616 SCOLOPACHLE. 



placed a number of stones in a slanting position over the 

 nest, and so close that it was impossible for the bird to get 

 into it. On my return in the evening, however, I observed 

 the little creature rise from beside the stones apparently in 

 greater trepidation than ever, and more anxious to draw me 

 away by the exhibition of all those little arts which they 

 practise for this purpose. On examining the spot I was 

 very much surprised to find that the poor thing had not 

 only hollowed out a new nest, but had actually succeeded in 

 abstracting two eggs from the other nest. How the bird 

 had contrived to remove the eggs I cannot conceive, as the 

 stones remained unaltered. This attachment to its nest and 

 eggs appeared to me more singular as the bird had but just 

 commenced incubation, the eggs exhibiting very little ap- 

 pearance of the young." 



Two eggs of the Spotted Sandpiper, given me by Mr. 

 Audubon, very closely resemble those of our Common Sand- 

 piper, being about one inch four lines long, by one inch in 

 width ; of a pale reddish white, spotted and speckled with 

 ash grey, and two shades of reddish brown. 



This bird is smaller than our Common Sandpiper, but so 

 like it in the general colour and markings of the plumage on 

 the upper surface of the body, that the distinctions only 

 need be noticed. The beak is shorter and paler in colour 

 both at the point as well as at the base ; the dark streak 

 on the feathers of the back seems more confined to the 

 transverse direction, and is not so often conspicuous down 

 the line of the shaft of the feather ; the secondaries are 

 tipped with white as in the Common Sandpiper, but the 

 feathers are longer ; in the tail five feathers on each side 

 have white tips, and only one feather on each outside of the 

 tail has the outer web white, barred with greenish black ; 

 the chin white ; the throat, neck, breast, and all the under 



