194 



BIRD-LAND ECHOES. 



then with what lightning-like rapidity it disappears ! 

 but if you remain where you were when you flushed 

 the bird, the chances are that you will see it return, 

 darting down with a snipe-like whir of the wings, 

 and the moment it touches the ground raising them 

 until they meet over its back, as if to ascertain 

 whether they are still in working order after such 



Solitary Sand-piper. 



violent exercise. It is a pretty act and an invariable 

 one. Then it commences to feed. I once saw a 

 pin-tail duck go through the same performance. 



Though I appear to stand alone in the opinion, I 

 am convinced that they sometimes breed here. 

 There is no possibility of confounding this species 

 with any other ; the suggestion of a professional 



