354 ACTITIS HYPOLEUCOS. 



The flight of this species is rapid, and in its course it 

 moves in various directions, somewhat in the manner of the 

 Snipe. When flying over the surface of the water, which it 

 often does so low as almost to touch it with its wings, it 

 now and then spreads out and bends downwards those 

 organs, keeping them apparently rigid and motionless at 

 intervals, and thus proceeding by alternate starts, flapping 

 and sailing in a manner peculiar to itself. When resting, it 

 keeps the body nearly horizontal and the legs quite straight, 

 like the King Plover and many other birds of this order. It 

 runs with as much celerity as the Sandpipers, to which it is 

 most intimately allied, but from which it differs in exhibiting 

 the peculiar irritability and mobility of body observed in all 

 the species of this genus. 



These birds enliven the solitary shores of the moorland 

 lakes and streams, where they may be seen running with 

 great activity along the beaches, or skimming over the water. 

 In general, however, one is apprised of their presence sooner 

 by the sense of hearing than by that of sight, for they are 

 vigilant and suspicious, and on being alarmed commence 

 their shrill piping, which is continued in the breeding season 

 until the disturber of their quiet takes his departure. They 

 employ the same artifice as the Ring Plover and Dunlin to 

 decoy a person from their nest or young. It is by no means 

 difficult to procure specimens of this species, for although 

 thus suspicious, it conceives itself safe enough at times 

 within shooting distance, or skims past on wing unaware of 

 its danger. 



The nest is merely a slight hollow in the sand or among 

 pebbles, with a few blades of withered grass. Like most of 

 the birds of this family, it lays four pyriform eggs, which are 

 placed with the narrow ends together, so as to occupy less 

 room. They are so disproportionably large that one on 

 finding them is apt to marvel how so small a bird could have 

 laid them, their average length being an inch and four- 

 twelfths, and their greatest breadth an inch. They are 

 reddish-white or cream-coloured, glossy, and covered with 

 dots and small spots of dark purplish-brown and greyish- 

 purple. 



