26 BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER. 
fat ; in the Carolinas on crickets and other insects, as well as the seeds: 
of the crab-grass, Digitaria sanguinaria ; and in the barrens of Ken- 
tucky they often pick the strawberries. Those which feed much on 
cantharides, require to be very carefully cleaned, otherwise persons 
eating them are liable to suffer severely. Several gentlemen of New 
Orleans have assured me, that they have seen persons at dinner ob- 
liged to leave the room at once, under such circumstances, which can- 
not well be described here. When flavoured. with the ripe strawber- 
ries, on which they have fed, their flesh is truly delicious. 
This species performs its migrations by night as well as by day. - 
Its flight is rather swift and well sustained. While travelling, it ge- 
nerally flies so high as to be beyond reach of the gun: but if the wea- 
ther be cloudy, or if it blow hard, it flies lower, and may easily be shot. 
It generally proceeds in straggling bands, and moves along with con- 
tinuous easy beats of the wings, but sails, as it were, when about to 
alight, as well as during the love season. 
As long ago as 1805 and 1806, I observed this species win Sih in 
the meadows and green-fields of my plantation of Millgrove, near the 
banks of Perkioming Creek. Since then, I have known of its rearing 
broods in different parts of Pennsylvania, in the State of New York, 
and in various districts to the eastward as far as the confines of Maine ; 
but I did not find it in Newfoundland or Labrador ; and I have reason 
to believe that it does not breed to the south of Maryland. 
My friend, the Rev. Dr Bacuman, has informed me that the Bar- 
tramian Sandpipermakes its appearance in South Carolina aboutthe 15th 
of July, the hottest period of the year, in considerable numbers, be- 
takes itself at once to the high grassy lands, and there remains about a 
month. He considers it to be then on its return from the north, and 
states that it is very fat and affords delicious food. His manner of shoot- 
ing them is, to ride in a chair or gig over the fields which they frequent, 
or along the roads in their neighbourhood, by which means they can 
be approached near enough to enable the sportsman to shoot with al- 
most a certainty of success, as the bird rises out of the grass. If one 
attempts to get near them on foot, they rise at too great a distance, 
then sweep in circles over the spot, and alight a considerable way off. 
They are seldom met with there in flocks of more than four or five in- 
dividuals. 
I have found the eggs of this bird laid on the bare earth, in a hollow 
