532 THE SPi )TTED SANDPIPER 



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

 boldly spotted under parts; the common bird of river-bank and lake-shore. 



Nest, on the ground, a slight depression, scantily or somewhat carefully lined 

 with dead leaves and grass. Eggs, 4, creamy buff or dull white, speckled and 

 spotted with dark brown, chiefly about larger end. Av. size. 1.25 x .1)2 (31.8 x 

 234). 



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

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

 Occasional in Europe. 



Range in Ohio. — Common summer resident along streams and reservoirs 

 throughout the state. 



LIKE a second Narcissus this familiar little Sandpiper loves to linger at 

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

 besides looking in the mirror, we could not suppose that he is altogether 

 insensible to the flattery of the smooth-flowing stream. It is for this reason, 

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

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

 zontal excursions, or loops, of flight out over the river or placid lake. If 

 frightened, as by a boatman, the bird may patter along the muddy brim, or 

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

 out over the water, wheels about in a great circle, and draws near his 

 starting point again in a graceful curve, which regards the shore as a sort of 

 asymtote — this on wings held stiffly or quivering with emotion. 



On shore the bird indulges a never-ending habit of teetering: "The fore 

 part of the body is lowered a little, the head drawn in, the legs slightly bent, 

 while the hinder parts and tail are alternately hoisted with a peculiar jerk, and 

 drawn down again with the regularity of clock work." This strange motion 

 has won for the bird the name Tip-up and Teeter-tail, and gives it an air 

 of mock solemnity which is only heightened by the Quaker drab adornment of 

 the upper parts and the apparently serious view of life which the owner takes. 

 Absurd as the action is in adults, it tests the risibles still more sorely when 

 a toddling youngster, bristling with pin-feathers, discovers the same uncon- 

 trollable ambition in his rear parts, and says. How-do-you-do backward, with 

 imperturbable gravity. 



Arriving in its accustomed haunts about the middle of April, the Spotted 

 Sandpiper immediately makes its presence known by notes which altho of 

 trifling import, are particularly sweet and welcome. Peet-zveet, or weet, meet, 

 zveet, weet, says the bird on all possible occasions, and a boat-ride on lake 

 or river loses half its charm without the frequent interruption of this wayside 

 greeting. 



