102 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



commonly travel either singly or in pairs. Before starting 

 on their migratory journeys, these birds become very rest- 

 less in their movements, and may be observed flying about 

 in an apparently unsettled state of mind, and continuously 

 uttering their whistling note. 



The flight of the Sandpiper is rapid and easy, and the 

 cry is a repetition of the sound " wheet, wheet, wheet/' 

 uttered whilst the bird is flying, and sometimes repeated 

 a score or two of times in succession. When 3ourneying 

 for any considerable distance, the flight is at a much greater 

 altitude. Although not, strictly speaking, a web-footed 

 bird, it is an expert swimmer, and dives with ease and 

 confidence. The motion of the wings when flying consists 

 of several rapid strokes, followed, as the bird nears its 

 resting place, by a long steady skim, not dissimilar to 

 the flight of the Starling. 



The food of the Sandpiper is composed of worms, flies, 

 gnats, and the small insects that abound in the moist soil 

 which the bird frequents. It loves the low muddy and 

 sandy banks of rivers, especially of those in which large 

 surfaces of alluvial deposit are exposed by the receding 

 tides, the edges of canals, the sides of lakes, ditches, and 

 mill-ponds. Its ordinary movements consist of a series 

 of short rapid runs, varied by an occasional pause, during 

 which it may be observed diligently seeking its food. It 

 is extremely restless in its habits, constantly running to 

 and fro, flirting the tail up and down with a quick, jerky 

 motion, which is particularly noticeable, and nodding the 

 head backwards and forwards as it proceeds. When dis- 

 turbed, it flies at a short distance from the ground, and in 

 the majority of instances crosses over to the opposite side 

 of the stream or water-course ; if again followed or dis- 



