360 
SCOLOPACIDiE. 
again a short distance off. It seems to lay its eggs later 
than others of this tribe generally. I found the eggs not 
sat upon on the 24tli of June, and the last week in July 
the young were unable to fly,—a period when all the 
other sandpipers are on the move south. Its nest, like 
that of the snipe, was on a hummocky tuft of grass. I pro¬ 
cured one nest with four eggs in it. - ” 
The quotation given below is from Mr. Wolley. 
“ The Broad-billed Sandpiper differs from other wading 
birds in the situation of its nest, choosing open soft places 
in the marsh, where there is little else thau bog moss with 
a light growth of a kind of sedge, and on a low tuft just 
rising above the water, its nest may be found often with¬ 
out much difficulty. * * * 
“But it must not be supposed that this kind of bird¬ 
nesting is very easy work The marshes where the Broad¬ 
billed Sandpiper are to be found, are few and far between, 
they are soft and full of water, and often, every step is a 
struggle, whilst the swarms of hungry knats require 
almost individual attention. The sun is scorching at mid¬ 
day, but at midnight has not enough power to keep away 
an unpleasant chill. The country to be gone over is of 
vast extent, the egg season very short; sleep is seldom 
attainable, a feverish feeling comes on, and present enjoy¬ 
ment soon ceases. * * * 
“ It is just when the thickest clouds of knats rise from 
the water (which is so generally spread over the recently 
thawed land), that the Broad-billed Sandpiper has its eggs, 
and this is just before midsummer, about the third week 
in June. 
“ Many empty nests are found for one that is occupied, 
and I suppose them to be nests of former years, for the 
moss in which they are usually worked, long retains any 
mark made in it, being hard frozen for more than half the 
