90 BULLETIN 14 6^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



to grasp a small object because the front toes are nearer together 

 than in most waders and the hind toe is more developed. He says : 



The footmarks of the spotted sandpiper on moist sand or mud are recog- 

 nizable. Compared to those of related birds the toes are relatively little 

 spreading, and the mark left by the hind toe relatively large and conspicuous. 



Under the title " Spotted Sandpiper Removing its Young " J. C. 

 Merrill (1898) describes a very remarkable performance, the only 

 record of such behavior noted in the literature. 



A clearly observed case of the spotted sandpiper {Actitis macularia) re- 

 moving its young by flight recently came under my notice, and I place it upon 

 record, as such instances are rarely seen, though they are, perhaps, of toler- 

 ably frequent occurrence, as in the case of the woodcock. 



Last summer, in the month of July, I frequently landed on a little rocky 

 islet near the head of the Saquenay River, shortly after it issues from Lake 

 St. John. Each time a spotted sandpiper showed much concern for her young, 

 which were often seen running about and were a few days old. On one of 

 these occasions, the mother ran ahead of me to a point of rocks near which I 

 stopped to flsh. A few moments later she flew, circling in the usual manner, 

 and as she passed in front of me and within a few feet, I saw one of the 

 young beneath her body, apparently clasped by her thighs ; its head was 

 directed forward, somewhat outstretched, and was seen with perfect distinct- 

 ness. The parent's legs were apparently hanging down as she flew, though 

 I am not positive that what I saw were not the legs of the young. The mother 

 was in sight for about 60 yards, flying heavily and silently, and landed on a 

 large island, though I could not see her at the moment of alighting. 



Voice. — The notes of the spotted sandpiper are mainly modified 

 and extended from its common alarm note, the sharp, clear whistle, 

 peet-uwet, but as in the case of many birds, degrees of emotion may 

 be expressed by a little change in pitch or inflection. When con- 

 siderably alarmed the bird continues to repeat the weet note often 

 giving a long series which trails off in diminuendo like the quacking 

 of a duck. 



J. T. Nichols (1920) describes a ser,ies of notes: 



Hoy, hoy, iceet, weet, weet, weet, weet, weet, loeet is a prolonged call fre- 

 quently heard in the early part of the nesting season, in toto or in part, 

 suggesting in that respect the songs of the cuckoos. It doubtless has value as 

 advertisement or location notice and something the significance of a very 

 generalized song. A series of loud weets, heard also at other times of year, 

 the most far-reaching call of the species, doubtless serves as location notice. 



A. A. Saimders in his notes similarly describes the " song." He 

 says : 



I believe the long call weet, weet, weet, toeet, iceet, weet, loeet, peet a %veet, 

 peet a weet, peet a weet, peet a weet serves as a song. I have seen it sung in 

 flight, when the actions and flight of the bird were similar to those of other 

 flight singers. 



Both of these observers describe the soft crooning note used by 

 the parent to bring together its young. Nichols says that, " a rolling 



