May, 1917 THE HOME LIFE OF THE BATRD SANDPIPER 81 



preference. MacFarlane (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., xiv, 1891, p. 426), however, 

 states: '''On 24th June, 1864, a nest containing four eggs was found in the 

 Barren Grounds in a swampy tract between two small lakes, and was composed 

 of a few decayed leaves, placed in a small cavity or depression in the ground, 

 shaded by a tuft of grass." 



Murdock (Kept. Exp. Pt, Barrow, 1885, p. 112) says: "The nest was always 

 well hidden in the grass, and never placed in marshy ground or on the bare black- 

 patches of tundra, and consists merely of a slight depression in the ground thinly 

 lined with dried grass. All the eggs we found were obtained from the last week 

 in June to the first week in July, a trifle later than the other waders." 



Brooks (loc. cit.) remarks: "Two nests were found, each containing four 

 eggs and about one quarter incubated on June 12 and 14, 1914. Murdock found 

 them nesting rather later than other waders at Point Barrow, but my experience 

 at Demarcation Point was quite the opposite, for here they were the first to 

 breed. A female taken June 2, had a fully formed and colored egg about ready 

 to lay. Both of the above nests were like the other sandpipers, and lined with 

 dry willow leaves, but the cavities were less deep than those of the Semipalmated 

 Sandpiper." 



At Griffin Point, less than fifty miles to the eastward of Demarcation Point, 

 the first set of eggs (fresh) was taken on June 24. The last set was found July 

 11. with the four eggs nearly ready to hatch. Murdock speaks of the nests being 

 well concealed and always hidden in the grass. In those nests which we found, 

 no attempt had been made at such concealment, as they were placed absolutely 

 in the open, with nothing to cover or conceal the eggs at all. and the nests so 

 shallow that the tops of the eggs were almost or quite level with the surround- 

 ing grass. Far from being conspicuously exposed thereby, however, the eggs 

 were shielded from discovery in the most effective manner possible, for in color 

 and markings they blended so perfectly with the brown tundra that a person 

 could easily look directly at them from a distance of six feet and still not be 

 able to see them. 



This method of nesting seems to be the most effective way of escaping one 

 great danger at least, namely, the notice of the countless Jaegers, both Parasitic 

 and Pomarine. These robbers subsist almost entirely during the breeding period 

 on the young and eggs of other birds, and cruise continually back and forth over 

 the sandpipers' nesting ground, looking for the least telltale feather, bit of wind- 

 blown down, or other object which might afford a clue to the whereabouts of a 

 nest. 



On June 26 I found a nest of the Baird Sandpiper by nearly stepping on the 

 bird. It contained three fresh eggs, and was in the usual exposed position 

 on the tundra, there being only the slightest of depressions lined with dead wil- 

 low leaves which were also well strewn over the tundra in general at this partic- 

 ular point. I marked the nest by placing a fresh chunk of turf on a little mound 

 about ten feet to one side. Upon taking my departure I noticed a 

 Pomarine Jaeger following in my wake, and as I looked back the bird spied the 

 upturned clod and promptly lit and began to walk around on the ground to see 

 the cause of the disturbance. It is perhaps needless to add that the three eggs 

 were gone when I returned. I found that the only way to mark down a nest was 

 by placing two guides in a line, keeping them at least fifty yards away from the 

 nest site. 



All of the complete sets of eggs which have come under my notice have con- 



