320 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



THE COMMON SANDPIPER. 



On the banks of our mountain lakes and streams 

 and lowland sheets of water lives a little bird in the 

 summer months known to the country people as the 

 Summer Snipe, and to one well versed in the study 

 of ornithology as the Common Sandpiper. It is an un- 

 obtrusive little creature enough, yet withal a very en- 

 gaging one. Running nimbly on the sands, it probes 

 them with its long beak, to secure the worms hiding 

 there, its little footprints marking out its course. Its 

 long legs enable it to wade with ease, yet it never swims, 

 for its requirements need no such form of motion. If 

 you disturb it when wandering round the sandy or 

 marshy shore it rises suddenly, and with rapid graceful 

 flight pursues its way close to the water to a place of 

 seclusion, uttering its shrill and piping weet-weet as it 

 goes. 



If wishful of studying his habits, you must delay 

 your visit to his haunts until the month of April calls 

 the migratory birds hither, and releases the mud flats, 

 sands, and marshes from the relentless grasp of winter. 

 It is then, by resistless impulse driven, he quits his winter 

 haunts and repairs to the localities mentioned above, for 

 the purpose of feeding on the worms and insects, and 

 rearing his young. You find he is somewhat shy and 

 retiring at all times, but by a cautious advance you will 

 generally succeed in watching his actions on the mai^in 



