LABORATORY OF ORNITHOLOSX nOMJTH CORNELL UNIVERSITY Fuertes' ""*^*' ^^ ^°^ i-ed May 18,1912. QL r. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 595 BIOLOGICAL SURVEY— BULLETIN No. 35, Revised HENRY W. HENSHAW, Chief DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATION OF NORTH AJIERICAN SHOREBIRDS internaxional Committeo B\n.^ . > .-- -rvation Pan- American Soc.-,.i BY WELLS W. COOKE Aisisiant, Biological Survey 'WASHINGTON GOVEBNMENT PEINTINQ OITIOE 1912 ■' Cornell Lab of Ornithology ^ ^ 1 Fri 1 Library at Sapsucker Woods Illustration o{ Bank Swallow by Louis Agassiz Fuertes 1 -?■■' enai Issued May IS, 1912, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BIOLOfllCAL SURVEY— BULLETIN Ho. 35, Revised HENRY W. HENSHAW, CMif DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATION OF NORTH AMERICAN SHOREBIRDS BY WEL:[^S W. COOKE Aisistant, Biological Survey: WASHINGTON GOVBBNMBNT PRINTING OFPIOE 19X2 9u LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. U. S. Department of Ageicultuee, Biological Stjkvey, Washington, D. C, March 9, 1912. Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for publication, a revision of Bulletin No. 35 of the Biological Survey, on the Distribu- tion and Migration of North American Shorebirds, by Wells W. Cooke, assistant, Biological Survey. The original edition was issued Octo- ber 6, 1910. Many species of shorebirds inhabit the United States or pass through our territory in migration. These birds possess considerable economic importance; and as other wild game lik6 ducks, geese, and swans diminish in numbers their value for food and as a means for sport will increase. Large numbers are annually killed, and unless prompt measures are taken adequately to protect them some of the larger and more important kinds are likely to become extinct, espe- cially in the region east of the Mississippi River. A knowledge of the summer and winter abodes of the several species and of the routes they take in migration is essential to intelligent legislation in their behalf, and, accordingly, aU the known facts in regard to this part of their life history are here brought together. Respectfully, Henry W. Henshaw, Chief, Biological Survey. Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture. CONTENTS. Page. introduction.. ..........;...':..'.: 5 Distribution :.'...l'..i.. 6 Migration 1 J.......... 10 North American shorebirda :......... '..i.. 14 Red phalarope 14 Northern phalarope 1 ' 16 Wilson phalarope. : ... 18 Avocet : ...'::'. I l.'A-J!'...:... 19 Black-necked stilt : . . . . :..... 20 European woodcock ^ .. ' 21 Woodcock .....': J.'-l'}i ' . . . 21 European snipe '..:....:......!... 23 Wilson snipe ' 23 Great snipe 26 Dowitcher , 26 Long-billed dowitcher 1 . . . .. 1 ...... . 28 Stilt sandpiper 1 .'...-. . 29 Knot : ...'.:..'.ll....: 31 Purple sandpiper 1 1 . . 33 Aleutian sandpiper '. 34 Pribilof sandpiper : '. 34 Sharp-tailed sandpiper 34 ' Pectoral sandpiper , 35 White-rumped sandpiper .'- - . . '. . . 37 Baird sandpiper ...!.'.. J '.!. . '.."'"..'.. \ 39 Least sandpiper .' 1 . J '. 41 Long-toed stint '.....:. 42 Cooper sandpiper - - - . - - 43 Dunlin i..'. - - ■ - ■ ■ ■ ■, - : " ^^ Red-backed sandpiper :.:... ". 1 . j 43 Curlew sandpiper .. .,1... J.... 45 Spoon-bill sandpiper ...:.......!... '...... 45 Semipalmated sandpiper --' ........ 1 46 Western sandpiper ^ ....'.'...'........ 1 47 Sanderling... --- 48 Marbled godwit.. • ........ 50 Pacific godwit ,---.- 51 Hudsonian godwit. : - 52 Black-tailed godwit - 53 Green-shank 54 Common red-shank --■- 54 Greater yellow-legs. ... .1 J I. - . - ■ 54 ■ Yellow-legs 56 . Solitary sandpiper '■■"■ 58 Western solitary sandpiper ■ ■ ■ ■ :^^ Green sandpiper... ^^ Wood sandpiper r, ^■'• Willet..-....:...... ^1 3 4 CONTENTS. North American shorebirde — Continued. Page- Western willet 62 Wandering tattler j J. . (.,3.' .i. -i 63 RuH ;...'... : ■'- 64 ^Upland plover ~ 64 Buff-breasted sandpiper , 67 Spotted sandpiper 69 , Long-billed curlew 71 Hudsonian curlew -, t: - t - - - - ^2 Eskimo curlew - ■ * ,.,.,....., 74 ^1 European curlew.. .,. 76 , Whimiarel '..'. ...i...... ---... 77 Bristle-thigiied curlew 77 Lapwing '..'. ----it,- -- ■ 77 Dotterel V.. . :., 77 Black-bellied plover 78 European golden plover 79 Golden plover 80 Pacific golden plover '. , j. 85 ,. Killiieer J... ............[:.....:...... .'. !,! ^ .,. . . . 85 Santo Domingo killdeer ,,,...,:j. j.,... 88 , Semipalmated plover ..,;. j ..... ^ 88 Ringed plover go Little ringed plover '. '!....'. . ,.. 90 Piping plover. '..'. '.'. ^.^..^ll.^V... ..;.., .^ 1.. 91 Snowy plover , 92 Mongolian plover '. ...'.\.^.. 93 Azaranng plover , 93 Wilson plover .....'. ,.u 93 Rufous-naped plover 1 ^ ...... . 94 Mountain plover .'. 94 Surf bird 1 . 1 '..'. ::.. .... . . .'l^]f', .,, .... 95 Turnstone.... ■.....::.:........ .^i^iy.'.:. . . ,V.^':'. _.^. 96 Ruddy tumstone ..\ ........[[ .[..._ .!...!., 97 Black tumstone ! . . . ^ i ........ , 98 European oyster-catcher .'.'.' 99 Oyster-catcher .i ,...:... 99 Erazar oyster-catcher ..\,.l . ■'.''' 99 Black oysteij-catcher 11 . .\ . | . 1./. IQO Stone curlew .^.'.'.'.!.'.'.. !..'.. i 100 Mexican jacana 1 ! . . . . . 1 ■ lOO Blackjacana ' ...1 ... : 100 I Colombian jacana ...*.. 100 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. ^^T^ I. Y6tlm-legB(Totanusftavipes) iU.l. ' *56 ■^ "II.' Upland plover (Barframia longkauda) l^ll'..... .. 64 III. Spotted sandpiper (.dch'iis Tnocwtom) .....!.... 68 IV. Killdeer (Oa;yecftMs vodferus). '. ... .:..... 84 DISTRlBtTION; AND, MIGEAllOE OF lORTH AMERICtf i SHOMBIRDS. INTBODTJCTION. ] Shorebirds form a valuable national resource, and it is the plain duty of the present generation to pkss on to posterity this asset undiminished in value. Consistent and intelligent legislation in favor of any group of birds inust be founded on exteiideid, accurate • information, and must include knowledge of the breeding and distri- bution of the birds — where they spend the summer, whither they retire in winter; and 'wheii and by what routes they 'migrate. 'The present bulletin supplies this needed information '^'d far as it is now available. ^ Consideration of 6ui* shorebirds (LimicoZa;) froni an economic point of view is recent/ The early settlers found ducks, geese, and swans' swarming in certain sections' of the United States, and grouse and turkeys very abundant. The size and; itoothsomenegS of the^e birds made them inapartant objects of pursuit fori food,, while the shore- birds were considered unworthy of notice. As the great' flocks i of ducks and geese al9ng the Atl^^ntic coast; diminished in numbers, the attention of gunners, especially of market hunters, was turned , to the shorebirds, then in countless numbers. A generation of constant harassment spring and fall, has almost exterminated some of the, larger species and has very greatly reduced even the smaller ones. The time has come whe;i this indisGrinjiinate slaughter must cease if the present remnant of, the shorebirds. is ,tO! b© preserved. The range of our shorebirds extends from ocean to ocean, go that all parts of the United States have an interest in their preservation. These birds feed naturally in , the open country or along Jjli^ open shore, where they are easily, found and are constantly subject' to attack. The prairies of the Mississippi Valley in past yfears formed the great highway of spring) migration. Flock followed flock in almost endless succession across the prairies of Kansas, Nebraska, ^ and the Dakotas, over a region that, of late years has passed under the plow. Jis this a,rea becomes more densely popul^tpd the shorC'r birds, once so abundant, are likely to become extinct unless active measures are taken for their presej-vation. ,■ ; ,; , There are excellent reasons for protecting and preserving the shorebirds. Some of them, especially the several kiiids of plovers, aiOBTH AMEKICAN SHOEEBIEDS. perform important service in destroying noxious insects. The flesh of many of them, even of the smaller kinds, has a high food value, and some of the larger species — the upland, golden, and black-belUed plovers, and the curlews — were in the times of tl^eir, abundance important articles of 'diet. Their 'pursuit for ' sport; when they are shot over decoys, demands a high degree of skill, and is a favorite pas- time of many hunters. Nor should the esthetic side of the question be ignored. The graceful forms and motions of these birds as they feed at the edge of the breakers are an interesting sight to thousands of seashore visitors. The silencing of their melodious calls would, be a loss to every lover of nature. Finally, it may be said in their favor that not one of the shorebircls ever does any harm, while many have proved of great value to agriculture. Thpir accounts have pnly a credit side. The shorebirds are among the most widely distributed of all birds. As , far to the northward as man has found land shorebirds breed, , while in winter they visit the tropical and Antarctic shores. The distances traversed in their migrations probably average greater than those of any other family, and the shorebii;ds probably exceed all others in the number of miles traveled in a single flight. DISTBIBITTION. The shorebirds are represented in North America by 76 species and 9 subspecies, a total of 85 recognized forms; but the following 7 of 1 these do not range so far north as the United States : . Southern Species not Banoino North to the United States. RufoUs-riaped plover {Ochthodrormcs toil- sfmitis rufinuchits). Stone curlew (CEdicnemus bistriatus). Colombian jacana {Parra melanojn/gia). Black jacana {Parra nigra), Cayennie lapwing (Hdploxypierus tayanus) . Azara ring plover {Mg'ialitis collaris). Santo Domingo killdeer ffixyechus vocif- erus torgtiatUs): ' There remain 78 species and subspecies that occur in the United States and northward, but 5 of these are fduhd only in Greenland, as follows: European Species Occurring in North America only in Greenland. European snipe (GalUnago gallinago). Black-tailed godwit {Limosa limosa). \^[hiinbrel (Numeniiis phieopus). Golden plover (Charadrius apricarius). Oyster-catcher {Hsematopus ostraUgus). Fifteen other species from the Eastern Hemisphere are known as stragglers on the mainland of Ndrth America: Stragglers in North America prom the Eastern Hemisphere. European woodcock {Seblopaxrusticola). Great snipe (fifgilinago media) . Long-toed stint (Pisobia daTnacerms). Dunlin (Pelidna alpina). Curlew sandpiper (Eroliafemfx/inea). Spoon-bill sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmem). ' Green-shank (Glottis nebularia). Red-shaiik ( Toianus totenits) . Green saindpiper (Helodromas ocrephus). Wood sandpiper {Rhyaeophilus glareola). Ruff (^Pavoncella pugHax). , Lapwing ( Vanelluslvanellus), ; ; : ; DoiteTel (Eudromias morinellus). Little ringed p\ovei TJEgia:litis dubia). ' Mongolian plover {Mgialitis mongola). DlSTKIBUTldN. Deducting these, there are 58 species of shorebirds that belong to the regular avifauna of North Anierica north of 'Mexico. Not all of these, however, occur in the United States. The sharp-tailed sand- piper is a regular nugrant through Alaska, but is not found elsewhere in North America. The Pacific godwit, bristle-thighed curlew, and Pacific golden plover breed in Alaska and migrate thence to Asia'and the Pacific islands. The ringed plover breeds in northeastern North America and riiigraites to Europ6. The turiistohe breeds in both northeastern and northwestern Arctic America, but migrates to Europe, Asia, and the Pacific islands without coming regularly to the United States; while the Aleutian and the Pribilof sandpipers both breed and winter in Alaska. A further deduction of these 8 species leaves 50 species which regularly visit the United States during some part of the year. The shorebirds as a group are far northern breeders. The ma- jority of them breed in the region of the Arctic Circle, and several range north to the known limits' of land. The majority do not breed so far south as the United States, and hence are known there only as migrants, or in the winter season. Species that Breed Wholly North of the United States. Red phalarope (PJuilaropiLS fulicarius). Northern phalarope (ipotp^s lobatus). Dowitcher {Maerorhamphus griseus). Long-billed dowitcher {Macrorhamphus griseus iscolopaceus). Stilt sandpiper (Mieropalama himanto- pus). Knot (JVwig'a canutvis). Purple sandpiper (Arguatella maritirna). Aleutian sandpiper {ArquaUlla maritirna couesi). ' " ' Pribilof sandpiper {ArquatelJa TnaritiTnU ptilocnemis). Sharp-tailed sandpiper {Pisobia aurita): Pectoral sandpiper (PisoHa, rnacuMta). White-rumped sandpiper (Pisobia, fusei- Baird sandpiper (Pisobia bairdi). Least sandpiper {Pisobia minutilla). Red-backed sandpiper {Pelidna alpjm sahhalina). Semipalmated sandpiper (Ereunetes pu- silius). ; Western sandpiper (jEreunetes Tnaun) . Pacific godwit (Limosa lappcmica baitm,). B[udsonian,godwit,(ii7noso hxmastica). . Greater yellow-l^s (Totanus mekmoleu- cus). Yellow-lega (Totanus flavipes). : Wandering tattler (Heteractitis incanus). Buff-breasted sandpipler ( Tryngites subru- ficollis). Hudspnian curlew ( Numenius hudsonicus) . Eskimo curlew {Numenius borealis). Bristle-thighed curlew (Numenius tahiti- ensisy. Black-bellied plover {Squatarola squata- rdla). Golden plover (Charadrius dominicus). Pacific golden plover {Charadrius domini- cus Julvusi). Semipalmated plover {MgiqMtis semipaU mata). Ringed plover (jEgialitishiatieula). Surfbira {Aphriza virgata). Turnstone (Arenaria interpres). Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres mo- rinella). Black; turnstone (Armaria melanocephala). ipipi „ Sanderling (Catidris Uucophssa), Species that Breed in Both the United Stater and Canada. Western willet (Catoptrophorus semipaU Wilson phalarope (SUganopus tricolor). Avocet (Recurvirostra amer%eana). . Woodcock (Philohela minor).. .1 ,), Wilson snipe (Gallinago deltcata). Marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa). Solitary sandpiper (Helodromas sohtar- Western solitary sandpiper (Helodromas salitarius einnanwynem). Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus). matus inornatus). Upland plover (Bartramid Ibngicauda). Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularia). Long-billed curlew (Numenius america- MWS). Eilldeer (Oxyechus voei/erus). Piping plover (Mgialitis meloda). Black oyster-catcher (Hsematopus bach- mani). 8 NOBTH AMEKipAK SHOBEBIBDS. Species that do not Bbeed North op the Ui^ited S^tes, with Northern LtMir OF Breeding Range. OyBter-cat'ciier (Hse.tmto'pus palliatus), South Carolina. Frazar oyster-catcher (Hxmatopus fra-. zari), California. Mexican jacana (Jacana' spinosa), lexas. Black-necked stilt {B'imantopus mexica- nus), Oregon. Snowy plover (JSgioKfeiriTOOso), Nevada.; Wilson plover {OchtTpdromm mlsonius), Virginia. ' i . . j Mountain plover (Podasocys montanus), Montana. Species that Breed Chiefly North op the AbctiC Circle, with the Northern- most tATITUDB AT WHICH THE SpBCIES HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN THE WESTERN Hemisphere. , . ' Red phalarope {Phalaropits ■ fuUcarms), 82°. ■ ;., ■ Northern phalarope (Lobipes I6batus),'ii° . Long-billed dowitcher (Macrorhamphus grismsscplop(tceus)y71°. _ , Stilt sandpiper {Micxopalama himanto- Knot ( Tringa canutu^), 83°. . , ^ , Purple sandpiper (Arguatella maritirna), 74°. ..■■,,,"!.. Pectoral sandpiper (Pisobia maailata), 71°. White-rumped sandpiper {Pisobia fusd- collis)j 69°. Baird sandpiper (Pisobia bairdi), 71°- Least sandpiper (Pisobia minutilia),,. 70°. Red-backed sandpiper {Pelidna alpina, sakhalina), 72°. Semipalmated sandpiper (Ereunetes pusil- lus), 71°. SaMdetUng (Calidris leucophsea), 82° . Hiidsonian god wit (Limosa h^mastica), 69°. Buff-breasted saiiidpiper {Tryngites subru- \ficoUiii), 71°. , i ' ,: •;: Hudsonian curlew {Numenius hudsoni- cus), 69°. ■ ■'''■' ' . ■■ Eskimo curlew (Numenius borealis), 69°. Black-beliied plover {^quatarola sqimta- rola),71°. ' Golden , plover {Qkaradrius dominicus), '77°. Pacific golden plover (Charadnus domini- cus fulvus), Q6°. , ,, ii; . Semipalmated plover (JEgialitis semipal- .mataj,75° / , Ringed plover {JEgialitis hiaticula); 78°. ■Tumatone {Arenariainterpres), 83°. Ruddy tumstone {ArenarM interpres mofi- nella), 74°. Species that Breed in Both Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Red phalarope (Phalaropm fulicanui)i Northern phalarope (Lobipes lobatus). , Knot (Tringa canutus), '• .i Purple sandpiper (Arguatella maritima). SaxLaeiling (Calidris leucophsea). Pacific god wit (Limosa lapponica baueri). Black-bellied plover (Squatarola squata- rola). Pacific golden plover (Charadrius doTrlini- cusfiUvus). ' Ringed plover (JEgialitis hiaticula). Tumatone (Arenariainterpres). Species that Winter in the United States and Southward. Avocet (Reeurvirostraamerieana). Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mext- canus). Woodcock (Philohela minor). Wilson snipe (Oallinago delicata). Tiowitchei (Macrorhamphus grisms). . Long-billed dowitcher (Macrorhamphus griseus scolopaceus). Purple sandpiper (jlrgttoteZfa mantiTna). ' Least sandpiper (i'isoiia minuiiHa). Red-backed sandpiper (Pelidna alpina sakhalina). , ^ , , . - ,, Semipalmated sandpiper CEreanetes pusil- hts.) 1 Western sandpiper (Ereunetes vnauri). • Sanderling(Coto^ icucopfceo). , i: Marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa). Greater yellow-legs (Totanus melano- leueus.) Yellow-legs (Totanus flavipes). Western willet (Catoptrophorus semipal- m^u^ inomatus). < Spotted sandpiper (.idlciiJis macuZam). ' | Long-billed curlew "(Nurrunius ameri-' canv^). Black-bellibd plover (Squatarola squat- arola). 'Killdeer (Oryechus vocifer%is) . Semipalmated plover (Mgialitis semipal- mata): ' ' '''''"" Piping plover (JEgialitis meloda). Snowy lAovei (mgialitis nivosa). Wilson plover (Omthodromus wilsonius). Mountain plqyer (Podasocys mont/anus). Ruddy ' tumstone (Arenaria interpres morinella). ^ Black turnstone (Arenaria m,elanoeephala) . Oyater-caicher (Hsernatopus palUatus). Prazar oyster-catcher (Hssmatopus fra- zari). Black oyster-catcher '• (HsemMtopus bach- mani). Mexican jacana (Jacana apirmsa). DISTKIBUTION. « Species that do not Winter Noeth of South America. Red phalarope (Phalaropusfuticarius)! Nortkem phalarope (LoMpes hbatm). '• r' Wilson phalardpe ( Eskimo curlew {Numenius borealis). Golden plover {Charadrius dominieus). Swci hiid( Aphrizavirgdta). The three following species winter in the West Indies or Central America and southward, but are not ipund at, this season in the United States : Willet ( CatoptrophoPus semipalmJatus) , wandering tattler (Heter- aciiiis/iTicaTius), and Hudsonian curlew {Numenius Tiudsonicus) . The piirple sandpiper (-ArgiiofeZfe maritima) remains in winter as far north as Greenland and does not range sopth of the TJInited: States; while the Aleutian sandpiper (Arquatella maritivna couesi) and the Pribilof sandpiper (^Arquatella maritima ,ptilocnemis) do not occur in winter south of Alaska. Species that Range South in Winter to South America, with the Southern Limit op the Winter Range. Red phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius), Falklaiiid Islands. Northern phalarope (Lobipes lobatus), Peru and probably farther. Wilson phalkrope (Steganopus tricolor), Falkland Islands. Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexir canus), Peru. ', ' !■ . ' ''-■ DoTifitcheT (MacrorhaTnphus grisem), Brazil. Long-billed dowitcHer (Macrorhdmphus .Sfmms sc0lo,pacev4), probably Peru. ' • Stilt sfindpiper (Micrppaldma himanto- pMs)'/Urilguay.' " ■ ' ' Knot ( Tringa canutus), 'Siena, del Fuego. Pectoral _ sandpiper (Pisobia Tnaculata),, Argentina. ' White-rumped sandpiper (Pisobia fusek co7Zi«), Tieria del Tuego. BAiid sandpiper (Pisobin bairdi), Chile. Least sandpiiper (Pisobia : minutilla), Chile. Semipalmateid sandpiper (Ereunetes piml- ius)„ Patagonia. : ,,,._., Western sandpiper (Ih'eunetM, ^ rrumri),^ Venezuela. ' ' ' ' Sanderling (Calidris Imcophsea),, Argen- tina. _ I Hudsonian godwit (Limosa hsemastica), Strait of Magellan. Greater yellow-legs (Totanus melcmjoleu- eus). Strait oiE Magellani Yellow-legs ( Totanus flavipes), Strait of Magellan. ; .. Solitary sandpiper (Melodromassolitarim), Argentina. Western Solitary sandpiper (Helodromds solitariv^ cirmwnomeits),. not known. Willet (Catoptrophorus saryipalmatus), Peru: '■ ■''■-•^■: "> • ■ •" ' ■ 'Upland plover , (Bariramia> Ipngicauda)^' Argentina. Buff-brfeasted sandpiper ( Tryngites sab- ruficolUs), A.T^entu)3,. ., : Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularia}, Peru. ' ' Hudsonian curlew (NwrneniviS hudsqni- cus), Chile-. Eskimo curlew (NiiTrvenius bot-edlis), Pata- gonia. • Black-bellied plover (Squatarola squa- tdrola), Peru. Golden plover (Charadrius dominieus), Argentina. Semipalmated plover (Mgialitis semipal- 1, mate), Argentina. Snowy plover (Mgialitis nivosa), Chile. Siirf bird (Aphriza virgata), Chile. Ruddy tumstone (Arenaria interpres mo- rinella), Chile. Oyster -catcher (Hsemaiopus palliatus), Chile. 10 NORTH AMEEICAN BHOEEBIKDS. Species that Occur 'in the United States Onlt as Mi<3e!a'nts, Breeding in the Far North and Wintering to the Southward. Red phalaiope (Phalaropusfulicarvus). Nortfiern pjhalarope (iooipes lobatiis).. S tilt sandpiper ( Micropalama himamtopus) . Knot (Tringa canutus). . .. ■ • Pectoral sandpiper {Pisobia mcu:ulata). White-rumped sandpiper (Pisobia fusci- collis). . I ' Baird sandpiper {Pisobia bairdi). Hudsonian godwit (Ximosa hseTnastica). Buff-breasted sandpiper (Tryngites sub- ruficoiUs}i ' :Hudsonian curlew (Numenius hudsoni- ' eus). ■ • ■ ; \ Eskimo cuAew {Nwneriius borealis). Golden plover (Charadrius dominicus). Suit hird^i Aphrimvirgata). Species that donot breed noTth of the. United States 1 -,^ 7 Species breeding in the United States and Canada. 15 Total species' breeding in the United Staties ..... l IL 22 Species breeding wholly north of the United States.. '.>.v- - 36 Species breeding north of and wintering in the United States. - 15 Species breeding or wintering in the United States. II'.. ..'1.'.'. 37 Species occuring in the United States as migrants only 13 Total species occurring in the United States - 50 Species occurring regmarly in Atctic Aiherica, but not in the United States. . . 8 Total species occurring "regularly in North, Attierica north of Mexicp 58 European species straggling to Greenland. , , '. 5 Eastern Hemisphere species stra;ggling to North America. 15 Southern species not ranging north to the United States '..... 7, Total species and subspecies in North America 85 MIGRATION. The shorebirds as a group are among the most wide ranging of migrants. While a few, for example the jacanas, do not migrate at all, most shorebirds migrate more than a thousand miles each season, and many lengthejn their journeys to 7,000 miles. The most wonder- ful feature of their migration is the enormous distance covered in a single flight. As explained in the account of the golden plover, many flocks of plover fly without resting from Nova Scotia to northern South America, a distance of about 2,500 milps. Many individuals of other species perform the same flight, notably the Eskimo curlew, while in the case of the Hudsonian godwit and the upland plover the principal place of departure' in fall migration is the coast of the United States north of Virginia, and many of the flocks make stops in the Lesser Antilles on their way to South America. That the same route is employed by other species is shown by the large number of shorebirds annually visiting the Biermmdas. These islands lie about 800 miles off the coast of Sputli Qarolina and are in a nearly direct line from southern Nova Scotia to the Lesser Antilles. Years ago, when shorebirds were far more numerous than now, many flocks stopped at the Bermudas in fall migration. The most common species were the pectoral, white7runiped, least, and semipalmated sandpipers, the sanderling, greater yellow-legs, lesser yellow-legs, solitary sandpiper, spotted sandpiper, Hudsonian curlew, semipal- mated plover, turnstone, and Wilson snipe. All of these came in sufficient numbers to show that their visits were not accidental, and evidently they had merely paused a few days on their journey to the Lesser Antifles. The killdeer appeared regularly in November and MtGBATION. 