BIRDS OF NEW YORK 



337 



until it has been driven some distance frnni home, when it flies out farther and 

 higher over the water and returns directly to the original spot from which 

 it was startled. The flight of this Sandpiper is quite unlike that of the other 

 members of the family, being perfomied by well measured wing beats, 

 with the wings drooping below a horizontal line and both wings stroking in 

 tmison like the oars of a boat. Its call of pcci, wccl, which it commonly 

 utters when startled, is similar in quality to the love song, but the latter 



Spotted sandpiper's nest and eggs 



Photo by Clarence F. Stone 



is prolonged into a shrill, piping crescendo, uttered as before stated, both 

 when the bird is puffing and strutting on the ground, or rising with upstretched 

 neck and rigidly stroking wings over the nesting site. Its diet is almost 

 \\-holly insectivorous and its interesting habits and confiding manner should 

 commend it to the protection of man rather than relegate it to the list of 

 game birds. 



Nest and eggs. Its nest is usualh' concealed among the weeds or grass, 

 two or three rods from the brook or lake shore, or under a tussock at the 

 edge of the swamp or cornfield. As usual in this famil}- there are only a 



