142 
WADING BIRDS. 
in flocks, but disappear early in December, on their way south 
to their winter quarters within the tropics. On their return 
they appear on the coast ot the Middle States early in May, on 
their way to their congenial retreats in the North ; but at this 
time few are to be seen, compared with the accumulating flocks 
of autumn ; while at the same season in Holland they are 
most abundant. Some of these birds in their rufous plumage 
have been observed to linger on the neighboring coast till the 
20th of July, so that they must either have bred in the vicinity, 
or have passed the season in celibacy, lingering behind the 
migrating flocks, — a habit which appears to be more or less 
common with many other of the aquatic and wading birds. 
The Knot is found throughout North America, breeding in the 
Arctic regions, wintering in Florida (sparingly) and southward, and 
migrating by inland routes as well as along the sea-coast. It is a 
common bird on the New England shores in spring and autumn. 
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER. 
Tringa bairdii. 
Char. Upper parts grayish buff, varied with dusky ; stripe over eyes 
white ; middle tail-feathers dusky, others gray ; che.st tinged with buff 
and streaked with dusky, other under parts white ; bill and feet black. 
Length about 7)4 inches. 
/WxA On the margin of a lake or pond ; a slight depression, hidden by 
tall grass and lined with leaves and grass. 
£gg's. 4 ; huffish or creamy, spotted with rich reddish brown ; 1.30 X 
0.90. 
Baird’s Sandpiper was described by Coues in 1861 from speci- 
mens taken in the West, and it wa.s not until 1870 that the bird was 
known to occur on the Atlantic. Up to the present a few examples 
only have been captured to the eastward of the Mississippi valley, 
and very little is known of the bird’s distribution. Reports from 
different sections of the country lend probability to the conclusion 
that the bulk of these Sandpipers migrate across the Great Plains 
and nest along the Mackenzie River valley north of latitude 60°. 
In winter they range to Chili and the Argentine Republic. 
