THE BIRD BOOK 



262. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 



Tryngites subruficollis. 



Range. Interior of North America, breeding 

 from the Hudson Bay region to the Arctic coast. 



A buffy colored species, with a peculiarly mar- 

 bled back. Size 8.5 inches long. It is an upland 

 species like the last. The nests are scantily lined 

 depressions in the ground. The eggs have a 

 grayish white ground 

 and are boldly blotched 

 with rich brown and 

 chestnut with fainter 

 markings of lilac. Size 

 1.45 x 1.05. Data. Cape 

 Smythe, Alaska, June, 

 1900. 4 eggs in a hol- 

 low in dry spot on a 

 marsh. Collector, H. H. 

 Bodfish. Grayish white. 



263. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Actitis macularia. 



Range. Whole of North America from Hudson 

 Bay southward, breeding throughout its range. 



A small wader about 7.5 inches in length, with 

 brownish gray upper parts, and white underparts 

 thickly spotted with blackish, especially on the 

 breast and flanks. This is the most abundant of 

 all the shore birds, and its "peet-weet" is a famil- 

 iar sound to every country boy. It has a peculiar 

 habit of continually moving its tail up and down, 

 when at rest on a stone or when running along 

 the shore; from these characteristic actions it 

 has received the very common names of "Teeter- 

 tail" and "Tip-up." They build their nests on the 

 ground near ponds, brooks or marshes, generally 

 concealing it in a tuft of grass or weeds on the 

 shore or in the high grass at the edge of the 

 meadows. The eggs number from three to five and are of a grayish buff color, 

 spotted and blotched with blackish brown. The young, like those of all the 

 shore birds, are hatched covered with down, and run about as soon as born. 

 They are anxiously attended by the parents and at 

 the least sign of danger, conceal themselves beneath ^ 3^5 ^. 

 a tuft of grass or behind a small stone, where they ^ r 

 remain perfectly motionless until called by the old 

 birds. The adults frequently attempt to lead an en- 

 emy away from the young by feigning a broken 

 wing, or lameness. Size of eggs 1.35 x .90. Data. 

 Parker County, Ind., May 22, 1901. Nest about six 

 yards from bank of creek, among weeds on a sand 

 bar; a hollow in the sand lined with weeds. Collec- 

 tor, Winfield S. Catlin. Buff. 



Buff-breasted Sandpiper. 

 Spotted Sandpiper. 



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