256a. WESTERN SOLITARY SANDPIPER. _Helodromas solitarius cinnamomeus._ Range.--North America, west of the Plains; breeds in British Columbia and probably south of there, also. This bird is like the last, except that the spots on the back are buffy instead of white. Its nest and eggs will not differ in any respect from those of the eastern form. 257. GREEN SANDPIPER. _Helodromas acrophus._ This species, which very closely resembles our Solitary Sandpiper, is common in the northern parts of the Old World. It has only accidentally strayed to our shores. 258. WILLET. _Catoptrophorus semipalmatus semipalmatus._ Range.--Eastern United States, breeding north to the Middle States and occasionally straying to the Canadian border, especially in the Mississippi Valley. These large waders are among the most abundant of the marsh or beach birds. They breed in small companies in marshes, frequently in those which are covered with water at high tide, building a frail nest of grasses and weeds, where it will be barely out of reach of the highest water. The three or four eggs have a brownish, or sometimes greenish, buff ground color and are blotched with umber, and have fainter markings of lilac. Size 2.00 × 1.50. Data.--Sandy Bank, South Carolina, May 3, 1901. Nest on the ground, secreted in the high grass. Made of dead marsh grass, lined with finer grasses. [Illustration 157: Western Sandpiper. Willet.] [Illustration: Buff.] [Illustration: deco.] [Illustration: right hand margin.] Page 156 258a. WESTERN WILLET. _Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus._ Range.--Western North America, breeding north to Manitoba and British Columbia. Casually found on the South Atlantic coast during migrations. A larger and paler form of the preceding species; length 15.5 inches. The nesting habits are the same, and the eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the common Willet. Data.--Refugio, Texas, May 18, 1900. 4 eggs in a grass lined depression on the bay shore flat. Collector, J. W. Preston. 259. WANDERING TATTLER. _Heteractitis incanus._ Range.--Pacific coast of North America, breeding from British Columbia northward. This is a handsome species, uniform grayish above and white below, closely barred (in summer) with blackish. During the breeding season it is found on the rugged coasts and islands of Alaska, and casually south. It breeds in the marsh grass near the shores and along the banks of streams. 260. RUFF. _Machetes pugnax._ A common European species, occasionally found on the Atlantic coast of North America. It is a species remarkable for its pugnacity during the mating season; in size and appearance it is about like the Upland Plover, with the exception of the "ruff" which adorns the neck and breast of the male bird. 261. UPLAND PLOVER. _Bartramia longicauda._ Range.--North America, chiefly east of the Rocky Mountains, breeding from middle United States, northward.