WANDERING TATTLER 423 



from California) ; folded wing 6.45-6.82 (164-173) ; bill along culmen 1.40-1.51 

 (35.4-38.4); tarsus 1.23-1.38 (31.2-35.0) (nine specimens from California and 

 Alaska). Females: Total length 11.05-11.40 (281-290) (three specimens from 

 California) ; folded wing 6.81-7.13 (173-181) ; bill along culmen 1.52-1.58 (38.6- 

 40.2); tarsus 1.28-1.39 (32.6-35.2) (five specimens from California and Alaska). 

 Juvenile plumage: Like that of adults and immatures in winter but with 

 feathers of back and outer surface of wing marked with inconspicuous feather- 

 tippings of white and faint subterminal dark bars, with grayish brown of 

 breast and sides faintly barred with dull white, and with under tail coverts, 

 like belly, pure white, unbarred. Natal plumage: In its entirety unknown, but 

 as shown by vestiges remaining on a half -grown bird taken July 28, 1908, on 

 Montague Island, Prince William Sound, Alaska (no. 1194 Mus. Vert. Zool.), 

 the down on top and sides of head is leaden gray tipped with white; on the 

 chin, throat and flanks, grayish white; on hind neck leaden gray; a dusky 

 streak extending from bill to eye. 



Marks for held identification — Moderate size (slightly larger than Kill- 

 deer), non-contrasted plumage, and uniform slaty color of upper surface at all 

 times of year; no white patches on rump or wing; frequents rocky ocean shores; 

 rarely if ever found on sandy beaches. 



Voice — A loud ringing Md, Tela, Tela (Nelson, 1880, p. 33). 



Nest and eggs — Unknown. 



General distkibution — Seacoasts and islands of the Pacific Ocean, interior 

 Alaska, and Yukon Territory. Breeding range thought to be from south- 

 central Alaska south to Prince William Sound, east to east-central Yukon; 

 occurs west in migration to Norton Sound, Alaska, and to northern Siberia; 

 winters from southern California to the Galapagos Islands, and in Hawaii and 

 Oceania (modified from A. O. XJ. Check-list, 1910, pp. 122-123). 



Distribution in California — Common spring and fall migrant along the 

 seacoast; small numbers occur also at various times during the summer, and 

 a few winter on the coast and islands of southern California. The spring 

 movement occurs chiefly in April and the fall migration in August. 



Among our shore birds the Wandering Tattler well merits the 

 term wandering. Its distribution covers a large portion of the Pacific 

 Ocean as well as west-central Alaska, and many of the most remote 

 islets are favored by its visits. In spite of its wide range, less is 

 known of the life history of this species than of that of many rarer or 

 less widely distributed species. An element of extreme interest attach- 

 ing to the bird is the fact that its nest and eggs are as yet undis- 

 covered, it being one of only two or three out of all our shore birds 

 which bear this distinction today. However, the area in which the 

 Tattler nests has been fairly well determined, so that it will probably 

 be a matter of but a few years before full knowledge of its nesting 

 habits is obtained. 



Along the coast of California the "Wandering Tattler may be con- 

 sidered essentially a migrant, although it has been reported on our 

 southern shores during almost every month of the year. The north- 

 ward migration occurs in April (Willett, 1912a, p. 39) ; some early 

 dates are : Redondo, Los Angeles County, March 1, 1908 (specimen in 



