390 GAME BIBDS OF CALIFORNIA 



shading toward pale brownish clay. In many instances, usually 

 among the larger eggs, the ground color is nearly or quite concealed 

 by fine, light reddish brown spots or specks. The other extreme has 

 the spots gathered mainly about the larger end in large irregular spots 

 and blotches, and the intermediate ones have the shell about half 

 hidden by markings of chocolate and umber-brown in small spots, a 

 little more dense at the large end. In some eggs the spots are rich 

 chocolate and the light or slightly reddish-brown cast in the markings 

 even of the darkest colored eggs usually serves to readily separate 

 these eggs from ..." those of any other western shore bird (Nelson, 

 1887, p. 114). 



While the birds are yet scattered over the tundra, before the actual 

 work of nesting is begun, they are wont to utter a series of low twitter- 

 ing notes. The male runs back and forth in front of the female trail- 

 ing his wings and elevating and partly spreading his tail. At other 

 times he flies up ten or fifteen yards above the ground, hovers with 

 rapidly beating wings, and pours forth a trilling song. These notes 

 may be represented by the syllables tzr-e-e-e, zr-e-e-e, zr-e-e-e, with a 

 high pitched tone and a fresh impetus at each "z." Then the male 

 arches his wings above his back in the form of a V and glides slowly 

 to earth uttering a deeper more throaty tzur-r-r-r, tzur-r-r-r. The 

 birds also utter a variety of low twitterings when feeding or when the 

 male and female of a pair are together. Females when approached 

 sometimes give a low cheep. The song period ends as soon as the eggs 

 are laid, or shortly after. Different females vary in their actions when 

 their nests are approached. Some move away, apparently with per- 

 fect indifference, while others use the broken-wing ruse and other 

 devices to distract the attention of the intruder (Nelson, 1887, pp. 

 113-114). 



We have at present no definite information concerning the food of 

 the Western Sandpiper, but it probably does not differ markedly from 

 that of other species of similar habits, such as the Least Sandpiper. 

 Baird, Brewer and Ridgway (1884, I, pp. 208, 209) state that, when 

 inland (this species or the Semipalmated?) and feeding on fresh 

 water worms and insects, the birds become very fat and afford excellent 

 eating. Cooper is reported as saying that this species is "much hunted 

 for the San Francisco market." 



If the time ever existed when it was necessary to hunt these 

 ' ' Peeps ' ' as food to be sold in the San Francisco or any other market, 

 it has passed ; and it is to be hoped that we shall never be reduced to 

 the necessity of preying upon such diminutive creatures as these for 

 food. They should be kept permanently off the list of game species in 

 California as well as elsewhere. 



