SCOLOPACIDiE — THE SNIPE FAMILY — TOTANUS. 
275 
is quite common, in its migrations, beyond the Rocky Mountains. How common it 
may be in California at any time remains to be ascertained. It is found during the 
winter in suitable localities throughout Mexico, Central and South America, and the 
West Indies. Dr. Burmeister mentions finding this species both at Mendoza and at 
Parana, on the banks of rivers and the shores of lakes. Salvin speaks of meeting 
with a small flock near Duenas, in Guatemala, during the early part of the month of 
April, in company with Actodromas maculata. It is included by Gundlach among 
the birds of Cuba, and by Marsh among those of Jamaica. In the latter island Gosse 
speaks of finding it always solitary, and wading in shallow water. The stomachs of 
specimens he procured contained a mass of pulverulent matter which, on being sepa- 
rated in water, was found to contain fragments of insects. According to Professor 
Newton, this bird occurs, but not plentifully, in St. Croix in the spring and autumn ; 
but it probably does not remain in the island through the winter. He obtained a 
single specimen, July 26, 1857 ; and Mr. Edward Newton first met with it Aug. 3, 
1858. It is a regular visitant of the Island of Trinidad, coming each year in the 
month of August, and withdrawing in October. Always in flocks, sometimes of great 
size, it keeps about the borders of the sea, only leaving them for moist meadows or 
newly ploughed fields. It requires a soft soil, into which its beak can easily pene- 
trate in quest of worms. In its movements it is said to resemble the Solitary Tattler. 
After the general departure of this species, a few remain along the edges of pools in 
swampy tracts. It is much sought after by sportsmen, but its flesh is not of good 
quality. It feeds largely upon ants and the larva; of dipterous insects. 
It occurs as far, at least, to the south as Patagonia, where Mr. IT. Durnford (“ Ibis,” 
1877) mentions finding it common along the banks of the rivers and in the adjacent 
swamps and pools in the Chupat Valley. He does not indicate it as breeding there • 
and as his visit only continued from the 1st to the 29tli of November, it is probable 
that it does not do so. 
It visits the Bahamas in its migrations ; and probably passes through nearly the 
whole of the interior regions of both North and South America. Captain Bendire 
notes its abundance in Oregon during its migrations ; and Mr. Nelson found it quite 
numerous in Northeastern Illinois, arriving late in April and returning in September. 
He has no doubt that a few breed, as he obtained the young, barely able to fly, on the 
1st of July, 1874, near Chicago ; and since then he has noticed several pairs, during 
the breeding-season, about the Calumet marshes. 
In the summer this species extends its migrations to the extreme Arctic regions. 
Reinhardt includes it among the birds of Greenland, a single specimen having been 
received from that region by Pastor Moschler in 1854. Captain Blakiston met with 
it on the Saskatchewan, obtaining a single specimen near Fort Carlton. Mr. Murray 
records it as from Hudson’s Bay, and Mr. Ross found it abundant on the Mackenzie. 
Richardson speaks of it as very common in the Fur Countries, where it is seen, either 
solitary or in pairs, on the banks of every river, lake, or marsh, up to the most north- 
ern extremities of the continent. While breeding, it is very impatient of any intru- 
sions, betrays the approach of the sportsman to less vigilant birds by flying round 
his head, its legs hanging down and wings drooping, uttering its incessant and plain- 
tive cries. Previous to its departure south it collects in small flocks, and stops for 
a time on the shores of Hudson’s Bay. In this locality it was observed by Hearne 
in 1772, and its habits noted. He speaks of it as the “Spotted Goclwait,” and states 
that it visits the Hudson’s Bay in considerable numbers, and is even more abundant 
in the interior, usually frequenting the flat, muddy banks of rivers. In the summer 
it was generally very poor, but in the autumn it became one mass of fat. Hearne 
