COMMON SANDPIPER 27 



light blue ground colour, with minute brown spots all over ; 

 others with blots of deep brown. They are, as those of 

 other waders, admirably adapted, both by their form and 

 their position in the nest, to occupy the smallest possible 

 degree of space, as rendered expedient by their large size 

 in proportion to that of the bird. The young are hatched 

 in about fourteen days, and leave the nest almost immediately. 

 They quickly learn to hide themselves in the nearest covert, 

 and in about a month are able to shift for themselves. 



