678 THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 



sucli a point, incU-fd, tlial we shall soon begin to feel Alexander's (lisecmtent, — 

 that there are no more worlds to conquer. 



However, of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Washington we know noth- 

 ing save that Cooper guessed theni to be common during migrations at Shoal- 

 water Bay, where he indk a specimen in 1854. Fannin considered it ■■ni>t 

 common"' in British Columljia; while Brooks has taken it at Chilliwark, a little 

 way into the interinr. 



'J'he bird is suniewhat like the L'pland I'loxer ( Bartraiiiia loiujicauda) in 

 habit and appearance, altluj it is much smaller, and it fre(|uents fields and 

 prairies rather than mud flats. It is described as being usually uf a gentle and 

 confiding disposition: but during the breeding season, in the neighborhood of 

 Point pjarrow, or in the Anderson Ri\-er region, the males are said to indulge 

 some curious fancies. Solitary birds will walk aboiU with one wing fully ex- 

 tended and held high in air. as a sort of perpetual challenge to fellow bucks. 

 If two birds meet, they "spar" for a few minutes, or rise towering together to 

 a height of thirty feet or more, or until discouraged by the sweep of the wiml. 

 At other times one will stretch himself up to full height, then, spreading his 

 wings forward, puff out his throat and make a sort of chuckling noise, much 

 admired by his companions. 



No. 276. 



SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 



\. O. l^ No. 263. Actitis maciilaria (Linn.V 



Synonyms. — 1'Kkt-wkkt. Tii'-ip. Tketicr-taii.. 



Description. — .Idiilf in siiiiiiiui-: Upperparts light olive-brown, with pale 

 greenish or brassv luster ; the head and neck streaked, and the hack, scapulars, 

 tertiaries, etc., irregularly barred with darker; (|uills darker and with more dis- 

 tinct greenish reflections : the inner primaries and secondaries narrowly tippe<l 

 with white, the former varied with some white on the inner webs, the latter with 

 much basal white, showing consi)icuously in flight; central tail-feathers like back, 

 but greener, the outer feathers becoming duller and tipped with white : a white 

 superciliary line ; entire underparts white and strikingly marked with rounded 

 spots approaching color of back : liill flesh-color, sometimes orange, darkening 

 above, or not, and with duskv U]> : feet and legs pinkish white. Jl'intcr pluiuagc: 

 Similar, but back browner, unbarred, fiiniiaturc: Like atlult but unspotted below, 

 tinged with grav on breast; above showing blackish or buft'y bars, faintly on back, 

 more strongly on wing-coverts, and upper tail-coverts. I<ength 7.00-8.00 (177.8- 

 203.2) : wing 4.15 ( 105.4) ; tail 2.00 (50.8) ; bill .93 (23.6) ; tarsus .95 (24.1). 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow to Chewink size ; greenish brown back ; 

 boldlv spotted underparts; the characteristic bird of river-bank and lake-shore. 



Nesting. — Nrst: on the ground, a slight ilcpression, scantily or somewhat 

 carefullv lined with dead leaves and grass. lujgs: 4, creamy buff or dull white. 



