QREEtf SANDPIPER. 155 



It is described as journeying principally alone, or in pairs; 

 six or seven being the most that are seen journeying together, 

 and these generally young birds. Its migration is conducted 

 during the night, from dusk to daylight. 'During the day 

 it frequents the moist banks of rivers, lakes, and canals, but 

 very rarely the sea side, and when disturbed flies invariably 

 to a great distance on its way, either north or south, 

 according to the time of the year, in which direction its 

 destination lies. It flies always at a great elevation, from 

 whence it descends like a stone to the spot where it intends 

 to alight, either for rest or food.' 



They are said to be exceedingly good birds to eat. They 

 are of very shy and solitary habits, and do not admit of a 

 near approach, unless it be an unexpected one favoured by 

 the sheltered nature of the cover which they naturally seek. 

 They do not keep to the same spot for more than twenty- 

 four hours. 



They are noticeable in flight from the white of the tail 

 and tail coverts. 



They run with facile agility, and, if occasion requires, with 

 great swiftness. They fly well and strongly, the wings for 

 the most part being not fully stretched, but quickly moved; 

 before alighting they are almost closed, and the bird shoots 

 down until near the ground, when it makes one or two short 

 turns and then settles. In running along they frequently 

 flirt up and spread the tail. If suddenly startled up they fly 

 off at a low height, following the winding of the stream, at 

 first silently, but then uttering their whistling cry, and 

 mounting high into the air. 



They feed on insects, their larvae, and worms. 



The note, a shrill whistle, has been likened to the word 

 'cheet,' repeated, and also to 'dlee, dlee, dlee,' and also 'die, 

 die.' It is one which you will be sure to notice. 



The nest is either in sand on a bank, or among grass by 

 the side of a stream. 



The eggs, four in number, are of a greenish white ground 

 colour, with dusky or dark brown and light reddish brown 

 and grey spots, more or less dark. 



Male; weight, about three ounces and a quarter, or rather 

 more; length, nine inches and a half to nearly ten; bill, very 

 slender, and dull greenish black at the base, the remainder 

 dusky black; from it a pale dusky greyish brown streak 

 proceeds to and over the eye, between which and the base of 



