This is a bird of the hillsides or prairies, seldom being found near the water, their food consisting more of insects and worms than is usual with others of the Plover or Sandpiper families. They are quite shy, and are one of the birds much hunted for the table. Upper parts almost black, with feathers all edged with buff, giving them a very mottled appearance. Black on top of the head; neck light buff, streaked with black; under parts white.
Nest.—Usually placed in fields of grass, in slight hollows of the ground, lined with grass. They are frequently made and eggs deposited in good mowing fields just about the time for cutting the grass, and many nests are destroyed at this time.
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER.
262. Tryngites subruficollis. 8 inches.
Above, brownish black; each feather edged with buff; under parts buff, as are also the neck and head; blackish spots on the sides extending up the back of the neck and top of the head; primaries black.
Nest.—Placed in tufts of grass or in open fields; nest scantily lined with grass, in which three or four eggs, having a grayish white ground color, spotted with rich brown and chestnut, are placed.
Range.—Interior of North America, breeding from the Hudson Bay region to the Arctic coast. During migration, casual on the Pacific coast, and abundant in the interior, to South America.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER.
263. Actitis macularia. 8 inches.