78 
BIENNAL REPORT 
was formerly a well-represented migrant. Dr. Hatch speaks of it as more com¬ 
mon than the last species and C. L. Herrick found many at Lake Shetek, Murray 
County, in late October, 1877. Dr. C. T. Cooke reported it fairly common 
at Madison, Lac qui Parle County, in October, 1892. It has also been taken 
at Wood Lake, Yellow Medicine County, by Albert Lano, October 11, 1888; Heron 
Lake, T. S. Roberts, May 21, 1893, and at Leech Lake, by E. S. Currier, May 24, 
1903. The Dowitcher is a long-billed bird about the size of Wilson's Snipe, 
but flies in compact flocks and frequents sand bars and mud flats. It breeds in the 
far north. 
STILT SANDPIPER. An infrequent migrant. Occurs in small flocks or 
associated with other lesser sandpipers. Its long legs and the flattened tip of the 
bill distinguish it from others of its kind. Dr. Hatch, writing in early days, says 
it was never common. In 1887, Dr. Hvoslef of Lanesboro, Fillmore County, re¬ 
ported that it was “not a rare fall migrant at least. I have shot several and have 
two in my collection.” It has also been reported from Heron Lake (Peabody, 1894), 
Otter Tail County (Barker, about 1890), Pembina (Bryant, 1895), and in July, 
1897, Franklin Benner found a number at Lake Shaokatan, Lincoln County, and 
collected several which are in the Survey Collection at the University of Minne¬ 
sota. There are no recent records known to the writer. 
KNOT; ROBIN SNIPE. A very rare migrant. There is only one Minnesota 
specimen known, taken September 7, 1885, in Fillmore County, by Dr. J. H. 
Hvoslef. This is now in the Survey Collection at the University of Minnesota. 
There are no other records except Dr. Hatch’s statement in 1892 that it was 
“rather rare” in early days, but occurred both spring and fall. Breeds in the 
Arctics. 
PECTORAL SANDPIPER; GRASS SNIPE. Common as a migrant. Arrives 
in April and is back again from its Arctic breeding grounds in July. Remains 
until October and occasionally even later (two seen and one shot at Minneapolis, 
November 5, 1875, by T. S. Roberts). This bird is sometimes seen in numbers in 
June (“rather common” in Grant County, June 5-9, 1879, Roberts and Benner), 
and is often encountered in the return movement by the middle of July (number 
seen in Lincoln County in mid-July, 1897, Franklin Benner), but it must not be 
assumed from this that it breeds here. Dr. Hatch’s account of finding its nest in 
Minnesota is open to doubt for several reasons. 
The Grass Snipe travels in small companies and frequents wet grasslands, and, 
quite often, upland fields and prairies, where it feeds upon insects of many kinds. 
Its southern journey takes it as far as Peru and central Patagonia. 
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. The records thus far are all from the 
western part of the state, where it was, formerly, at least, a common migrant. 
In May, 1889, Cantwell found it “very plentiful in Lac qui Parle County” and 
collected specimens. On May 25, 1893, Albert Lano secured two specimens in the 
same county, which are in the Survey Collection. Peabody reports it at Heron 
Lake, in 1894, “abundant May 19 (first seen) ; seen also June 2 and July 1 (one),” 
but states that it is rare in Kittson County. Franklin Benner collected a single 
female bird in immature plumage at Lake Benton, Lincoln County, on July 18, 1897 
(in Survey Collection). This Sandpiper breeds in the Arctics and spends the 
winter in the extreme southern part of South America. 