11 remamed 'through the winter, but smce this species sfearcely goes north of New England, the individuals wintering on the Bermudas must have visited the islands for the purpose of remaining ' there through the eold season. Specimens of' eleven other species of shore- birds have been taken in the Bermudas. Thfey are less common vis- itors, and most of these individuals were probably oii their way across the ocean to the Lesser Antilles. This route, however, is not followed by these species in their return' in the spring, and there seems to' be no evidence as yet that any species of shorebird migrates regularly in the spring across the ocean from the Lesser Antilles to the coast of New England or to eastern Canada. Indeed, shorebirds migrating north in spring through the Lesser Antilles are almost unlinown. ' Along the Atlantic coast shorebirds are many'tiines more huhierous in fall than in spring, while in the Mississipipi Valley there is no' such pronounced difference of numbers at the two seasons. This fact, taken in connection with the rarity of all species of shoriebirds during the spring migration in the West Indies, where they are abi^ndant faU visitors, seems to indicate that in, the case of most of the species of shorebirds that migrate south in fall along the Atlantic coast some individuals pass northward in spring by way of the Mississippi Val- ley. The ifskimb curlew used to follow ;this route^, as still )io naost of the golden plover. The, staibenaenti applies also -largely to the long-billed dowitcher, stilt, white-runiped, and semipalmated sand- pipers, and the lesser yellow-legs. This elliptical migration route is in the case of most species not less, than 6,000 miles in its north and south diameter, nor less than 2,000 miles, east land west, while the winter home of the white-rumped sandpiper is. 9,000 'mUes' from its WOODCOCK. " 21 Rhoada), and from southern Sinaloa (Mdzatlan; Nelson) and south- ern Lower CaUfomia (La Paz; Ridgway), south throughout Central America and the West Indies to central Peru^(Santa Lucia; Tacza- nowski) and the mouth of the Amazon (Sclater and Salvin). The species winters on the GalapagoS Islands, and possibly a few remain to breed (Rothschild and Hartert). Spring migration,— ^The slight northward migratory morements of this species occur principally' in April. Some dates of arrival are: Titusyille, Fla., March 11, 1905 (Worthington) ; Sioux City, Iowa, April 20, 1902 (Rich) ; Omaha, Nebr., April 20, 1895 (Bruner, Wolcott, and Swenk) ; Escondido, Galif., April 13, 1896, April 15, 1897 (Hatch); Fresno County, Calif., April 5, 1890 (Eaton) ; Stockton, Calif;, April 13, 1878 (Belding). Eggs have been taken in southern California from early May to August, and at Salt Lake, Utah, May 22 (Ridgway). At Fort Gar- land, Colo., the young were just hatched June 21, 1873 (Henshaw). Fall migration:. — The latest dates in Nebraska are in early October, and the species has been noted at Riverdale, Calif., as late as Novem- ber 19, 1891 (Eaton). ■ ' European Woodcock. Scolopax rusticola Linn. The European woodcock is widely distributed in Europe and west- em Asia. It breeds in northern Europe and northern Asia from beyond the Arctic Circle south to England, Silesia, the Alps, the Himalayas, and the mountains of Japan; aI^o on the Azores, Madeira, and Canary islands. It winters from the British Islands, southern Europe and China, to northern Africa, India, and Formosa; it wanders occasionally to eastern North America, and has occurred in Loudoun County, Va., in 1873 (Coues) ; Qhester County, Pa.,, the end of Novem- ber, 1886 (Stone); one was takpn near Shrewsbury, N- J.) December 6, 1859 (Lawrence); one, September, 1889, somewhere in New Jersey (Warren); one, probably of this species, near Newport, R. I. (Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway); one at Chambly,, Quebec, Noveniber ll, 1882 (Wintle); and one at St. John, Newfoundland, January 9, 1862 (Sclater). Woodcock. PMlohela minor {Gine\.). Breeding raiige.- — The woodcock breeds locally throughout most of its range in the United States, at least south to Jacksonville, Fla. (Brewster), the coast of Louisiana (Beyer), and to Neosho Falls, in southern Kalisas (Gross). It will' probably be found breeding in some of the bottomlands of eastern Oklahoma. The breeding range extends northward to Pictou, Nova Scotia (McEinlay) ; Prince Edward Island (Dwight) ; Chatham, NeW Brunswick (Baxter) ; the city of Quebec (Dionne) ; Bracebri'dge, Ontario (Macoun) ; the northern peninsula of Michigan, at KeweenaW Point (Eaieeland); extreme northeastehi Minnesota, at Elbow Lake (Roberts and Benner) ; and to Winnipeg, 22 ' NOBTH AMERICAN SHOHEBIKDS. Manitoba (Thompson). The species has wandered north to New- foundland (Bennett); was noted the end of August, 1879, at York Factory, Keewatin (Bell) ; and early in August, 1892, on Black Eiver, Saskatchewan (Tyrrell), at latitude 59° — the most northern and also the most western record known. The woodcock has been seen several times in Colorado near Denver (Smith), though its regular range extends only to eastern South Dakota and eastern Kansas. Winter range. — The woodcock remains in the north until driven away by frost, and the presence of unfrozen ground is the factor that determines the northern boundaries of its range through the winter. The larger part of the species winter in the Gulf States south at least : to southern Florida (Myers; Scott) and to southern Texas (Victoria; Mitchell), but in Texas the species is very rare. Few woodcock winter north of latitude 37°, but these few ar^ scattered at favorable local- ities over a wide area north to Long Island (Giraud), Grafton, Mass. (Mackay), and Vincennes, Ind. (Balmer). Woodcock have been taken several times in December at St. John, New Brunswick, but in each case they proved to be wounded birds (Gilbert). The species has been taken once in the Bermudas, in October, 1842 (Hurdis). Spring migration. — Not only does the woodcock remain as far north as possible through the winter, but it also pushes northward in spring as soon as frost releases its feeding grounds. Average dates of spring arrival are: Renovo, Pa., March 22, earliest March 13, 1897 (Pierce); ^Long Island, New York, March 15, earliest March 10, 1898; central Connecticut, average of twelve years March 20, earliest February 24, 1891; eastern Massachusetts, average of eight years March 16, earli- est February 13, 1890; southwestern Maine, March 29, earliest March 23, 1905; Hahfax, Nova Scotia, March 25, earliest March 10, 1890 (Piers); St. John, New Brunswick, April 3, earhest March 21, 1898 (Banks) ; Pictou, Nova Scotia, April 12, earliest April 6, 1892 (McKin- lay) ; city of Quebec, average of thirteen years April 17, earliest April 4, 1890 (Dionne); Hillsboro, Iowa, March 17, earliest March 15, 1898 (Savage); Waterioo, Ind., March 11, earliest March 1,1906 (Link); Oberlin, Ohio, March 21, eariiest March 10, 1902 (Jones); Petersburg, Mich., March 17, earliest March 2, 1887 (Trombley) ; Chicago, 111., March 26, earhest March 22, 1884 (Wentworth) ; southern Ontario, April 2, earliest March 26, 1901; Ottawa, Ontario, May 1, earliest April 20, 1890 (White). One of the most pronounced pecuUarities of the woodcock is the early date at which it breeds, especially in the GuK States. Young a few days old were found January 29, 1890, at Covington, La. (Beyer), which requires that the eggs should have been deposited in December. Young a week old were noted at Jacksonville, Fla., March 10, 1877 (Bre\^ster) ; young at Souriake, Tex., March 22, 1905 (Gaut) ; young WILSON SNIPE. 23 a week old at Falls Church, Va., April 18, 1897 i(Riiey); young just hatched, Norwich,Conn., April 5, 1888 (Rawsoa); young just hatched, Spearville, Ind., April 13, 1894 (Bamett) ; young, Oberlin, Ohio, April 19, 1901 (Baird); while eggs have been t^ken at Caper Island, South Carolina, February 13, 1903 (Wayne) ; Raleigh, N. C, March 9, 1892 (Brimley); Lower Cedar Point, Maryland, February 25, 1891 (Todd) ; Fallstown, Md., March 30, 1880 (Kirkwood) ; Law- renceville, N. J., M9.rch 14, 1889 (Phillips); Rockland, Me., April 26, 1886 (Norris); Wheatland, Ind., March 14, 1882 (Ridgway); and at Vermilion, S. Dak., April 21, 1884 (Agersbprg). The average date of the last woodcfepk seen at Ottawa, Ontario, is October 19, latest October 23, 1885 (White); average southern On- tario October 2,1, latest NoveiJaber 6, 1889; usually leave Montreal, Canada, about October 20, but were seen in 1880 to December 16 (Wintle); St. John, New Brunswick, average date of the last seen November 10, latest November 13, 1888 (Banks); Halifax, Nova Scotia, average November 6, latest December 4, 1895 (Piers) ; south- western Maine, average of nine years October 22, latest November 23, 1900. European Snipe. GalKnago gallinago (Linn.). The European snipe is an Old World species breeding in Iceland' and throughout northern Europe and Siberia and south to the Alps, southern Russia, and Turkestan. It winters south to northern Africa and to China, Formosa, and the Philippines. It has been taken twice in the Bermudas — December 24 and 29, 1847 (Reidy, and three times in Greenland — at Nanortalik, September 6, 1840; at Fiskenaes, October, 1845, both on the west coast of Greenland (Winge); and the third instance was May 29, 1902, at Angmagsalik, on the eastern coast (Helms). A specimen in the British Museum is marked as having come from Canada, but nothing is known of its history. Wilson Snipe. Gallinago delicata (Ord). Breeding range. — The northern limit of the breeding range of the Wilson snipe extends from Newfoundland (Reeks) and northern Ungava (near Fort Chimo; Turner) to northern Mackenzie (Dease River; Hanbury) and (Fort Anderson; MacFarlane), northern Yu- kon (La Pierre House; Catalogue United States National Museum), and northwestern Alaska (Kowak River; Grinnell), apparently fol- lowing closely the limit of trees. Snipe have been noted a few times on the west coast of Greenland (Winge), but there is nothing to prove that they breed in that country. The species breeds south to New Jersey (Trenton; Abbott), northern Indiana (Davis Station; Deane), northern Illinois (Waukegon; Nelson), northern Iowa; (Union Slough, Kossuth County; Anderson), southern Colorado (San Juan County; Drew), northern Nevada (Ridgway), and north- ern California (Eagle Ijake; catalogue egg collection. United States National Museum). 24 NORTH AMEBICAN SHOREBIEDS. Winter range. — During the winter season some Wilson snipe leave the United States and pass even to northern Soiith America, on the east side to Rio Janeiro (Pelzelri) and on the west to Medellin, Colom.- bia (Sclater and Salvin). A few winter in the Lesser Antilles and many in Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas. The species is common in Mexico and Guatemala; less common in the remainder of Central America. A large part of the species winters in the southern United States, where it was formerly enornjously abundant. No exact limit can be given to the northern range in winter^ The Wilson snipe can not live where the_^ground is frozen. Hence the normal northern winter limit would *'extend from North Carolina through Arkansas to New Mexico and on the Pacific slope to northern Cali- fornia. But many snipe pass the winter much north of the zone of frozen ground, feeding about streams or springs. A few can be found almost every winter on Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Mackay), and a pair were seen during January and February, 1896, as far north even as Wolfville, Nova Scotia (Tufts). From the Mississippi Valley snipe are reported as winteiring north to northern Illinois and northern Nebraska (Bruner, Wolcott, and Swenk), while in the Rocky Moun- tains of Colorado at 8,000 feet near Sweetwater Lake, the presence of warm springs has enabled them to remain the entire winter, though the air temperature fell to — 30° F. (Gilmore). They have been known also to winter in northern Montana (Coubeaux) and ■northern Washington (Snyder).- A few snipe appear almost every fall in the Bermuda Islands (Jardine) and sometimes remain through the winter, though usually they are rare in spring. Spring migration. — ^A series of nearly twenty years of observations near Alexandria, Va., gives the average date of arrival as March 8, with the earliest February 17, 1897 (Greenwood); the species is most common the last week in March. The average date of arrival in central New Jersey is March 22, earliest March 4, 1877. Some other dates of arrival are: Central Connecticut, average March 23, earliest March 18, 1894; eastern Massachusetts, average April 2, earliest March 21, 1887; southwestern Maine, average April 27, earliest April 14, 1897; Scotch Lake, New Brunswick, earliest April 5, 1907 (Moore); Pictou, Nova Scotia, average April 19, earliest April 11, 1889 (Mackinlay); city of Quebec, average April 23, earhest April 18, 1899 (Dionne). The movements in the Mississippi Valley are at closely corre- sponding dates: Central Missouri, average date of arrival March 13, earliest February 17, 1897; Oherlin, Ohio, average March 28, earliest March 19-, 1897 (Jones); Chicago, 111., average April 3, earliest March 17, 1894 (Blackwelder) ; southern Michigan, average April 3, earliest March 21, 1893; southern Ontario, average April 15, earliest April 1, 1900; Ottawa, Ontario, average April 26, earliest April 12, 1902 ' ' WILSON SNIPE. 25 (White); Keokuk, Iowa, average March 23, eariiest March 13, 1900 (Currier); central Iowa, average March 22, earliest March 11, 1897; southern Wisconsin, average M^rch 30, earliest March 18, 1894; Heron Lake, Minn., average April 5, earliest April 1, 1888 (Miller) ; cen- tral South Dakota, average April 11, earliest April 7, 1890; Aweme, Manitoba, average April 24, earliest April 18, 1896 (Criddle); central Montana, average April 4, earliest March 27, 1894; Eathdrum, Idaho, average April 14, earliest April 8, 1899 (Danby); Okanagan Landing, British Columbia, April 8, 1907 (Brooks); Bulyea, Alberta, April 27, 1904 (Huck); near Fort Providence, Mackenzie, May 2, 1904, and May 1, 1905 (Jones); Fort Simpson, Mackenzie, May 10, 1904 (Preble); Nushagak, Alaska, April 25, 1882 (McKay); Fort Reliance, Yukon, May 2 (Sharpe); Fort Kenai, Alaska, May 5, 1869 (Bischoff ) ; Nulato, Alaska, May 2 1 , 1868 (Dall) ; Kowak Eiver, Alaska, May 22, 1899 (Grinnell). In southern Louisiana the average date of departure is April 19, latest April 30, 1887; Raleigh, N. C, average April 26, latest April 28, 1898 (Briihley); central Nebraska; average April 27, latest May 18, 1899; Chicago, 111., average May 4, latest May 6, 1904 (Dear- bom); Oberlin, Ohio, average May 5, latest May 16, 1904 (Jones). Some late dates of the last seen arS : San Jose, Costa Rica, February 16, 1890 (Cherrie); Gainesville, Fla., April 15, 1887 (Chapman); Lake ElUs, N. C, May 9, 1906 (Brimley); Washington, D. C, May 4, 1900 (Preble); Bay St. Louisy Miss., May 10, 1902 (AlMson); Dal- las, Tex., May 1, 1898 (Mayer); Long Pine, Nebr., May 18, 1899 (Bates) . Eggs have been taken at Meadville, Pa., May 13, 1875 (Huidekoper) ; young about two days old at Trenton, N. J., May 26, 1876 (Abbott) ; eggs at Branchport, N. Y., May 20, 1896 (Stone); near Waukegan, 111,, April 24, 1896 (Deane) ; Davis Statipn, Ind., April^ 24, 1898 (Deane); Pewaukee, Wis., May 12, 1871 (Goss); Elk River, Minn., May 24, 1884 (Bailey) ; Miimeapolis, Minn., May 14, 1887 (Cantwell) ; American Fork, Utah, April 29 (Johnson); Fort Klamath, Oreg., May 20, 1883 (Bendire); Yukon River, Alaska, May 28, 1861; Fort Resolution, Mackenzie, May 30, 1864 (Lockhart); Shumagin Islands, Alaska, June, 1895 (Call). Few of the shorebirds' suffer so much from spring shooting as the Wilson snipe. All winter long in the swamps of the southern States it is persecuted by hunters, and as it moves northward it meets a fusillade throughout its whole course. In the central parts of the South shooting is at its height early in March, and just south of the breeding range the bulk of the birds pass early in April. Fall migration.— July birds south of the breeding grounds are very rare, though they have been noted at Bay St. Louis, Miss., on the very early date of July 29, 1901 (Allison). Some dates of Arrival 26 NOBTa AMEBICAN SHOBBBIEDS. in the fall are: Washington, D. C, August 30, 1894 (Kichmond); Frogmore, S. C, September 16, 1885 (Hoxie); northern Florida, average September 26, earliest geptember 20, 1904 (Williams); southern Louisiana, average August 29, earliest August 25, 1901 (Ballowe) ;. Lincoln, Nebr., August 7, 1900 (Wolcott); San Bernar- dino Eiver, Sonora, August 19, 1893 (Mearns); San Jose del Cabo, Lower California, August 28, 1887 (Brewster); San Jose, Costa Rica, October 9, 1889 (Cherri6;) Bermudas, September 13 (Reid); Bar- bados, West Indies, October 11, 1886 (lif aiming). The hunter near Newport, R. I., secured scarcely a third as many, snipe in the fall as in the spring — 466 birds in the eight years; earliest July 30, 1870, latest November 14, 1871. The average dates were August 19 to October 27 (Sturtevant). Some dates of the last seen are: Near Jasper House, Alberta, September 13, 1896 (Loring) ; Aweme, Manitoba, average October 11, latest November 7, 1907 (Criddle); Lanesboro, Mimi., October 31, 1887 (Hvoslef); Keokuk, Iowa, average November 23, latest November 28, 1889 (Currier); Oberhn, Ohio,; latest November 22, 1890 (Jones); Ottawa, Ontario, average November 2, latest Novein- ber 18, 1900 (White); Chicago, 111., average Oct«ber 31, latest November 13, 1885 (Holmes); vSt. John, New Brunswick, November 5, 1889 (Banks); Halifax, Nova Scotia,; average November 23, latest December 3, 1894 (Piers); southwestern Maine, average Octo- ber 21, latest November 8, 1873; Montreal, Canada, average October 30, latest November 13, 1897 (Wintle). Great Snipe. GalUnago media (Latham). The great snipe is a species of wide distribution in the Eastern Hemisphere. Its breeding range extends from the Scandinavian Peninsula to the Yenisei River of Siberia and from Prussia north to at least 71° north latitude. The winter home is from the Mediterrdr. nean to South Africa, and during its migration the species occurs from Great Britain to Persia. The only record for the Western Hemisphere is that of a skin pre- sented by the Hudson's Bay Company to the British Museum (Sharpe). There is no reason for doubting that the specimen was taken in Canada, but no definite locality can be assigned. Sowitcher. Macrorhamphus griseus (Gmel.). Breeding range. — The nest and eggs of the dowit(|her are not yet known to science, nor has the species been seen in sumnier at any place where it was probably breeding. The dowitcher is a common migrant on the coasts of New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, and in fall is sometimes very abundant. Farther north its numbers decrease: New Hampshire, tolerably common in fall, no spring records; Maine, tolerably common spring and fall; Quebec, rare migrant; New Brunswick, no records; Nova Scotia, DOWIXCHEB. 27 once (Sharpe); Prince Edward Island, once; Ungava, a few in August, 1860, at Henley Harbor .(Goues), one June 10, 1863, at Fort Chimo (Turner). North of Ungava, the only record is that of a single accidental occiurence at Fiskenaes, Greenland (Reinhardt). Evidently the dowitcher does not breed in any numbers on the eastern coast of Ungava. The probability that it does not breed there at all is strengthened by the fact that several first class observers, who during the fall migration were in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, did not see any of the birds. It imdoubtedly does not go into north- eastern Keewatin and the islands of the Produce of Franklin, for it is not reported by the various expeditions that have traveled and wintered in those districts, while the specimens taken on the west coast of Hudson Bay belong to the form called scolopaceus. The only district left for the breeding ground is the interior of Ungava and the eastern shore of Hudson Bay. Winter range. — The dowitcher ranges south in winter through the West Indies to the northern coast of South America and to the Amazon River (Sharpe). It remains at least as far north as northern Florida (Worthington) and probably a few as far west on the Gulf coast as Louisiana. Spring migration. — :The first one seen in 1890 at Darien, Ga., was on March 20 (Worthington); the average date of arrival on the southern coast of South Carolina is March 23, earliest March 17, 1885 (Hoxie); central North Carolina, average April 30; I'ea and Bodie Islands, North Carolina, April 27, 1905 (Bishop); Long Beach, New Jersey, May 13, 1877 (Scott). The species is rare west of the Allegheny Moimtains, but a few specimens have been reported: Near Chicago, 111., May 6, 1893 (Woodruff); Toronto, Ontario, not common May 16-31. This last locality seems to be about as ifar west as the dowitcher occurs regu- larly, though formerly it probably ranged west to Lake Michigan. The species is not imcommon on the coast of Florida throughout the summer, but the individuals remaining so far south do not assume the breeding plumage (Scott). Migrants are common in Florida until the last week in May, and on the coast farther north the last leave for the breeding groimds about the first of June (Scott). Fall migration. — The first migrants appear on the New England coast early in July: Edgartown, Mass., July 4, 1891 (Worth); near Newport, R. I., July 7, 1871 (Sturtevant) ; Long Beach, New Jersey, July 6, 1877 (Scott); Bone Island, Virginia, July 14, 1880 (Ridgway); Erie, Pa., July 19, 1892 (Todd); Pea and Bodie islands. North Caro- lina,' July 7, 1904 (Bishop); Barbados, West Indies, August 24, 1888 (Feilden). A market hunter near Newport, R. I., shot 1,058 dowifch- ers during 1867-1874— extreme dates July 7, 1871, and October 20, 1870. and average date of arrival July 17 (Sturtevant). Some dates 28 NORTH AMEBICAN SHOREBIEDS. of the last seen are: Henley Harbor, Ungava, August 21, 1860 (Coues); Montreal, Canada, Septismbei^ 27, 1892 migra- tion it has been recorded from Cuba (Gundkch), Porto Rico (Gund- lach), Grenada (Wells), Carriacou (Wells), and Trinidad islands, (Leotaud); ■' ' , ■ , ; A migration also takes place westward to the Pacific coast; * Though the species is not known to breed within several hundred miles of the Rocky Mbuntatins,' yet it has been noted on tl\e coast of southern Alaska (Osgood) nearly a thousand miles west of thfe nearest breeding grounds. This species therefore presents the unicjue spectacle of a' bird breeding in the middle of the American continent and migrsltin:^ PACIFIC GODWIT. ' 51- directly east and directly west to the ocean coasts. A wanderer was taken at Point Barrow, Alaska, August 26, 1897 (Stone), and several specimens have been taken on Hudson Bay (Preble). Individuals probably sometimes winter in Calif omiaj as one was taken at Hum- boldt Bay, December 7, 1885 (Townsend), and at Lake Elsinore, February, 1902 (Nordhoff). Spring m/igration. — ^The marbled godwit is among the earlier migrants of the shorebirds; it reaches central Illinois in early April (Griffin); Heron Lake, Minnesota, average April 12, earliest April 8, 1889 (Miller); Lincoln, Niebr., April 18; 1899 (Wolcott); Loveland, Colo., dverage April 27, earliest April 20, 1887 (Smith); Shoalwater Bay, Washington, April 13, 1854 (Cooper); southern Manitoba, average May 1, earliest April 29, 1901 (Wemyss); southern Sas- katchewan, average May 3, earliest' April 16, 1907 (Lang). Nearly all of the few spring records on the Atlantic coast are in May. Eggs have been found at Oakland Valley, Iowa; April 20, 1878 (Rice); Winnebago,' lowft. May 6, 1871 (KJider); Miner County, S. Dak., May 16, 1892 (Patton); Minnewaukari, N. Dak., May 22, 1892 (Rolfe); in Grant County; Minn., May 24, 1876 (Sennett); and in southern Saskatchewan, May29, 1905 (Bent). The birds and their young were common June 8, 1820, near the mouth of the Loup Fork of the Platte, Nebraska (Say). Fall mi^miion.