AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 281 



THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 



A. O. U. No. 363. (Actitis uiaoularia). 



Spotted Sandpipers are found throughout North America, breeding 

 from our southern border north to Hudson Bay, and spending the winter 

 along the Gulf, and in the West Indies. Unlike most of the other Sand- 

 pipers, they are rarely seen in flocks of any considerable size, and rare- 

 ly associate with other members of the family. 



They arrive in northern United States early in May. They will first 

 be seen along the shores of rivers or ponds, running up and down the 

 water's edge or standing on a half submerged stone, and nearly always 

 with their heads and tails alternately bowing or jerking. Nearly all 

 shore birds indulge in grotesque motions indicative of fear, curiosity 

 or sociability, but the Spotted Sandpiper carries his emotions to the 

 extreme, and is, therefore, known by many local names, most of which 

 refer to his actions, such as Tip-up and Teeter-tail. 



They seem to be very evenly distributed in the interior or along the 

 coasts. A single pair, or sometimes two or three pairs, will settle down 

 for the season in the neighborhood of any small pond, stream or lake. 

 In whatever light they are considered, they are one of our most wel. 

 come birds. Their piping notes are very pleasing to the ear, their 

 manners are very attractive, and their food habits make them of great 

 value economically. Their food is almost wholly insectivorous and, 

 especially during the breeding season and while bringing up their young, 

 they will be found most abundantly in cultivated fields, running along 

 the ploughed furrows after small grasshoppers and other insects. It 

 seems a pity that such useful and attractive birds cannot enjoy pro- 

 tection from the attacks of gunners at all seasons of the year, but after 

 the middle of July, in most states, all shore birds have to take their 

 lives in their hand and keep out of the way of all two-legged animals. 

 Although a great many of these birds are shot off each fall, I do not 

 think that they are getting any scarcer, which is accounted for by the 

 skill with which they conceal their nests, and the tact that they display 

 in leading folks away from its neighborhood. Most of the shore birds 

 nest in colonies and lay their eggs in rather conspicuous places near or 

 on the beach but, while some of the Spotted Sandpipers nest near the 

 water's edge, the majority of nests will be found in the tall grass of 

 fields borderiag ponds or cultivated land. Frequently they will be found 

 several hundred yards from water. 



At least three pairs of vSandpipers nest every year in a certain locality 

 that I often frequent but, until this year, I have never made any effort 

 to locate them. This place' has always appeared to me to be unusually 



