THE BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER. 527 



a young male; was taken at the Licking Reservoir, November 10, 1872, by 

 Dr. Theodore Jasper. The second, also a young male, with the ruff undevel- 

 oped, was "killed near the Starch factory, Columbus, O., April 28, 1878," 

 presumably by the same collector. Another specimen from "northern Can- 

 ada" bears date of April 28, 1877. 



It is supposed that birds observed in the fall are mainly young of- the 

 year, which, in attempting to journey southward from the breeding grounds 

 in the far north, have missed the customary route of the species. Similarly 

 those seen in the spring are those which have found a chance resting place 

 for the winter in the Middle or Southern States and are now feeling their 

 way back to the ancestral home. 



The Ruff enjoys the doubtful distinction among the wading birds of 

 being a polygamist. The males wage daily battles for possession of the 

 females, and are as indiscriminate in their choices as Prairie Cocks under 

 similar circumstances. The contestants bridle before each other, and meet 

 with lowered heads and ruffs expanded to serve both as color challenges and 

 shields, while they strike and kick at each other, and long for imaginary spurs. 

 When the season of courtship is ended the victorious male loses both his 

 ruff and his interest, and the poor Reeves (as the females are called) are left 

 to bring up their families as best they may, without either advice or alimony 

 from their recreant lord. 



No. 346. 

 BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER. 



A. O. U. No. 261. Bartramia longicauda (Bechst.). 



Synonyms: — "The; Bartramian" ; Upland Plover ; Field Plover. 



Description. — Adult: Above, varied brown or dusky with a slight olive 

 tinge, the feathers edged with ochraceous-buff, and on the back, etc., spotted and 

 barred with black; top of head blackish, parted by indistinct buffy median line;, 

 hind-neck buffy or ochraceous, streaked with dusky; primaries dusky, the outer 

 one with a white shaft, and white strongly barred with dusky on the inner web ; 

 tail irregularly barred with black, the central feathers olive-dusky, the outer ones 

 ochraceous and gray; under parts whitish or with buffy tinge on breast, sides, and 

 crissum ; the fore-neck sharply streaked with brownish dusky ; the markings U- or 

 V-shaped on breast and opening out into bars on the sides ; axillars and lining of 

 wings finely barred dusky and white ; bill yellow, blackening on ridge and tip ; feet 

 and legs dull yellow : Immature : Similar to adult, but buffy and ochraceous 

 stronger, the dusky markings of under parts less distinct. Length 11. 25-12. 75 

 (285.8-323.9) ; wing 6.40 (162.6) ; tail 2.82 (71.6) ; bill 1.20 (30.5) ; tarsus 1.78 

 (45-2). 



