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men, the Solitary Tatler becomes quite familiar. When nearly 

 approached, it flies but a short distance before it again alights and 

 resumes its occupation of probing the soft mud for worms and mi- 

 nute shell-fish, which abound within its favorite haunts. It also 

 resorts to the decayed logs for the purpose of procuring grubs, and 

 from this trait in its habits it has by some received the appellation of 

 Wood Tatler< When surprised, it utters a sharp, whistling note — 

 raises its wings — and runs nimbly over the miry ground ; if closely 

 pursued, it retreats to the opposite side of the pond^ arranges its 

 feathers, and shortly resumes its usual calm and gentle manner. 



On the wing it is very active, and is sometimes seen dartmg after 

 winged insects, which it is expert in catching ; and when flying, its 

 long and gracefully curved wings add much to the beauty of this 

 neatly attired bird. 



It arrives among us early in May, and takes its departure in Sep- 

 tember, wintering in the southern parts of the Union. 



TOTANUS MACULARIUS— WILSON. 



SPOTTED TATLER. 



Tringa macularia, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Totanus macularius, Bonap. Syn. 



Spotted Tatler or Pect-wect, Nutt. Man. 



Spotted Sandpiper, Totanus macularius, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Bill along the gap about one inch ; length 

 of tarsi seven-eighths; upper parts brown, barred with dusky, 

 lower parts white, spotted with blackish-brown. Adult with the 

 bill longer than the head, slender, greenish-yellow at the base — 

 dusky at the end ; lower parts white, distinctly spotted with black- 

 ish broAvn ; tail olive brown, faintly barred with dusky, and tipped 

 with white; upper parts brown, barred with, dusky; inner prima- 

 ries tipped with white ; secondaries more broadly tipped Avith the 

 same; a band of white behind the eye — a white ring round the 

 eye ; outer toes connected by a membrane as far as the first joint. 

 Length eight inches, wing three and seven-eighths. Young with- 

 out the spots on the lower parts. 

 33 



