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This small and well-marked species is the first of this family that 

 visits us in'the spring. It appears on Long Island about the middle 

 of April, and resides with us permanently until late in autumn, con- 

 tinuing its sojourn after most of the other species of Tringa have 

 departed for their winter quarters. 



It is distributed throughout the United States, and occurs at Labra- 

 dor, where, according to Mr. Audubon, as with us, it breeds, as well 

 as along the coast of the Middle and Eastern States and the interior. 

 It is a very common species, and from its habit of constantly raising 

 and lowering its tail, it is familiar to persons residing in the country 

 by the cognomen of" Teeter," or "Tiltup." 



They do not associate in large flocks, and like the former, are 

 rather solitary. They inhabit the moist grounds in the vicinity of 

 streams and ponds, and often resort to the ploughed fields to glean 

 up the worms that lie exposed in the furrows. Early in the month 

 of May, it commences preparing its nest, and retires to a neighbor- 

 ing field for that purpose. The tenement — which is formed of dry 

 grass and straw — is placed on the ground in a cluster of weeds or 

 briars ; sometimes it is found in the most exposed part of the pasture 

 ground, only partially hidden by the stinted vegetation by which it 

 is surrounded. It is also found along the banks of small streams, 

 and on the margins of ponds. The eggs, four in number, are of a pale 

 yellowish cast, irregularly spotted with blackish-brown. The young, 

 soon after being hatched, runs among the grass, uttering a low, 

 feeble, whispering note, which soon increases in cadence, so as to 

 be undistinguishable from the full and clear voice of its parents — 

 and at that early period it is seen giving that peculiar movement to 

 the tail feathers for Avhich this species is noted. The flight of the 

 Spotted Tatler is very uneven, seldom being seen flying in a straight 

 line to any distance, and usually performs its a3rial gambols at a 

 short distance above the surface. When wounded in the wing, it 

 takes to the brook, and swims under water with considerable swift- 

 ness. In pairs, or small parties, it takes possession of the muddy 

 margins of all our water courses, from which they make excursions 

 to the adjoining fields, sometimes alighting on the fence-rails, (fee- 

 Being exclusive in its habits, it never courts the society of other spe- 

 cies, though itis not unfrequent that we seethe intrusive Semipalmated 

 Sandpiper sharing with it the produce of its feeding grounds. 



