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NORTH AISIERICAN FAUNA. 



specimens iii immature plumage, it is very probable that tliey breed 

 there iu small numbers. 



Totanus flavipes (Gmel.). Yellow-legs. 



A single specimen was shot by Prof. 0. L. Herrick on Maria Madre 

 the middle of May. 



Actitis macularia (Linn.)- Spotted Sandpiper. 



A few were seen along the shore on all of the islands, where they 

 probably breed. 



Several small flocks of another sandpiper were seen along shore on 

 the islands; but although considerable energy was expended in their 

 l)ursuit we failed to secure a specimen. 



^gialitis semipalmata Bouaj). Semipalmated Plover. 



Colonel Grayson took a single specimen of this plover. It was not 

 seen by us and must occur only as a straggler. 



Hcematoptis palliatus Temminck. American Oyster-catcher. 



Eather common on the shores of the Tres Marias and Isabel, as well 

 as along the coast of the mainland near San Bias. A series of ten 

 oyster-catchers were secured and have been compared with four speci- 

 mens of Hwmatopiis galapagensis^ one of R. frazari, and a number of 

 typical H. imlUatm (from the Atlantic coast of the United States and 

 the West Indies). 



All of the birds from the Tres Marias, Isabel Island, and the adjacent 

 mainland were found to be surprisingly close to typical As 

 the Tres Marias are not far south of Lower California, the birds from 

 the islands might naturally be expected to be nearly typical repre- 

 sentatives of E. frazari. In reality about the only sign of gradation 

 toward the latter form is the mixed blac^ and white across the lower 

 border of the black neck area. Some specimens from a single small 

 flock on Maria Cleofa had the line of demarkation between the black and 

 white areas on the breast as sharply defined as in palliatus, while others 

 had the mixed black and white areas, as in frazari and galapagensis. 

 Some of the birds have a white spot on the under eyelid, which is 

 absent in others, but otherwise the color is the same as in typical ^^i- 

 liatus. Birds from the Tres Marias and the mainland coast to the 

 south have an average shorter bill and tarsus than tvne palliatus, and 

 in this character aj^proximate frazari and galapagensis. Mr. Eidgway 

 • has already called attention to the close general similarity existing 

 between the two latter species. The series from the Tres Marias and 

 adjacent coast agree with specimens in the ^^'ational Museum from 

 various points along the Pacific coast of Mexico, Central, and Scut' 

 America iu being very close to typical palliatus, thus showing pretty 

 conclusively that this is the resident bird along the coast and adjacent 

 islands south of Lower California. 



So far as can be judged from specimens at hand, H. galapagensis is 

 distinct from frazari, although the birds resemble one other more closely 



