97 
48. Recurvirostra americana Gmelin. American avocet. 
Kumlien (1879, p. 84) includes this bird in his Cumberland Sound 
list with the following remarks: 
“I enter this bird on my list on Eskimo authority — poor authority, it is true, but I 
have in my possession a drawing, made by a wild Eskimo, that is so unmistakably this 
bird that I do not hesitate to accept it, especially when he gave me a perfect description 
and that without any attempt on my part to draw him out. He says he saw them for the 
first time in the summer of 1877, while reindeer hunting, south of lake Kennedy [Nettil- 
ling].” 
This species has not been noted by any other observers. 
49. Calidrls canutus (Linnaeus), knot. 
Kumlien (1879, p. 87) states that a small flock lit on the schooner's 
deck in November after the harbour had frozen over at Annanactook, 
Cumberland sound. None was observed during the spring or summer. 
Hantzsch makes no reference to this species. 
50. Arquatella maritima maritima (Brunnich). purple sandpiper. 
Eskimo: Segalea: Tudlik, -lik, -tit, according to Hantzsch. 
On the 1923 Canadian Arctic Expedition a single bird of this species 
was collected at Ponds inlet, on August 26. A solitary example was 
observed the following day. Solitary examples of what appeared to be 
this species were seen at Pangnirtung fiord, Cumberland sound, on Sep- 
tember 18 and 21, 1923. In 1924 none was seen until August 28, at Black- 
lead island, Cumberland sound, when several were collected. On the 
following day eight were taken. The southward migration was then at 
its height. The birds continued to pass in numbers until September 2 
and could be found feeding at the water’s edge along rocky coasts. Single 
specimens were obtained at Pangnirtung fiord on September 12, and 30 
and October 21, respectively. The last secured was especially remarkable 
as winter had set in long before. 
The first sandpiper observed in the spring of 1925 was of this species 
and was a solitary male collected June 2, 1925, at Nettilling lake. The lakes 
were still ice bound and the land mostly covered with snow, but here and 
there were small, open pools. Along the border of one of these the bird 
was feeding in the thin layer of thawed mud among the grassy hummocks. 
On June 11, in the same locality near Takuirbing river, several were obser- 
ved and one collected. When flushed they emit a grating ick-ick-ick and 
when not too hard pressed will in many cases light again a few yards away. 
They flush sluggishly, and when not come upon too abruptly will in many 
cases leisurely elevate the wings above the back, as though stretching 
them before taking flight. On the whole, at this time, they were com- 
paratively fearless and permitted close approach. Only one was observed 
giving a vocal performance on the wing. It rose slowly from the ground 
to a height of 15 to 20 feet and leisurely flying over the tundra gave a series 
of low, musically staccato notes resembling to-wit, to-wit, to-wit, to-wit, etc. 
The performance continued unbrokenly over a distance of 25 or 30 yards 
while the bird remained in the air. 
None was observed after June 11 at Nettilling lake until September 5 
when a flock of three, evidently migrating, were seen at Nikoswing island 
near Koukjuak river. The bird apparently does not breed in Nettilling 
Lake region, but goes farther north to nest. The lake does not appear to 
