CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OP ALASKA. 147 



following: Length, 10.5; expanse, 20.5; wing, 6.75; tail, 2.75. Iris, bill, and feet black. I have 

 not observed this bird west of Ugasik, on the eastern end of Aliaska, where it was quite plentiful 

 in the latter part of June, 1878. 



236. Tringa cotjesi (Ridgw.). Aleutian Sandpiper. 



The Aleutian Sandpiper arrives at Saint Michael's early in May of each year, and in consid- 

 erable numbers, being generally, on their arrival, in the dark plumage, winch is changed for the 

 summer by the first of June in this locality. On their appearance they are strictly littoral-mari. 

 time, resorting to the larger bowlders and rocky shelves covered with seaweed, among which 

 these birds industriously search for slugs and other marine worms. Usually several birds are to- 

 gether, rarely singly, and seldom over eight or ten in a flock. It is not at all shy, depending 

 more on its color to hide by squatting among the crevices of the dark lava-rocks and thus be un- 

 observed. When cautiously approached these birds generally ran to the highest part of the rock 

 or bowlder which they are on then huddle together before taking flight the moment after. This 

 habit allows them to be nearly all killed at a single discharge of the gun. The native boys, having 

 observed this habit of these birds, procure a club about two feet long, and when the birds huddle 

 together, before taking flight, the club is hurled in such manner as to sweep all the birds off the 

 rock. This manner of procuring these birds is practiced by the western Aleut boys to a great de- 

 gree. By the middle of June it is rare to see one of these birds in the winter plumage. Ou as- 

 suming the summer plumage the habits of the birds are entirely changed. They build their nests 

 ou the dryer places of the marshy ground and are usually seen either singly or in pairs. The nest 

 is comfortably made of dry grasses and a few feathers placed on a small dry tuft of grass growing, 

 perhaps, surrounded by water. The young are able to leave the nest by the 10th of July. The 

 number reared in a nest is four or five. They follow their parents until they assume the winter 

 plumage in the latter part of August or September, or even later. The males are much devoted to 

 their mates while incubating, and I have every reason to believe that the male does the greater 

 part of the labor of incubating, as they were the ones generally found either on or near the nests. 

 When alighting near the nest either sex has the habit of raising its wings perpendicularly and 

 slowly folding them, all the while uttering a trilling peep continued for several seconds. 



This species seems to be most abundant among the Aleutiau Islands in the winter season, 

 although I obtained seven specimens in the breeding plumage at Atkha iu June and July, 1879, 

 and observed a few at Attu in the summer of 1880, and several pairs at Amchitka in June, 1881. 

 At Unalashka they are quite numerous in Captain's Harbor. In the month of November these 

 birds become very fat, and possess a delicate flavor when broiled. 



239. Tringa maoulata Vieill. Pectoral Sandpiper. 

 A single specimen of this Sandpiper was obtained at Saint Michael's. It is quite rare, accord- 

 ing to my experience. At Attu Island, on the 22d of September, 1880, I started up a species of 

 Snipe which I had not seen before or since in the Aleutiau Islands. It was in a small, but treach- 

 erous, swamp to which I could only approach the edge. The bird started up with a sharp tweet, 

 and was away before I could fully identify it. 1 always suspected it to be of this species. I con- 

 sidered it to be a straggler, as I visited the same locality for others but failed to see more of them 

 until the 29th of the month, when I secured three specimens in the same swampy tract and fully 

 identified them. 



243a. Tringa alpiina pacifioa (Coues). Red-backed Sandpiper. 



The Red-backed Sandpiper is one of the latest arrivals of the scolapacine birds. It rarely 

 comes before the 5th of June. It is commou; inhabits the lowest marshy tracts of the country. 

 It does not wander into the interior, that I could discover. It goes up the Yukon Delta quite a 

 distance, but prefers the neighborhood of the sea. I did not discover the nest or eggs, but it 

 doubtless breeds abuudautly, as it remains in this locality until the first week of October. 



It was not observed on the Aleutiau Islands, though it may occur on the eastern islands of 

 the chain. 



