94 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



GENUS ACTITIS ILLIGER. 

 Actitis macularia (LiNN.). 



Spotted Sandpiper; Tilt-up. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 81). 



Bill straight, slender and a little longer than head ; mandibles grooved ; lower 

 third of tibise bare ; legs rather long ; toes long, the outer and middle have basal 

 web. Size small ; sexes alike ; adults in winter and young very similar. 



A dult. Length about 1\ inches ; extent about 13| ; bill pale yellow, with black 

 tip ; eyes brown ; legs pale flesh color. Upper parts grayish or brownish olive with 

 greenish or bronzy lustre and irregular spots, streaks, and lines of blackish ; white 

 streak over eye ; lower parts white with numerous rounded black spots. The young 

 and adults in winter have less metallic lustre on upper Darts, and under parts are 

 white or nearly white. 



Habitat. North and South America, south to Brazil. Breeds throughout tem- 

 perate North America. Occasional in Europe. 



The Tilt-up, as this sandpiper is universally known in this section, 

 arrives in Pennsylvania about the middle of April, sometimes even earlier. 

 It is common and indigenous. The nest is placed on the ground in a 

 grass field, sometimes in a grain field, or on the sandy bank near streams 

 and ponds, along which these birds are commonly found industriously 

 seeking their hidden prey. The creamy or buff colored eggs, from two 

 to five in number, are spotted and blotched with different shades of 

 brown and black. This bird, like other of the waders, places its eggs 

 in the nest with the small ends together. Wilson very properly says : 

 " This species is as remarkable for perpetually wagging the tail as some 

 others are for nodding the head ; for, whether running on the ground, 

 or on fences, along the rails, or in the water, this motion seems continual ; 

 even the young, soon after they are freed from the shell, run about con- 

 stantly wagging the tail." When you approach the eggs or young the 

 old birds manifest great concern. They flutter along the ground as if 

 injured, and should you follow and attempt to catch them they will lead 

 you to a considerable distance from their treasures before flying off. 

 Wilson mentions the following instance, which shows the great solici- 

 tude which the female has for her young : " My venerable friend, Mr. 

 William Barton, informs me that he saw one of these birds defend her 

 young for a considerable time from the repeated attacks of a ground 

 squirrel. The scene of action was on the river shore. The parent had 

 thrown herself, with her two young behind her, between them and the 

 land, and at every attempt of the squirrel to seize them by a circuitous 

 sweep, raised both her wings in an almost perpendicular position, as- 

 suming the most formidable appearance she was capable of, and rushed 

 forwards on the squirrel, who, intimidated by her boldness and manner, 

 instantly retreated ; but presently returning, was met, as before, in front 

 and on flank by the daring and affectionate bird, who, with her wings 



