242 Nichols and Harper, Long Island Shore Birds. [j^[y 



(Seaford, R. L. Peavey) and June 12 (Eaton). The southward flight 

 reaches Long Island as early as July 4 (Eaton), and continues as late as 

 September 29 (Freeport, Braislin). 



The Dowitcher fi-equents the bare tidal shoals and the muddy borders 

 of the marshes, seeking its food usually in the shallow water or close to its 

 edge. At present the birds are not, as a general rule, sufficiently numerous 

 to form flocks of more than a few individuals; and frequently only a single 

 Dowitcher is observed, either by itself or in company with other species, 

 such as Yellowlegs, Stilt Sandpipers, Oxeyes, or Ringnecks. 



In the August migration of 1913 (which was light for most species), the 

 Dowitchers appeared in somewhat larger force than usual; four or five 

 small, unmixed flocks were seen, which flew low and steadily, and on most 

 occasions failed to act in accordance with their well-deserved reputation 

 for unwary response to decoys. At about sunrise on August 17, however, 

 a, flock of seven, accompanied by a Lesser Yellowlegs, stooled beautifully 

 at the edge of a meadow island near Mastic, alighting on a muddy point 

 not far from the blind. The Yellowlegs, which was nearest, soon took alarm 

 and continued its migration to the westward, whistling as it went, but the 

 Dowitchers showed remarkable tameness, and allowed several photographs 

 to be taken before they, too, departed. 



The common note of this species is a soft, rather abrupt whistle, which 

 usually sovmds like wheu-whup, or icheu-ichup-ivhup, but is subject to 

 further variation. Its tone, though a little less shrill, is not very different 

 from that of the Lesser Yellowlegs' whistle. Now and then a rapid series 

 of rolling, guttural notes surprises the hearer. 



Though the bodies of the Dowitcher and the Lesser Yellowlegs do not 

 differ greatly in size, the former's bill is noticeably longer, and its legs 

 noticeably shorter. Its stocky build, the darkness of its summer plumage, 

 and the narrow white patch on the back, which forms a very striking 

 mark when the bird is on the wing, are other good field characters. So also 

 is the grayish-white posterior margin of the wing in immature birds. In 

 its steady and well-sustained flight the Dowitcher has a peculiar appearance, 

 for the body is inclined downward from the head toward the tail, while 

 the long bill points earthward at a corresponding angle. 



Pisobia maculata. Pectoral Sandpiper; Krieker; Grass Snipe. — 

 An early but rare spring migi-ant; March 22 (Eaton) to May 30, 1913 

 (Freeport, Thurston). Fairly common from late July through October; 

 the earliest fall record is July 6, 1911 (East Hampton, W. Helmuth), and 

 the latest, November 10 (Eaton). 



Though the common haunt of this species is suggested in one of its 

 vernacular names (Grass Snipe), it is not infrequently found also on mud- 

 flats and along the margins of marshy pools and streams. It usually travels 

 and feeds in small bands of its own, but sometimes one or two birds are 

 observed in a scattered flock composed chiefly of the smaller species of 

 snipe. The Kriekers join ranks on the wing, but become more loosely 

 organized after alighting to feed. Each bird moves slowly along, and 



