572 THE PECTORAL SANDPIPER. 



oiound, but at others they utter a peculiar chucking kind of note, wMch seems to indicate 

 their i^osition to the expectant female. 



The Knot loves to feed on the large expanses of sea-grass {Zostera marina) which are left 

 bare by the receding tide, and is often found with a mixed assembly of godwits, dunlins, and 

 redshanks. 



The Knot is also called Robin Snipe {Tringa canutus), and Red-breasted Sandpiper, and 

 Ash-colored Sandpiper. It is found in the northern portion of botli hemisi>heres — Australia, 

 New Zealand, and South America. During winter it is abunthint along the Atlantic coast, but 

 is rare in the interior, and westward. Its breeding places are far north, in the utmost habit- 

 able limits of the Arctic Circle. The eggs are five iu number, and are merely laid on a tuft of 

 grass. 



The regularly disposed concentric semicircles of wliite and dai'k brown that mark the 

 upper parts of the plumage of this species, distinguish it from all others. When attired in its 

 full summer plumage the male Knot is a leally handsome bird. The sides of the head are 

 bright chestnut with a few dark spots, and tlie toj) of the head is a deeper chestnut with dark 

 brown streaks. The upper part of the back is richly mottled, the centre of each feather being 

 black, and the edges warm chestnut and white. The greater wing-coverts are ashen-gray, the 

 primaries black with wliite shafts, the secondaries edged with white, and the upper tail- 

 coverts rusty- white, edged with white and barred with black. The tail is dark ash edged with 

 white, and the under surface is warm ruddy chestnut fading into white on the under tail- 

 coverts. After the breeding season all the rich warm tints are lost, and the bird assumes a 

 sober dress of ashen-gray above, black wings, and the imder surface white streaked with gray. 

 The length of the Knot is about ten inches. 



In activity, it is sujierior to the preceding ; and traces the flowing and recession of the 

 waves along the sandy beach with great nimbleness ; w^ading among tlie loose pai^ticles for its 

 favorite food, which is a small, thin, oval bivalve shell-fish, not larger than the seed of 

 an apple. These usually lie at a short depth below the surface. They constitute the food of 

 this bird, and render it vei'y fat. It is a pleasing spectacle to watch groups of these birds 

 follow adroitly the line of breaking surf, busily engaged in picking up their choice moi'sels as 

 they are separated from the sand and are rolled inward on the tide. The length of this bird is 

 ten inches ; the extent of wing, twenty inches. 



Purple Sandpiper {Arquatella maratima). This species inhabits the whole of North 

 America, particularly on the sea-coast. It is migratory, and winters within the United States, 

 breeding in high northern localities only. It is also found in Europe and Asia. Though its 

 name would indicate its maritime habits, yet it is often seen on the margin of the Great Lakes. 

 It is said to he very common on the shores of Lake Michigan. In New England it is rather 

 abundant ; frequenting the rocky shores where the sea-weed grows, rather than the sandy 

 beaches. 



Another species, of late determination, is called the Aleutian Sandpiper {Arquatella 

 cov£si), found on the northwestern coast. 



Another from the same region is named Prtbilov Sandpiper {Arquatella ptilcenensis). 



The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper {Actodro-mas acuminata) is a late addition to the American 

 bird fauna. 



The Pectoral Sandpiper {Actodromas maculata) is a familiar sj)ecies, and common to 

 the whole continent. It is also found in Europe. It is called variously Grass Snipe, Jack 

 Snipe, and Meadow Snipe. Its game-like habits render it a favorite with the sportsmen. In 

 summer it is abundant in Labrador, where it frequents low, muddy flats. When it arises 

 from the grass to alight again at a little distance, it flies in silence, and utters a single tioeet ; 

 the wings being deeply incurved ; but when suddenly startled, and much alarmed, it springs 

 quickly, with loud repeated cries, and makes off in a zig-zag, much like the common Snipe. 



