SHORE BIRDS 



256a. Western Solitary Sandpiper. Hdo- 

 dromas solitarius cinnamometis . 



Range. — North America, west of the Plains; 

 breeds in British Columbia and probably south 

 of there, also. 



This bird is like the last, except that the spot.s 

 on the back are buffy Instead of wliite. Its nest 

 and eggs will not differ in any respect Ironi those 

 of the eastern form. 



[257.] Green Sandpiper. Helodromas acro- 

 phus. 

 This species, which very closely resembles our 

 Solitary Sandpiper, is common in the northern 

 parts of the Old World. It has only accidentally 

 strayed to our shores. 



258. WiLLET. Cuio'ptrophorus semipalmatus 

 semipalmatus. 

 Range. — Eastern United States, breeding north 

 to the Middle States and occasionally straying to 



Buff. 



Western Sandpiper 

 Willet. 



the Canadian border, especially in the Mississippi Valley. 



These large waders are among the most abundant of the marsh or beach 

 birds. They breed in small companies in marshes, frequently in those which 

 are covered with water at high tide, building a frail nest of grasses and weeds, 

 where it will be barely out of reach of the highest water, The three or four 

 eggs have a brownish, or sometimes greenish, buff ground, color and are blotch- 

 ed with umber, and have fainter markings of lilac. Size 2.00x1.50. Data, — 

 Sandy Bank, South Carolina, May 3, 1901. Nest on the ground, secreted in the 

 Ingh grass. Made of dead marsh grass, lined with finer grasses. 



155 



