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ACTITURUS BARTRAMIUS.
Bartram’s Sandpiper.

Tringa Bartramia, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vii, p. 63 pl. 59. fic. 9
: , » DO, . 0 + a
Totanus Bartramius, Bonap. Syn. Birds of Unit. States p 262.—G ld
gael arn) Bor-Ame pen pao |
Bartramia, Temm. Man. @’Orn., tom. ii. Pp. 650, and tom. iy
Tringa longicauda, Bechst. Vog., Nacht. p. 453
Actitis Bartramia, Naum. Naturg. Deuts. pl. 196
gS i ainiis, Bonap. Sage. Distr. Met. An. Vert.—Gould, Ha db. Bi i
Bartramia laticauda, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 553 aa
Eulga Bartramia, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 169.
Totanus variegatus, Vieill. Gal. des Ois.,

Birds of Europe, vol. iy. pl. 313.—Swains

p. 415.

tom. ii. p. 107, pl. ecexxxix,
= campestris et melanopygius, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., 2° édit. tom. vi
Tringoides Bartramius, G. R. Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. iii p. 574 . ae

an

Tuat the Dire : 2 . a
ee ne the Museum of Sydney are imbued with feelings of liberality and courtesy, I have
ad abundant p s; for w er ee : 3 nee 3

¢ ant proofs; for whenever Zoological science could be advanced through

their instrumentality
they have ever readily responded to the requests pr if

offered by myself and other naturalists of their father-
the opportuni P figurine res ies i i
WY colume to the ‘Birds .¢ cs pportunity of figuring the present species in this
sup] ary e to the irds of Australia,’ from the only example that has yet been taken in that
country, and which they kindly transmitted to me some years since on loan for that purpose. The note
accompanying it stated that it had been killed by an old sportsman, while snipe-shooting near the reservoir
: QI S ;

between the town of Sydney and Botany Bay in 1848, and that on dissection it proved to be a male and
had the stomach filled with < ic insects. The ac Boren he ee . ;

B d with aquatic insects. The accompanying figure having been taken, the specimen
referred to was returned to the Museum in 1861; and there it doubtless still exists, affording undeniable

evidence of the wandering disposition of a bird whose natural home is the New World, where it ranges
: 5

land; and it is to them that I am indebted for

over the temperate portions of the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, and some of the West-Indian
Islands ; it is also occasionally found in Europe, and even in England. That it should extend its range to the
antipodes is most remarkable.

It will be seen, by the list of synonyms, that this bird has been removed from the true Tringe and
Totani, with which it was originally associated, and that various generic appellations have been applied to
it: of these Bartramia appears to have the priority ; but this term not being generally adopted, I have
preferred that of Actiturus, proposed by Bonaparte.

The best accounts of this species are contained in the works of Wilson and Audubon, the latter of whom
states that it is the most truly terrestrial of all its tribe with which he was acquainted; for although not
unfrequently met with in the vicinity of shallow pools, the muddy margins of the shores of the sea, and fresh-
water lakes and streams, it never ventures to wade into them. ‘The dry upland plains of Opellousas and
Attacapas in Louisiana are amply tenanted with these birds in early spring and in autumn. They arrive there
in the beginning of March from the vast prairies of Texas and Mexico, where they spend the winter, and
return about the first of August. They are equally abundant on all the western prairies on both sides of
the Missouri, where, however, they arrive about a month later than in Louisiana, whence they disperse over
the United States, reaching the middle districts early in May, and the State of Maine by the middle of that
month, at about which period they are also seen in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. That some proceed as
far north as the plains adjoming the Saskatchewan River is certain; for Dr. Richardson there met with
examples in the month of May. In the neighbourhood of New Orleans, where the bird is oon) by the
name of “ Papabote,” it usually arrives in great bands in spring, and is met with on ibe open oe gud
large grassy savannas, and usually remains about a fortnight. On their ae Soe in the pore
of August, when they tarry in Louisana until the Ist of October, they are st and ioe In spring, when
they are poor and thin, they are usually much less shy than in anti es ice period they are ee
wary and difficult of approach. Like all experienced travellers, Bartram’s popes appears to a ommod ae
egards food; for in Louisiana it feeds on Cantharides and other Coleopterous

itself to circumstances as r :
in the Carolinas on crickets

insects; in Massachusetts on grasshoppers, on which it soon grows very ac
ell as the seeds of the crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinaria); and in the barrens of
Those which feed on Cantharides require to be very carefully
e to suffer severely; but when their flesh is imbued with

and other insects, as w

Kentucky it often picks the strawberries.

cleaned, otherwise persons who eat them are liabl

the flavour of ripe strawberries, it is truly delicious.
The Australian specimen is much lighter in its gener . ae

ed "a ae ee a ee natural size, renders a detailed
The accurate representation of the bird on the opposite Flate, size

al colouring than those killed in Europe and America,
as a distinct species.

description of its colouring unnecessary.

ZNO Be ee

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