668 THE GREEN SANDPIPER. 



the Mississi])pi River and the Rocky Mountains it is called Prairie Pigeon, where it is very- 

 abundant during migration. 



Dr. Coues says : "Their ordinary note is a long-drawn, soft, and melancholy whistle, of a 

 peculiarly clear, resonant quality ; but besides this, they have a note peculiar, I believe, to 

 this period of their lives. This is a very loud, prolonged cry, sounding more like the whistling 

 of the wind than a bird's voice. The wUd sound, which is strangely mournful, is generally 

 uttered when the bird, just alighted, holds its wings for an instant perpendicularly, before 

 adjusting them over the back. It is frequently heard in the niglit. There is another note 

 that this Tattler has, chiefly when distui'bed breeding ; this is a harsh scream, quickly and 

 often repeated, much like that given by other waders under the same circumstances. It is 

 esteemed as a delicacy. There is no difference in the plumage at different seasons, and the 

 sexes are alike in size and coloration. Its length of body is about twelve inches, and 

 extent of wing twenty-three inches. This bird was named after Bartram by Wilson. It 

 runs with great rapidity, spreading the tail and dropping the vsdngs. When it alights it 

 stands very erect, and has a few sharp, whistling notes as it mounts to fly. Its flesh is 

 regarded as superior in jioint of delicacy, tenderness, and flavor to any other of its tribe. 

 The sexes are nearly alike. 



The Buff-breasted Ploveu {Tryngifes 7 vfescens) inhixhiis the whole of North America. 

 It is migratory in the United States, but is not often seen on the Eastern coast. It breeds in 

 the fur countries, in the interior, and extends its habitat to South America. Its habits are 

 similar to Bartram' s Plover. A few of these birds are observed every season on Long Island. 



Nuttall says: "This elegant species, some seasons, is not uncommon in the market of 

 Boston, being met w4th near the capes of Massachusetts Bay." 



Wilson does not mention it. Its length is eight inches, and extent of wing about fourteen. 



Spotted Sandpiper {Tringokles macularli/s). Native to North America, and breeds 

 nearly throughout its extent of country, wintering in the Southern States and beyond. It is 

 also found in South America, and is a straggler in Europe. Although it reaches the high 

 latitudes, it breeds equally well in every part of America, and is one of the best known and 

 most abundant of its tribe. It nests in a field or orchard, generally near water, visiting equally 

 the interioi- and sea-coast. 



Wilson says that this species is as remarkable for perpetually wagging the tail as others for 

 nodding the head ; even the young just out of the shell run about, constantly wagging the tail. 



On the approach of an intruder in the breeding-season, the parents exhibit great distress, 

 limping and othei-wise counterfeiting lameness, and fluttering along the ground. Its flight is 

 usually low, skimming along the surface of the water, its long wings making a considerable 

 angle downward from the body, while it utters a rapid cry of weet-weet-weet as it flutters 

 along, seldom steering in a direct line up or down the river, but making a long, circuitous 

 sweep. It i-arely associates with other Plovers. 



The length of the Spotted Sandpiper is seven and a half inches, with an extent of wing 

 of thirteen inches. The sexes are much alike. 



The two birds, the Green Sandpiper aud the Avocet, belong to the species of the 

 Totaninse. 



llie Green Sandpiper is, like the whole of its tribe, a fi'equenter of wet and marshy 

 lands, and seems not to be so fond of the sea-shore as many allied species. Salt-water marshes 

 are, however, favorite spots with these birds, and whenever the brackish water spreads from 

 the sea-coast over the adjoining country, there the Green Sandpiper may generally be found. 

 It is a quick and active bird, running about with much agility, and flirting its short tail up and 

 down as it moves along. It is rather noisy, its ci'y being a shrill w histle remarkably loud in 

 proportion to the size of the bird, and very constantly repeated. When flushed it begins to 

 scream, and flies rapidly away at a low elevation, keeping as much as possible over the 

 water. 



