THE PECTORAL SANDPIPER. 
lORE than a score of Sand- 
pipers are described in 
the various works on 
ornithology. The one 
presented here, how- 
ever, is perhaps the most curious speci- 
men, distributed throughout North, 
Central, and South America, breeding 
in the Arctic regions. It is also of 
frequent occurrence in Europe. Low, 
wet lands, muddy flats, and the edges 
of shallow pools of water are its favorite 
resorts. The birds move in flocks, but, 
while feeding, scatter as they move 
about, picking and probing here and 
there for their food, which consists of 
worms, insects, small shell fish, tender 
rootlets, and birds ; " but at the report 
of a gun," says Col. Goss, " or any 
sudden fright, spring into the air, 
utter a low whistling note, quickly 
bunch together, flying swift and strong, 
usually in a zigzag manner, and when 
not much hunted often circle and drop 
back within shot; for they are not 
naturally a timid or suspicious bird, 
and when quietly and slowly 
approached, sometimes try to hide by 
squatting close to the ground." 
Of the Pectoral Sandpiper's nesting 
habits, little has been known until 
recently. From Mr. Nelson's interest- 
ing description, in his report upon 
" Natural History Collections in 
Alaska," we quote as follows : " The 
night of May 24, 1889, I ^ a Y wrapped 
in my blanket, and from the raised 
flap of the tent looked out over as 
dreary a cloud-covered landscape as 
can be imagined. As my eyelids 
began to droop and the scene to become 
indistinct, suddenly a low, hollow, 
booming note struck my ear and sent 
my thoughts back to a spring morning 
in northern Illinois, and to the loud 
vibrating tones of the Prairie Chickens. 
[See Birds and Adl Nature, Vol. 
IV, p. 18.] Again the sound arose, 
nearer and more distinct, and with an 
effort I brought myself back to the 
reality of my position, and, resting 
upon one elbow, listened. A few 
seconds passed, and again arose the 
note ; a moment later I stood outside 
the tent. The open flat extended away 
on all sides, with apparently not a liv- 
ing creature near. Once again the 
note was repeated close by, and a 
glance revealed its author. Standing 
in the thin grass ten or fifteen yards 
from me, with its throat inflated until 
it was as large as the rest of the bird, 
was a male Pectoral Sandpiper. The 
succeeding days afforded opportunity 
to observe the bird as it uttered its 
singular notes, under a variety of 
situations, and at various hours of the 
day, or during the light Arctic night. 
The note is deep, hollow, and resonant, 
but at the same time liquid and 
musical, and may be represented by a 
repetition of the syllables too-u, too-u, 
too-u, too-u, too-u." The bird may 
frequently be seen running along the 
ground close to the female, its enormous 
sac inflated. 
Mr. Murdock says the birds breed 
in abundance at Point Barrow, Alaska, 
and that the nest is always built in 
the grass, with a preference for high 
and dry localities. The nest was like 
that of the other waders, a depression 
in the ground, lined with a little dry 
grass. The eggs are four, of pale 
purplish-gray and light neutral tint. 
It is sometimes called Grass Snipe. 
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