-^The return movement begins in July, since migrants have been taken at Ugashik, Alaska, July' 16, 1881 (Osgood), on the New Jersey coast late in the month (Stone), and on Pea and Bodie islands. North Carolina, July 11, 1904 (Bishop). A gunner who shot for the market near Newport, R. I., obtained only 26 of these godwits during eight seasons,' the extreme dates ranging from August 6, 1873, to October 2, 1868 (Sturtevant). The latest dkte in Colorado is October 1, 1874 (Henshaw); Pacific Godwit. Limosa Idpponica hauepi Ijraum. The principal breeding range of the Pacific godwit is in northeastern Siberia, but a few individuals cross to Alaska and breed from Un- alaska (Dall) to Kotzebue Sound (Grinnell). After the . breeding season some wander northward to Point Barrow (Murdoch), They anive on their breediiig grounds early in May (Nelspn), and are among the earliest of the waders to begin the fall, migration (Nelson). The latest bne seen at Point Barrow; .was August 18 (Murdoch), and early in September the last have left North America. The migration route passes through the Pribilof Islands, Commander Islands, Japan, China, arid the Philippines. The winter horiie is in Australia, New Zealand, the Malay Archipelago, and many of the islands pf Oceania. The Pacific godwit has been noted, several times in the Hawaiian Islands (Bryan), and a straggjier was once taken at La, Paz, Lower California (Beldirig). 52 NOBTH AMEBICAN SHOBEBIBDS. Hudsonlan Godwit. Lirnosa hxmastica (Xilixn.). Breeding range.^-The eggs of the Hudao'nian godwit are ■ known only from the Anderson River region of northwestern Mackenzie (Mac- Farlane), but since Edward A. Preble, of the Biological Survey, found the species common in July and August on the wcist coast of Hudson Bay, probably it breeds also not far north of ithis, region. The breed- ing range, is probably the Barren Crtounds from the moutli of the Mackenzie to Hudson' Bgjy.. t ' ■ ,■ , . Winter range. — The species winters in Argentina and Chile south to Chiloei Island (Sclater and Salvin) on the west coast and to the Strait of, Magella,n- (Sharpe) and'.the Falkland Islands (Abbott). But it is rare in eastern Patagonia south of the: Chubut River (Dum- ford), which is just opposite the southern limit on the western coast. Migration range.- — The imig^-ation route between the winter and summer homes is not known. In fall migration the speoies appears rarely on the coast of Maine (Boardman) and more commonly in Massachusetts (Howe and Allen), Rhode Island, (Sturtevant), and Long Island (Dutcher) . : Whither" the birds go when, they leave Long Island is as yet unknown, On the rest of the coast of the United States the species is known only as a very rare straggler. One acci- dental occurrence in Cuba (Gundlach) is the only record for the Greater Antilles, and in the Lesser Antilles it is known only from the extreme eastern end, on Barbados (Feilden) and Trinidad (Leotaud). It occurs on the coast of British Guiana (Quelch) and in the interior of Brazil (Pelzeln). > •.'>•■ The species seems not to be recorded: in spring anywhere on the Atlantic I coast between Argentina and Long Island, with the excep- tion of a single pair seen May 8, 1906, near Rehobothj Del. (Pennoek); The very few records, on Long Island (Sharpe) and in New England (Howe and Allen) during the spring indicate tha;t at this season it is only a straggler along the Atlantic. It passes in spring migration up the Mississippi Valley, entering the United States through Louisi- ana (Beyer) and Texas (Sharpe) and passing north principally along the eastern e^ge of the plains. The rnigration route between Argenr tina and Texas is tmknpwB, for there is not a single spring record in the whole distance, and records at any time in the year are limited, to one on the coast of Peru, November 9, 1883 (MacFarlane) ; one in Cuba, ncj date specified .(Gundlach) ; ,^nd very doubtful records for Colombia (Burger) and Costa Rica (Zeledon). From the above very meager data, it seems probable that the Hudsonian godwit has a migration route similar to that of the golden plover, with this important difference — that whereas the golden plover first goes eastward from its breeding grounds to. the coast of Labrador and crossing the Gulf of St. Lawrence strikes out to sea from Nova Scotia, the Hudsonian godwit starts in a south' BtAOK-TAILED 6ODWIT. 53 easterly eourse! to and down the western shore of Hudson Bay and keeps much this same course overland to the coast of New England. Thence it goes directly across the ocean to the Lesser Antilles and British Guiana, and lastly south and southwest through central Brazil to the pampas of Argentina, and to the coast of central Chile. Judging by analogy from the golden plover, the, spring migration route of the Hudsonian godwit is from the pampas of northwestern Argentina directly to the coast of Texas, and almost in one flight. This species is rare west of the Rocky Mountains. The British Museum contains specimens said to haye been taken in California (Sharpe), but as this is the only record for the State it needs confir- mation. A f^w specimens have been taken in Alaska from the Kenai Peninsula (Osgood) to the Yukon mouth (Dall and Bannister), Nulato (Sharpe), and Point Barrow (Stone) on the north, but there is no evidence that the species breeds west of the Mackenzie Eiver. Though the Hudsonian godwit is now very rare on the New England coast, and has been since about 1886, yet previously it was so com- mon that a gunner near Newport, I^. I., records the shooting of 104 birds in the y-ears 1867-1874 (Sturtevant). Spring migration.— The species arrives on ^the coast of Texas in April (Sharpe) and has been recorded at La'^yrence, Kans., as early as April 19, 1873 (Snow); St. Louis, Mo.," April 19, 1872 (Hurter); in Grant County, Minn., April 25, 1876 (Sennett); Indian Head, Saskatchewan, May 11, 1892 (Macoun); Fort, Kenai, Alaska, May 5, 1869 (Bischoff). Specimens were taken on the Falkland Islands as late as May 20, 1860 (Abbott), and in Argentina to May 24 (Sharpe). The earliest eggs taken were on June 7, 1862, at Fort Anderson (Ma'cFarlane). ' " FaU migration. — A Biological' Survey party found the Hudsonian godwit already in souihward migration July 19, 1900, near York Factory, iCeewatin (Preble); it was noted July 29, 1869, on the coast of Ehode Island (Sturtevant); it arrives in August in the Lesser An- tilles (Le6ta,ud); in September in Brazil (Pelzeln); and by early November has appeared at the extreme southern limit of the range (Durnf or^) . It' is probably the arrival of young birds, that is recorded at Barbados (Feilden) in October, with October 7 as the average of three years and^Octpber 5, 1886, as the paEliest. The last seen near Cape Churchill, Hudson Bay, in 1900, was on August 24 (Preble); Toronto, Ontario, October 20, 1890 (Flem,ing); Montreal, Cahada,October 11, 1895 (Wintle); Rhode Island, October 13, 1873 (Sturtevant), and Massachusetts, 'November 3 (Howe a,nd Allen). Black-tailed Godwit. Limosa limosa (Linn.). The black-tailed godwit is confined to the Eastern Hemisphere, breeding in Iceland, and from Holland and southern Russia north to the Arctic Circle and east to tvesterii Siberia. It winters in southern 54 NOETH AMEBIGAN SHOBBBIBDS. E|iirope and south to Abyssinia. A specimen was taken about 1830 near Godthaab, ,Greenla,nd (Ileinhard), and there are other Jess cer- tain records of its occurrence in that country, i Green-shank. Glottis nebuldria (Gunn.). The green-shank has a very wide range in the Eastern Hemisphere. It breeds in Scotland) northern Scandinavia, and east to northern Siberia; it migrates along the coasts of both Europe and Asia, even to Japan and the Commander Islands; it winters from southern Europe and India to southern Africa and Australia. The only record for the United States is that of three specimens taken by Audubon, May 28, ' 1832, on Sand Key, near Cape Sable, Florida. The species has dlso been recorded as an accidental yisitant to Chile (Schlegel) and Buenos Aires, Argentina (Seebohm). Common Red-shank. Totanus totanus (Linii.). The common red-shank is scarcely entitled to a place among North American birds. Its claim rests only on the description by Swainson and Richardson of a specimen from Hudson Bay which theysaid existed in the British Museum. ; ; The confimon red-shank is awell-kBown species of Europe and Asia, where it breeds from Iceland and the Faroe Islands to southern Siberia and Turkestan and south to northern Africa. It wintprs in southern Europe, throughout most of Africa, and in Asia south to India and the Malay Archipelago. • Greater Yellcw-legs. Totanus melanoleucus (GmeJ.). Breeding range. — ^Knowledge of, the summer home of the grep,ter yellow-legs is much lacking in definiteness. One of the best known facts is that the bird'cloes not go far north, since it is one of the. few species of the family not found on the Arctic coast, nor even to the Arctip Circle. The most northern records are: Near Fort Chimo, Ungava (Turner) ; accidental once at Cumberland Sound (Kumlien) ; on the west shore of Hudson Bay tp about Ca,pe Eskimo (Preble); Fort Simpson, Mackenzie, (Ross) ; and |to Kupreanof Island (Osgood), Lake Iliamna (Osgood), arid St. Paul Island (Scale)— all in Alaska. The southern limit of the breeding range is more difl&cult to deter- mine, since the mere presence pf the bird in summer is not sufficient proof that it is breeding. Individuals are found during every montt of the year in the West Indie's, Bahamas, , Florida, Texas (Sennett), and California (Grinnell), but it is not probable that, the species breeds in any of these localities. Eggs have been taten in British Columbia at Fort George and Fort St. James (specimens in United States l^ational Museum), and three sets on June 3 and June 13, 1911, in Newfoundland (Arnold). The bird probably breeds in British Columbia as far south as Clinton (Rhoads),, and eastward across Canada, north of about the fiftieth parallel of latitude. Winter range.— Th^ greater yellow-legs winters to the southern end of the mauiland of South America. To the north it occurs on both coasts and. in Central America, Mexico, and' the West Indies, to. the coast of GREATER YELLOW-LEGS-' 55 Georgia , (Helme) — occasionally to North Carolina (Bishop)— Loui- siana (Edwards), Texas (Merrill) ,: and California. In this latter State itl^inters on the coast north at least to Los Angeles County (Grinnell), and in the in,teri6r to Owen Lake (Msher). [Spring migration. — Thei advance begins in March, and the first reach Raleigh, N. C, on the. average April 3, earliest March 22, 1893 (Brimley) ■ Long. Island, New York, average April 22, earliest April 17, 1896 ((Worthington); eastern Massachusetts, average April 26, earliest April 22, 1893' ^(Browne); southern Maine, average May 9, earliest April 26, .1896 (Morrell); city of Quebec, Canada, average April 30, earliest April 18, 1903 (Dionne); Point de Monts, Quebec, average May 5, earliest April 26; 1885 (Comeau). Lake Mistassini, Quebec, Ma,y 7, 1885 (Macouii)i Some other early dates along the Atlantic coast are: Patapsco Marsh, Maryland,' March^ 26, 1875 (Kirk- wood); Carlisle, Pa., March 19, 1844 (Baird); Westport' Harbor, Massaichusetts, March 10,. 1899 (Howe and Sturtevant) . The average date of arrival in central Illinois is 'April 6, earliest March 22, 1890 (Brown); Chicago, 111., average April 24, earliest April 14, 1895 (Blackwfelder) ; Oberlta, Ohio, average April 18, earliest April 12, 1905 (Jones); southern Michigah/ average April 27 j earliest April 24, 1897 (Hankinson); southern: Ontario, average April 28, earliest April 13, 1896 (Taverner); Otta,wa, Ontario, average May 9, earliest April 28, 1905 (White) ; Keokuk; 1 Iowa, average April 14, earliest March 26, 1893- (Currier); Elk Riveri Minn., average April 21, earliest April 17, 1886 (Bailey) ; Aweme, Manitoba, average May 4, earliest April 30, 1902 (Criddle); Kansas City, Mo., March 9, 1903' (Bryant); Manhat- tan, Kans., March 11, 1883 (Lantz); Lincoln, Nebr., April 10, 1899 (Wolcott).;;Fort Lyon, iColo;, March 28, 1886 (Thorne); Loveland, Colo., March 26, 1890 (Smith); Cheyenne, Wyo., April 11, 1888 (Bond) ; Great Falls, ,M;ont„ April 17, ;1892 (Williams) ;. Eathdrym, Idaho, ,4pril 20, 1901 .(Danby^.; Fort Simpson, Mackenzie, May 23, 1860 (Ross), |i{Iay 16, 1904 (Preble),;' Chilliwaqk,, British Columbia, March 28, 1888- and 1889 (Brool^s); Fort Kenai, Alaska, May 6, 1869 (Bischoff). ' ; Those individuals that! are to breed, leave, the United States by the first weeisi in June. The, species is common in Chile and Argentina through the winter an,d to early April, when most leaye for the north, but some remain the whple summer. jn Argentina (Holland), 6,000 miles south pf the breeding r^ng§. ,, ,,.;,. Eggs have been taken at Fort St. James, British Columbia, May 31, 1889 (MacFarlane), and at Fort George,, British Columbia, May 20, 1890 (specimens in United States National Museum). The earliest downy young noied in 1901 in the baribou district, British Colppabia,, were seen on June 1 5 (Brooks). , .^ ,. , , , j, , ,, 'Fall migration^— 'Ha.Tdly six" ^fi^eeks elapse between jtne passage of the last northwai-d-bound 'nai^'rants on Long Island, New York, 56 NORTH AMERICAN SHOREBIRDS. and the appearance of the first fall migrants; on the average the last in spring pass May 28, latest June 14, 1901 (Scott)', while the average date of fall arrival is July 19, earliest July 10, 1887 (Scott). The larger flights there do not come until August, and the species is most common in S^fiteirtber and October. Formerly this was one of the cormnon species of shorebirds and one much sought by gunners. A hunter near Newport, K. I., shot 1,362 greater yellow-legs in the eight seasons 1867-1874, on dates ranging from July 20, 1870, to November 4, 1870; his highest score, 419 birds^ was in 1873, from August 19 to October 19. Dates of fall arrival are: Granville, Wash., July 7, 1897 (Young); Utah Lake, Utah, July 26, 1872 (Henshaw); Aweme, Manitoba, average July 29, earhest July 27, 1901 (Griddle); Lipscomb, Tex. , one June 29, common July 8, 1 903 (Howell) ; Pacheco, Chihuahua, July 30, 1905 (Brown); Toronto, Ontario, July 28, 1891 (Nash); GulHngham Cove, Ungava, July 31, 1891 (Norton); Anti- costi Island, July 8, 1881 (Brewster); Erie, Pa., July 28, 1896 (Todd); Washington, D. C, July 24, 1890 (Kichmond); Bahama Islands, July 6, 1904 (Allen) ; Barbados, West Indies, July 25, 1886 (Manning) ; Bonaire Island, off the coast of Venezuela, July 21, 1892 (Hartert). Dates of the last seen are : Near Fort Churchill, Keewatin, August 8, 1900 (Preble); Hayes Run, Keewatin, August 30, 1900 (Preble); Oxford House, Keewatin, September 10, 1900 (Preble); Cumbeidand Sound, September 14, 1877 (Kumlien); near Fort Chimo) Ungava, September 19, 1882 (Turner); Portage, la Prairie, Manitoba, October 21, 1884 (Nash); ChiUiwack, British Columbia, November; 17, 1888, (Brooks) , November 21, 1889 (Brooks) ; Long Island, New York, aver- age November 5, latest November 20, 1901 (Scott). The late dates of departure explain the name winter yellow4egs for this species. Yellow-legs. Totanua flavipes (Gmel.). Breeding range.^-The principal summer home of the yellow-legs is the Barren Grounds and neighboring regions to the southward. ' The species ranges north to southern Ungava (Selwyn), central Keewatin (Preble), and nearly to the Arctic coast in northerii Mackenzie (Mac- Farlane). It breeds north to Kotzebue Sound (Townsend) and Fort Yukon (Dall and Bannister), but apparently does not occur on the northern coast of Alaska. The southern hmit of the breeding range is imperfectly known; the species breeds in Yukon at least south to Lake Marsh (Bishop), and in the interior probably to southern Alberta (Macoun), southern Saskatchewan (Macoun), and northerti Quebec (Ma'cotm). Winter range.— The yellow-legs passes south in winter to the Strait of Magiellan (Gay) and occurs at this season quite generally over the soiithern hklf of South America, and even in the mountains up to 10,000 feet (Sclater). Winter records north of this region are few, and probably only a comparatively small number regularly winter Bui. 35, Biological Survey, U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. Plate I. Yellow-legs (Totanus flavipes). TBLLOW-LBGS. ' 57 north of South America. A few ■winter in southern Mexico, as far north as Cozumel Island (Sharpe) and La Barca, Jahsco (Goldman) ; a few are noted occasionally in Louisiana (Beyer) and in Florida in winter (Pillsbury), and the species occui;s riarely in the Bahamas at this season (Bonhote). . , , > Migration rcmgei— The yellow-legs is common on the Atlantic coast in fall and many pass through the Lesser Antilles J In this latter region it is practically unknown in spring, and^it is rare in spring migration on the Atlantic coast north of Long Island, New York. These facts would seem to indicate that some yellow-legs pursue diffterent migratibn routes in fall and spring. The species is a common migrant in the Mississippi Valley both spring and fal, and hence probably most of i those thkt.go south through the Lesser Antilles return in spring to their breeding grounds by way of the Mississippi Valley. The sptecies is not common on the Atlantic coast north of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, though one was taken October 8, 1882, near Fort Chimo, Ungava (Turner), and two have been taken in southern Greenland (Winge). The yellow-lega is rarely seen west of the Kocky Mountains, but a few occur along the coast from northern Alaska (Grinnell) to southern Lower Cahfomia (Brewster). > One was taken June 11, 1890, on St. Paul Island (Pahner) . Spring migration. — The following dates show the usual time at which the yellow-legs arrives in its northward migration : Northern Texas, average March 26, earliest March 22, 1899 (Mayer); central Missouri, average April 14, earhest April 9, 1903 (Bryant); Keokuk, Iowa, avera;ge April 16, earhest Miatch 11, 1894 (Currier); central Nebraska, average April 28, earhest March 27, 1900 (Wolcott); Chicago, 111., average April 23,' earhest April 15, 1899 (Gault); Oberhn, Ohio, average April '^8, earhest April 23, 1904 (Jones); Raleigh, N. C, average April 1, earhest March 25, 1893 (Brimley). The fol- lowing are dates of occurrence somewhat earher than the average: Cumberland, Ga., March 12, 1902 (Helme); Washington, D.C.-, March 12, 1906 (Greten); Havre de Grace, Md., March 15, 1895 (Kirk- wood); near Newport, R. I., April 28, 1902 (King); Godbbut, Que- bec, May 5, 1888 (Comeau); San Antonio, Tex., March 20, 1903 (Nor- ton); Bay 'St. Louis, Miss., March' 13, 1902 (Allison); Sioiix City, Iowa, March 11, 1864 (Feihier); southern Ohio, March i8, 1901 (Henninger); Lanesboro, Minn., April 7, 1890 (Hvoslef); Fort Lyon, Colo., Mfctch 30, 1886 (Thome); Indian Head, Saskatchewan, April 25, 1892 (Macoun); Edmonton, Alberta, May 1, 1901 (Preble); Fort Rehan'ce, Yukon, May 3 (Nelson); Fort Resolution, Mackenzie, May 5, 1860 (Kennicott); Willow Jiiver, Mackenzie, May 9^.1904 (Mills and Jones); Fort Rehance, Mackenzie, May 13, 1834 (Back); Fort 58 NOBTH AMERICAN SHOBEBIKDS. Franklin, Mackenzie, May 16, 1826 (Richardson)'; Fort Anderson, Mackenzie, May, 27, 1865 (MacFarl«ine). The ;f^eillow-legs is thus about the earliest shorelflrd to reach high northern latitudes. Eggs were taken at Fort Resolution June 1, 1860 (Kennicott); near Fort Anderson, June 15, 1S63, June 20, 1864, and June 16, 1865 (MacFarlane) ; and downy young July 1, :1899, at Lake Marsh, Yukon (Bishop). ; i;;. , .li; - , ■ ,1 Fall migrra^-ioTi.— rLike so many other waders, the yellow4egs begins its southward, journey early in July, so. early indeed, that- migrants have appeared on the Bermudas by July 13, (Raid). Other dates of fall arrival are: Chilliwack, British Columbia, July 25, 1889 (Brooks); Fort Lyon, Colo., July ,23, 1884 (Thorne); Aweme, Manitoba, July 26, 1901, (Criddle); Toronto, Ontario, i July . 18, : 1891 (Nash); near Chicago, III., July 3,. 1893 (IDlunn)} ^abundant by July 25 (Parker); Long Island, New York, July 14, 1887 (Scott), July 9, 1905 (Lathain); Long Beach, New Jersey, July 9, 1877 (Scott) ;< James Island, Florida, July 20,, 1901 (Williams); Key West, Fla., July 16, 1888 (Scott); Inagua, Bahamas, July 28, 1891 (Cory); Jamaica, August 2, 1891 (Field); the average date of arrival in the Lesser Antilles is about July 25, earliest July 4, 1888 (Feilden) ; Santo Domingo, Venezuela, July 24, 1903'(Briceno); Fortin Pagej Argentina, September 13, 1890 (Kerr)., The yellowJegs ' is one of. the earliest birds to migrate im fall, and the greater number have left the breeding grounds by the latter part of August. A few] linger quite late, as shown by the fol- lowing dates of tke last seen; Near Fort Chirno, Ungava, October 8, 1882 (Turner); Montreal, Canadja, iO. ther^ from the eastern form. The following stater p),epit of the winter range doubtless inpludes both forms, but it is not safe to cqnclude that the eastern form goes to eastern South America and the western form to the Pacific coast. It is known that the eastern form migrates to the Pacific coast of Mexico, and it is prob- able thaf thence southward the two forms commingle both in migra- tion and during the winter. The species as a, whole ranges south in winter to Buenos Aires, Argentina (Barrows) ; to paiza, in south- egstjern.Boliyia (Salvadori); and to Chorillos, central Peru (Tacza- nowski) . It occurs regularly also at ^his season in northern South Ajijerica to Guiana (Quelch), Venezuela (Berlepsch and Hartert), and Colombia (Salvin and Godman). North of South America it is not common anywhere in winter, and it may wt winter afc any of tjlie following, places, but it has been noted as late as December in Porto Rico (Bowdish), Costa Rica (Todd), Yucatan (Sharpe), Vera- cruz (Sharpe), and northern Lower California (Stephens).; Migration range.— A specimen was taken in Greenland August 1, 1878, at Kangek, latitude 64° (Hagerup); and one of the eastern forpti was taken October 28, at San Jos6 del Cabo, Lower California (Brewster) . . , , s Spring rrdgrqtion.—Th.e following records ip,clude both the eastern and western , forms : The species arrives in the southern United States in March; Tallahassee, Jla., March 25, ,1901; (Williams); Coosada, Ala., Ma.rch 28,. 