ACTITURUS BAETEAMIUS, BAETEAMIAlSr SANDPIPER. 505 



ground, in a slight depression. The eggs are ordinarily fouf in num- 

 ber, as usual among Waders. The numerous specimens I have collected 

 are somewhat notablj' constant in characters, both of size and coloration. 

 In dimensions they range from 1.90 by 1.30 inches, to 1.70 by 1.25, 

 averaging about 1.75 by 1.28. The ground is pale clay-color, or a very 

 light drab — sometimes the palest possible creamy-browu — with scarcely 

 a shade of olivaceous. They are spotted all over, but m,uch more thickly 

 at the larger end, with rather small, sharp, surface markings of umber- 

 brown, overlaying a smaller number of purplish gray shell-markings. 

 However thickly they may be sprinkled, the spots are rarely, if ever, 

 confluent into masses of any size, the largest I have seen not exceeding 

 the diameter of a pea. These larger blotches are irregular in contour, 

 but the smaller ones are mostly rounded. 



Young birds are abroad late in June — curious little creatures, timid 

 and weak, led about by their anxious parents, solicitous for their well- 

 fare, and ready to engage in the most unequal contests in their behalf. 

 When half grown, but still in the down, the little creatures have a 

 curiously clumsy, top-heavy look ; their legs look disproportionately 

 large, like those of a young colt or calf; and they may be caught with 

 little difiBculty, as they do not run very well. I once happened upon a 

 brood, perhaps two weeks old, rambling with their mother over the 

 prairie. She sounded the alarm, to scatter her brood, but not before I 

 had secured one of them in my hand. I never saw a braver defence 

 attempted than was made by this strong-hearted though powerless bird, 

 who, after exhausting her artitices to draw me in pursuit of herself, by 

 tumbling about as if desperately wounded, and lying panting with out- 

 stretched wings on the grass, gave up hope of saving her young in this 

 way, and then almost attacked me, dashing close up and retreating 

 again to renew her useless onslaught. She was evidently incited to 

 unusual courage by the sight of her little one struggling in my hand. 

 At this downy stage the young birds are white below, finely mottled 

 with black, white, and rich brown above; the feet and under mandible 

 are light colored; the upper mandible is blackish. 



Although these Tattlers are generally dispersed over the prairies dar- 

 ing the summer, yet they affect particular spots by preference. Away 

 from the river valleys, such spots are the numerous depressions of 

 rolling prairie, often of great extent, which are moist or even watery 

 at some seasons, and where the vegetation is most luxuriant. Here 

 they gather almost into colonies. Riding into some such si)ot in July, 

 when the young birds are being led about by their parents, some old 

 bird more watchful than the rest, or nearest to the person approaching, 

 gives the alarm with a loud outcry, the young scatter and liide, and all 

 the old birds are soon on wing; hovering in the air, o1 ten at a great 

 height, crossing each other's path, and ceaselessly vociferating their 

 displeasure. I have often seen a dozen or twenty overhead at once, all 

 from a little spot only a few acres in extent. Later in the season, when 

 all the summer's broods are on wing, they make up into flocks, often of 

 great extent, and old and young together assunie the ordinary routine 

 of their lives. They leave these northern regions early. I saw none 

 after the forepart of September. 



The food of this Tattler is mainly insects, especially grasshoppers, of 

 which they must devour enormous quantities in the aggregate. They 

 also feed on other small animal substances, as well as upon various 

 berries. I have found them very well conditioned even in the spring, 

 and in the fall they grow surprisingly fat. They are a tender and well- 



