10 
SHORE BIRDS. 
distinct species or varieties, though none of the books recog¬ 
nize two. One is ever smaller, more delicate, and produces 
a finer, softer, gentler note than the other, which is more ro¬ 
bust and utters a strong, shrill, trilling, whistling note. A 
casual observer would most likely pronounce them old and 
young, but there is such constant divergence as to preclude 
the possibility of harmony in one species. The habits of the 
two species are quite similar. Their usual place of abode is 
on the bare spots or amidst the short grass or mossy places. 
on the marshes, where they seem to feed on flies, insects and 
mollusks, and become very fat, so much so that they are often 
called “fat birds.” They rarely goon to the sand flats or 
pastures, nor do they seem to be as sensitive to cold as some 
of the shore birds, and although they begin to be seen as 
early as the 20th of July, they do not all bid farewell to these 
friendly feeding-grounds till into November. They are 
abundant in Chili and other parts of South America. 
There are a few other species represented at this point, 
such as buff-breasted sandpiper ( Tringa rufescens, Cab.), 
curlew sandpiper (Tringa subarquaia, Temm.), Bonaparte’s 
sandpiper ( Tringa Bonapartii , Schleg.), stilt sandpiper 
(Micropolama Mmantopus, Baird), purple sandpiper ( Tringa 
maritima, Brunn.), and possibly a few others, including two 
or three of the Phalaropes, but none of these are in such 
numbers as to be attractive to sportsmen or receive any 
special notice in this connection. It will also be observed 
we have made no mention of golden plover, Esquimaux cur¬ 
lew or summer yellowlegs (Totanus flavipes, Bon.), simply 
because they are not constant visitants to our shores in 
spring, though the latter does appear here exceptionally. 
Mr. C., a very keen Observer of the habits of birds, informs 
us that during a period of seventy-five years himself and 
father had been in the field they had seen only three summer 
yellowlegs and but two golden plover in spring. Mr. B., who 
has been for forty years a gunner on this coast, has seen but 
one golden plover at this season. 
But let us step over to the Mississippi Valley and take a 
§ n at beside our intelligent friend and naturalist, Pr. N., of 
