THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 



679 



speckled and spotted with dark brown, chiefly about larger end. Av. size, 1.25 x 

 .92 (31.8x23.4). Season: ]\Iay aojune 10; one brood. 



General Range. — North and South America from Alaska to southern Brazil. 

 Breeds thruout temperate North America, less commonly on the Pacific Coast. 

 Occasional in Europe. 



Range in Washington. — Not very common summer resident thruout the 

 State; occurs sparingly on tide-water, more regularly along streams of the deeper 

 mountain valleys : locally wanting east of the Mountains ; casually resident in 

 winter on Puget Sound. 



Authorities. — Trbiqoidcs iiiaciilarius (Linn.) Gray, Baird, Rep. I'ac. R R 

 Surv. IX. 1858. p. 736. ' T. C&S. L-. Rh. D^ J. B. E. " 



Specimens. — I', of W. Prov. P. B. E. 



besides looking in the mirror, 



insensible to the flattery i:)f the smooth-flowing stream 



LIKE a second Narcissus this familiar little Sandjiiper luxes to linger at 

 the water's edge; and even if it be conceded that he has other business there 



we could not suppose that he is altogether 



It is for this reason, 

 perhaps, that he prefers the vicinity (if quiet inland waters; and it is this 

 also — what else? — that tempts him to make from time to lime little liori- 

 zontal excursions, or loops, of flight out o\'er the ri\er (ir ])lacid lake. If 

 frightened, as by a boatman, the bird may patter ahmg the nuiddv brim, or 

 remove by short flights, but sooner or later he puts off from shore, edges out 

 over the wa- 

 ter, wheels 

 about in a 

 great circle, 

 and fl r a w s 

 near his 



in a graceful 

 curve, which 

 regards the 

 shore as a 

 sort of asym- 

 tote — this 

 on wings held 

 stiffly or 

 f| 11 i \- e r i n g 

 w i t h emo- 

 tion. 



On shore 

 the bird in- 



du 



e s 



Taken in Douglas County. Photo by the Author. 



NEST AND EGGS OF THE SPOTTED S.WDPIPER. 



