244 
PRfiCCOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^E. 
and on the coast of Davis Strait. Richardson states that it is abundant, and that 
it breeds on the Arctic coast of America. He also met with it on the Saskatchewan 
Plain in its passage north, and in autumn on the shores of Hudson’s Bay. He 
describes its eggs as having a ground of an oil-green marked with irregular spots of 
liver-brown, of different sizes and shades, confluent at the obtuse end. The eggs are 
said to be 1.28 inches long, and to measure .96 of an inch where broadest, the ends 
differing greatly in size. 
Mr. J. A. Allen mentions finding this species in the eastern portion of Kansas in 
the earlier part of May. It was quite abundant in the neighborhood of lagoons. 
Later — during the second week of August — he again met with others of this spe- 
cies at Lake Pass in Colorado. In the following September he again found it quite 
common in the Valley of Great Salt Lake. Mr. Ridgway states that an individual 
of this species was shot by one of his party in May on an alkaline pond near Pyramid 
Lake. 
Mr. Boardman informs us that this species occurs, in spring and fall, in the neigh- 
borhood of Calais, but he does not think that it is ever abundant. It comes to Massa- 
chusetts from the north in October, and remains into November, and is then quite 
common on the coast. In its spring migrations it passes north late in May. On Long 
Island this species is known both as the Red-backed Sandpiper and as the Black- 
breast. According to Giraud, it arrives on the shores of Long Island in the month 
of April, but soon leaves and passes north, returning in September, at which time it 
is quite abundant there, and still more so on the coast of New Jersey. 
This species associates in flocks, frequenting the shores, sandbars, and muddy 
flats, feeding on worms and such minute shellfish as abound in localities of this 
kind. In the month of October it is usually very fat, and is considered excellent 
eating. The autumnal plumage is so entirely different from the vernal that by hun- 
ters this bird is generally regarded at those seasons as representing two different 
species. The same thing was once true of the European form, the plumage of those 
two seasons being so unlike as not only to deceive sportsmen, but even ornitholo- 
gists ; hence the common names of Dunlin aud Purre, and the two scientific terms 
alpina and cinclus. By hunters generally — both in New England and along the 
shores of Long Island and New Jersey — the autumnal form is known as the 
“Winter Snipe.” In this plumage it closely resembles the winter dress of the Cur- 
lew Sandpiper. During the autumn the Red-backed Sandpiper may be found, both 
on sandy and on muddy shores, along the whole of our central Atlantic coast. It 
is said to be a restless, active bird, gleaning its food with great dexterity, and seeming 
to be ever desirous of changing its position. Soon after alighting, the flock collects 
together, making short excursions over the water, and again settling down at but a 
short distance from the spot from which they had only just flown. These birds usually 
crowd so closely together when whirling about in these excursions, that many may 
be killed at a single shot. Mr. Giraud mentions that on one occasion no less than 
fifty-two were killed by the discharge of both barrels of a gun into a flock. This 
is an unusual number ; but the killing of ten or twelve at a time is said to be not an 
uncommon thing. 
On the shores of the Atlantic, south of Chesapeake Bay, this species is very abun- 
dant in its spring migrations, coming late in April and not leaving until nearly 
the end of May. In September it reappears, a portion remaining throughout the 
winter. Many of these birds assume their spring plumage before they leave ; proba- 
bly the greater number of them do so. In their habits they are more like the 
maculata than the other Tringce , and are ranked as Snipe by the hunters, from their 
