198 FEATHERED GAME 



our little drama had been taking place a bimcb 

 of eight '^summers" had come in and settled at 

 about thirty yards distance to look on. 



The bird is known by a number of names, 

 most of them derived from his habit of ''bob- 

 bing" and balancing up and down. Among 

 these are ''Tip-up," "Teeter-Tail," ''Teeter- 

 Bob," and "Peet-Weet," this last from his note 

 of alarm. The "Teeter-Bob" is a merrv, rest- 

 less little fellow, never for a moment quiet. He 

 is about seven and one half inches long and 

 thirteen inches in extent of wing. Above, dull 

 olive brown with a silken sheen and lustre to 

 his plumage; fine lines of black on head and 

 neck; wavy crossbars of the same color on the 

 back and wing coverts; upjDer tail coverts and 

 central feathers of the tail of the same olive 

 brown hue; tail feathers tipped with white, the 

 outer ones having several incomplete barrings 

 of this color. Under parts all white with nu- 

 merous black polka dots plentifully sprinkled in 

 on throat, breast and flanks, the spots growing 

 fewer and paler toward the lower parts. These 

 spots are missing in the fall dress. Wing 

 quills brownish black; bill flesh-colored, black- 

 tipped. 



