Nest, &c. 
82 GRALLATORES. TOTANUS. Sanvpirer. 
motion ; for whether running along the shore, or perched 
upon a stone, its tail is ever moving up and down ; and it 
has also the custom (in common with other species of this 
genus) of nodding the head, by suddenly stretching and 
contracting the neck. Its flight is graceful, though pecu- 
liar, being performed by a rapid motion of the pinions, suc- 
ceeded by an interval of rest, the wings at the same time be- 
ing considerably bent, and forming an angle with the body; 
and in this manner it skims with rapidity over the surface of 
the water, not always flying in a straight line, but making 
occasional sweeps, uttering at the same time its shrill and 
well known whistle, which has been compared to the sound 
of the words bestowed upon it as a provincial appellation.— 
It breeds upon the banks of rivers or lakes, taking care to’ 
make its nest beyond the reach of the usual floods, and fre- 
quently, should a corn-field approach the edge of the water, 
it will retire within it. The immediate site of the nest is ge- 
nerally under a projecting tuft of grass or rush, where it 
scrapes rather a deep hole in the ground, lining it with dried 
grass, leaves, and other materials. The eggs are four in 
number, and not five, as stated by some authors; they are 
of a cream-yellow colour, with numerous spots of dark brown 
upon the surface, and others of a lighter hue appearing, as 
it were, underneath the outer shell. If disturbed during the 
period of incubation, the female quits the nest as quietly as 
possible, and usually flies to a distance, making at this time 
no outery ; as soon, however, as the young are hatched, her 
manners completely alter, and the greatest agitation is ex- 
pressed on the apprehension of danger, and every stratagem 
is tried, such as feigning lameness and inability of flight, to 
divert the attention of the intruder from the unfledged brood. 
As soon as hatched the young quit the nest, and are then 
covered with down of a greyish-brown colour above, with 
black streaks upon the head, and a black list down the back, 
the under parts being white. This is rapidly succeeded by 
the regular plumage, and in the course of three weeks they 
