SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 



349 



ing in flocks of about half a dozen, which run 

 swiftly over the boggy and wet soil, as the other 

 Sandpipers do. 



Out of the same flock I found some, both males 

 and females, which had the beak considerably broad- 

 er and flatter than others; some also have the feet 

 blackish, and others clay-colour. In other respects 

 the specimens were undistinguishable. 



I found in the stomach comminuted animal mat- 

 ter, and fragments of shells. 



SPOTTED SANDPIPER.* 

 Actitis macularius. 



Tringa macularia, WILS. Aud. pi. 310. 



Actitis macularius^ BOIE. 



THIS is a common species with us, affecting prin- 

 cipally the margins and shallows of rocky streams, 

 such as Bluefield River. It arrives from the north 

 about the end of August, and remains certainly 

 till after the middle of April, and I am not sure 

 that individuals do not stay all the summer. 



Wilson has delineated the manners of this bird in 

 a very interesting manner, to which I have nothing 

 to add. One which was wounded in the wing, 

 I put into a cage for an hour or two ; during 



* Length 7^ inches, expanse 12, flexure 4, tail 1^-, rictus 1^, tarsus 

 l-JL., middle toe ^. Intestine 9 inches ; two caeca 1^ inch from cloaca, 

 1 inch long, very slender. 



