152 Land Birds of New England 



ORDER LIMICOLJE. 



88. SPOTTED SANDPIPER; TIP-UP 



TEETER-TAIL; SOLITARY TATTLER 



(A ctitis macularia . ) 



Upper parts olive-gray marked with cross bars of blackish ; under 

 parts spotted with sharply outlined blackish spots ; edge of wing 

 and tips of tail feathers marked with white. Beak about an 

 inch long, slender, pale ; legs long and bare for some distance 

 above the first joint, pale. Bird distinctly larger than a sparrow. 

 Sexes similar, save that in the female the spots on the under 

 parts are larger and more crowded. 



THE spotted sandpiper comes to us in early May, 

 and leaves again in October. Although not a land 

 bird, he is included in our list because he is so likely 

 to be found in similar haunts. He is the commonest 

 of all our marsh birds, and is frequently to be met 

 along low river shores, where he is easily recognized 

 from his habit of jerking the hind part of his body 

 and his tail up and down with a motion as regular 

 as that of clockwork. From this peculiarity he has 

 received the name of tip-up or teeter-tail. The 

 flight, too, is unusual ; it consists of a quick stroke, 

 followed by a long slide close above the surface of 

 the stream. 



The nest is placed upon the ground in a field or 

 meadow, usually near water. 