1878 (Brown) ; Bay St. Louis, Miss., March 17, 1902 (Allison) ; New Orleans, La., average March 16, earliest March 5, 1900 (AUison); Boerne, Tex., March 25, 1880 (Brown); while some of the earhest records in California are at Los Angeles, April 21, 1897 ;(Grinnell),; and Gridley, April 23, 1891 (Belding). Further progress northward is decidedly slow, as shown by the i fol- lowing dates of arrival: Raleigh, N. C, average April 24, earliest April 4, 1889 (Brimley); near Asheville, N. C, average April 22, earliest .April 9, 1890 (Cairns); Washington, 1). C, average April 28, earliest April 25, 1900 (Preble); Englewood, N. J., average April 30, earliest April 28, 1900 (Lemmon) ; near New York City, average May 4, earliest April 30, 1899 (Thayer); Renovo, Pa., average May 4, earliest iMay 1, 1897 (Pierce); eastern, Massachusetts, average May 6, earliest May 2, 1891 (Long); southwestern Maine, average May 11, earliest April 28, 1903 (Swain) ; Petitcodiac, New Brunswick, May 14, 1887 (Willis); Pictou, Nova ,Scotia, Ma,y 7, 1894 (Hickman); Lake Mistassini, Quebec, May 23, 1885 (Macoun); central Iowa, average April 25, earliest April 10, 1899 (Savage) ; Chicago; 111., average April 23, earliest April 7, 1887 (Coale) ; Bloomington, Ind., average May 2, earliest April 23, 1903 (MoAtee); Oberiin, Ohio, average April 29, earliest April 18, 1909 (Jones); Ottawa, Ontario, average May 11, 6(i NORTH AMEEICAN SHOREBIKDS. earliest May 2, 1896 (White); southern Wiscdnsih, average May 6, eariiest Aprir 25, 1897 (Russel); Lanesboro, Minn., aveirage May 6, earliest April 24, 1888 (HtoSM),- near San' Antonio, Tex., average April 17, eariiest March 25,'1880 (Brown); central Kansas, avera;ge May 2, earliest April '23, 1885 (Kellogg); Haf- risburg, N. Dak., average May 5, eariiest May 3, 1904 (Eastgate); Aweme, Manitoba, average May 13, earliest May 9, 1906 (Griddle) ; Colorado Springs, Colo., May i; 1882 (Allen and Brewster); Terry, Mont., May 7, 1903, May 9, 1904 (Cameron); Athabaska Landing, Alberta, May 5, 1901 (Preble); Sandy Creek, Alberta, May 14, 1903 (Preble); Fort Pi'ovidence, Mackenzie, May 1'4, 1905 (Jbnes); Fort Simpsbn, Mackenzie, May 10, 1904 (Preble); Great Bfear Lake, May 14, 1826 (Richardson); Fort Steilacobm,'Wash., May 6,' 1856 (Suck- ley); Chilliwaekj Biiti^ Columbia, May 7, 1888 (Brooks); Nulato, Alaska, May 15, 1867, May 18,' 1868 (Dall); Kowak River, Alaska, May 18, 1899 (Grinnell). , One of the parties of the Biological Survey todk downy young June 23, 1903, at Charlie Creek, Alaska (Osgood); eggs are reported from central Alberta, June 24, 1908, June 15, 1908, June 1 and June 9, 1909 (Thayer ^and'AJnold)', and young in the nest were found June 19, 1908, at Stony Plain, Alberta (Stansell). Fall Tni^dtion.-^^&rlj dates in the fall ' south of the breeding range are: Washington, D. C, average July 21; earliest July 15, 1899 (Hb'well); Raleigh, N.-C, average July 25, earliest July 14, 1894 (Brimley); Key West, Fla., July 28,' 1888 (Scott); NewOrieans, La.; July 20, 1899 (Kopman); Kerrville, Tex.; July 20, 1903 (La'cey); Camp Apache, Ariz., July 29," 1873 (Henshaw); Bermudas, July 19, 1874 (Reid); St. Croix, West Indies, July 26; 1857 (Newton); San Jos6 dM Cabo, Lower California, August' '2 5, '1887 (Brewster); near Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 20; 1880 (Biarrows). Dates of the .last seen are: CMlliwack, British Columbia, Septem- ber 13, 1889 nd Japan, through- out Africa, and to- Ceyloii. It is supjiosed tjo have occurred at Hali- fax, Nova Scotia (Harting), and in the Hudson Bay Company's. territory (Nuttall), but the evidence is not conclusive. Wood Sandpiper. Rhyacophilu^ glarefxlp.(LiTm,,).i The wood sandpiper is one of thp best known of the Qld World sandpipers. It breeds over most of Europe and Asia from the valley of the Danube and northern China to the Arctic ppast. It .^^inters from the Mediterranean and India to southern Africa and the Malay Archipelago. The only record of the species in North America is that of a single specimen taken May 27, 1894, oh Sanak Island, Alaska (Littlejohn). Willet. Catoptrophorus semip(ilmatus l^pijnel.). . Sfreedingrapge.— The bjeieding range, of the willet on, the Atlantic coast h^sbjepojin^ mi^ch restricited of late yearsi Formerly it bred iiorth, commonly toj New Jersey (Giraud), and rarelj^ to Sable Island (eggs in TLJnited Stfl,tes; National -My^eum), Ya,rmouth (Bryant), and Halifax (Brewer), Nova Scotia. It still breeds, rather commonly on the islands off the coast pf. Virginia (Dutoher),. and a fev may breed in extrenie southern New Jersey, but probably at present no willets breed, b^twe,cin therp.andNoya Scotia, where in 1903 it was reported abundant at, Barrington ](Trotter). . It brpeds , along the souti; Atlantic .coast .to FJp;i4^ (Scott), in Louiaana (Bent), and throughout the Bahamas (Bonhpte) . • ,. Winter range. — On the. Pacific cpast ^tj migrates in winter to Sa,nta Lucia, southern Peru (Taczanowski), and on the Atlantic cpa,^t| to the Amazon JEliver .(Pelzeln) . It occurs alsp in winter in northern South America (Qu#h), the Lesser and the Greater Antilles, the, Bahamas (Bonhote), Florida (Wpjthington), an^ casually in South Carolina (Hoxie). , n ■" ■=. Spring migration.— the. miei st&,rts north m March. Some dates of spring arrival aire: Hog Islahii, Virginia, aiverage April 12, earliest April 7, 1888 (Doughty),- southern Nisw Jersey, ayerage April 19, earliest April 6, 1^77 (Scott); Erie, Pa., April 24, 1902 (Todd). The species has been recorded in migration to Newfoundland (Reeks), but it is not khown to brefed on that iskiid. Eggs have been taken iti the Bahamas' from May 15 (Cory) to July 6 (Allen); Sapelo Island, Georgia, April 22, 1888 (specimens m 62 NOETH AMEBICAN SHORBBIEDS. United States National Museum); Beaufort, N. C, May 8 (specimens in United States National Museum) ; Cobbs Island, Virginia, May 25, 1875 (Baily); Warner House, N. J., May 19, 1884 (Bellows); Madison, Conn., June 5, 1873 (Merriam); and on Sable Island in June (specimens in United States NaJ;ional Museum). FaU migration. — A gunner who shot for the market near. Ne\v:pqrt, R. I., obtiained 106 willets during eight seasons, 1867-1874, on datesj ranging from July 11, 1871, to September 19, 1869 (Sturtevant). One bird was seen July 2, 1902, at Sakonnejb, R. I.; (King), The, average date of arrival pf late years on Long Island, New Tork, has been August 13, earliest August 4, 1901 (Spptt). The last was seen at Plymouth, Mass., October 4, 1852 (Browne); Long Island, New York, September 24, 1905 (Latham); southern Ne\v^ Jersey, average September 9, latest October 17, 1885 (Crane); Hog Island, Virginia, November 1, 1886, and'October 27, 1887 (Doughty). Western. Willet. Catopirophorus semipalmatus inomatus (Brewst.). , Breeding range.-^The western willet breeds not uncommonly on the coast of Texas (Merrill), and fropa northern Iowa, (Berry), southern South Dakota (Cheney), and northern California (Beckwith; Christie), north to the southern portions of Manitoba (Thompson), Saskatchewan (Feriy), Alberta (Macoim), and to Central Oregon (Bendire). Winter range. — ^The western willet winters on the coasts of Loui- siana (Beyer) and Texas (Seniiett) and on the coast of California north to Humboldt Bay (Townsend). In winter it ranges south into Mexico (Nelson) and probably to southern Guatemala (Salvin). It also passes eastward and winters on thie Gulf coast of Florida (Scott). Spring migration. — Dates of spring arfivfi,! are: Stotesbury, Md., April 8, 1894 (Surber); Keokuk, Iowa, AprilSO, 1892 (Currier); Lanesboro, Minn., Apiril 26, 1879 (HvOslef); central Kansas, average April 30, earliest April 28, 1883 (Lantz) ; northern Nebraska, earliest May 5, 1893 (Bates) ; northern North Dakota, average May 3, earliest May 1, 1901 (Eastgate); Indian Head, Saskatchewan, May 6, 1892 (Macoun); northern Colorado, average May 1, earliest April 27, 1887 (Smith); Cheyeline, W^o., average M^y 4, earliest April '30, 1888 (Bond); Salt Lake City, Utah, April 28,, 1897 (Young) ; Lewis- ton, Mont..,>Iay 2, 1903 (Silloway); Red Deer, Alberta, May 12, 1892 (Farley); Halleck, Nev., May 5, 1871 (specimen in United States National Museum); Fort Klamath, Oreg., April 22, 1887 (Merrill). Eggs have been taken at Corpus Christi, Tex., May 17, 1882 (Goss) ; near Turtle Mountain, Manitoba, May 23, 1883 (Thompson); Oneida County, Idaho, May 21, 1879 (Anderson); near Beckwith, CaJif.,, May 28, 1891 (Christie) ; Camp Harney, Oreg., May 8, 1878 (Bendire): southern Saskatchewan, June 14, 1906 (Bent). i Thus the nesting; season is about thp same throughout the whole breeding range. WANDEKING TATTbERJ 63 FaU migration. — In fall ' the western Villet Svanders eastward far beyond, the breeding range, even to the Atlantic coast, as shown by the following records: Chicago, IlL, September 2, 1906 '('Armstong and Lawson); Miller, Ind., August 14, 1897 (Woodruff) ; Oberlin,Ohio, September ,17, 1906 (Jones) ; Toronto, Ontario, July 20, 1898 (Flem- ing); Stony CreekjGonri., August 15, 1897 (Bishop); Keokuk, Iowa, October 27, 1896 (Currier). A wanderer far north of the breeding range was taken at Victoria, British Columbia, August 18, 1898 (Fannin). Watndering Tattler. Heteractitis iricanus (Gmel.). The first information of the breeding range of the wandering tattler was obtained in 1904 by one of the parties of the Biological . Survey. A downy young was 'shot September 5 on Macmillan River in east central Yukon (Osgood). July 28, 1906, a pair were seen by Charles Sheldon near Mount McKinley, south central Alaska, under conditions that left Ho doubt that thtey were breeding in the imme- diate vicinity. It is not probable that the species breeds toy where south of Alaska, and yet it occurs in the Hawaiian Islands every month of the year (Hfenshaw); on the coast of California every month from March to October (Bryant), and has been taken July 2, 1900, on the island- of Guam,' and July 17, 1904, On the Philippine Islands (specimens in the United States National Museuni). The species' ranges north io Nulato, Alaska (Dall), where it is said by the natives to breed, and occurs about as far north on the Asiatic side of Bering Sea to Plover Bay (Bean), where it was ta;ken in fall migrsr tion. The wandering tattlei? winter^ in southern California, the Galapagos (Sharpe), the Hawaiian Islands (Henshaw), and throughout Oceania to the New Hebrides. In migration it occurs on the Cbmmander' Islands, along the whole western coast of North America from Mexico to Alaska, and has occurred inland, accidentally at Crater Lake,' Oreg. (Bendire), and on the eastern shorfe of' James Bay (Bell). Spring migration begins in March, bringing the birds to the coast of CaUfomia (Griimell) by the latter part of the month. The Aleu- tian Islands are reached the middle of May (Nelson), and the most northern' part of the range by the latter part of the month (Dall). On the coast of central California, nearly 2,000 miles south of the breedmg grounds, the first fall migrants appear with great regularity within a few days of the middle of July, and are common a few days later (Loomis). ;, A,t abojit , the same, timei,the birds return from the Ulterior of Alaska to the coast, and are common around Bering Sea for the next two months (Nelson). The last leave the northern part; of the range aboylj the .middle of September .(Nelson) and desert the , Aleutians a n^optb later (Bishop). i i uj g4 NOKTH AMERICAN SHOEEBIBDS. Buff. Machetes pwgnaa: (Linn.). I <'i Though an Old World species, the ruflf has been taken many times in the Western HemispheCe! at widelj^ separated localities as follows: One at Nanortalik, on the southwest coast of Greenland, (Fenokers);: Toronto, Ontario, spring of 1882(Seton); Ehglish Lake, Ind April 12, 1905 (Deane)i; a specimen in the Ohio State Uni- versity .coUection bears. the label, "Northern Canada, April 28, 1877" :(Dawson); Licking Reservoir^. Ohio/ November 10, 1872 (Wheaton); Columbus, Ohio, April 28, 1878 (Jones); Grand Manan, New Brunswick, no da]te (Boardman); Cole Harbor,, near Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 27, 1892 (Brewster); Upton, Me., September 8, 1874 (Brewster); Scarborough, Me., April 10,; 1870 (Smith); Cam- den, Me., September 14, 1900 (Thayer); Seabrook, N. H., Septem- ber 24, 1907 (Hardy) ; Newburyport, Mass., May 20, 1871 (Brew- ster); Chathamy Mass., September 12, 18§0,(Grinnell)!; Nantucket, Mass., July, 1901 (Palmer); near Sakonnet Point, Ehodei Island, July 30, 1900 (Hathaway) -Point Judith, Rlipde Island, August Sly 1903 (King); Long Island, Ne^^( Tork, one in f&U,, 1845 (La-wrence), one in October, 1851 (Lawrence), one.jn May 18, 1868 (Chapiilain!)!? another specimen geenas to have, been taken on Loiig Island, but the date is not repprded (DeKay); Barnegat, N- J-, no, date (Chapman); Four Mile Run, Va., September 3, 1894 (Palmer); Raleigh, N. C, May 6> 1892 (Brimley); Biarbadps Island, one before 1848 (Schom- burgk), and one in. 1878 (Feilden) ; one in "Spanish America, " which probably means near the: headwaters of the Rio Negro in northern South America (Pelzeln). It is thus seen that the ruff, has been taken in this hemisphere at least 27 times. ■ Seven pf the- specimens have no date recorded; 9 were secured in the spring between April 10 and May 27; the other 11 were taken in. the fall from July 30 tp November 10. As would be expected, most of the specimens are from near the Atlantic coast; only .5 occurred in the interior, the westernmost being the one at English Lake, Indiana. The breeding range pf the ruff is frpm Great Britain to central Siberia and nprth tp the Arctic coast, i The bird winters in^ Burma, India, and to the southern part of Africa. It has wandered east in Asia to Japan and the Commander Islands, but has not yet been de- tected on the western coast of America. . TTpland Plover. Battramia longicauda (Bechst.). Breeding range. — ^The upland or field plover, sometimes called the Bartramian sandpiper, is one of the few shorebirds that heSt commonly | in the Mississippi Valley. Early in the settlement of this region, much more than half the upland plovers probably nested within the boundaries of the United States. The center of abundance diifing the breeding season was the prairie regipn from Kansas to Manitpba, Bui. 35, Biological Survey, U. S Dept. of Agriculture. Plate 11. '■;^^ Upland Plover (Bartramia longicauda). UPLANO PLOVEE. 65 The numbers were not greatly diminished so long as this region was used for stock purposes, but recently the birds have rapidly decreased. At the present time the species breeds south to southern Oregon (Merrill); northern Utah (Ridgway); northern Colorado (Rockwell), central Oklahoma (Merrill), southern Missouri (Prior), southern Indiana (Butler), northern Virginia (Grinnan) and central Maryland (Miller). The summer range extends north to southern Maine (Norton), southern Ontario (Renfrew; Clarke), and southern Michi- gan (Wood). Then it bends far to the northward through central "Wisconsin (Kumlien and Hollister) to central Keewatin (Cape Eskimo; Preble), southern Mackenzie (Fort Smith; Preble), northern Yukon (M'Doiigall), and to the Kowak River in northwestern Alaska (Townsend). Stragglers are not unconunon in the Maritime Prov- inces and have occurred in Newfoundland (Reeks) and to Godbout, Quebec (Merriam). The species is not common east of Michigan nor west of«*the Rocky Mountains. Winter range. — ^The principal winter home is in Argentina (Sclater and Hudson) and probably no upland plovers occur at this season north of the pampas of South America. Migration range. — In fall this species passes through the Greater and the Lesser Antilles (Feilden), but in the Bahamas (Cory), Jamaica (March), and Porto Rico (Gundlach), it is so much rarer than farther east as to indicate that some iiidividuals reach the Lesser Antilles by direct flight across the ocean. It migrates also through the Gulf States and west to Sulphur Spring, Ariz. (Henshaw), west- em Mexico (Durango; Nelson), and locally in Central America and the northern parts of South America. There seem to be no spring records of migration in the West Indies east of Cuba, indicating that the individuals that go south through the Lesser Antilles return by way of Central America. Nor in spring migration is the species recorded west of central Mexico or west of the Rocky Mountains south of Utah. The only record for California is the single bird taken by Vernon Bailey of the Biological Survey at Tule Lake, August 8, 1896. Spring migration. — ^The upland plover arrives in Louisiana on the average earlier than in either Florida or Texas. This would seem to prove that it reaches Louisiana by direct flight across the gulf. The average date of arrival in southern Louisiana is March 14, while the date of arrival at the same latitude in Texas is March 28, and in Florida is early April. The earliest dates are: Bonham, Tex., March 5, 1887 (Peters); New Orleans, La., Ivlarch 9, 1895 (Beyer); and Tallahassee, Fla., March 25, 1901 (Williams). Other dates of arrival on the Atlantic slope are: Raleigh, N. C, average April 7, earliest March 28, 1896 (Brimley); Washington, D. C, March 21, 1896 (Richmond); Holland Patent, N. Y., average April 20, earliest 36595°— Bull. 35—12 5 66 NORTH AMERICAN SHOREBIRDS. April 14, 1896 (Williams); central Connecticut, average April 29, earliest April 16, 1896 (Jennings); southern New Hampshire, average April 30, earliest April 22, 1900 (Dearborn); Plymouth, Me., average May 3, earliest April 25, 1878 (Thome); central Vermont, average May 5, earliest April 30, 1887 (Goodwin); Godbouty Quebec, May 7, 1885 (Merriam). .. ' = i:^ Migration ' in the Mississippi Valley begins earlier than on the Atlantic coast and is earlier for corresponding latitudes all the way north to the Canadian boundary, as shown by the following dates of arrival: Odin, 111., average April 4, earliest March 30, 1895 (Vander- cock); Tampico, III., average April 11, earliest April 9, 1890 (Brown);: Chicago, 111., average April 16, earliest April 10, 1896 (Gault); Oberlin, Ohio, average April 14, earliest ■ March 22, 1904 (Jones); southern Michigan, average April 20, earliest April 8, 1895 (Alexander) ; central Iowa, average April 15, earliest April 3, 1893 (Ross); southern Wis- consin, average April 18, earliest April 10, 1853 1 (Stiles) ; Heron Lake, Minnesota, average April 24, earliest April 20, 1890 (Miller); Man- hattan, Kans., average April 14^> earliest' April 4, > 1882 (Lantz); Onaga, Kans., average AprU 14, earliest April 7, 1893 (Crevecoeur) ; southern Nebraska,' average April 17, earliest April 6, 1890 (Wilson); northern Nebraska, average April 18, earliest: April 7, 1903 (Colt); central South Dakota, average AprU 23, earliest April 19, 1886 (Cheney) ; Argusville,, N. Dak., average May 5, earliest April 26, 1894 (Edwards) ; Larimore, N. Dak., average May 5, earliest April 26, 1888 (Eastgate); Aweme, Manitoba, average May 3, earliest April 26, 1899 (Criddle) ; Lake Como, Wyoming, May 5, 1879 (Williston) ; Rathdrum, Idaho, average May 12, earliest April 27, 1901 (Danby); Columbia Falls, Mont., average May 12, earliest April 27, 1894 (Williams); Edmonton, Alberta, May 12, 1903 (Preble); Red Deter, Alberta^ May 13, 1892, May 11, 1893 (Farley); 150-mile House, British Columbia, May 16, 1901 (Brooks). In the winter home in Argentina the northern movement begins in February, and most birds are gone by the end ofMarch; a few stragT glers remain to April (Sclater and Hudson). The species passes through Peru in Marph and April (Sclater and Salvin) ; the last was seen at Piedra Blanca, Bolivia, April 23 (Allen) ; at Tonantins, Brazil, May 7, 1884 (Berlepsch); Cabanas, Cuba, May 22, 1900 (Palmer and Riley):; . Teopisca, Chiapas, May 7, 1904 (Goldman) ; and New Orleans/ La., May 19, 1894 (Allison). Eggs have been secured- at Lawrenceville, N. J., May 18, 1889 (Phillips);, Holland Patent, N. Y., May 21, 1886 (Williams); Marthas Vineyard, Mass., May 25, 1900 (Durfee); Cornwall, Vt., May 26, 1889 (Parkhill); PhUo, 111., May 4, 1900 (Hess) ; Winnebago, 111., May 10, 1864 (Tolman); near Dubuque, Iowa, May 14, 1865 (Blackbprn); Beatrice, ,Ne^r., May 16, 1895 (Pearse); near, Bryant, S. DaL, May 26, 1895 (Lee); Lewistown, Mont., May 25, 1904 (Silloway); Car- BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 67 berry, Manitoba, May 30, 1886 (Seton); southwestern Saskatchewan, May 29, 1905 (Bent). Fall migration. — Birds were observed at Lipscomb, Tex., July 10, 1903 (Howell), and as they do not breed in that locality, these were southbound migrants. Observers easily detect the call notes of the upland plover as it passes overhead in the darkness, and these calls are usually the first signs of the fall migration. The earliest notes in 1895 at Baltimore, Md., were heard July 3, 1895 (Kirkwood); at Washington, D. C, the first calls have been heard usually between July 10 and. July 16, while in 1896 the birds were seen July 7 (Rich- mond). The average date of arrival in southern Louisiana is July 23, earliest July 9, 1895 (Blakemore) ; Gainesville, Tex., July 13, 1885 (Ragsdale); Fort Lyon, Colo., July 12, 1886 (Thome); Sulphur Springs, Ariz., August 18, 1874 (Henshaw); Chapala, Jalisco, August 27 (Richardson); San Jose, Costa Rica, September 5, 1890 (Cherrie); Barbados, West Indies, August 12, 1886 (Manning); Cienega, Colom- bia, September 15, 1898 (Allen). In September they first appear on their passage through Peru (Sclater and Salvin), and are noted as arriv- ing at their winter home in Argentina (Sclater and Hudson). The last one was seen September 6, 1903, at Big Sandy, Mont. (Coubeaux) ; at Fort Lyon, Colo., September 2, 1886 (Thorne); near Cape Eskimo, Keewatin, August 13, 1900 (Preble); Aweme, Manitoba, average September 6, latest September 28, 1897 (Criddle) ; Onaga, Kans., aver- age September 14, latest October 15, 1896 (Crevecoeur) ; southern Iowa, average September 20, latest September 30,. 1896 (Savage); Livonia, Mich., September 18, 1891 (Alexander); Detroit, Mich., October 20, 1902 (Swales) ; Chicago, 111., average September 6, latest September 22, 1906 (Armstrong and Lawson); Lexington, Ky., October 11, 1903 (Dean); New Orleans, La., October 7, 1896 (Kopman); North River, Prince Edward Island, August 25, 1887 (Bain) ; Pittsfield, Me,, September 22, 1895 (Morrell) ; Taunton, Mass., September 19, 1889 (Scudder); Germantown, Pa., October 2, 1887 (Stone); Key West, Fla., October 3, 1888 (Scott); near Atlanta, Ga., November 27, 1903 (Smith); Escondido, Nicaragua, November 26, 1892 (Richmond); San Jose, Costa Rica, November 15, 1889 (Cherrie) ; Davila, Panama, November 30, 1900 (Bangs). Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Tryngites subruficollis (Vieill.). Summer range.— The buff-breasted sandpiper is known to breed from Point Barrow, Alaska (Murdoch), to near Franklin Bay, Mac- kenzie (MacFarlane). It was taken in June at Repulse Bay (Rae), and undoubtedly breeds along the whole Arctic coast east to Hudson Bay. Not quite so certain is the breeding of the bird on the coast of northeastern Siberia. It was found to be quite common there near Koliuchin Bay, August 1, 1881 (Nelson), and had probably bred there, but no nests or young were found, and the individuals seen mav have been early fall wanderers from Alaskan breeding grounds. 68 NOBTH AMERICAN SHOREBIKDS. Winter range.