BIRDS FOUND ALONG THE BEACHES _ 63 
a picturesque graceful bird, well proportioned in spite 
of the stilt-like legs which give it its name. In flight 
it is not unlike the cranes, but when alighting it drops 
its feet and raises its wings, poising a moment, as do 
the gulls. It feeds upon small fresh-water crustaceans, 
mollusks, and larvee of insects, not scorning earthworms, 
and picks its way daintily through the marsh grass in 
search of favorite tidbits, with a charming air of quiet 
grace. Surprised, it springs into flight, trailing its long 
legs behind it. During the breeding season it is quite 
noisy, uttering its hoarse croaks continually, until the 
whereabouts of its nesting place may be known by any 
who will investigate. A large part of this noise occurs 
when the food is brought to the mate on the nest, 
where it receives a joyous, if unmusical, welcome. The 
nestlings look like balls of down perched upon tooth- 
picks, but neither their legs nor their bills are developed 
at all in proportion to those of the adults. They are 
spry, like the young of most ground birds, and in a 
maryellously short time become self-supporting. 
232. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. 
scolopaceus. 
Macrorham phus 
Famity : The Snipes and Sandpipers. 
Length: 11.00-12.50. 
Adults in Summer: Upper parts black, mottled with buff and light red- 
brown ; rump mottled black and white, and tail barred black and 
white ; a light line over eye, and a dark one from eye to bill; under 
parts mottled on throat, breast, and belly with red-brown and black- 
ish ; sides and lower tail-coverts barred with same colors. 
Adults in Winter: Plumage uniform dusky gray ; line over eye and the 
lower belly white. 
