92 BULLETIN 146; UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



It then made off to cross a small bay, when a pigeon hawk dashed out from 

 some trees and made a stoop or two at the dodging sandpiper, which would 

 certainly soon have been captured in the air if it had not suddenly alighted .on 

 the water. This for a few seconds confused the hawk, which circled just over 

 its quarry and appeared to try to capture it with its talons. The sandpiper 

 dove, remaining under 3 or 4 seconds. The hawk on the disappearance of its 

 intended victim at once made off at a great pace. 



W. H. Osgood (1909) describes an escape in this manner from an 

 attack by a northern shrike. 



Wilson (1832) in his most charming manner tells' this delightful 

 story : 



My venerable friend, Mr. William Bartram, informs me that he saw ,one of 

 tliese birds defend her young for a considerable time from the repeated attacks 

 of a ground squirrel. The scene of action was on the river shore. The parent 

 had thrown herself, with her two young behind her, between them and the land, 

 and at every attempt of the squirrel to seize them by a circuitous sweep raised 

 both her wings in an almost perpendicular position, assuming the most formid- 

 t!ble appearance she was capable of, and rushed forwards on the squirrel, who, 

 intimidated by her boldness and manner, instantly retreated ; but presently 

 returning was met, as before, in front and on flank by the daring and affec- 

 tionate bird, who with her wings and whole plumage bristling up seemed 

 swelled to twice her usual size. The young crowded together behind her, appar- 

 ently sensible of their perilous situation, moving backward and forward as she 

 advanced or retreated. This interesting scene lasted for at least 10 minutes ; 

 the strength of the poor parent began evidently to flag, and the attacks of the 

 squirrel became more daring and frequent, when my good friend, like one of 

 those celestial agents who in Homer's time so .often decided the palm of victory, 

 stepped forward from his retreat, drove the assailant back to his hole, and 

 rescued the innocent from destruction. 



A. A. Saunders sends the following suggestive note : 



Once on Sherwoods Island, Westport, Conn., in September, I saw a bird fly 

 ahead of me with something large and black looking dangling beneath it. The 

 bird could hardly fly and tried to hide in the beach gi-ass as I approached. I 

 caught it and found that a large specimen of the common edible mussel (Myti- 

 lus edulis) had closed its shell on the middle toe of the bird's left foot. The toe 

 was nearly severed just above the nail, and since I couldn't pry the mussel open, 

 I cut through the bit of skin left and freed the bird. 



Fall.-^- As is the case during its northward migration, the spotted 

 sandpiper leaves its breeding ground and moves to its winter quarters 

 inconspicuously, showing little tendency to gather into flocks. Its 

 voice is not infrequently heard among the notes of the autumnal noc- 

 turnal migrants — an indication that the bird in a measure makes use 

 of the safe, dark hours during its long journey southward. 



Cooke (1897) says: " In the fall [in Colorado] it ranges above the 

 pines to 14,000 feet," illustrating the tendency to wander about in 

 autumn. 



Game. — During the years, noAv past, when the smaller shore birds 

 could legally be shot for food or sport the spotted sandpiper suffered 



