202 BRITISH BIRDS. 



The Pectoral Sandpiper has two very close allies. One of these, Tringa 

 bairdi, has nearly the same range ; it is a smaller bird, slijjhtly paler in 

 colour, and has black feet. The other, Tringa acuminata, breeds in 

 Eastern Siberia and Alaska, passes throngh China and Japan on migration, 

 and winters in the islands of the Malay archipelago and Australia. It is 

 about the same size as the Pectoral Sandpiper, but dilVers in the shape of 

 the tail, which is graduated and composed of pointed or acuminated 

 feathers, those in the tail of the American species being rounder and even, 

 except the two centre ones, which are longer than the rest aiul pointed. 

 The Siberian species has the flanks as well as the breast streaked in the 

 adult summer plumage, but there arc no streaks on the breast of the 

 voung in first plumage ; otherwise the two species arc remarkably alike. 



The Pectoral Sandpiper is a common and well-known bird during the 

 two seasons of migration in the United States, passing to and from its 

 northern breeding-grounds by inland routes across the prairies and down 

 the great rivcr-vallcys as well as along the coasts. Its spring migration 

 commences in April and lasts until the end of May, and its southward 

 journey begins in August and lasts until the end of September, or even 

 into October. On its passage to and fro the Pectoral Sandpiper frequents 

 muddy shores, salt-marshes, inundated meadows, and extensive sands. In 

 many of its habits it is said closely to resemble the Dunlin. Sometimes 

 it gathers into very large flocks, whilst at other times it is only met with 

 in scattered pairs or even alone. It is a very tame bird and admits of 

 a close approach, and when shot at the uninjured birds merely fly a little 

 distance and then alight. Its flight is quick, the wings being much bent ; 

 and sometimes, when the bird is flushed suddenly, it makes oft" in an erratic 

 manner like a Snipe. When disturbed, an entire flock will frequently turn 

 and glide in the air, performing various graceful evolutions ere settling on 

 the sands or marshes again. Sometimes they rise to a considerable height, 

 circling overhead for a short time, and then dart rapidly down to the place 

 whence they were flushed. 



When engaged in feeding, the flock becomes scattered, the birds running 

 about in different directions in active busy search for food. Upon the 

 ground they run and walk, usiuilly with the head bent downwards. Some- 

 times they wade into the little pools or follow the receding waves eagerly 

 to pick up any little tempting morsel that may chance to be stranded, and 

 then rush with surprising agility out of the way of the rollers coming in. 

 The food of the Pectoral Sandpiper is composed of insects, crustaceans, 

 and small shell-fish. Small particles of plants have been found in its 

 stomach, as well as seeds, and small pieces of grit are swallowed to 

 aid in digestion. When flushed the Pectoral Sandpiper utters a note 

 resembling the syllabic tweet, which is said not to be often repeated unless 

 the bird is apprehensive of some danger. During winter this bird not 



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