556 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



In habits and actions suggesting a Golden Plover, but longer legs 

 and tail and brown coloration prevent confusion. Call-note is long, 

 rolling and very musical, absolutely unmistakable. (Ludlow Gris- 

 com.) 



Breeding-habits. — A prairie haunting species. Nest. — Slight 

 depression in ground, lined with a few straws. Eggs. — Usually 4, 

 ground-colour creamy to warm yellowish, finely speckled with sepia 

 or reddish -brown, with a few larger spots or blotches and slaty 

 shellmarks. Average of 28 eggs, 44.5x33.4. Max. : 47x32.6 and 

 43.9 X 35.9. Min. : 43.1 X 33 and 43.6 x 31.6 mm. Breeding-season. 

 — Latter part May and early June. Incubation. — Apparently 

 chiefly by female. Period not ascertained. Single brooded. 



Pood. — Mainly insects, including coleoptera (Ocypus, Othius, Philo- 

 lontha and Cytilus in British killed specimen), orthoptera (grass- 

 hoppers, crickets, and earwigs), etc. Also earthworms, seeds, and 

 vegetable matter. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — About thirteen. Near Warwick, 

 end Oct., 1851. Near Cambridge, Dec. 12, 1854. River Parret 

 (Somerset) about 1850. Near Mullion (Cornwall) Nov. 13, 1865. 

 Lows Stead (Northumberland) Nov. 21, 1879. [Leadenhall Market, 

 said from Lines., Oct., 1880.] Near Lizard (Cornwall) Oct., 1883. 

 Near Ballinasloe (Gal way) autumn, 1855. Near Bandon (Cork) 

 Sept. 4, 1894 (Saunders, p. 603 ; cf. Yarrell, in, p. 440). [Poulterer's 

 shop, Palmouth (Cornwall) Oct., 1903.] Romney Marsh (Kent) 

 July 18, 1908 {Brit. B., n, pp. 206, 269). Near St. Leonard's 

 (Sussex) July 3, 1914, (op. c, vm, p. 101). Bunduff (Leitrim) Nov. 

 about 1901 (Zool, 1916, p. 194). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds from Alaska to Missouri, Indiana, 

 and north Virginia, east to Ontario, winters on pampas of S. America 

 south to Argentine. Occurs occasionally in Europe : the only 

 authenticated instances out of British Isles, however, seem to be 

 single captures in Holland, Italy, and Malta while Naumann states 

 one in Germany, Gould one in Australia, but specimens not traced 

 in either case. 



Genus PHILOMACHUS Anonymous. 



Philomachtjs Anonymous, Allg. Lit.-Zeitung, 1804, n, No. 168, Col. 542 

 (Monotype : Tringa pugnax) 



Very similar to Calidris but bill tapering to tip and higher at 

 base, which is covered by short feathers. Nasal groove extending 

 nearly to tip of bill. Sternum only one incision each side. Size of 

 sexes very different, male much larger. Sexes alike in colour in 

 winter, but in spring male with extraordinary " ruff " and varying 

 in colours to an unequalled degree, also lores and sides of head 

 bare. Tail-coverts very long. Hind toe present. Only 1 species 

 known. 



