LXTIL COMMON SANDPIPEK. 



(Totanus hypoleucus.) 



WE have found Sandpipers' nests in various positions on the 

 ground, in the side of a bank, or at the foot of a tree, and once 

 only in a low bush, but always near the shore. The young birds 

 are able to leave the nest as soon as hatched, but remain near it 

 for a few days, probably returning to it at night. 



The nest sketched was in a bank, and the whole family were 

 drawn from life. The old bird was caught by placing the young 

 ones in an open cage, and shutting the door by means of a string 

 as soon as she went in, which she did immediately on our retiring 

 a dozen yards. There is no perceptible difference of plumage 

 between the male and female, but we presumed this to be the 

 female. They were all restored to their home uninjured. 



When the Sandpiper is on eggs, if disturbed she flies away 

 quietly and silently ; but if the young are hatched, she flaps 

 about, making a great outcry to warn the little ones to sit 

 perfectly still, so as to attract no attention, while she feigns 

 lameness and impotency to lead away the enemy from the 

 neighbourhood. The young can run very quickly almost as 

 soon as they are out of the egg. They are very small, and so 

 like the colour of the shore, or the banks of the streams they 

 frequent, that it is extremely difficult to see them when they do 

 not move. 



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