Birds of Oregon and Washington 205 



"Across the narrow beach we flit, 



One little sandpiper and I, 

 And fast I gather, bit by bit, 



The scattered driftwood bleached and dry. 

 The wild waves reach their hands for it, 



The wild wind raves, the tide runs high, 

 As up and down the beach we flit, 



One little sandpiper and I. 



I watch him as he skims along, 



Uttering his sweet and mournful cry. 

 He starts not at my fitful song, 



Or flash of fluttering drapery. 

 He has no thought of any wrong ; 



He scans me w T ith a fearless eye. 

 Staunch friends are we, well tried and strong, 



The little sandpiper and I." 



PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. Top of head and back, 

 rusty-yellowish, " broadly streaked with black " ; wings^ 

 grayish to dark brown, edges, paler to buff ; wings and 

 upper tail-coverts, brownish-black, edges, pale ; sides of 

 head, lores, neck, and breast, ashy-buff, streaked with 

 brown ; under parts, as in general description. 



THE WESTERN SANDPIPER. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION : 



Upper parts : black and rusty, or chestnut. 

 Under parts : white. 

 Length, 5.25 inches. 



Found in May, August, and September, on our shores 

 and marshes. Nests about the mouth of the Yukon 

 River and elsewhere. 



