294 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



not a morose or monkish species, shunning its kind, but is fre- 

 quently met with in small companies of five or six individuals, 

 on the banks of some quiet pool in a secluded grove, peacefully 

 gleaning a meal from the yielding soil or surface of the placid 

 water. As they move with a sedate walk about their chosen 

 retreat, each bows gravely to the others, as though expressing 

 a hope that his friend is enjoying most excellent health, or else 

 apologising for intruding upon so charming a retreat and such 

 select company. At times they run rapidly along the margin 

 of the pond, often with wings raised high above the back, occa- 

 sionally rising in the air to pursue some flying insect, which is 

 caught with much skill and agility. The actions are light, quick 

 at times, and graceful, and the bird flies rapidly, its neat plu- 

 mage showing to great advantage when the wings are outspread, 

 as it skims swiftly over the surface of the water, across open 

 glades, or amid the trunks and branches of the trees. In addi- 

 tion to such places as the one described, the Solitary Sandpiper 

 frequents tidal creeks, and rivulets away from the sea, and, occa- 

 sionally, salt marshes ; but I have never seen it on the beach, 

 although I believe it does visit the borders of the ocean at rare 

 intervals. It is often seen at high elevations in damp meadows 

 or margins of springs and pools among the mountains, where 

 its low soft whistling note sounds mournfully amid the stillness 

 of the surrounding forest. When startled, as a rule they do not 

 fly far, but settle soon again, and regard the cause of their tem- 

 porary alarm with quiet, indifferent gaze. It feeds on insects, 

 larvae, worms, small crustaceans, &c., such as compose the daily 

 bill of fare of the members of the Snipe family, and when it has 

 satisfied its hunger, it will remain standing often up to its breast 

 in the water, or drawn into a small compass on the shore. It 

 frequently may be seen walking calmly in the water with slow 

 measured steps, like the Heron does when looking for a good 

 place to exercise his piscatory abilities." 



Nest. According to Mr. Elliot, only one authentic instance 

 of the finding of the nest of this species is known, Mr. Richard- 

 son having discovered a nest, on the ground. 



Eggs. Those taken on the above occasion are described as 

 pyriform in shape, light drab in colour, spotted with various 

 shades of brown. They measured 1-37 by 0-95 inch, and re- 

 sembled those of the Piping Sand-Plover (&gialiti$ meloda). 



