, with a distin- 

 guishing patch of black on the breast. Similar in 

 appearance to the Red-backed Sandpiper, but not 

 so reddish above, and the latter has the black 

 patch on the belly. They breed commonly on 

 the Pribilof and other islands in Bering Sea, 

 nesting the same as other Sandppers. Their four 

 eggs arc similar to those of the preceding, but 

 average darker. Size 1.50 x 1.05. 



2S8. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. 

 Pisobia aurita. 



Range. — An Asiatic species, quite abundant in 

 Alaska in the summer; supposed to migrate 

 south in winter, wholly on the Asiatic side of 

 the Pacific. 



A similar bird, in appearance, to the following, 

 but slightly smaller and with the breast more 

 ruddy. Its nesting habits probably do not differ 

 from those of the following Sandpiper. 



239. Pectoral Sandpiper. Pisobia maculaia. 



Range. — Whole of North America, breeding in 



the Arctic regions, and wintering south of the 



United States, most abundant in the eastern parts 



of the United States during migrations. 



This species is blackish brown above, with 



light brown edgings to the feathers, and white 



below, except the chest, which is brownish, 



streaked with black. A very peculiar species, 



having the power, during the mating season, of in- 

 flating the throat to a great extent, making a balloon- 

 like appendage, nearly the size of the bird. They 

 have more the habits of Snipe, than do most of the 

 Sandpipers, frequenting grassy meadows or marshes, 

 in preference to the seashore. Their nests are 

 grass lined depressions, and the eggs are grayish 

 or greenish buff, blotched with brown. Size 1.45 x 

 1.00. Data. — Cape Smythe, Alaska, June 1900. Four 

 eggs in a hollow in the ground, lined with grass 



Sharp*-tailed Sandpiper. 

 Pectoral Sandpiper. 



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