SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 91 



considerable angle downwards from the body, while it 

 utters a rapid cry of w eet, 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 tringce. 

 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 will enable Europeans to deter- 

 mine 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 eyelid, pure white; 

 whole upper parts, a glossy olive, with greenish reflec- 

 tions, each feather marked with waving spots of dark 

 brown; wing-quills, deep dusky ; bastard wing, bordered 

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

 the inner vane of each quill feather except the first ; 

 secondaries tipt with white ; tail, rounded, the six 

 middle feathers, greenish 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 

 colour ; claws, 1 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 circumstances I have verified on 

 numerous individuals. 



