138 



NESTS AND EOGS OF 



238. SHARP-TAILEB SANDPIPER. Trinffa acuminata (Horsf.) Geog. 

 Dist.— Eastern Asia and coast of Alaska, migrating south to Java and Australia. 



The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was first introduced to the North American ava- 

 fauna by E. W. Nelson, who secured a female at St. Michael's in September, 1877. 

 Later in the season others were sean and during each of the succeeding autumns 

 they were found to be one of the most common species of snipe in that region, fre- 

 quenting the brackish pools and tide-creeks in company with the Tectorial Sand- 

 piper, Red-breasted Snipe and several other species. The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 

 resembles the Pectorial Sandpiper in appearance. 



239. PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Tri7iga maculata Viei'.l. Geog. Dist.— North, 

 Central and South America; breeding in the Arctic regions. Of frequent occurrence 

 in Europe. 



During the migrations the Pectoral Sandpiper is very abundant, both on the sea 

 coast and in the interior. It frequents the borders of ponds, the shores of lakes and 

 rivers, and is found commonly in the vicinity of wet cornfields and meadows. It is 

 only of recent date that we have obtained any positive information regarding this 

 bird's breeding places. Hagerup states that it is a rare guest in South Greenland. 

 Nelson found it to be extremely common at the mouth of the Yukon River, where the 

 low grassy flats afford it a much frequented breeding ground. Arriving on the 



239. Pectorai. Sandpiper, Adult male, in summer, with crop inflated. (From Nelson.) 



shores of Bering Sea, near St. Michael's, from the 15th to the 25th of May, the birds 

 linger about a short time; they then pair and seek nesting places, which are usually 

 in tufts of grass. Murdoch records that the Pectorial Sandpiper breeds abundantly 

 at Point Barrow, Alaska, in June and July, moving south in September. Nelson 

 states that during the breeding season they have an unique habit, not to be found 

 among waders, but is common among members of the Grouse family; this is of in- 

 flating the throat until it becomes as large as the body before the bird utters the 

 deep, hollow, resonant sounds which may be represented by the syllables, 

 too-u, too-u, too-u, too-u, it fills its sesophagus with air as above described. The 

 skin of the throat becomes very flabby and loose at this season, and by dissection 

 it was found that the inner surface of the sack is covered with small globular masses 

 of fat. The accompanying engraving, taken from Nelson's Report, will give an idea 

 of the character and extent of this inflation. Nelson says that the male at times 

 rises 20 or 30 yards in the air and inflating its throat glides down to the ground with 

 Its sac hanging below. Negts found by Mr. Murdoch contained four eggs each, of the 



