156 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA, 



been found breeding on Melville Peninaula and Parry Islands. 

 {Arct. Man.) A migrant in Newfoundland ; a rare winter visitant 

 in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Rare in Quebec and 

 Ontario. On the 4th June, 1890, Mr. Ernest White, of Ottawa, 

 Ont., obtained eight specimens out of a flock of about seventy, 

 but, strange to say, it has never been taken since. A few 

 specimens are recorded from Hamilton, Ont., by Mr. Mcllwraith. 

 Dr. Coues records taking a few specimens in immature plumage 

 at Henley Harbour, Labrador, in i860. A tolerably common 

 migrant in Manitoba but rare farther west. It is common 

 in summer along the shores of the Arctic Sea and on the 

 islands to the north. In Alaska it is common in some localities 

 and rare in others. According to Fannin it is abundant along 

 the coast of British Columbia during migration. 



Breeding Notes. — The Knot breeds on Melville Peninsula and 

 in other parts of Arctic America, and also in Hudson Bay, down 

 to Lat. 58°. It lays four eggs in a withered tuft of grass. 

 (Rickardson.) 



Major Henry W. B'eilden, naturalist to the Nares Arctic Expe- 

 dition, says he was not so fortunate as to obtain the eggs of the 

 Knot during his stay in the Polar regions, though it breeds in 

 some numbers along the shores of Smith Sound and the north 

 coast of Grinnell Land. On July 30th, 1876, however, three sea- 

 men walking by the border of a small lake, not far from the ship, 

 came upon an old bird accompanied by three nestlings, which 

 they brought to Mr. Feilden. Lieut. A. W. Greely, U.S.A., com- 

 mander of the late expedition to Lady Franklin Sound, succeeded 

 in obtaining the long-sought-for egg of this species. The specimen 

 of the bird and egg were obtained in the vicinity of " Fort Conger," 

 Lat. 81" 44' N. The egg was of a light pea-green colour, closely 

 spotted with brown in small specks about the size of a pin's head. 

 (Tke Auk, vol. 11., pp. J12-JIJ.) 



235. Purple Sandpiper. 



Tringa maritima Brunn. 1764. 



Occurs in winter off the coast of Greenland, if the sea be open ; 

 breeds on Melville Peninsula and west side of Davis Strait. 

 {Arct. Man.) Common in winter, and a few breed at Ivigtut, 

 Greenland. (Hagerup.) This species abounds on the Atlantic 



