

"PEET-WEET" 



The Spotted Sandpiper 



By C. W. LEISTER, Ithaca, N. Y. 



With PhotDKraphs Ijy the Author 



THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER is probably the commonest of the shore 

 birds to be found along our streams. 'Teetering,' up and down, running 

 quickly (jver the stones and logs by the waterside; or, with rapidly beat- 

 ing wings, sailing along just above the surface of the water, he is sure to attract 

 \'our attention. The 'Ti])-uj),' furnishes much of the interest to be found in a 

 walk along our streams anrl ponds. More active and energetic birds it would 

 be difficult to fmd. 



However, I believe that only a small number of bird-lovers are at all inti- 

 mate with the home life of this Sandpiper. I was recently shown a beautifully 

 situated nest, built on the boulder-strewn and rocky bank of a large creek, 

 where there was barely enough soil to support the few sparse tufts of grass 

 and the several small wild [)arsnips found there. By one of these parsnips the 

 female had built her nest. 



The nest was not a very [)retentious alTair, being a hollow in the ground 

 rather indifTerently lined with a few weed stems and leaves. The depth of the 

 nest was very noticeable. Because of its simplicity. I expected to find it much 

 more hollow. However, there is a reason for it being deep. The four sharply 

 pointed, buffy eggs, thickly and heavily spotted or splotchefl with dark brown, 

 particularly so at the larger end, completely tilled the little nest. The eggs 

 are placed in the nest with the pointed ends down; thus they lit together per- 



(a87) 