-^li winters in Argentina and Uruguay, south at least to Buenos Aires (Durnford) aind Montevideb (Gould). Migration range. — Many thousand miles separate the summer and winter homes of the species, and the migration route between these widely separated regions seems to be somewhat different frofli that of any other species. The main body of migrants follows the Barren ■Grounds to the shores of Hudson Bay, thence almost diie south across the Mississippi Valley to the coast of" Texas and through Central America to northwestern South America and diagonally across the interior of South America to Argentina. The buff-brieasted sandpiper is a rare fall migrant on the Atlantic coast: Henley Harbor, Labrador, August 20, 1860 (Coues); Port Burwell, Ungava, September 28, 1884, (Bell); Quebec, three records, August 28 (Merriam) to September (Trowbridge);, Cape Elizabeth, Me., September 13, 1887 (Knight); Scarboro, Me., September 5, 1907 (Norton); several records on the coast of New England and on Long Island, the> latest of which is September 11, 1904, on Long Island (Braislin). Soutb of Long Island there are no recent records, and most of the older ones are open to suspicion. The species was seen once in April in Cuba (Gundlach), twice in the fall on Barbados (Feilden), and a record for the island of Trinidad (Leotaud) is some- what doubtful. It is practically unknown in spring on the Atlantic coast of the United States. It has been taken at Barr Lake, Colo. (Hersey), and on the Pacific coast has been taken at Cape Flattery, Wash. (Newberry); in southern British Columbia (Brooks); Sitka (Bischoff)? St. Michael (Nelson), and Nulato (Dall and Bannister), Alaska. Spring migration.— MigvaxAs appear in the interior of Brazil (Pelzeln) and in Peru (Sclater and Salvin) during March, but there are no spring migration data for the whole distance between Peru and Texas. In the State of Texas the species was noted April 22, 1887, in Refugio County (Sennett), and April 23, 1877, at Gainesville (Ragsdale). The first. were seen at Fort Chipewya,n, May 24, 1901 (Preble); Fort Simpson, May 29, 1860 (Ross) ;. Yukon delta. May 30, 1879 (Nelson); St. Michael, May 31, 1880 (Nelson); Point Barrow, June 8, 1882 (Murdoch), and June 6, 1883 (Murdoch). Eggs were taken on the Barren Grounds near Franklin Bay, June 26, 1864, and June 28, 1865 (MacFarlane) ; and at Point Bari^ow, June 18, 1883 (Murdoch). Fall migration.—The fall migration of this species and of most other waders begins in July, and so rapidly do the birds move south that they have been noted the last of this month in Nebraska (Bruner, Wolcott, and Swenk); Gainesville, Tex,, August 4, 1883 (Ragsdale); San Jose, Costa Rica, September 7, 1890 (Cherrie); and (^ienega, Colombia, September 12, 1898 (Allen). The southern part pf the Bui. 35, Biological Survey, U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. Plate III. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 69 winter range in Argentina is reached earfy in October (Sclater and Hudson). A. very early migrant, was tak,en August 3, at Pebas, Peru (Sharpe). Usually the species is rare east of the Mississippi River, but several flocks were seen August 16-18, 1874, at Maywood, 111., near Chicago (Fisher). Spotted Sandpiper. Actitis macularia{LiTia.). Breeding rongfe.— Few shorebirds have so extended a breeding range as the spotted sandpiper. It nests north to Newfoundland (Reeks), the northernmost part of Ungava (Turner), northern Mackenzie (Fort Anderson; MacFarlane), northern Alaska at Fort Yukon (Lockhart), and to the Kowak Valley in northwestern Alaska (Townsend). It breeds south to northern South Carolina (Chester County; Loomis), central Alabama (Greensboro; Avery) > southern Louisiana (New Orleans; Beyer), central Texas (Lacey), southern New Mexico (Carlisle; Barrell), central Arizona (San Francisco Mountains; Mearns), and the southern Sierra of California (Walker Pass; Kaeding), and probably on the Colorado River near Needles (Hdllister). Winter riinge.^—The spotted sandpiper ranges south in winter to central Peru (La Merced; Berlepsch and Stolzmann), central Bolivia (San Francisco; Salvador!), and to southern Brazil (Sao Paulo; Ihering). It is not rare in northern South America, and is tolerably common in Central America and Mekico; a few •printer in th& West Indies, and a small number in the eastern United States to the coast of Georgia (Helme) and to Port Royal, S. C. (Eaton), and in the western United States to southern Arizona (Dwight) and southern California (Grinnell). Spring migration. — -The spotted sandpiper passes north abopt the middle of the migration season, as shown by the following da,tes of arrival: Northern Florida, average March 19 (Pleas); Raleigh, N.C., average April 10,,, earliest April 3, 1893 (Brimley); near Asheville, N. C, average April 13, earliest April 10, 1891 (Cairns); Washington, D. C, average April 22, earliest April 2, 1905,(McAtee) ; near Waynes- burg, Pa.,, average April 13, earliest April 6, 1893 (Jacobs); Beaver, Pa., average April 20, earliest April 2, 1888 (Todd) ; Renovo, Pa., average April 18, earliest April 9, 1904 (Pierce) ; Erie, Pa., earhest April 18, 1900 (Todd) ; near New York City, average April 26, earliest April 15, 1891 (Burhaus); central Connecticut, average April 25, eariiest April 20, 1901 (Case) ; near Providence, R. I., average May 2, earliest April 21, 1905 (Mason); eastern Massachusetts, average April 28, eariiest April 15, 1893 (Metcalf); Randolph, Vt., average May 5, earliest April 28, 1891 (Paine); southern New Hampshire, average May 4, eariiest April 28, 1905 (Perkins) ; southwestern Maine, average May 1, earliest April 14, 1904 (Norton); Montreal, Canada, average May 13, eariiest April 26, 1890 (Wintle) ; central New Bruns- wick average May 11^ eariiest May 5, 1906 (Mcintosh); Piotou, 70 NOETH AMERICAN SHOEEBIEDS. Nova Scotia, average May 7, earliest May 3, 1895 (Hickman); North River, Prince Edward Island, , average May 14, earliest May 11, 1890 (Bain). The earliest date of arrival at New Orleans, La., is March 19, 1904 (Kopman) ; Athens, Tenn., average April 14, earliest April 10, 1906 (Gettys); Russellville, Ky., April 9, 1906 (Emboidy); Brookville, Ind., average April 20, earliest April 14, 1883 (Butler); Waterloo, Ind., average April 27, earliest April 5, 1895 (Hine); Chicago, 111., average April 30, ea,rliest; Apfil 19, 1896 (Gault); Ober- lin, Ohio, average April 16,, earliest April 9, 1904 (Jones) ; Petersburg, '' Mich., average April 22, earliest April 15, 1887 (Trombly); southern Ontario, average April 23, earliest April 13, 1896 (Taverner) ; Ottawa, Ontario, average April 30, earliest April 24, 1897 (White) ; southern Wisconsin, average April 27, earliest April 23, 1897 (Russell) ; Lanes- boro, Minn., average April 28, earliest April 18, 1886 (Hvoslef); Onaga, Kans.,- average May 5, earliest April 26, 1896 (Crevecoeur) ; Aweme, Manitoba, average May 8, earliest May 2, 1905 (Griddle); Columbia Falls, Mont.j average May 7, earliest May 4, 1896 (Williams); Chilliwack, British Columbia, May 9, 1889 (Brooks); Athabaska Landing, Alberta, May 6, 1901 (Preble); Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, May 23, 1893 (Russell); near Fort Providence, Mackenzie, May 17, 1904 (Mills); Fort- Simpson, Mackenzie, Mdy, 19, 1904 (Preble); Dawson, Yukon, May 24, 1899 (Cantwell); Kowak Valley; Alaska, May 22, 1899 (Grinnell) . The species has been seen south of its breeding, grounds as late as May in Brazil (Pelzeln) , and to the latter part of June on the northern coast of Venezuela (Robinson). The species regularly remains in Cuba (Gundlach) and the Bahamas to early May (Bonhote) and in Mexico to the latter part of the month (Sharpe) . The average date of the last seen in northern Florida is May 12, and the latest May 18, 1904 (Pleas). The date of the laying of the eggs varies but little Over the whole extent of the breeding range, as shown by the following dates when the earliest eggs were found: Near Richmond, Va., May 22, 1881 (Robinson); Erie, Pa., May 24, 1893 (Todd); Lawrenceville, N. J., May 27, 1889 (Phillips) ; Trenton Falls, N. Y., May 19, 1892 (Wil- liams) ;' Canaan, Conn., May, 16, 1887 (Tobey); Fall River, Mass., May 14, 1887 (Durfee) ; Orono, Me., May 24, 1894 (Knight) ; Montreal, Canada, June 8, 1890 (Wintle); Dunnville, Ontario, May 17, 18S4 (McCallum); Big Charity Island, Michigaii, May 20, 1903 (Arnold); Cheyenne, Wyo., May 30, 1889 (Bond); Fort Lapwai, Idaho, May 29, 1871 (Bendire); Fort Resplution, Mackenzie, May 23, 1860 (Kennicott) ; Fort Anderson, Mackenzie, June 9, 1862 (MacFarlane^,; Fort Yukon, Alaska, June 15, 1862. Fall migration. — The individual taken on Barbados, West Indies, July 4, 1888 (Feilden), may have been a nonbreeding summer resi- dent, or an early fall migrant, but by the end of July migrants have LONG-BILLED CUKLEW. 71 appeared in the Lesser Antilles, on the coast of Venezuela (Hartert)-, and m Mexico (Brown) ; indeed, in 1892 a specimen was taken in northern Lower California the first day of July (Meams). The last seen at Chilliwack, British Columbia, was October 9, 1888 (Brooks); average of the last: seen at Columbia Falls, Mont., September 19, latest September 22, 1895 (Williams) ; Aweme, Mani- toba, average September 5, latest September 11 ■, 1903 (Criddle); Lmcoln, Nebr., September 29, 1900 (Wolcott); Lawrence, Kans., October 14, 1905 (Wetmore) ; Lanesboro, Minn., November 2, 1886 (Hvoslef) ; Ottawa, Ontario, average September 18, latest October 28, 1902 (White) ; southern Ontario, average September 3'0, latest October 25, 1902 (Saunders); Oberlin, Ohio> average September 20, latest October 30, 1905 (Jones) ; Scotch Lake, New Brunswick, October 5,' 1901 (Moore) ; southwestern Maine, average October 1, latest October 6, 1900 (Johnson) ; eastern Massachusetts, average October 7, latest November 14 (Townsend) ; Hartford, Conn,, average October 8, latest October 12, 1902 (Case); Ossiningj N. Y., October 23 (Fisher); Washington, D. C, October 28, 1906 (Fisher); near New Orleans, La.j latest November 5, 1902, November 10, 1903 (AUiaon). Long-billed Curlew. ■ NumerM.i americanus Bechstein. Breeding range.— The principal summer home of the lohg-billed Curlew is in the interior of the United States oh the northern half of the plains. Southward' it has been known to brped to Oklahoma (Camp Supply; Wilcox), northwestern Texas (McCauley), central New Mexico (Los Pinos; Woodhoiise), southern A,rizona (Sulphur Spring; Henshaw), and northwestern California in the Pit River region (Grinriell). To the northward it breeds to central British Columbia (150-mile House; Brooks), southern Alberta (Bow River; Macoun), southern Saskatchewan (Medicine Hat; Macoun), and southern Manitoba (Seton). The long-billed curlew was formerly; common in the eastern part of the Mississippi Valley and abundant On the Atlantic coast, but of late years the numbers have been so reduced that noVit is merely casual or accidental east of the Missis- sippi. There are records of the former breeding of the species in northern Iowa (Preston), Wisconsin (Hoy), southern Michigan (Jackson; Davis), and northern Illinois (Ridgway). The species, was an abundant migrant on the southern Atlantic coast and less common north to Newfoundland (Reeks), and there are various sur- mises that it bred at various places, such as the west coast of Florida (Scott), coast of New Jersey (Wilson), and Prince Edward Island (6oa:rdman), but most if not all of these breeding records were based on the presence of the birds in July, and there seems to be no authentic record of eggs anywhere east of Michigan. ; Winter range.— The species winters on the Atlantic coast from South Carolina (Nuttall) to Florida! (Allen) ; on the coast of Louisiana (Beyer) and Texas (Merrill); in southern Arizona (specimen in United 72 NORTH AMERICAN SHOREBIRDS. States National Museum); and in California north to Owen Lake (Fisher) and San Francisco (Newberry). It also ranges south through Mexico to the Pacific coast of Guatemala at Ohiapam (Salvin). It is a casual wanderer in the West Indies; Ctiba, June, July, October (Gundlach); Jamaica, July, 1863 (March); St. Vincent, once in the fall (Lawrence). Spring migration. — ^When the long-billed curlew was common on the Atlantic coast, it was seldom seen in spring north of the Carolinas; the few individuals that passed up the New England coast usually* appeared in May: Hail Point, Maryland, May 23, 1893 (Kirkwood); Scarboro, Me., May 2, 1866 (Ejoight). Migration in the Mississippi Valley begins in March: Eagle Pass, March 5, 1885 (Negley); Pecos City, March 9, 1906 (Ligon); Gamesville, March 4, 1876 (Ragsdale)— all in Texas; Warrensburg, Mo., April 1, 1874 (Scott) ; Appleton Qty, Mo., April 3, 1906 (Prier); central Illinois, average AprU 9; Jasper, Ind., April 2, 1896 (Butler); central Iowa, average April 11, earliest April 3, 1883 (Lindley); northern Nebraska, average April 3, earhest March 28, 1889 (Bates) ; VermiUon, S. Dak.) April 5 ,1884 (Agersborg); central North Dakota, average April 15, earliest April 8, 1886 (Ed- wards); Awerne, Manitoba, average April 22, earliest April 9, 1902 (Griddle) ; Apache, N, Mex., March 25, 1886 (Anthony) ; Ijtah Lake, Utah, March 30, 1899 (Johnson) ; northern Colorado, average April 14, earliest April 10, 1889 (Smith); Cheyenne, Wyo., average April 18, earhest April 15, 1889 (Bond); Terry, Mont., average April 16, earliesit April 7, 1906 (Cameron) ; Big Sandy, Mont., average A,pril 19, earliest April 13, 1903 (Coubeaux); Fort Klamath, Qreg., March 28, 1887 (Merrill) ; Chelan, Wash., April 6, 1896 (Dawson) ; Okanagan Landing, British Coliunbia, April 12, 1906 (Brooks).' Eggs have been taken at Camp Harney, Oregon, April 30, 1876 (Bendire); Fort Klamath, Oreg., May 7, 1878 (Mearns); Le^stown, Mont., May 13, 1902 (Silloway); Fort Lapwai, Idaho, May 21, 1871 (Bendire); Cody, Nebr., young just hatched June 23, 1895 (Trostler); southern Saskatchewan, downy young June 1, 1905 (Bent); June 11 and 18, 1906 (Bent). ' , ' \ , , , Fall migration. — Flocks of faU migrants use^- to appear on the Atlantic coast about the middle of July (Mearns) and reach South Carolina by early August (Hoxie). They returned to Monterey Bay, Cahfornia, July 17, 1894 (Loomis), and arrived at Cape Qt., Lucas, Lower Cahfornia, September 15, 1859 (Xantus). The last one seen at Montreal in 1893 was observed September 21 (Wintle), arid on the coast of Massachusetts the species has been noted to Oqtober 18 (Howe and Allen). Hudsonian Curlew. Numenius hudsonicus Lath. Breeding range. — The Hudsonian curlew, or jack curlew as it is called by sportsmen, is known to bi-eed on the barren grounds of northern Mackenzie (MacFarlane) and on the western coast of HUDSONIAN OUELEW. 73 Alaska from the^ mouth of the Yukon (Nelson) north to Kotzebue Sound (Grinnell). Winter mngre.— The principal winter home is on the Pacific coast, where the species ranges from Ecuador (Salradori and Festa) to southern ChUe (Chiloe Island; Pelzeln), and is especially abundant toward the southern limit of the range. At this season it occurs also on the coasts of Honduras (Taylor) and Guatemala (Salvia) and north to the southern portion of Lower California (Belding). On the Atlantic coast it occurs during the winter from British Guiana (Quelch) to the mouth of the Amazon (Sharpe). Migration range.— The species probably does not breed in Green- land, but it has been taken several times on the western coast as far north as Jacobshaven, latitude 69° N. (Winge). It migrates east to Ungava (Turner) and Newfoundland (Reeks), and passes down the Atlantic coast and through the Lesser Antilles to its winter home; but it is almost unknown in the Greater Antilles and in Central America and northwestern South America from Nicaragua to Vene- zuela. It is a common migrant and a probable breeder along the western shore of Hudson Bay (Preble), but since it is unknown in Saskatchewan and Manitoba it is evident that these Hudson Bay birds -turn southeastward and probably reach the New England coast; for the bird is more common on the Massachusetts coast than would be expected from the few individuals that occur in Labrador. The species is scarcely recorded in the whole Eocky Mountain district between central Nebraska and eastern California, and it is a rare migr^t in the Missi^ippi Valley, though a few; use this route in both migrations. The main migration route is along the Pacific coast, and it occurs here west to St. Paul Island,, Alaska (Palmer). Spring migration. — Records of arrival in the eastern IJnited States are: Sarasota Bay, Florida, March 22,. 1872 (Moore); Port Royal, ^. C., April 14 (Mackay); Cobbs Isl£tn,d, Virginia, May 19, 1891 (Kirk- wood) ; Cape May, N. J., April 12, 1907, "ten days a,head of the usu^l time" (Hand); Shelter Island, N. Y., May 9, 1887 (Worthington) ; Nantucket, Mass., April 10, 1891 (Mackay); but usually not in Massachusetts before the middle of May. By what route these birds reach the eastern United States coast is as yet unknown, for there are no corresponding records in feither the Lesser or the Greater Antilles. The main migratory flocks reach the coast of southern California the middle of March (Grinnell) ahd proceediag slowly northward have been noted at Fort Kenai, Alaska, May 18, 1869 (Bischoff); Nulato, Alaska, May 12, 1866 (Pease); Kowak Valley, Alaska, May 17, 1899 (Grinnell) ; Fort Anderson, Mackenzie, May 29, 1865 (MacFarlane). ; Eggs were taken on the barren grounds west of the lower Anderson River in late June and early July (MacFarlane), and in the Kowak Valley June 14-20, 1899 (Grinnell). 74 NOETH AMERICAN SHOKEBIRDS. Fall migration. — On the western shore of Hudson Bay near York Factory in 1900 the species was seen July 19, and was tolerably common in that region nearly to the first of September (Preble) ; the earUest date at Toronto, Ontario, is July 4, 1904 (Fleming). The average date of arrival at ^Nantucket, Mass., is July 20, earliest July 13 (Mackay);. earliest at Long Beach, N. J., July 9, 1879 (Stone); Pea and Bodie Island, North Carolina, July 22, 1904 (Bishop); Bermudas, August 14 (Reid); Ba;rbuda, West Indies, August 12,' 1877 (Ober). Two specimens were taken July 3, 1907, at Coronado de Terraba, Costa Rica (Carriker), but these may have been nonbreeders that had not made a northern journey. The individuals breeding in Alaska pass south along the Pacific coast, and have been noted at the FaraJlons, California, July 16, 1896 (Loomis) ; Los Coronados Islands, Lower GaUfomia, August 7, 1902 (Grixmell and Daggett) ; Chimbote, Peru, August 2-5, 1883 (MacFar- lane); and by August 18, at Arauca, Chile (Sharpe). The Hudsonian curlew has been noted at St. Michael, Alaska, as late as September 2, 1899 (Bishop) ; Morro Bay, California, November, 1891 (Nelson) ; Great Bear Lake, August 30,.1903 (Preble) ; near Cape Churchill, Hudson Bay, August 24, 1900 (Preble) ; Henley Harbor, Ungava, August 27, 1860 (Goues). Near Newport,' R. I., a gunner secured 30 birds in eight years on dates ranging from August 26, 1867, to October, 2,1874 (Sturtevant). Barbuda, West Indies, November 12, 1903 (specimen in United States National Museum). Eskimo Curlew. Numenmsborealis(FoTBt.). Breeding range. — ^The principal summer home of th6 Eskimoi curlew was on the barren grounds of Mackeiizife, from liear the Arctic coast (MacFarlane) south to Poiiit Lake (Richa;rdson).'. Theiice a few ranged west as far as Point Barrow (Murdoch), but no hests'seem to have been found west of Mackenzie. Winter rarige.— Most of the species wintered in the campos region of Argentina (Sclater and Hudson) and' Patagonia, south at'least to the Chubut Valley (Durnfbfd), It has been taken once on the Falk- land Islands (Abbott). It was rare in Chile, south to ChUpe (Philippi). At present there are no data to determine the northern limit in winter, but probably few if any wintered much north of Buenos, Aires, Migration route.-^The.cuT\ew left the Barren Grounds in the fall and went southeast to Labrador (Coues), where they gorged them- selves for several weeks, and became extremely fat. Then they passed across the Gulf of St. Lawrence and struck out to sea heading for the Lesser Antilles, nearly 2,000 'miles distant. Some flocks stopped for a few days at the Bermudas (Jardine), but if the weather was fair the larger number passed on, flying both day and night, and did not land during the whole trip. When storms interfered, the birds were sometimes driven out of their course and appeared in ESKIMO CUELEW. 75 considerable numbers on the coast of Massachusetts (Mackay) and less often on Long Island (Giraud) and the New Jersey coast (Turn- bull). The Eskimo curlew was absent, except as a straggler, from &e whole coast of the United States south of New Jersey, from the Bahamas and from the Greater Antilles. In its southward flight it passed through the Lesser Antilles (Feilden) and along the eastern portion of Brazil (Pelzehi) to its winter home. Throughout the whole line of its fall migration it was unknown in spring, at which season it was traveling northward some thousands of miles farther west over the prairies of the Mississippi Valley. The exact royte between its winter home and the United States is unknown, for along the whole 4,000 miles from Argentina to northern Mexico and southern Texas the species has been recorded only twice — once in Costa Rica (Zeledon) and once in Guatemala (Salvin). Its prin- cipal migration route in spring was a comparatively narrow belt crossing the prairies on both sides of the meridian of 97°. The course is well, known from southern Texas (Merrill) to southern South Dakota (Agersborg) a;nd thence data are wanting. There seem to be no records of the species from about' latitude 44° in the Mississippi Valley until Great Slave Lake is reached, a thousand miles to the northward. This curlew is unknown in the Rocky Mountain States or any- where on the Pacific slope or coast south of Alaska, p,nd the specimen taken April 8, 1892, at Lake Paloinas, Chihuahua (specimen in United States National Museum), was far out of the usual course of the species. The species has been taken a few times in western ^aska, south'to St. Michael (Nelson) and west to the Pribilof Islands (Palmer) and Bering Sea (specimen in United States National Museum). It has occurred accidentally several times in Europe and on the western coast of Greenland, north to Disco Bay (Winge). ISpring migration. — The Eskimo curlew arriyed in Texas in March^, Boerne, March 9, 1880 (Brown); Ga,inesville, average March 17, earliest March 7, 1884 (Ragsdale) ; and reached central Kansas about the' middle of April— April 14, 1884 (Kellogg);,,April 13„ 1885 (k;elr logg). Most of the records in. the central Mississippi Valley are in April. One of the latest and most northern is that of Cpues, who S9,ys that he saw them in large flockg the second week in May, 1873 between Fort Randall and Yankton, S- Da,k. Then there is no further news oi^ them until they, amv^d, at, J]ort Resolution, Mac- kenzie May 27, 1860 (Kennicott); Fort Anderson, May 27, 1865 (MacFarlane) ; Pomt Barrow, May 20, 1882 (Murdoch). Eggs were taken a;t Point Lake, Mackenzie, June 13, 1822 (Richard- son), and on the Barren Grounds near Fort Anderson, June 13, 1863, June 16, 1864, and June 16, 1865 (MacFarlane). Fall migration.