Tringa maculata . 
Lake Umbagog, Maine. 
1394. There were also a flock of seventeen Pectorals of which 
Oct.I. I killed four. These Sandpipers are singularly like Snipe in 
many of their ways. They probe in precisely the same manner 
and when approached remain perfectly motionless for many min¬ 
utes at a time evidently relying on their admirable protective 
coloring for concealment but unlike the Snipe they do not 
squat. Nevertheless it is extremely difficult to see them 
even when a dozen or more are standing in plain view. There 
is almost always a background of grass and the mud on these 
marshes is also covered with a short, exceedingly dense growth 
of fine grass which, at a distance, lo&ks like vividly green 
moss. The Pectorals resort much to these mossy flats even 
Til a. 
when, as is nearly always the case, they.are somewhat elevated 
and perfectly dry. The birds do not feed there.but simply 
bask or sleep in the sun* 
Pectorals are invariably very.tame here but they are 
easily alarmed by loud sounds and the report of a gun will 
often start a flock in great alarm half-a-mile or more away. 
When thus startled the birds fly about for many minutes before 
realighting coursing back and forth over the marshes, now high 
now low, -wheeling and turning shpiplyv 
) 
