204 
PR2ECOCIAL G-RALLATORES — LIMICOLJE. 
ing along an extended line of the shore for thirty yards, alternately and simultane- 
ously advancing and retreating with the movement of the water. In about three 
quarters of an hour they removed a few yards beyond the highest wash of the waves, 
huddled close together, and began to plume themselves. Suddenly they ceased their 
occupation, stood still, and several of them uttered a sharp tweet-tweet, somewhat 
like the notes of the Solitary Sandpiper. Soon after this seven other birds of the 
same species alighted near those he was watching, and began to feed. Fearing that 
the first flock might join them, and he might lose the opportunity of procuring speci- 
mens, he fired into the flock and killed eleven. He afterward saw them on almost 
every island and bay on his way to Texas, and also procured some on Galveston 
Island. He describes its flight as being rapid and regular. This Sandpiper moves 
in compact flocks, and often when about to alight, or after being disturbed, inclines 
the body to either side, showing alternately the upper and the lower parts. On foot 
it moves more like a Curlew than a Tringa, and is more sedate in its motions than 
the true Sandpiper. At times, on being approached, it will squat on the ground after 
the manner of the Esquimaux Curlew. Its flesh is said to be extremely delicate. In 
the stomachs of those he killed he found small worms, minute shellfish, and vegetable 
substances, among which were hard seeds of some unknown plant. He found great 
differences in the color of the plumage of those lie killed. He adds that its passage 
through the United States is very rapid, both in spring and in autumn. A few of 
these birds are said to spend the winter in Lower Louisiana, but nearly all pass on 
southward beyond Texas. 
Mr. Moore twice met with this species in Florida — once Aug. 4, and again Sept. 
17, 1869. Part were in an oozy pool near the Bay of Sarasota ; the rest were in a 
fresh pond. He had an opportunity of witnessing its manner of feeding from a hid- 
ing-place near the pond. It was feeding in water that nearly covered its tarsi. It 
slowly stepped along, carrying its bill immersed nearly up to the base, and sweeping 
it slowly from side to side, much in the manner of the Roseate Spoonbills, which 
were at the same moment feeding near by. He noticed no action like that of swal- 
lowing at any time, its motions being continuous. This accounts for the black mud 
found in the stomachs of several kinds of Sandpipers : it is taken in by suction, and 
with it probably various kinds of animalculse. 
Mr. MacFarlane found this species breeding at Rendezvous Lake, in the Arctic 
Region, June 27. In situation and composition they are said to be similar to others 
previously met with. The nest contained four eggs, the female having been shot on 
leaving it. The contents of the eggs were very slightly developed. This bird was 
everywhere very rare, except on the Arctic coast at Franklin Bay, where it was found 
tolerably abundant. At Island Point, July 5, he obtained two young birds in the 
down, with the female parent. Both parents displayed much courage and ingenuity 
in defence of their young, two of which were thus enabled to escape. He afterwards, 
in the same neighborhood, procured other young in the down, with both parents. 
Another nest, obtained at Langston Harbor in July, 1865, contained four eggs quite 
fresh. The nest was a mere depression in the ground, lined with a few withered 
leaves and grasses. Examples of this species were also procured at Fort Resolution 
by Mr. Kennicott, at Fort Simpson by Mr. B. R. Ross, and at Big Island by Mr. 
J. Reid. 
A set of eggs (S. I. Flo. 9389) obtained on the Arctic coast by Mr. MacFarlane, 
June 22, 1863, was in a nest composed of decayed leaves and placed in a hollow partly 
concealed by tufts of grass. The eggs are three in number, of an oblong pyriform 
shape, and have a ground-color of a light and bright drab or grayish white, with large 