^-The Eskimo curlew started so early in August that by the middle of the month the old birds reached the eastern 76 NORTH AMERICAN SHOREBIKDS. shores of Labrador (Coues). During the following two weeks they crossed the Gulf of St. Lawrence and made their long oc6an flight and by the end of another fortnight they were at the winter home in Argentina (Sclater and Hudson). Dates of arrival along this course are: Indian Tickle Harbor, Labrador, August 16, 1860 (Coues); Houlton Harbor, Labrador, August 20, 1891 (Norton) ; Nantticket, Mass., average August 29, earliest August 18, 1898 (Mackay); Bar- bados, West Indies, August 27, 1886 (Manning) ; Amazon River, Sep- tember 4, 1830 (Pelzehi) ; Concepcion, Argentina, September 9, 1880 (Barrows). Sohie dates of the last seen are: Fort Churchill, Kee- watin, September 1, 1884 (Bell); Newfoundland, to end of Septem- ber (Reeks); Saybrook, Conn., October 13, 1874 (Merriam); Barbar dos, West Indies, November 4, 1886 (Manning). Many curlews migrated south along the west coast of Hudson Bay, before they turned east to the Atlantic and some of these seem to have wandered occasionally southward and given rise to such records as Kingston, Ontario,, October 10, 1873 (Fleming); Erie, Pa., September 171; 1889 (Sennett) ; and a few fall records around Lake Michigan. The Eskimo curlew is rapidly approaching extinction, if indeed any still exist. In the early sixties MacFarlane found them breeding abundantly on the Barren Grounds near Fort Anderson, w;hile Goues reports thousands passing south along t.he Labrador coastiifU the fall; in the early seventies Coues found t,lieni equa,lly, abundaint, passing north through South Dakota in the spring. Ten years later they were still common in their winter home in Argentina, an|l; natural- ists who visited the Labrador coast at this time record them as present in flocks but not in nunibers as seen by Coueis, By 1889 only a few flocks were seen, and within the next half dozen years the flights ceased. During the last fifteen years the species has been recorded only a few times and apparently only three times in the ten years previous to 1909: Tuckernuck Island, Massachusetts, eigjit birds August 24,1897 (Hackay); Nantucket, Mass., two, August 18, 1898 (Mackay); northeastern Coast of Labrador, about a dozen the fall of 1900 (Bigelow)'. The latest records are thos.e of two birds shot August 27, 1908, at Newburyport, Mass. (Thayer), and one. September 2, 1909, at Hog Island, Maine (Knight). The disappear- ance of the Eskimo curlew has given rise to much speculation as to the probable cause. A simple explanation is that during recent years, especially since 1880, its former winter home in Argentina has, been settled and cultivated, while its spring feeding grounds in Nebraska and South Dakota have beei^ converted into farin land. [European Curlew. Numenius arquatys (lAjin.) . This Eastern Hemispliere species brpeds from Great Britain to. sot^tjiem Puasi^ the White Sea, and the Ural Mountains. It winters in Great Britain and occurs at this season from the Mediterranean to the south end of Africa!. ' It is probable that one specimen of this curlew was collected on Long Island in 1853 — its only North American record.] DOTTEEEIi. 77 Whirabrel. Numenius phseopus (Linn.). Though an Old World species, the whimbrel is a common visitor in Greenland (Schalow) and possibly breeds there. It breeds in Iceland, Scandinavia, and Russia, east to the Ural Mountains and north to the Arctic Circle. It winters on the coast and islands of tropical and southern Africa, and ranges at this season east to India and the Malay Peninsula. One was taken May 23, 1906, about latitude 43° N. and longitude 60° W., south of Sable Island, Nova Scotia (Brewster). Bristle-thighed Curlew. Numenius tdhiiiensis (Gmel.). The breeding range of this species has hot yet been ascertained, but in Alaska it has been taken May 18, 1869, on the Kenai Penin- sula (BischoflE) ; May 24, 1880, at St. Michael (Nelson) ; August 26, 1885, on the Kowak River (Townsend) ; and May 23, 1905, at the head of Nome River (Anthony). These dates would seem to indicate that the species nests in the northern part of its range. The species is common on the Hawaiian Islands and occurs through- out the islands of the Pacific south to New Caledonia and from the Ijadrones to the Marquesas and Paumota islands. The Pacific islands seem to be the winter home of the species, and on some of them it is quite common. It has been taken in the Phoenix group near the equator in June and July, and a few are known to remain all summer in Hawaii (Henshaw) , but these apparently are non- breeding birds. Lapwing. Vanellus yanellus (Linn.). Though an Old World species, the lapwing has been noted several times in Greenland on the west coast from Julianehaab to Godthaab, at various times from early December to the first of April (Schalow) . It has been taken as a straggler at White Hills, Newfoundland, No- vember 23, 1905 (Brewster); Halifax, Nova Scotia, March 17, 1897 (Piers) ; Merrick, Long Island, about December 26, 1883 (Dutcher) ; Meccox Bay, Long Island, fall of 1905 (Beebe) ; Hog Island, Bahamas, November, 1900 (Fleming) ; Barbados, 1886 (Cory). The breeding range extends from Great Britain to Japan, from central Europe to the Arctic Circle, and from northern China to about latitude 55° in Siberia. The species winters from about the southern hmit of the breeding range to northern Africa and southern China. DottereL Eudromias morinellus (Linn.). This is an accidental visitor to North America, the only record being that of one taken July 23, 1897, on King Island, Alaska (Stone). It breeds from Great Britain, southern Russia, and eastern Siberia north to the islands of the Arctic coast. It winters from southern Europe to equatorial Africa. 78 NORTH AMEKICAN SHOBEBIEDS. Black-b ellied Plover. Squataro la squatarola ( Linn . ) . Breeding range. — This is a circumpolar species, but the places where it is known ;to breed are comparatively few. In North America it has been found breeding on the Melville Peninsula (Richardson), Boothia Felix (Ross), Franklin Bay, (MacFarlane), and Point Barrow (Murdoch). In the Eastern Hemisphere it breeds on the Kolgnjef and Dolgoi islands of Russia and near the Taimyr Peninsula, Siberia, and probably breeds on the Liakoff Islands,i Siberia,, and near the south end of Nova Zembla Island. Winter range.-^—T^he North American breeding birds pass south in winter to Chimbote and Tumbez, in northern Peru (Taczanowski) , and to the Amazon River, Brazil (Pelzeln). The species is also found at this season through northern South America, the West Indies, Central America, and Mexico to the coast of South Carolina (Coues), occa- sionally North Carolina (Bishop), southern Texas (Sennett), and the coast of California north to Humboldt County (Townsend). It prob- ably wintered formerly to the mouth of the Columbia (Suckley) . The birds of Russia and Siberia winter from the Mediterranean, India, and southern China to southern Africa and Australia. The species is accidental in Hawaii (Henshaw). Migration range.— The. black-bellied plover has been taken several times on the west coast of Greenland north to Egedesminde, latitude 69° N. (Winge), but probably does not breed in that country. It is known only as a migrant along the east coast of Siberia, as at Plover Bay (Nelson) and on the Commander Islands (Stejneger). Spring migration. — ^The species is a late and not common migrant on the Atlantic coast in the spring, and appears in New Jersey (Stone) and on Long Island in late April and early May; Montauk, N. Y., April 30, 1902 (Scott); Cape Cod, Massachusetts, average May 23, earliest April 18, 1894 (Mackay); Pictou, Nova Scotia, May 17, 1895 (Hickman). Nor is it common in the iiiterior, where some dates of spring arrivals are: Near NeW Orleans, La., March 2, 18^0 (Beyer); Sedalia, Mo., March 21, 1884 (Sampson); southern Ontario, average May 27, earliest May 22 (Fleming); Vermilion, S. Dak., May 3, 1884 (Agersborg) ; northern North Dakota, average May 8, earliest May 5, 1894 (Bowen); Reaburn, Manitoba, average May 19, earliest May 14, 1901 (Wemyss); Cheyenne, Wyo., average May 18, earliest May 11, 1884 (Bond); Indian Head, Saskatchewan, average May 14, earliest May 9, 1904 (Lang) ; Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, May 23, 1901 (Preble) ; Fort\ Resolution, Mackenzie, June 2, 1860 (Kennicott); Sitka, Alaska, May 6, 1869 (Bischoff); mouth of the Yukon, May 12; Dawson, Yukon, May 20, 1899 (Bishop); Point Barrow, Alaska, June 21, 1882 (Murdoch), and June 26, 1898 (Stone). Some individuals remain late in the spring on the Atlantic coast and possibly some nonbreeders may remain the entire summer. In Florida they have been seen June 14, June 29, July 4, July 26, and EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 79 August 3 (Scott and Worthington). They have been seen in Jamaica in June (Field), and even off the coast of Venezuela they were common June 21-27, 1892 (Hartert) . The last of the regular migrants do not leave the coast of Massachusetts until June— average June 6, latest June 15, 1886 (Cahoon); Western Egg Rock, Maine, June 24, 1895 (Knight); Toronto, Ontario, June 2 (Fleming); Corpus Christi, Tex., July 1, 1887 (Sennett). Eggs were taken at Frankhn Bay, Mackenzie, July 4, 1864, and- July 8, 1865 (MacFarlane), but in each case the eggs were already partly incubated. Fall migration. — The southward movement begins early in July, bringing; a few individuals into the United States the latter part of that month — eastern Massachusetts, July 8 (Howe and Allen); Toronto, Ontario, July 23, 1890 (Fleming)— but, the regular migra- tion occurs in August: Cape Cod, Massachusetts, average August 17, earliest August 6 (Mackay) ; Long Island,^ New York, average August 6, eariiest July 1, 1905 (Kobbe); Erie, Pa., August 1, 1890 (Todd); southern Wisconsin, August 10, 1872 (Kupilien and , Hollister) ; southern British Columbia, August 15, 1903 (Brooks). The last were seen at Winter Island on the coast of Melville Penin,sula August 17, 1821 (Greely), and the first flocks came along the La,brador coast August 15, .1860 (Coues). The species was unusually abundant on Prince Edward Island in 1892 from August 2^ to Septeinb^r 14 (Mackay). Some dates of the last seen are: Point Barrow, Alaska,, August 20, 1897 (Stone); Great Bear Lake; Mackenzie, September 5, 1903 (Preble); St. Michael, Alaska, September 16, 1899 (Bishop); southern British Columbia, October 23, 1888 (Brooks); Fort Collins, Colo., October 28, 1893 (Cooke); Lincoln, Nebr., October 21, ,1899 (Wolcott); Ottawa, Ontario, average October 24, latest November 8, 1903 (White); Pictou, Nova Scotia, October 11, 1894 (Hickman); Cape Cod, Massachusetts, average October 21, latest November 14, 1887 (Cahoon) ^accidental in December, 1872 (Mackay); Erie, Pa., November 10, 1894 (Todd) ; Long Island, New York, average October 15, latest November 7, 1905 (Latham^. European Golden Plover. Charadrius apricarius Linn. The combined ranges of the three golden plovers complete the cir- cumference of the globe in the vicinity of the Arctic Circle. In general it may be said that apricarius breeds in northern Europe and northwestern Siberia; dominicus ,in North America; and fulvus in eastern Siberia. The ranges of apricarius and dominicus meet on the west coast of Greenland; dominicus &ndfvlvus join ranges in western Alaska- the dividing line in Siberia between /«Zwms and a^cantts has not yet been determined. The European golden plover breeds from Great Britain ito western Siberia and south to central Europe. It winters from about the 80 NORTH AMEKICAN SHOKEBIKDS. southern limit of the breeding range south to Beluchistan and north- ern Africa. This plover has been taken as a summer visitbf to the east coast of Greenland (Helms), and at several places on the west coast from the southern end to Christianshaab about 69° latitude (Winge). It has not yet been found breeding in Greenland/ though it has been taken there in midsummer (Helms). Golden Plover. Charadrius doni^nicus MiiW. ■ Breeding range. — The summer home of the golden plover extends frora Whalfe Point at the northwest corner of Hudson Bay (Eifrig), west across the barren grounds to the mouth of the Andetson River (MacFarlane), and thence along the barren grounds of the coast of Alaska to Kotzebue Sound (Grinnell). It extends north in Franklin to include the islands, at least as far as latitude 77°. The bird is known to breed commonly on Banks Island (Armstrong), Prince Albert Island (Armstrong), Melville Island (Parry), and the islands at the north end of Wellington Channel (Belcher), and east to the eastern coast of Melville Peninsula (Parry). It probably does not breed in Greenland, though it occurs not uncommonly on the west coast to about latitude 73° (Walker). There are somewhat doubtful records of the species having been seen August 7, 1881, at Cape Bairid, Lady Frtoklin Bay, 81° 30' N. (Greely), and on July 12, 1872, at Thank God Harbor, Greenland, 81° 40' (Davis). As the belt of tundra along the north coast of Alaska is comparatively narrow, the principal breeding grounds of the golden plover are between the mouth of the Mackenzie River and the Gulf of Boothia, north of the Arctic Circle. Winter range. — The species ranges south on the Atlantic coast to Bahia Blanca, central Argentina (Barrows) , and the center of abun- dance during the winter season is the pampas of Argentina (S'clater and Hudson) and Uruguay (Aplin), between the parallels of 34° and 36° S. Individuals remain during the winter as far north as Rio Janeiro, Brazil (Hapgood) , on the coast and to Cuyaba, Matto Grosso (Pelzeln), in the interior. There is one record of the occurrence of the species (probably casual) in January at Nauta in northeastern Peru (Sharpe). The golden plover does not winter in the Lesser Antilles nor in that part of northeastern South America where it is most abundant in migration. It has been recorded as wintering at several places north of South America, but probably sUch of these records as are not errors represent accidental or unusual occurrences. Migration range. — From the breeding grounds the golden plover go south and southeast to Labrador; then cross the Gulf of St. Law- rence and its islands to Nova Scotia, and from the southern coast of the latter fly directly across the ocean to the Lesser Antilles and the coast of northeastern South America. Sometimes when caught by a storm during this flight they seek the nearest land, appearing not GOLDEN PLOVEB. 81 infrequently at the Bermudas, Cape Cod, and Long Island. After a short stop in the Antilles and northern South America, they pass to the winter home in Argentina and remain there from September to March. The return northward in spring is by a diflPerent route, the details of which are not yet determiiied. What is known is that they disap- pear from Argentina and shun the whole Atlantic coast from Brazil to Labrador. In March they appear in Guatemalaand Texas; April finds them on the prairies of the Mississippi "Valley; the first of May sees them crossing our nbrthern boundary; and by the first week in June they reappear on their breeding grounds in the frozen north. Various theories have been advanced to account for this strange migration course. The simplest explanation seems to be the applica- tion of the following,: which may be laid down as the fundamental law underlying the choice of migration routes. Birds follow that route between the winter and summer homes that is the shortest and at the same time furnishes an abundant food supply. Applying this rule to the case of the golden plover, the following facts are apparent: The plover is a bird of treeless regions; it summers on the tundras and wijttters on the pampas; an enormous food supply especially palatable tempts it in the fall to Labrador and furnishes power for the long flight to Sduth America. To attempt to return in spring by the same course would be suicidial, for at that season Labrador would furnish scant provender. The plover seeks the shortest tteeless route over- land, and alighting on the coast of Texas travels leisurely over the Mississippi Valley prairies, which are abundantly supplied with food, to the plains of the Saskatchewan and thence to the Arctic coast. Spring migration.:— The principal line of migration 'from the winter home northward, through South America is not yet known; the species is said to be common in March and April in Peru (Sclater and Salvin) east of the mountains, but next to nothing is known regarding its appearance in the territory for a thousand miles to the northward. The species is practically unrecorded at all seasons of the year from Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, and Honduras, and though a few have been noted in Costa Rica (Cherrie), Guatemala (Sclater and Salvin),, and eastern Mexico- (Sclater) , in none of these countries have the great flocks been seen that are so characteristic of the fall flight in the Lesser Antilles and of the spring advance up the Missis- sippi Valley. Not until Texas is reached can the movements of the golden plover be definitely traced, and at no place between Peru and Texas has it ever been recorded as common. In fact, the records as they stand are what they should be if the plover escapes the forested regions of northern South America and Central America by a single flight of from 2,000 to 2,500 miles from the valleys of eastern Peru to the treeless prairies of Texas. The general time of appearance in the 36595°— Bull. 35—12 6 82 NOETH AMERICAN SHOEEBIKDS. United States and of passage to the summer liome oto be gathered from the following dates of arrival: Boerne, Tex., March 9, 1880 (Brown); Indianola, Tex., March 15, 18BQ (Cassin); Gainesville, Tex., March 17, 1885 (Ragsdale); Caddo, Okla., March 12^. 1884 (Cooke); near New Orleans, La., March 24, 1894 (Allison), April 2, 1881 (Langdoil); Eayetteville, Ark., abundant March 20-31, 1883 (Harvey) ; central Missouri, average April 13, earliest April 11, 1903 (Bryant); Badger, Nebr., average Aprils, earliest April 5, 1903 (Colt); Lebanbn, 111., March 17, 1876 (Jones); Tampico, 111., average April 10, earliest March 31, 1885 (Brown); Terre Haute, Ind., March 23, 1888 (Evermann)i; Chicago, 111., average April 16:, earliest March 30, 1899 (Gault); central Idwa, average April 19, earliest April 12, 1883 (Williams) ; Heron Lake, Minnesota, ' average May 1 (Miller) ; central' Soutfe Dakota, average April 30, earliest April 25, 1888 (Bishop); Larimore, N. Dak., average May 5, earliest' May 2, 1895 (Eastgate) ; Aweme, Manitoba, average May 4, earliest April 23, 1905 (Criddle); Indian Head, Saskatchewan, May^g, 1904 (Lang); Fort Simpson, Mackenzie, May 26,.. 1860 (Ross), May 19, 1904 (Preble); Fort Reliance, Yukon, May 13 (Nelson);' Point Barrow, Alaska, latitude.71° N., May 21, 1882 (Murdoch), May 24, 1883 (Murddch), June 1, 1898 (Stone) . The dates of arrival in the province of Frank- lin are: Igloolik, 69°, June 14, 1823 (Parry); Boothia Felix, 70"*, June 4, 1830 (Ross), June 22, 1831 (Ross); Prince of Wales Strait, 73°, June 7, 1851 (Armstrong); Bay of Mercy, 74°, June 3, 1852 (Armstrong); Winter Harbor, 75°, June 2, 1820 (Parry); near Wel- lington Channel, 77°, June 2, 1853' (Belcher). i The latest dates! recorded in the southern part of the winter range are March 12 (Aphn) and March 19' (Barrows); in the northern p&rt of the winter home the species remains until April (Sclater and Salvin) ; at Chicago the average date of the last one seen is April 30, and the latest May 9, 1895 (Blackwelder) . ' Some other late dates are: Near NewOrleanSj La., June 10, 1907 (Kopman); Lebanon, Ind., May 10, 1894 (Beaslfey); Lawrence, Kans., May 8, 1906 (Wet- more); White, S. Dak., May 27, 1889 (Partch); Aweme, Manitoba, average May, 23, latest May 29, 1896 (Criddle); Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, June 1, 1893 (Russell). South of the latitude of Chicago the bulk of the spring shooting of golden plover is in April; from Iowa northward to Canada the spring shooting occurs chiefly during the first half of May< During the spring migration the golden plover is almost entirely absent from the Atlantic coast. There are three spring records for 'Massachusetts (JVIackay) and a few for Long Island (Giraud), the last of them many years ago. Probably most of the other scattered spring records east of the AUeghenies are errors of identification. The species is not common at any time of the year west of Texas, GOLDEN PLOVEK. 83 Nebraska, and Saskatchewan, and apparently is absent in spring from the whole region-west of the Rocky Mountains Eggs were collected on the lower Anderson River, Mackenzie, June 24, 1863, June 22, 1864, and June 16, 1865 (MacFarlane) ; at Point Barrow, Alaska, June 22, 1882, and June 23, 1883 (Murdoch). FaU migration.~The old birds start south in July, and those that are to make the flight from Nova Scotia to the Lesser Antilles occupy about a month in the trip from the breeding grounds to the southern coast of Nova Scotia. If fair weather prevails, the flocks of golden plover pass by the New England coast far out at sea, but severe storms are frequent at this season, and the birds are often driven to land. The average for twenty-eight years of the date of arrival of these storm-driven migrants at Nantucket, Mass., is August 25, earliest August 12, 1898 (Mackay); a still earlier date is August 7, 1852, at Plymouth, Mass. (Browne).. Five times in these twenty- eight years birds were seen before August 20 (Mackay). The rule on Long Island is to expect the plover with the first storm occurring after August 28 (Lawrence). The first flocks are noted in the Ber- mudas during the last ten days of August (Reid), and about the same time the species arrives in the Lesser Antilles (Lawrence) and even on the coast of British Guiana (Quelch). A few golden plover reach Argentuia the last week in August (Sclater and Hudson) and the species has been taken in Bolivia in August (Allen), but these early couriers are exceptional, and the main flocks arrive in September. On the west side of Baffin Bay in 1820 the last was seen September 3 (Parry); in Nova Scotia the species sometimes remains until October (McKinlay). The average date of the last one seen at Nantucket, Mass., for ten years previous to 1890 is October 2, latest October 22, 1878 (Mackay); for the years since 1890 the average date of the last seen is September 23 (Mackay). Near New- port, R. I., a market hunter shot 386 golden plover during 1867 to 1874; the dates ranged from August 14, 1868>: to October 24, 1874 (Sturtevant). On Long, Island the dates of the earliest and latest recorded observations of the species are August 15 and November 10 (Chapman). In the Bermudas and the Lesser Antilles fliost.of the birds leave in October, though some stragglers may be noted in November. In the interior of New England the golden plover is rare in fall, though at times it is quite common on Lake Champlain. Throughoiit New York, Pejmsylvania, and New Jersey it is usually very rare, but in 1880 and in several other years it has been common in those States. It has been seen at Erie, Pa., on dates ranging from August 20, 1896, to November 18, 1900 (Todd). South of New Jersey on the Atlantic coast, also in the Bahamas, the golden plover is almost unknown, and it is not common anywhere in thie Greater Antilles west of St. Croix. 84 NOKTH AMEKICAN SHOKEBIKDS. While the greater number of golden plover migrate across the Atlantic, a few pass south in the fall through the interior of North America. The first arrival from the north noted near Fort Churchill, Keewatin, in 1900, was on August 4 (Preble). Other dates of fall arrival in the interior are: Moose Factory, Ontario, September 8, 1860 (Drexler); Aweme, Manitoba, average September 9, earliest August 10, 1904 (Griddle); Lincoln,Nebr.,Septeniber22, 1900(Wolcott); near Toronto, Ontario, August 31, 1891 (Nash), September 1, 1898 (Nash); Point Pelee, Ontario, September 15, 1905 (Swales), September 19, 1906 (Taverner); Chicago, 111., average September 12, earliest Sep- tember 10, 1898 (Gault); Bay St. Louis, Miss., September 26, 1899 (Allison); San Jose, Costa Rica, October 20, 1890 (Cherrie). Prob- ably these Mississippi Valley fall birds are the ones that are fairly common in Peru from September to November (Sclater and Salvia) and that were noted in October at Arica, Chile (MacFarlane).