THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER 195 



from pursuit and the semi-protection thus af- 

 forded, they often nest near the farmhouse, in 

 the orchards, and near the highways where no 

 other of their kind would ever think of making 

 its home. Their nests are made in almost any 

 spot near water, be it sea, lake, pond or moun- 

 tain brook, and a very simple affair is this hum- 

 ble home — a mere hollow on the ground lined 

 with soft dead grass. This usually contains 

 four eggs of a dull clay color, splashed with ir- 

 regular dark spots. If the bird is flushed from 

 the nest she commonly flies off in silence, mak- 

 ing no show of annoyance, in marked contrast 

 to her usual noisy mood, and if surprised with 

 her young family plays all the tricks and wiles 

 known to other birds and used in a like situa- 

 tion. 



Strolling one August day on the banks of a 

 creek much frequented by these birds I came 

 upon a Spotted Piper which seemed greatly dis- 

 tressed at my presence. The cause was not far 

 to seek. Out on a point of mud at the water's 

 edge was another piper of much lighter color 

 than usual and I proceeded to make its ac- 

 quaintance. On approaching there was no diffi- 

 culty in discovering what it was — an unfledged 



