SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 131 



weet weet as it flutters along, seldom steering in a direct line 

 up or down the river, but making a long circuitous sweep, 

 stretching a great way out, and gradually bending in again to 

 the shore. 



These birds are found occasionally along the sea marshes, as 

 well as in the interior; and also breed in the corn fields there, 

 frequenting the shore in search of food; but rarely associating 

 with the other Tringse. About the middle of October they leave 

 us on their way to the south, and do not, to my knowledge, 

 winter in any of the Atlantic states. 



Mr. Pennant is of opinion that this same species is found in 

 Britain; but neither his description, nor that of Mr. Bewick, 

 will apply correctly to this. The following particulars, with the 

 figure, will enable Europeans to determine this matter to their 

 satisfaction. 



Length of the Spotted Sandpiper seven inches and a half, 

 extent thirteen inches; bill an inch long, straight, the tip, and 

 upper mandible, dusky, lower orange; stripe over the eye, and 

 lower eye-lid, pure white; whole upper parts a glossy olive, 

 with greenish reflections, each feather marked with waving 

 spots of dark brown; wing quills deep dusky; bastard wing bor- 

 dered and tipt with white; a spot of white on the middle of the 

 inner vane of each quill feather, except the first; secondaries 

 tipped with white; tail rounded, the six middle feathers green- 

 ish olive, the other three, on each side, white, barred with black; 

 whole lower parts white, beautifully marked with roundish 

 spots of black, small and thick on the throat and breast, larger 

 and thinner as they descend to the tail; legs a yellow clay co- 

 lour; claws black. 



The female is as thickly spotted below as the male; but the 

 young birds, of both sexes, are [pure white below, without any 

 spots; they also want the orange on the bill. These circumstan- 

 ces I have verified on numerous individuals. 