- The form of the golden plover that breeds on the northern and northwestern coasts of Alaska does not seem to migrate along the western coast of Alaska, but passes in general east to Mackenzie. A few individuals migrate southeast and occur in the fslll as rare strag- lers on the Pacific slope: Sitka, Alaska, August 16, 1896 (Grinnell); Chilliwack, British Columbia, August 26, 1889 (Brooks) ; Port Townsend, Wash., September 9, 1897 (Fisher); Santa Cruz, Calif., October 22, 1888 (McGregor) ;• San Jos6 del' Cabo, Lower California, October 18, 1887 (Brewster). The' golden plover does not remain late in the north. The last seen on the breeding grounds at Point Barrow, Alaska, were noted August 28, 1882 (Murdoch), and August 20, 1897 (Stone). Some other dates of late occurrence are: Great Bear Lake, Septeinber 6, 1903 (Preble); Fort Simpson, September 10, 1860 (Ross); Edmonton, Alberta, September 23, 1894 (Loring) ; Indian Head, Saskatchewan, October 2, 1904 (Lang); Aweme, Manitoba, average October 14, latest October 16, 1901 (Criddle); near Fort Pierre, S. Dak., October 21, 1855 (Cassin); Fort Sherman, Idaho, abundant September 15-20, 1896 (Merrill); Newcastle, Colo., October 5, 1902 (Bishop); Lincoln, Nebr., November 14, 1899 (Wolcott); Lanesboiro, Minn., November 2, 1889 (Hvoslef); southern Iowa, average October 27, latest November 9, 1895 (Currier); Chicago, 111., average October 11, latest October 28, 1895 (Blackwelder); English Lake, Ind., November 9, 1891, November 15, 1892 (Butler); Oit;awa, Ontario, October 31, 1906 (White); city of Quebec, Canada, November 10, 1890 (Dionne); San Jos6, Costa Rica, December 15, 1890 (Cherrie). The golden plover is one of the shorebirds that has diminished most markedly during the last twenty years. Formerly it was enormously abundant, and many are the accounts of the countless flocks that passed in an almost continuous stream across the Gulf of Bui, 35, Biological Survey, U, S. Dept. of Agric Plate IV. KiLLDEER (OXYECHUS VOCIFERUS). KILLDEEB. 85 St. Lawrence and out to sea. On the return up the Mississippi Valley also they were abundant. For the ten years 1895-1904 the numbers reported have been so small that the species seemed in imminent danger of extinction. During' 1905 and 1906, however, the species was reported from quite a number of locahties, indicating that at present the comparatively small number of individuals left are holding their own. The future of the American golden plover is in the hands of the sportsmen of the Mississippi Valley. During the breeding season the birds are out of reach of danger from mankind; through the winter their welfare is out of the control of the people of the United States; but in spring during their two thousand mile journey up the Mississippi Valley, for from six to eight weeks, great numbers are slaughtered, and as a result they have diminished to a small fraction of their former numbers. If the species is to hold its own spring shooting in the Mississippi Valley must be largely cur- tailed or entirely abolished. Pacific Grolden Plover. Charadrius dominicus fulvus Gmel. The principal summer home of the Pacific golden plover is in Asia, where it breeds in northern Siberia east of the Yenisei River; it breeds also oh the western coast of Alaska from near Bering Strait south to Bristol Bay. It winters on the Hawaiian Islands arid in China and India and south to New Zealand and Australia. Early dates of arrival in Alaska are at Portage Bay, May 13, 1882 (Hart- laub); Kadiak Island, May 13, 1868 (Bischoff); Atka Island, May 17, 1879 (Turner). The usual time of arrival at the mOuth of the Yukon is about the first of June, and the latest date in the fall is October 12 (Nelson). Killdeer. Oxyedms vodferus (Linn.). Breeding range. — The killdeer has one of the most extensive breeding ranges of the American shorebirds. It ranges north in summer to central Quebec (Merriam), northern Ontario (Todd), cen- tral Keewatin (Preble), southern Mackenzie (Preble), and to about latitude 5S° in the interior of British Columbia. The killdeer was seen at Fort Churchill, Keewatin, and at Fort Resolution, Mackenzie, by parties of the Biological Survey, and these observations very materially extend its previously known northern range. The breeding range of the killdeer extends much farther south than that of other northern breeding shorebirds. The species breeds not only throughout the whole of the United States, but south to Cape St. Lucas, Lower California (Xantus), and to Rio Sestin, Durango (Miller). Killdeers occur in Newfoundland in the fall (Refeks), but are not known to breed on that island. Winter range.-^The winter range is much less extensive than the summer. Though there are records of the presence of the species in 86 NORTH AMBBICAN SHOKEBIRDS. Paraguay (Sharpe) and Chile (Salvin), it is probable that these repre- sent casual occurrences and that regularly the species rang«s to the Bermudas (Jardine), throughout the West Indies and the neighboring northern coast of Venezuela (Ernst), but not farther east or south on the Atlantic coast; while on the Pacific it regularly passes south to northwestern Peru (Sclater and Salvin) and the interior of Colom- bia and Medcllin (Sclater and Salvin). The northern winter range •extends regularly to North Carolina (Brimley), Tennessee (Gettys), central Texas (Brown), rarely southern Arizona (Mearns), and throughout most of the southern half of California (Fisher). Casual occurrences have been noted in Maryland (Stabler), Pennsylvania (Burns), and Ehode Island (Mearns). After the great storm of November, 1888, which carried large numbers of killdeer to the New England coast several weeks later than the usual time for their disappearance from that part of their range, many of these birds failed to undertake a second southward migration and remained on the coasts of Massachusetts (Torrey) , New Hampshire (Chad- bourne), and southwestern Maine, (Brown). Most of them perished during the winter, tiut on the Massach,i:jsetts coast a few managed to endure. An occasional killdeer passes a mild winter in. southern Ohio (Jon^s), southern Indiana (McAtee), or on the Pacific coast to Washington (Johnson)., ■* . Spring, migration. — The killdeer is among the earliest migrants among shorebirds, and is not far behind the earliest migrating land birds. Its loud, piercing, oft-repeated calls make its identification easy, and many d.ata have bee;o. accumulated concerning the tim,e of its migrations. These begin in February in the northern part of the winter range, and during that month many crowd northward to the limit of unfrozen ground. Such birds arrive on the average near Asheville, N. C, February 22, earliest February 18, 1893 (Cairns); central Kentucky, February 25^ earliest February 19, 1906 (Embody); Brookville, Ind., February 23, earliest February 15, 1890 (Butler). The early days of March find the killdeer in full migration far beyond its winter home, and its arrival has been noted as follows: Variety Mills, Va., average March 13, earliest March 2, 1888 (Micklem); White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., average March 9, earliest March 2 1891 (Surber); Washington, D. C, average March 18, earliest Feb- ruary 14, 1908 (HoUister); Waynesburg, Pa., average March 8, ear- liest February 24, 1891 (Jacobs); Berwyn, Pa., average March 14, earliest January 29, 1889 (Burns); Branchport, N. Y., average March 19, earliest March 1, 1890 (Burtch); Jewett City, Conn., average for twenty-one years March 17, earliest March 2, 1888 (Jen- nings) ; central Rhode Island, average March 19, earliest February 27, 1902. Even as far north as Rhode Island, the killdeer is so rare that a market gunner near Newport (Sturtevant) secured only three during eight years while shooting several thousand shorebirds. KILLDEEE. 87 There seems to be a section west of the Allegheny Mountains in which the killdeer arrives earlier than at corresponding latitudes either east or west. The average date of arrival at Waterloo, Ind., is March 5 (Link); Oberlin, Ohio, March 5 (Jones); Livonia, Mich., March 10 (Alexander); and Petersburg, Mich., March 10 (Trombly). Near there in Pennsylvania, on the western side of the mountains, the date of arrival at Waynesburg has already been given as March 8 (Jacobs). At the same latitude in Pennsylvania east of the mountains the killdeer arrives a week later, while to the westward of Indiana the retardation of migration is shown by the following' dates of arrival: Central Missouri, average March 12, earliest Feb- ruary 4, 1890 (Bush); southern Iowa, average March 12, earliest March 2, 1906 (Davison) ; southern Wisconsin, average of thirty years March 15, earliest March 2, 1887 (Welman); Chicago, 111., average of sixteen years March 21, earliest February 28, 1895 (Woodruff). Farther north in Ontario, as the killdeer nears the limit of its breed- ing range, the arrival is much delayed; southern Ontario is not reached on the average until March 23, earliest March 7, 1903 (Smith),- while the average date at Ottawa, Ontario, is April 17, earliest March 18, 1894 (White). Dates of arrival farther west are: Man- hattan, Kans:, average March 8, earliest February 27, 1882 (Lantz); Onagaj Kans., average March 4, earliest February 23, 1891 (Creve- coeur) ; Syracuse, Nebr., average March 10, earliest February 26, 1902 (Hunter); central South Dakota, average March 24, earliest March 20, 1889 (Cheney) ; Lanesboro, Mirni., average March 29, ear- liest March 13, 1889 (Hvoslef) ; Argusville, N. Dak., average April 7, earliest March 31, 1893 (Edwards); Larimore, N. Dak., average April 7, earliest April 3, 1893 (Eastgate) ; southern Manitoba, aver- age April 5, earliest March 24, 1902 (Criddle) ; Qu'Appelle, Saskatche- wan, average April 16, eariiest April 8, 1903 (Wemyss); two seen June 25, 1903, at Fort Resolution, Mackenzie (Preble). The advance in the Rocky Mountains is not so late comparatively as in most species: Cheyenne, Wyo., average March 21,, earliest March 16, 1889 (Bond); Rathdrum, Idaho, average March 30, ear- liest February 19, 1902 (Danby); Terry, Mont., average April 6, earliest March 29, 1897 (Cameron) ; Big Sandy, Mont., average April 6, earliest April 3, 1904 (Coubeaux) ; Red Deer, Alberta, April 11, 1893 (Farley); Portland, Oreg., February 27, 1900 (Nicholas); Grays Harbor, Washington, February 16, 1892 (Lawrence) ; southern British Columbia, February 28, 1888 (Brooks). South of the breed- ing grounds the last was seen at San Jos6, Costa Rica, March 12, 1890 (Cherrie), and at Sisal, Yucatan, May 9, 1865 (Schott). The date of nesting seems to bear little relation to the latitude. Eggs have been taken at Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, May 9, I860 (Xantus); Monterey, Calif., March, 1867 (Day and Spencer); 88 NOETH AMERICAN SHOEEBIEDS. Variety Mills, Va., April 12, 1886 (Micklem) ; Laurel, Md., just hatch- ing April 24, 1897; Erie,Pai,April7,1888(Todd):j Canandaigua,N.Y., April 23, 1879 (Howey) ; Blbomington, Ind., April 12, 1903 (McAtee) ; Kingston, Ontario, May 1, 1905 (Beaupre) ; Eagle Pass, Tex., March 18, 1884 (Negley) ; Corvallis, Oreg., downy young late April (Wood- copk); Tacoma, Wash., April 14, 1908 (Bowles); Edmonton, Alberta,, eggs May 19, 1897 (Macoun). ■ > ■ Fall migration. — The few records of fall arrival south of the breed- ing range show that the killdeer is one of the late migrants. It was noted in Porto Rico, October 18, 1899, and October 7, 1900 (Bowdish); San Jos6, Costa^Rica, October 15, 1891 (Cherrie); and on the coast of Peru, October 24, 1867 (Sclater and Salvin). The last noted in southern British Columbia was November 28, 1888 (Brooks); Aweme, Manitoba, avferage September 23 j latest September 30, 1901 (Griddle); Onaga;, Kans., average October 22, latest November 8, 1896 (Crevecoeur) ; Lincoln, Nebr., latest Novem- ber 18, 1900 (Wolcott); Delavan, Wis., November 6, 1894 (HoUister); southern Iowa, average November 10, latest December 25, 1886 (Houghton); Chicago, 111., average October 21, latest NovemberilS, 1885 (Holmes); southern Michigan, average November 1, latest November 13, 1891 (Alexander); Ottawa, Ontario, average Septem- ber 11, latest October 16, 1905 (White); southern Ontario, average October 19, latest November 10,- 1900 (Saunders); Wauseon, Ohio, average November 9 y latest November 23, 1891 (Mikesel); Waterloo, Ind., average November 7, latest November 21, 1905 (Link); Mon- treal, Canada^: September 1, 1895 (Wintle); Phillips, Me., October 24, 1905 (Sweet); Block Island; R. I., November 5, 1889 (Dodge); Branchport, N. Y., November 29, 1896 (Stone); Suffield, Conn., November 16, 1887 (Smith); Erie, Pa., November 26, 1891 (Todd); Berwyn, Pa., average November 3, latest November 22, 1886 (Burns) ; Bloomington, Ind., December 12, 1885 (McAtee); St. Louis, Mo., December 18, 1887 (Widmann). [Santo Doniingo Killdeer. Oxyechm vociferus torquatus (Linn.). The Santo Domingo killdeer is the resident form of the West Indies, breeding in Cuba, the Isle of Pines, Jamaica, and Haiti, and probably also in Porto Rico.] Semipalmated Plover. JEgialitis semipalmata (Bonap.)'. Breeding range. — The present known summer home of the semi- palmated plover extends north to Cumberland Sound (Kumlien), Melville Peninsula (Parry), Wellington Channel (Greely), and Melville Island (Parry). The occurrence of the species at these two latter places, latitude about 75° N., makes it probable that it occurs equally far north on the western side of Baffin Bay. It is common on the arctic coast of America as far west as the mouth of the Mackenzie (MacParlane). Thence westward it seems to be rare oh the northern coast of Alaska (Nelson), but is tolerably common in Kotzehue SEMIPALMATED PLOVEK. 89 Spun4 (Townsend). It seems to be more common in the middle Yukon Valley (Bishop) than on the coast, , This plover breeds south to Sable Island (Dodd) ; southern New BjTMiiswiqk (Cheney); the Magdalen Islands (Brewster); southern James Bay (Todd); York Factory, in southern Keewatin (Preble); probably rarely in noi^thern Manitoba (Macoun); on the Slave River •of southern Mackenzie (Preble); Lake Marsh, southern Yukon (Bishop) ; to the mouth of the Yukon, Alaska (Dall and Bannister) ; and on the Queen Charlotte Islands, B. C. (Brooks). Winter range. — ^The species winters on both coasts of South America — south to Port Desire, 48° S. (Seebohm), on the east coast, and to central Chile (Schalow) on the west; thence through northern South America, Central America, and the West Indies to the southern B^thamas (Bonhote), Florida (Worthington)^ the coast of Georgia (Helme), South Carolina (Kendall), Mississippi (Allison), and Loui- siana (Beyer) ; on the Pacific coast of Mexico, north to southern Lower California (Brewster).^ In winter it is thus one of the most widely dis- tributed of the ^horebirds. Migration range.— T:h.e species is a common migrant in eastern North America west to the eastern parts of Texas (Beckham), Nebraska (Wolcott), and Saskatchewan (Macoun). Thence over the plains and throughout the whole Rocky Mountain district it is almost unknown, but reapped,rs on the Pacific Coast, and ranges west in migration to the central Aleutian Islands (McGregor), the Pribilof Islands (Prentiss), and even occasionally across Bering Strait to the coast of Siberia (Nelsctn). Spring' migration. — ^At 'least 'four-fifths of the dates on the spring migration of this species fall in May. This is true for the entire district between the winter and summer homes, and the dates indicate that the migration in the United States occurs chiefly between May 10 and June 1. An unusually early individual was taken April 7, 1875, at Erie, Pa. (Sennett). Other spring dates are: Magdalena Bay, Lower California, March 12, 1889 (Bryant); Monterey, Calif., April 17, 1903; Vancouver Island, British Columbia, April 28, 1894 (Kermode); Mount McKinley, Alaska, May 17, 1908 (Sheldon); Kowak River, Alaska, May 30, 1899 (Grinnell) ; Pea and Bodie islands, North Caro- lina, April 25, 1905 (Bishop); Lincoln, Nebr., April 27, 1900 (Wol- cott) ; southern Ontario, average of six years May 18, eariiest May 8, 1885 (Gamier); Melville Peninsula, May 31, 1882 (Parry); Wellington Channel, June 6, 1851 (Greely). The species was taken in Cuba as late as May 22,' 1900 (Palmer and Riley); southern Florida, May 25, 1886 (Scott) ; from New jersey to the Great Lakes it remains regularly to the first week in Jun,e— latest Oberiin, Ohio, June 17, 1904 (Joiies); latest Worth, III., June 20, 1894 (Woodruff) ; and along the coast of Maine nonbreeders occur all summer (Knight). 90 NOKTH AMEEICAN SHOKEBIKDS. Eggs have been taken at Grand Manan, New Brunswick, June 21, 1875 (Cheney); James Bay, June 18, 1896 (Macoun); Cape Fuller- ton,' June 28, 1904 (Eifrig); Fort Anderson, June 11, 1863 (Mac- Farlane); Fort Yukon, Alaska, June 2, 1862 (Lockhart); Lake Marsh, Yukon, just hatched, July 2, 1899 (Bishop): ■ Fall migration. — At one of the most southern breeding places, near York Factory, Keewatin, in 1900, the most advanced young were still in the downy stage .July 10 (Pifeble), and yet by this time the species is already in full fall migration, and the earliest individuals have appeared several hundred miles south of the breeding range : Toronto, Ontario, July 5, 1890 (Fleming); Rhode Island, July 6 (Howe and Sturtevant); Coronado de Terraba, Costa Rica, July 3, 1907 (Oarriker); Margarita Island, off the coast of Venezuela, July 7, 1895 (Robinson). The regular fall migration is about a month later: Sitka, Alaska, common after July 25, 1896 (Grinnell); Prince Edward Island, average of three years August 13 (Bain); Long Island, New York, average of seVen years August 6, earliest July 17, 1905 (Latham); Grenada, West Indies, August 24, 1881 (Wells); Santa Catarina, Brazil, August 4 (Sharpe). Though most semipalmate|i plover migrate early, a few stay until freezing weather: Ottawa, Ontario, average of five years September 19, latest September 29, 1885 (White) ; Prince of Wales Sound, Ungava, latest September 25, 1886 (Payne); Prince Edward Island, average of three years, October 13 (Bain); Erie, Pa., rare after Octo- ber 1, latest November 2, 1901 (Todd); Point Pelee, Ontario, Octpber 29, 1905 (Taverner and Swales) ; Grinnell, Iowa, October 22, 1886 (Jones); Los Angeles County, Calif,, Octol^er 17, 1894 (Grinnell). Ringed Plover. jEgialilia hiaticula (liinn.). Both coasts of Greenland are included in the breeding range of the ringed plover, from the southern end to Sabine Island (Scoresby) on the east coast and to McCormick Bay (Schalow) on the west. Across Smith Sound from this latter place and one degree farther north, at Buchanan Bay, EUesmere Island, latitude 78° 48' (Feilden) is the farthest north the species has, been found in the Western Hemi- sphere, though north of Europe it has been taken at 83° latitude. On the American side it breeds south to Cumberland Sound (Kumlien) ; also south to central Europe and Turkestan, and east to the New Siberian Islands, and occurs casually east to the Chuckchi Peninsula. The winter is spent from the shores of the Mediterranean to southern Africa and rarely to northwestern India. It has wandered to Chile (Sharpe), and to Barbados, September 10, 1888 (Feilden). The first arrived at Cumberland Sound in 1878 about the middle of June (Kumlien). Little Ringed Plover, ^gialitis dubia (Scop.). The claim of the little ringed plover to a place among North American birds is rather slight. A specimen is supposed to have been taken on PIPING PLOVEK. 91 the coast of Alaska (Harting), and one is recorded from San Fran- cisco, Calif. (Ridgway). In each case the bird was far from home, for the breeding grounds of the species are in southern Europe, central Asia, and north to about 60° latitude. The species winters in the northern half of Africa, and in Asia south to India, and the Malay Archipelago. Piping Plover. :Xgialitis meloda (Ord). "breeding range. — The northern limit of the piping plover's breed- ing range is in Nova Scotia (Bryant), the Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Bishop), southern Ontario (Saunders), central Manitoba (Bendire), southern Saskatchewan (Macoun), and proba- bly southwestern Keewatin (King) . It is very local in its distribu- tion during the breeding season, and is unknown over most of the district mentioned above. Formerly it nested oh the coast of Vir- ginia atCobbs Island (Kirkwood), and was fairly common as a breeder on the New Jersey coast (Scott). Now it is rare as a breeder afty- where on the Atlantic coast south of Nova Scotia, though still hesting at a few localities south to southern New "Jersey (Stone). In the interior it nests as far south as Erie, Pa. (Todd) ; the lake shore in northern Ohio (Jones); near Lake Michigan in northwestern Indiana (Woodruff) ; and west to central Nebraska (Bruner, Wolcott, and Swenk). ,. Winter range. — The coast of Texas (Sennett) and the coasts of Florida (Scott) and Georgia (Worthington) constitute the principal winter home of this species. Indeed, it is probable that records at other places represent stragglers. The West Indies are commonly included in the winter range, but the species seems to be only casual in inigration south of the United States. It was taken once in Porto Rico in August (Gundlach); Jamaica in November (Gosse); a few in Cuba in April of a single year (Gundlach) ; several on three islands of the Bahamas in May (Bangs) and July (Bonhite); three indi- viduals in the Bermudas in the fall (Reid). It has occurred occasion- ally on the New Jersey coast in winter (Stone). Spring migration. — Dates of spring arrival are very irregiUar. The average date on Long Island, New York, is April 7; earliest March 24, 1884 (Dutcher); eastern Massachusetts, average April 12, earliest March 26, 1893 (Mackay); southern Ontario, average May 16, ear- Uest May 1, 1891 (Fleming). Some other dates of arrival are: Cum- berland, Ga., March 10, 1902 (Helme); near Newport, R. I., March 24, 1903 (King); Erie, Pa., April 16, 1900 (Todd); Oberlin, Ohio, May 13, 1907 (Jones); Sioux City, Iowa, May 8, 1904 (Rich); Gib- bon, Nebr., May 4, 1888 (Thatcher); Indian Head, Saskatchewan, May 16, 1892 (Macoun). Thus, in general, migration up the Missis- sippi Valley is much later than at corresponding latitudes on the 92 NOKTH AMERICAN SHOKEBIEDS. Atlantic coast. Stragglers were noted at Cheyenne, Wyo., May 30, 1892 (Bond), Julesburg, Colo., May 17, 1899 (Dawson), and Natash- quan, Labrador, May 31, 1909 (Townsend and Bent). Eggs kave beenitaken at Big Charity Island, Michigan, May 20, 1903 (Arnold) ; Erie, Pa., May 24, 1900 (Todd) ; Long Beach, New Jersey, June 12, 1877 (Scott); Magdalen Island, June 16,1897; Cedar Point, Ohio, June 26, 1903, (Jones); Miller, Ind., June 13, 1905 (Butler); Miner County, S. Dak., June 5, 1891 (Paftoi;i); near Indian Head, Saskatchewan, June 1,8,, 1892 (Macoun). Powny yot;ng were taken July 21, 1906, at Big Stick Lake, southwestern Saskatchewan (Bent); . Fall migration. — The first was seen on the coast of North Carolina Jtdy 14, 1904, (Bishop); and at Fejriandina, Fla., August 3,. .1906 (Worthington). ,It was taken at Corpus Christi, Tex,, all through July; 1887 (Semiett), laut these may have been nonbreeders, that stmamered on the coast, In general the species migrates so early that it is seldom found north of its winter home after August. La,te dates are: Long Island, New York, August 30, 1889 (Scott); eastern Massachusetts, August 26, 1888 (Miller); Erie, Pa,, September 26, 1902 (Todd). Sno'wy Plover. JEgialitis nivosa Caes. Breeding range. — The sea coasts and the shores of the larger lakes of western United States constitute the principal breeding grounds of the snowy plover. The species nests at least as far north as Pes- cadero, Cah^. (Willard); Humboldt River, Nevada (Hanna); Salt Lake, Utah (Ridgway); Comanche County, Kans. (Gbss); and on the coast of Texas (Sennett). , It is extremely local in the interior. It breeds soiith at least to Corpus Christi, Tex. (Sennett), and prob- ably along the northern third of the western coast of Lower California (Belding). ' Winter range. — It winters in Chile south at least to Calbuco, lati- tude 41° S. (Schalow), and thence north in Peru (Sclater and Salvin), Guatemala (Salvin), and Mexico (Belding) to the coast of California at Santa Barbara (Keck). On the Atlantic side it winters as far north as Aransas Bay, Texas (Sennett), Migration range.