188 SCOLOPACID.E. 



405. RHYACOPHILUS SOLITABIUS (Wils.). 

 (SOLITARY SANDPIPER.) 



Rhyacophilus solitaxius, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 146; Durnford, Ibis, 1878, 

 p. 68 (Buenos Ayres) ; Barrows, Auk, 1884, p. 315 (Entrerios, Azul) ; Baird, 

 Brew., et Eidgw. Water-B. N. A. i. p. 278. Totanus solitaxius, Seebohm, 

 Plovers, p. 367. 



Description. Middle toe nearly as long as tarsus. Above dark olivaceous grey, 

 with blacker markings and slightly speckled with white; upper tail-coverts 

 blackish, barred with white ; tail white with blackish bars : beneath white; sides of 

 neck and breast streaked and barred with dusky grey ; under wing-coverts blackish, 

 barred with white : whole length 8'5 inches, wing 5-0, tail 2-1. Female similar. 



Hab. Arctic America, descending south to Buenos Ayres during 

 migration. 



The well-known and well-named Solitary Sandpiper arrives later than 

 the other birds of its family in La Plata, and differs greatly from them 

 in its habits, avoiding the wet plains and muddy margins of lagoons and 

 marshes where they mostly congregate, and making its home at the 

 side of a small pool well sheltered by its banks, or by trees and herbage, 

 and with a clear margin on which it can run freely. As long as there 

 is any water in its chosen pool, though it may be only a small puddle at 

 the bottom of a ditch, the bird will remain by it in solitary contentment. 

 When approached it runs rapidly along the margin, pausing at intervals 

 to bob its head, in which habit it resembles the Tatlers or Yellowshanks, 

 and emitting sharp little clicks of alarm. Finally, taking flight, it utters 

 its peculiar and delightful cry, a long note thrice repeated, of so clear 

 and penetrating a character that it seems almost too fine and bright a 

 sound even for so wild and aerial a creature as a bird. 



The flight is exceedingly rapid and wild, the bird rising high and 

 darting this way and that, uttering its piercing trisyllabic cry the whole 

 time, and finally, dashing downwards, it suddenly drops again on to the 

 very spot from which it rose. 



3 was once pleased and much amused to discover in a small seques- 

 tered pool in a wood, well sheltered from sight by trees and aquatic 

 plants, a Solitary Sandpiper living in company with a Blue Bittern. 

 The Bittern patiently watched for small fishes, and when not fishing 

 dozed on a low branch overhanging the water ; while its companion ran 

 briskly along the margin snatching up minute insects from the water. 

 When disturbed they rose together, the Bittern with its harsh grating 

 scream, the Sandpiper daintily piping its tine bright notes a won- 

 derful contrast ! Every time I visited the pool afterwards I found these 

 two hermits, one so sedate in manner, the other so lively, living peace- 

 fully together. 



