The Bird Book Part 29

244. CURLEW SANDPIPER. _Erolia ferruginea_.

Range.--A common Old World species, but regarded as rare in eastern North America and northern Alaska.

A bird of slighter build, but similar coloration to the Knot; smaller (length eight inches) and with a slightly decurved bill. Until within recent years, eggs of these birds were rarely seen in collections, and I believe they have not yet been taken in this country, although a few pairs nest along our Arctic coast. Their eggs are very similar to those of the Red-backed Sandpiper, but average somewhat larger. Size 1.50 1.05. Data.--Kola, northern Lapland, June 15, 1898. Four eggs laid in a gra.s.s-lined hollow in the ground. Collector, J. Ramberg.

[Ill.u.s.tration 151: Greenish buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Red-backed Sandpiper. Curlew Sandpiper.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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245. SPOONBILL SANDPIPER. _Eurynorhynchus pygmeus_.

A very rare Asiatic species, which has been taken in Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. A very peculiar bird having the end of the bill broadened and flattened into a sort of spatula. Otherwise very similar to the Least Sandpiper, but with the breast and sides of neck ruddy in summer. About 75 specimens of this rare bird are known to exist.

246. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. _Ereunetes pusillus_.

Range.--Whole of North America, but chiefly in the eastern and central parts, breeding about the ponds and streams of Labrador and Hudson Bay, and northward. These little Sandpipers are abundant during the migrations either in marshes or on beaches. They are most often found in company with other species, such as the Spotted and Least Sandpipers.

Their appearance is very similar to that of the Least Sandpipers, but they are slightly larger and the feet are partially webbed. Their eggs have a greenish buff or grayish ground color and are spotted with brownish or blackish, sometimes, so heavily as to completely obscure the sh.e.l.l color. Size 1.20 .80. Data.--Small island near Okak, Labrador, July 3, 1895. 2 eggs. Nest a hollow at the foot of a tuft of gra.s.s, lined with a few bits of gra.s.s and small leaves. Eggs unmistakable in this dark type.

[Ill.u.s.tration 152: Spoonbill Sandpiper. Semipalmated Sandpiper.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Grayish.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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247. WESTERN SANDPIPER. _Ereunetes mauri._

Range.--Western North America, breeding in the Arctic regions and migrating through the United States, chiefly west of the Mississippi to the Gulf States and southward.

Scarcely to be distinguished from the preceding species, but the upper parts are said to be brighter and the bill, to average a trifle longer.

The nesting habits and eggs are precisely the same as those of the Semipalmated variety. Data.--Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska, June 28, 1898. Four eggs. Nest a neatly rounded hollow, sunk into a mossy hummock in marshy ground. Collector, Joseph Grinnell.

248. SANDERLING. _Calidris leucophaea._

Range.--Found in all parts of the northern hemisphere, breeding within the Arctic Circle and wintering in North America, from California and South Carolina southward.

A handsome and abundant species, found during migrations by thousands on beaches and about large bodies of water in the interior. They are one of the lightest colored of the Sandpipers, either in winter or summer plumage. In summer the upper parts are a light rusty color and black, and the whole underparts are white. Owing to their extreme northerly distribution in summer, but few of their eggs have been taken. Their nesting habits are like those of the other Sandpipers. The three or four eggs are greenish buff in color, spotted and blotched with brown. Size 1.45 .95. Data.--Peel River, Alaska, June 18, 1897. Three eggs in a depression on the ground.

249. MARBLED G.o.dWIT. _Limosa fedoa._

Range.--North America, breeding, chiefly in the interior, from northern United States northward.

G.o.dwits are large Plovers with long slightly up-curved bills. This species is 19 inches in length, is of a nearly uniform ruddy color and is handsomely marbled above, and barred below with black. Their eggs are laid upon the ground in the vicinity of ponds or rivers; sometimes there is no lining and again a few straws or gra.s.ses may be twisted around the depression. Their eggs number three or four and have a ground color of grayish or greenish buff, sometimes quite dark, and are blotched with dark brown. Size 2.25 1.60. Data.--Devil's Lake, N. D., June 10, 1895.

Four eggs laid on the ground in the middle of an unused road. Lined with a few gra.s.ses. Collector, W. F. Hill.

[Ill.u.s.tration 153: Grayish buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Western Sandpiper. Sanderling. Marbled G.o.dwit.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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250. PACIFIC G.o.dWIT. _Limosa lapponica baueri._

Range.--Coasts and islands of the Pacific Ocean on the Asiatic side, north in summer to Alaska.

This species is more uniform and brighter ruddy beneath than the preceding, and the back is not marbled as strongly. Even in Alaska where it breeds, it is not a common species, and it only occurs elsewhere on the Pacific coast of America casually. The nesting habits are the same, but the eggs are somewhat darker than those of the preceding, but not as dark as those of the following species. Size 2.20 1.45.

251. HUDSONIAN G.o.dWIT. _Limosa haemastica._

Range.--North America, east of the Rocky Mountains, breeding in the Arctic regions and wintering south of the United States.

This species is apparently not as common or is more locally distributed during migrations than is the Marbled G.o.dwit. They are more abundant in their breeding grounds and are occasionally seen in large flocks. They are smaller than the Marbled G.o.dwit (length 18 inches) and are deep reddish brown below. They lay four eggs on the ground, in marshes or near ponds or streams, lining the hollow with weeds and dried leaves.

The eggs have a dark brownish buff ground color and are blotched with brownish black. Size 2.20 1.40. Data.--Mackenzie River, Arctic America. Four eggs laid in a hollow in the ground. Collector, J. O.

Stringer.

252. BLACK-TAILED G.o.dWIT. _Limosa limosa._

A European and Asiatic species only casually occurring in Greenland.

Very similar in appearance to our Hudsonian G.o.dwit, which is frequently called by the name of this species. The nesting habits and the eggs are precisely like those of the American bird.

253. GREEN SHANK. _Glottis nebularia._

A common bird in Europe and the British Isles, but only American as having been taken once in Florida. A very similar species to the following.

[Ill.u.s.tration 154: Pacific G.o.dwit. Hudsonian G.o.dwit.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Brownish.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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254. GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. _Tota.n.u.s melanoleucus._

Range.--Whole of North America, nesting in the British Provinces and rarely in the northern part of the Mississippi Valley.

This and the next species are much sought by sportsmen during their migrations; they are commonly called "Tell-tale," the present species being the "Greater Tell-tale." They are blackish above, speckled with white, and below are white and, in summer, marked with arrowhead spots of black. The legs, as implied by the name of the bird, are yellow and long; length of bird, 14 inches. They nest most abundantly in localities remote from habitations, in the interior of Canada. The eggs are generally laid on the ground, near a marsh or on the bank of a stream, with little or no lining to the nest. They are grayish white, boldly splashed with several shades of brown, and with lilac. Size 1.65 1.25.

Data.--Whale River, Labrador, June 10, 1902. Eggs laid on the ground in an open marsh.

255. YELLOW-LEGS. _Tota.n.u.s flavipes._