^Outside of the regular winter and summer hoines, the species has been taken once in Brazil (specimen in United States National Museum); Margarita Island, off the coast of Venezuela, July 2, 1895 (Robinson); Guantanamo, Cuba, July, 1858 (Gundlach); Long Island, Bahamas, July 16, 1903 (Riley); Celestun, Yucatanj April 12, 1865 (Schott); Whitfield, Fla., May 5, 1903 (Worthington); Bay St. Louis, Miss., September 19-20, 1899 (Allison); Toronto, Ontario, twice (Fleming); Lincoln, Nebr., May 17, 1903 (Swenk); Cheyenne, Wyo., once (Bond); Newport, Oreg., March 24, 1906 (Shaw); Grays Harbor, Washington, September 3, 1899 (Dawson). Spring migration.— The snowy plover was seen in Comanche County, Kans., May 12, 1887 (Goss), and at San Francisco, Calif., ; WILSOBT PLOVEE. 93 April 8, 1857 (Hepburn). The species has been taken at Cavanche, Chile, in May (Schalow), and at Coquimbo, Chile, in June (Sharpe). It may prove to be resident ia Chile. Eggs have been taken in Los Angeles County, Calif., April 25, 1899 (Robertson), and young. May 1, 1897 (Grinnell); also eggs at Santa Cruz, Calif., April 16, 1873 (Cooper). In southern Kansas the eggs are laid in late May (Goss) . Fall migration. — Fall migrants have been recorded in September from Guatemala (Salvin), and in October from the southern Umit of the range in Chile (Schalow). The species has been taken at San Francisco as late as November 1, 1898 (Hornung). Iktongolian. Plover. Mgialitis mongola (Pall.). In the summer of 1849 Captain Moore of the Plover in his search for Sir John Franklin touched at the Choris Peninsula, Alaska, and while there secured two specimens of the Mongolian plover — ^the first and only individuals ever taken in North America. The breed- ing range of the species is on the opposite side of Bering Sea, on the Commander Islands, and in .northeastern Siberia. It migrates through Japan and China, and winters from the Philippiaes to Australia. [Azara Sing Plover. Mgialitis collaris (Vieill.). The Azara ring plover is, the only true sh,orpbird found in pentral America tha,t does not range north to the tTnited States. It has a wide distribution in South America, south to Argentina, extends north to southern Mexico, and has been taken once on Grenada, West Indies.] Wilson I'lover. Ochthodromus wilsonius{()Td). Breeding range.— The Wilson plover is found in summer through- out the northern Bahamas (Bpnbote) and along the Gulf coast of the United States from Florida (Scott) to Texas (Merrill), and breeds along the Atlan,tic coast ^t the present time asfar north as the islands oH the southeastern' coast of Virginia (Dutcher)'; many, years ago it bred occasionally pn the New Jersey coast (Wilson), The summer status of the species on the Pacific coast, of Lower California is not yet definitely settled. It was found common at Abreojos Point, June 17, 1897 (Kaeding), but whether or not it was breeding was not determined. Winter range. — The winter range is not known with certainty, because the West Indies are occupied by a resident subspecies, rufinucTius, and sufficient material has not yet been accumulated to determine the relative areas occupied by the two forms in wiater. The northern form winters as far north as southern Florida— form- erly northern Florida (Scott) ; the coast of southern Texas (Merrill) ; Guaymas, Sonora (Nelson); and La Paz, Lower California (Belding). Thence it ranges south to the Pacific coast of Guatemala (Salvin). Spring migration. — Dates of arrival on the Atlantic coast are: Amelia Island, Florida, April 2, 1906 (Worthington) ; Darien, Ga., 94 NOETH AMEHICAN SHOKEBIEDS. March 19, 1890 (Worthington) ; Cumberland Island, Georgia, March 18, 1902 (Helme); Frogmore, S. C, March 26, 1886, and March 20, 1888 (Hoxie); Fort Macon, N. C, April 15, 1869 (Coues); The species has wandered north on the coast several times to Long Island (Butcher), OHce to Connecticut (Purdie), twice to Massachu- setts (Townsend), and even to Nova Scotia (Goss). The only record for the Pacific coast of the United Statesas that of the single bird taken June 29, 1894, at Pacific Beach, California (Ingersoll). Eggs have been taken at Sarasota. Bay, Florida, April 8 (Moore); coast of Georgia, April 29 (Bailey); Corpus Christi, Tex., April 25 (Chapman); Cobbs Island, Virginia, May 7 (Gates). [Bufous-naped' Plover. Ochthodromus vnlsoniws rufinuchus (Kidgw.). The principal home of the Bubspecies rufous-naped plover is the Greater Antilles, whence it spreads: to the neighboring coasts of British. Honduras and Guatemala; probably also to Yucatan. : It breeds also in northern Soutsh America on the coast of Colombia, Venezuela, and Guiana. While some individuals remain all the year on the breeding grounds, others migrate a short distance to several of the islands of the Lesser Antilles and tO'Brazil as far South as Bahia. It is' probably this form that occurs on the fcoaat of Ecuador and Peru, but, from lack of specimens this point is not settled.] j;,; - , , , , Mountain Plover. Podasocys montanus (Towns.). Breeding range. -^The mountain plover seems to be confined in summer to the United States, but closely approaches the boundaries, both north and south. , In 1874 it was found breeding and not uncom- mon on the Frenchman Kiver in Montana (Coues), not, far from the Canadian boundary, and on Milk River, Montana , (Coues), right at the line, but so far has not been recorded anywhere in Canada. It breeds south to northern New Mexico (Henshaw); east to north- western Texas (Bailey)^ western Kansas (Fisher), and western Nebraska (Bruner), west to Sun River, Montana (Dutcher), Fort Bridger, Wyol' (Drexler), Del Norte, Colo. (Hill and Orth), and San Miguel County, New Mexico (Mitchell). Winter range. — This species winters from northern California (Cooper), southern Arizona (Osgood), and San Antonio, Tex. (Beet- ham), south to Zacatecas, Mexico (Sharpe), and La Paz, Lower California (Sharpe). It is one of the few species that winters far- ther west than it breeds. Migration range. — The more eastern individuals «f this species probably follow the usual north and, south migration route,, keeping to the plains east of the foothills oif the Rocky Mountains, but some of the more western individuals take a very peculiar course in migra- tion. The species is a tolerably common migrant at Marysville in northern California (Belding), arriving in November. Whence come these, November birds? The nearest point of the breeding range is northwestern Montana in the vicinity of Great Falls (Williams).> To reach MarysvjUe from Great Falls the plover must pass through SUKF BIED. 95 Idaho ajid either Oregon or Nevada,^ but in these three States it is unknown, and seems not to be recorded from Utah. So the birds that visit California are separated from the nearest known habitat of t|he species by a zone about 600 miles wide and containing two ranges of high mountains. Spring migration. — The mountain plover is among the early- migrant shorebirds* It arrived: on the average at Beloit, Colo., March 26,, earliest March 23,1890 (Hoskins) ; Loveland, Colo., March 18, 1887 (Smith). f: Eggs have been taken at Fort Lyonj Colo., June 9, 1886 (Thome); San Luis Valley, Colo;, June 10, 1873 (Henshaw) ; youhg just hatched at Terry, Mont., June 15, 1898 (Camieron); young at Colby, Kans., June 28, 1893 (Fisher); eggs near North Platte, Nebr., July 8, 1859 (Suckley). Fall migration. — The first was seen at Corpus Christi, Tex., July 25, 1887 (Sennett); Pecos City, Tex., August 1, 1903 (Ligon). Quite a party of them was seen at James Island, Florida, July 20 to August 1, 1901 (Williams), but they were probably: only stragglers. The last one noted, in 1890 at Beloit, Colo., was on October 15 (Hoskins). Surf Bird. Aphriza virgatd((jimel.y. The breeding range of the surf bird is unknown, for the bird has never been encountered in its summer home. It goes north along the Pacific coast of the United States in spring, and has been traced all along the coast to the Kowak River, Alaska, where it arrived May 29, 1899 (Grinnell). Then it disappears and is not seen again until on its way south the l^ttter part of July. The natives say it breeds on the mountains a few miles' back from the coast. The surf bird winters in Chile, as far south as the Strait of Magellan (Sharpe), and is known in migration on the coasts of Peru (Tschudi), Ecuador (Hartert), Mexico (Xantus), and Lower Calif omia ' (Kaed- ing). It arrived at Newport, Oreg:, April 25, 1895; April 27, 1897; May 3, 1899; April 27, 1900; average of the four years April 28 (Bretherton) . Agreeing well with this date is its appearance at San Geronimo Island, Lower California, March 15, 1897 (Kaeding) ; and the date already given of May 29 at Kowak River> Alaska (Grinnell). An extra early date is March 8, 1859, at Puget Sound, Washington (Kennerly). The latest recorded date at the Strait of Magellan is March 3, 1879 (Sharpe); the species was common at Abreojos Point, tower California, April 19, 1897 (Kaeding); a belated bird was taken on the Farallon Islajids, Calif., June 3, 1903 (Kaeding), Several appeared in fall migration at Sitka, Alaska, July 21 (Grinnell); New- port, Oreg., July 24, 1900 (Bptherton) ; Monterey Bay, Calif., August 3, 1894 (Loomis); Vaqueria, Ecuador, September 16, 1901 (Hartert). The species has been noted at St. Michael, Alaska, until the first of October (Nelson), and at Berkeley,, Cahf., as late as October 24, 1888 (Palmer). 96 NOKTH AMERICAN SHOKEBIEDS. Turnstone. Arenaria iriterpres (Linn.). Breeding range. — The turnstone inhabits nearly the whole of the Eastern Hemisphere and a small part of the Western. It breeds along the whole Arctic coast of Europe and Asia and south to Japan and the islands iu the Baltic Sea. It ranges eastward across Bering Strait at least to Point Barrow, Alaska (Stone), and breeds south to the mouth of the Yukon (Nelson) ahd on the islaHds of St. Lawrence (Nelson) and St. Matthew (Elliott) in Bering Sea. Its range to the northeastward in North America has not yet been definitely settled. Two specimens from the west coast of central Greenland have been identified by W. Palmer as Anterpres: No specimens' were exam- ined by him from any point between Greenland and the Anderson River, Mackenzie; the specimens from this latteu place are certainly morinella. Where the dividing line between the two forms runs is not certain, but since the birds of eastern Ungava are morinella, it is probable that this is the form occurring on the islands near the Arctic coast of North America and equally probable that the records on the islands ;nor.thwest of Greenland should be referred to interpret. The species has been recorded along the whole west coast of Green^ land, and was found breeding at Disco Bay (Kumlien) and on the eastern and northern coasts of EUesmere Island, almost to latitude 83° (Feildep), The turnstone, therefore, ^ one of the jpao^t northern breeding of all birds. On the ea,stern, coast of (xreenland it ranges at least as |ar north as Sabine Island, latituflQ 74° (Winge). ■W^ntfir. rangf. — The species ^sdniterp, on thp coasts of nearly the whole of the Eastern Hemisphere from; Europe and Asia to southern Africa, AustraUa, and the islands of the Pacific, Indian, and eastern Atlantic oceans.: ,, Spring migration. — The species arrived in the Aleutians at Unalaska May 19, 1890 (Palmer). , As it winters.in Hawaii (Henshaw), and is not known on;the coast of; the mainland south of Alaska, it is prac- tically certain that these Unalaska birds' make the journey of 2,000 miles in a single, flight from Hawaii to the Aleutians. Other dates of spring arrival are: Mouth of the Yukon, May 19, 1879 (NelsOn); Nulato, Alaska^May 23, 1868 (Dall); Point Barrow, Alaska, June 12, 1882 (Murdoch), June 12, 1883 (Murdoch), and May 29, 1898 (Stone). The dates of arrival northwest of Greenland are May 27, 1876, 6,t Cape Henry (Hart), and June 2, 1883, at Cape Baird (Greely), each hear latitude 82°. ! Eggs were taken July 30, 1876, at Discovery Bay, EUesmere Island, 81° 40' N. (Hart), and young were alrea,dy on the wing July 9, 1883, a,t Fort Conger (Greely), a few miles distant. Downy young were taken June 4, 1898, at Point Barrow, Alaska (Stone). Fall migration.— The first arrived on the Pribilof Islands July 2 (Elliott), and after the middle of the month were abundant. The EXTDDY TURNSTONE. 97 last ones noted were: Depot Point, Ellesmere Island, latitude 82° 45' N., September 11, 1875 (Feilden); Point Barrow, Alaska, August 29, 1882 (Murdoch), and September 4, 1897 (Stone); Nushagak, Alaska, September 21, 1902 (Osgood). A specimen is reported taken September 8, 1904, at Pacific Beach, Calif. (Bishop), and one September 8, 1892, on Monomoy Island, Massachusetts (Bishop). ^ Buddy Turnstone. Arenaria interpres morinella (Linn.). Breeding range. — Undoubted breeding records of the ruddy tum- stone are very rare. It nested on the Lower Anderson and Franklin Bay (MacFarUne), and specimens of the breeding birds have been identified as morinella. Some form of the turnstone, probably morinella, breeds on Melville Island (Sabine), on Melville Peninsula (Parry), and at Bellot Strait (Walker), but its identity has yet to be determined by the examination of specimens. Winter range. — The turnstone of the Western Hemisphere ranges south in winter to central Chile — ^at least to Talcahuano (Sharpe) and probably to Valdivia (Boeck) — and to Sao Paulo in Brazil (Ihering). It winters on the coasts of northern South America, in the West Indies, Central America, Mexico, and north to the coast of South Carolina (Coues), Louisiana (Beyer), Texas (Merrill), and in California at least as far north as San Francisco (Mailliard). Spring migration. — The turnstone, notwithstanding it winters so far north, is a late migrant. The probable explanation is that its breeding grounds in the far north are not ready for occupancy until nearly midsummer. It was seen May 7, 1906, on Pea and Bodie islands, North Carolina (Bishop). The average date of arrival on Long Island, New York, is Maiy 16, earliest May 12, 1897 (Scott); eastern Massachusetts, May 5, earliest May 1, 1892 (Mackay); Erie, Pa., May 24, 1893 (Todd). It appears to be rare in spring north of Maine on the Atlantic coast. The species is rare in the interior of the United States, but has been noted a few times in nearly every State east of the Rocky Mountains. Some dates of arrival are : Starke County, Ind., May 20, 1888 (Butler) ; Oberlin, Ohio, May 16, 1901 (Jones); southern Ontario, average May 27, earliest May 24, 1900 (Nash); Leech Lake, Minn., May 24, 1903 (Currier); Indian Head, Saskatchewan, May 15, 1892 (Maeoun); Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, May 25, 1901 (Preble); Fort Resolution, Mackenzie, June i, 1860 (Kennicott); Fort Simpson, Mackenzie, May 29, 1904 (Preble); Fort Anderson, Mackenzie, June 10, 1864 (MacFarlane) ; Winter Island, Melville Peninsula, June 14, 1822 (Richardson). It was fotmd off the coast of Yenezuela, July 2, 1892 (Hartert), July 7, J895 (Robinson), aad early July, 1901 (Claris). A few are said to remain all summer on Carriacou Island, Wes't Indies (Wells). S6595°— Biill. 35—12 -7 98 NOETH AMEEICAlir SHOBEBIRDS. The migrant birds remain in numbers far south, of the breeding grounds until early June: Jamaicaj June 12, 1863 (Field); Arcos Keys, Yucatan, June 6, 1900 (Nelson and Goldman); Key West, Fla., June 14, 1888 (Scott); Long Island, New York, average June 4, latest June 9, 1905 (Latham); Toronto, Ontario, June 17, 1894 (Fleming). , Fall migration. — The southward moveftient must begin in July, for, by early August migrants have appeared over much of the coasts of the United States. Some dates of fall arrival are: Monomoy Island, Massachusetts, July 27 , 1 886 (Gaboon) ; Lon^ Island, New York, average August 5, earliest July 27, 1892 (Scott); Monterey,Calif., July 18, 1892 (Loomis); Fort Churchill, Keewatin, July 30, 1900 (Preble); com- mon at Corpus Christi, Tex., after July 1, 1887 (Sennett); Toronto, Ontario, July 30, 1898 (Nash); Henley Harbor, Ungava, August 20, 1860 (Coues); Mingan Island, Gulf of St. Lawrence, August 16, 1887 (Palmer); Montreal, Canada, August 17, 1891 (Wintle); Erie, Pa., August 24, 1889 (Sennett); Punta Rassa, Fla., August 2, 1886 (Scott); San Mateo, Tehuantepec, August 9, 1869 (Sumichrast) ; Jamaica, August 13, 1863 (March) ; Bermudas, August 3, 1874 (Reid) ; Talcahuano, Chile, September 9, 1879 (Sharpe). Dates of the last seen are: York Factory, August 26, 1900 (Preble); eastern Massa- chusetts, October 9, 1889 (Miller); Erie, Pa., September 25, 1900 (Todd); Long Island, New York, September 20, 1889 (Scott), acci- dental November 24, 1887 (Scott). Black Turnstone. Arenaria melanocephala (Vig.). Breeding range. — The black turnstone breeds commonly on the coast of Alaska near the mouth of the Yukon (Nelson) and up the Yukon as far as Nulato (Dall and Bannister). It breeds less com- monly north to Kotzebue Sound (Townsend) and south to Nushagak (McKay). It has been seen on the eastern side of Bering Strait nearly to Point Barrow, Alaska (Nelson), and on the western side to Herald Island (Nelson), off the northern coast of Siberia, but it is not yet known to breed in either of these localities. Winter range. — The greater nuniber winter on the coast of Lower California, south to Magdalena Bay (Anthony). The species is not rare in winter on the California coast as far north as San Francisco (Mailliard), and a few have been known to winter at the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Suckley). It may winter occasiohally even in south- eastern Alaska, for the National: Museum has a specimen collected February 2, 1897, at Howkan Island, Alaska (Cantwell). Spring migration. — The species arrived at St. Michael, Alaska, about the middle of May (Nelson) and at Nulato, Alaska, May 16, 1867, and May 23, 1868 (Dall and Bannister). Fall migrcition.-TTThe black turnstone occurs on the Pacific, coast from British Columbia (Kermode) to southern California throughout FKAZAK OYSTEK-CATCHER. 99 the entire summer, but is not known to breed (Grinnell). The pres- ence of these nonbreeding birds prevents accurate observations on the arrival of the first migrants from the north, but it seems probable that early in July some appear on the coast of central California, and the species was seen August 6, 1902, on the Coronados Islands, Lower California (Grinnell and Daggett). The last leave the delta of the Yukon about the middle of September (Nelson) and Nushagak, Alaska, September 22, 1902'(Osgood). European Oyster-catcher. Hxmatopus ostralegus Linn. The southwestern coast of Greenland has been visited several times by the European oyster-catcher, once as far north as Godthaab, latiT tude 64° (Winge). It is not certainly known to breed there, but its breeding range extends from Iceland and western Europe to Turke- stan and from southern Europe to the Arctic coast. It winters from central Europe to central Africa and to western India. Oyater-catclier. Hxmatoptis palliatus Temm. The oyster-catcher ranges south to Santa Catharina, southern Brazil (Sharpe), and to Arauco in central Chile (Sharpe). It occurs throughout most of the West Indies and Central America and along both coasts of Mexico — on the west coast north to the Tres Marias (Nelson). On the Atlantic coast it is resident as far north as South Carohna (Coues), and formerly was common on the Virginia coast (Bailey), and bred at Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey (Wilson). There are a few records for the coast of Massachusetts (Brewer) and one at Grand Manan, New Brunswick (Boardman). At the present time it is rare or accidental north of Virginia, though a flock of about 20 was seen July 20, 1907, at Digby, Nova Scotia, by W. H. Osgood, of the Biological Survey. It is still resident on the coasts of Louisiana and Texas. It breeds throughout most of its regular range and probably most individuals are nonmigratory. The few that migrate along the south- ern Atlantic coast perform their short migrations principally in March. Eggs were taken at Corpus Christi, Tex., in 1882, April 6 to 27 (Goss). Eggs are recorded in Florida from April 10 to May 6 ; and they have been collected on the islands of the Virginia coast from May 3 to July 12. Frazar Oyster-catcher. Exmatopusfrazari Brewet. The Frazar oyster-catcher is apparently nonmigratory, and is the common breeding bird of both coasts of southern Lower California, whence it ranges along the whole west coast of the peninsula and north to San Diego (Cooper), the coast of Ventura County (Evermann), and the Santa Barbara Islands (Cooper), casual on the coast of Smaloa, Mexico (Nelson and Goldman). In the northern part of its range it is not so numerous as lachmani, whose range overlaps "that of 100 NORTH AMERICAN eSOEBBIEDS. frazari for about a thousand miles from Ventura County, Cailif., to Abreojos Point, Lower California (Kaeding). Black Oyster- catcher. Bsematopus'hachmani Aud. The coast of western North America is the home of the black oyster- catcher, and it bi;eeds locally thxoughaut its range from Abreojos Point, Lower California (Kaeding),, north to Prince Wil- liam Sound, Alaska (Grinnell), and west to Attu Island (Turner) at the western end of the Aleutian chain. It winters from the coast of southern British Columbia (Fannin) southward. The short mi- gration is performed during May, and the eggs are deposited at the northern end of the range from the middle to the latter part of June. This is also the time at which eggs are most commonly found at the extreme southern end of the summer home. Downy young were taken June 17, 1900, on Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia (Osgood). [stone Curlew. (Edicnemus bisiriahts (Wagler). The stone cijrlew is somewhat generally distributed throughout the lower portions of Central America, from Panama to southern Mexico, and also ranges into South America north of the Amazon. It is nonmigratory.] Mexican. Jacana. Jacana sjnnosa (Linn.). The Mexican jacana was described originally from Cartagena, Colombia, and as that remains still the oijly record for the country, the ascription to this locality was probably an error. The species is known from Divala, Panama (Bangs), and theiice north on the Pacific side to Magatlan, Mexico (Lawrence), and on the Gulf side to the mouth of the Rio Grande (Merrill). It is recorded from Porto Rico (Gundlach), Haiti (Ritter), Jamaica (Denny), and Cuba (Vig- ors) — rare in the first three ajid common in Cuba. One was talcen October, 1899, at Lake Okeechobee, Florida (Mearns) — ^fij-st record for the State. The species is resident throughout its regular range and breeds for about half the year from March to September. [Black Jacana. Jaemm nigra, (Gmel.). The black jacana is a nonmigratory specaes inhabiting northern South America and-occundngin eoi^thern Panama.] [iGoltanbian Jiacana. Jactma melanopygia (Sclater). A nonmi^atory South American species found principally in Coilombia, but ex- tending north to Pan^jaa.] ADDITIONAL COPIES oj this publicatton -^^ inay be procured from the Supeeintend- ENj? OF PocHM^TS. Government Pillnting Office, Washington, J). C, at 15 cents per copy