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Bartramian Sandpiper. Though this bird is a true Sandpiper it seldom or never 

 visits either the marsh or the beach. Its usual haunts are high dry grassy meadows 

 aud old pastures; or in the West the open prairie. 



In Ontario it only occurs in a few localities and in small numbers. I have 

 found it breeding in the Counties of Brant and Norfolk and on Amherst Island, and 

 Dr. Clark reports it as breeding regularly near Kingston. In Manitoba, where it is 

 generally known as the Upland Plover, it is sufficiently abundant to be of interest 

 to sportsmen. 



About the middle of May these birds return to their hrecdiug grounds from the 

 south, and then may 'be heard the remarkable note of the male, which differs so 

 widely from any other sound in nature that even the most unobservant is attracted 

 by it. 



Early in August the Upland Plovers leave us, drifting away towards their 

 winter quarters in South America just when the insect< which form their food 

 are in the greatest abundance. Why they should do this is one of the mysteries of 

 migration yet unsolved. 



Spotted, Sandpiper — Teeter. These birds arrive here about the beginning of 

 Mav and at first confine themselves to the shores of our lakes and rivers where 

 their graceful movements may easily be watched as they run rapidly along at 

 the edge of the water, stopping abruptly now and then to pick up an insect or go 

 through the tail-wagging performance; after a week or so of this method of life, 

 during which they no doubt arrange their courtship and matrimonial affairs, they 

 spread out over the country for the purpose of nesting; some few however remain 

 in their lake or riverside haunts through the season. 



I have fouiul their nests in pasture fields, on summer fallows, in grassy 

 orchards, fields ol standing grain and on sandy beaches. One day as I was crossing 

 a field of mangels I came upon a pair of Spotted Sandpipers^ with their brood of 

 four chicks. Quicker than the eye could follow the little ones squatted down on 

 the ground and were lost to sight, while the mother bird feig:ned lameness and all 

 sorts of injuries, fluttering along just in front of me in order to decoy me from 

 the vicinity of her downy treasures, taking care, however, to keep just far enough 

 away to be safe. It is a strange instinct whicli impels certain birds to resort to this 

 device in order to induce their enemies to follow them and abandon the search for 

 their helpless young. 



I do not suppose any person is ever deceived by the trick, but four-footed 

 animals invariably are, even the wisest sporting dogs never seem to learn by ex- 

 perience, but will dash headlong in hot pursuit after t1\e apparently disabled old 

 bird, which flutters enticingly before them, but always out of danger, until tired 

 and panting the dog gives up the chase in disgust. 



When on the ground this Sandpiper is as graceful and active as any of its 

 tribe, but when on the wing its flight seems somewhat stiff and constrained, its 

 wings do not seem to move with the same freedom exhibited by the other shore 

 birds, but for all that it is a remarkably swift and strong flier. 



Its note (by which ]t may always be recognized) is a loud "tweet tweet,'' not 

 very musical perhaps, but on the shore it seems to harmonize with its surroundings. 



From an economic point of view these birds are decidedly valuable; they feed 

 upon nothing but insects, amongst which small beetles furnish the greater part. 

 T once s1u)t one in a pea field th(^ stomach of wliicli was filled with pea weevils. 



