THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER 193 



black-barred, on the lateral tail coverts. Sides, 

 axillars and linings of the wings white, regu- 

 larly barred with black. Tail barred with black 

 and white, the black predominant on the cen- 

 tral, where crossbars are less pronounced, and 

 the white most prominent on the outer feathers. 

 Primaries and edge of wings blackish; rest of 

 wing mainly like back. Bill nearly black; legs 

 not so long proportionately as in the "yellow- 

 legs," in color dusky green. 



THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 



(Actitis macvilaria.) 



Common all over North America wherever 

 there is water and about as well known a bird as 

 we have on our lists is the Spotted Sandpiper. 

 If in the early spring one should visit the rocky 

 expanses of sea beach, some unfrequented spot 

 on the shore of our islands, or the quiet glades 

 where the brooks and the tide waters meet and 

 mingle their currents, almost the first sound to 

 greet one's ears would be the sharp and pierc- 

 ing " Peet-Weet ! " of this tiny but loud-voiced 

 little bird as with his mate he scurries away. 

 With wings deeply down-curved he dashes in 



