THE BIRDS OP HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 159 



occur in flocks. As it moves it tilts the body nervousty, the posterior 

 portion tipping up and the anterior down, a constant jerking motion 

 that is certain to catch the eye. Though usually found in the open 

 the spotted sandpiper may penetrate far into the depths of mangrove 

 swamps. When flushed the bird rises with a low peet weet and flies 

 off with short strokes of its wings, usually just above the water, so 

 that often it is mirrored on the surface, giving to the eye of the 

 observer two figures, the bird itself and its reflection below. 



The spotted sandpiper is among the smaller sandpipers being 200 

 mm. or less in length. It is greenish olive above, with obscure dusky 

 markings, and white below. In breeding dress the under surface is 

 heavily spotted with dull black. In winter plumage the underparts 

 are white with perhaps a faint wash of grayish brown across the 

 breast. As it flies there is displayed a prominent white band in 

 either wing. 



TRINGA SOLITARIA SOLITARIA Wilson 

 SOIITARY SANDPIPER, ZARAPICO SOLITARIO 



Tringa solitaria Wilson. Airier. Orn., vol. 7, 1813, p. 53, pi. 58, fig. 3 (probably 

 Pennsylvania ) . 



Totanus solitarlus, Tippenhauer, Die Insel Haiti, 1892, p. 322 (listed). — 

 Cherrie, Field Columbian Mus., Ornitb. ser., vol. 7, 1896, p. 25 (Santo Domingo 

 City). 



Tringa solitaria solitaria, Bond, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbiladelpbia, vol. 80, 

 1928, p. 496 (Trou Caiman).— Danforth, Auk, 1929, p. 364 (Artibonite).— 

 Moltoni, Att. Soc. Ital. Scienz. Nat., vol. 68, 1929, p. 313 (Haina, San Juan). 



Winter visitant ; probably fairly common. 



Little is known at present of the occurrence of the solitary sand- 

 piper in Hispaniola. Tippenhauer lists it without comment. Cher- 

 rie found it on March 16 and April 27 on the Rio Ozama near Santo 

 Domingo City, and according to Hartert there is a skin in the Tring 

 Museum taken by Kaempfer at Las Lagunas, Province Espaillat, 

 March 5, 1922. Ciferri collected it at Haina in September, 1925, 

 and near San Juan August 11 and September 1, 1928. Wetmore saw 

 one near Gressier March 29, 1927, and Danforth one near the mouth 

 of the Artibonite July 29, 1927. Bond saw several and collected one 

 at the Trou Caiman in January, 1928. The species is probably fairly 

 common during winter about swamps and lagoons on the coastal 

 plain. 



The solitary sandpiper, like the spotted sandpiper, ranges alone 

 on open muddy shores or about small pools of fresh water. It is 

 prone to occur anywhere that water collects after heavy rains as in 

 such situations it finds suitable feeding grounds. It is quiet in de- 

 meanor and though it jerks the body nervously as it moves is less 

 active than some of the other sandpipers. As it wades in the shal- 



