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PR2EC0CIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL2E. 
The history of the habits and manner of life of the Bonaparte Sandpiper is still 
but imperfectly known, and the entire range of its distribution is, without doubt, 
very far from having been fully ascertained. On the Atlantic coast and, to a certain 
extent, in the interior, it is a migratory visitant, both in the spring and in the fall. 
During the season of reproduction it visits high Arctic regions, is known to breed in 
the vicinity of the Arctic coast, and is given by Reinhardt as one of the birds of 
Greenland. It is stated by Holboll to breed near Julianehaab, where small flocks 
of old and young were observed by him in August. A very young bird was obtained 
at Nenortalik in 1835, another in 1840, and three others in 1841. 
It is also said to occur and to breed in the extreme southern portions of South 
America, and to visit the Falkland Islands. During its autumnal migrations it is 
found in Bermuda, where Major Wedderburn met with it in the fall, and where it 
was in company with A. maculatci. 
In Massachusetts it also occurs, but is not a very common bird. Mr. William Brews- 
ter informs me that in this State, according to his observations, it is not abundant, 
although its. visits are constant, uniform, and regular. It passes north in May, and 
reappears in its southern migration as early as the 20th of July. It has a very 
peculiar note, unlike that of any other Sandpiper, which is not in any sense a whist- 
ling, but is a low lisping sound, and almost the only cry of a shore-bird which is 
neither mellow nor whistling. When disturbed, it moves quickly off, repeating this 
rather low note, which, however, is always distinctly audible above that of the small 
Tringce with which it associates. 
According to Captain C. C. Abbott, this little Sandpiper makes its appearance in 
the summer on the Falkland Islands, and is known to breed on East Falkland. He 
met with the young birds, but was not able to find their nests. Mr. H. Durnford 
also, in his Notes on the Birds of Central Patagonia, speaks of this species as resident. 
He found it very common in the valleys of both the Sengel and the Sengelen, and 
always in flocks. 
This species, once confounded with distinct European species, was supposed to 
have a more cosmopolitan distribution than it is now credited with. At present it 
is thought to be confined to the American continent, occurring along the entire 
Atlantic sea-coast, and to be met with more sparingly on the banks of interior rivers 
and lakes. 
On Long Island, according to Giraud, it is not a very plentiful species, having 
never been observed by him in large flocks, although during his excursions he fre- 
quently met with small parties distributed along the margins of creeks and pools, 
feeding in company with the Semipalmated Sandpiper, from which it can always be 
distinguished by its superior size. It is described as being more watchful than that 
species, seeming to be more alarmed at the report of a gun, and usually flying to a 
greater distance. It seldom revisits the place from which it has been driven, although 
its less timid companion always returns immediately to its feeding-grounds, seemingly 
as unconcerned as before its flight. Mr. Giraud also states that he has met with this 
species along the banks of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, and on the margins 
of ponds in the interior counties of New York. 
Richardson states that he found this species not unfrequent on the shores of the 
small lakes which skirt the Saskatchewan Plains. Mr. Audubon met with it at differ- 
ent times in Kentucky, and along the Atlantic shores from Florida to Maine. In the 
United States he observed it only in the latter part of autumn and in the winter. 
He procured examples in Labrador at the beginning of August, which were all young 
birds about to take their departure. He secured also specimens at St. Augustine, 
