161 COMMON SANDPIPER. 



being performed by a rapid motion of the pinions, succeeded 

 by an interval of rest, the wings at the same time being 

 considerably bent, and forming an angle with the body; and 

 in this manner it skims with rapidity over the surface of 

 the water, not always flying in a straight line, but making 

 occasional sweeps, uttering at the same time its shrill and 

 well-known whistle.' When settling down, the wings are at 

 some seasons kept up stretched over the back, and in this 

 position it runs along the sand, uttering the while its 

 plaintive whistle. Sandpipers may at times be seen running 

 along the grass by the river side, stretching themselves out, 

 and ruffling their feathers in an odd sort of manner. 



They feed on worms aud insects, such as flies, gnats, and 

 water spiders, and on minute snails, but rarely. In search 

 of some part of their food they thrust their bills into the 

 mud. 



The note, a clear pipe, is, though pleasant to the ear, a 

 mere 'wheet, wheet, wheet,' uttered when the bird is put up, 

 as well as when perched on some stone, branch, or stake, 

 near the water side. Meyer likens it to the syllables, 

 'heedeedee, heedeedee.' It is repeated a great number of 

 times as many as forty or fifty by the bird when on the 

 wing. 



ISTidification commences about the middle of April. 



The nest is slight a collection of a few leaves or a little 

 moss, dry grass or leaves, in a hollow in a bank, in a tuft 

 of grass, or tussock of rushes; upon a bed of gravel, or 

 even on a bare rock; the eggs being kept together by only 

 a very slight inequality in the surface. It is generally thus 

 sheltered or protected, on one side at least. It is usually 

 built near the water's edge, but sometimes in an adjoining 

 field, always above the highest water-mark. It is well hidden 

 in a tuft of grass or rushes, or among the lower branches 

 of willows and osiers, so as to be difficult to find. The 

 same pair, if undisturbed, will return for several successive 

 seasons to their accustomed building-place. 



The eggs, four in number, are of a reddish white or cream 

 yellow tint, spotted and speckled with dark brown, and other 

 marks of a lighter hue. Some are of a clear very light blue 

 ground colour, with minute brown spots all over; others 

 with large blots of deep brown. They are, as the eggs of 

 other waders, admirably adapted, both by their form and 

 position in the nest, to occupy the smallest possible degree 



