490 BIRDS—SCOLOPACIDA. 
Above blackish with a slight greenish reflection, variegated with tawny and whitish ; 
below, pale tawny of varying shade, bleaching on tbroat and belly; jugulum with 
streaks, breast and sides with arrowheads and bars of blackish; axillars and lining of 
wings pure white, black-barred; quills blackish, with white- bars on the inner webs; 
tail varied with tawny, black and white, chiefly in bars, bill and legs palo, former black- 
tipped. Length, 11-13; wing, 6-7; tail 3-4; bill, 1-14; middle toe and claw about the 
same; tarsus, about 2. 
Habitat, North America. North to the Yukon. Not observed in the United States 
west of the Rocky Mountains. Atlantic coast to Nova Scotia. Breeds from the Middle 
districts northward. Winters in Mexico, West Indies, Central and South America to 
Brazil. Casual in Europe. 
Bartram’s Sandpiper or the Field Plover, as itis commonly termed with 
us, is an abundant migrant and common summer resident, being found 
from the middle of April to the latter part of September. It frequents, 
in large flocks, plowed fields, meadows and retired fields; more rarely is 
seen in pairs along the banks of streams, never, however, according to 
my observation, wading in the water. When on its migrations it is 
very wary and difficult to approach, but during the breeding season its 
whole nature seems to be changed in this respect. In the protection of 
its nest and young it resorts to various devices to attract and hold the 
attention of the intruder to itself, mimicking lameness of leg and wing, 
tumbling in the air and on the ground, much after the manner of the 
Woodcock at similar times. After the breeding season is over it often 
imitates the smaller hawks in its flight, soaring, sailing and hovering, 
so as to entirely mislead one whois not familiar with this habit. This 
latter habit has been noticed by Mr. Wm. Brewster in the Ruff (Phdlo- 
machus), to which he supposed it to be peculiar. 
It has also the frequent habit in spring of alighting on the tops of 
fences, after the manner of the Meadow-lark. Individuals thus perched 
seem to be acting as sentinels for the flock feeding below. During the 
breeding season, they often perch on the tops of willow trees, when an 
intruder makes his appearance. 
Its ordinary note is a loud pleasing whistle, but in summer it often 
utters a loud, tremulous, piercing scream, which for wierdness is not sur- 
passed by the cry of the Screech Owl or Loon. 
The eggs are four, pale clay-color or drab, thickly spetted with umber- 
brown in small pattern for birds of this family. They measure 1.75 
by 1.28. 
GEeNus TRYNGITES. Cabanis. 
Bill very small, straight, stout, shorter than tarsus or middle tee with claw, feathered 
above as far as the nostrils, still farther below. Gape extending considerably beyond 
culmen. Webbing of toes rudimentary. Tail not half as long as wing, rounded, with 
central feathers projecting. 
