Snipe, Sandpipers, etc. 



Season — Spring and autumn visitor; April, May; July to Novem- 

 ber. Rarely a summer resident. 



A lover of woods, wet meadows, and secluded inland ponds, 

 in the lowlands or the mountains rather than the salt water 

 marshes and sand flats of the coast that most of its kin delight in, 

 the wood tattler is a shy recluse, but not a hermit. At least a 

 pair of birds are usually seen together, representatives of small 

 flocks scattered over the neighborhood, but generally hidden in 

 the underbrush. As compared with most other sandpipers that 

 move in compact flocks and are ever inviting other waders tc 

 join them, this species is certainly unsocial ; but to call it soli- 

 tary implies that it is a misanthrope like the bittern, which 

 no one knew better than Wilson, who named it, that it is not. 

 "It is not a morose or monkish species, shunning its kind," 

 says Mr. D. G. Elliot, "but is frequently met with in small com- 

 panies of five or six individuals on the banks of some quiet pool 

 in a secluded grove, peacefully gleaning a meal from the yielding 

 soil or surface of the placid water. As they move with a sedate 

 walk about their chosen retreat, each bows gravely to the other, 

 as though expressing a hope that his friend is enjoying most 

 excellent health, or else apologizing for intruding upon so charm- 

 ing a retreat and such select company." Dainty, exquisite, 

 graceful, exceedingly quick in their movements, their chief fault 

 is in keeping out of sight so much of the time — the characteristic 

 that preserves their delicate flesh from overloading game bags. 

 Penetrate to their retreats, and they prefer running into the 

 underbrush rather than expose their neat figures and speckled 

 plumage by skimming over the pond. Sit down on the bank, 

 and perhaps some dapper little fellow will pay no attention to 

 your motionless figure and pursue his own concerns. He will run 

 nimbly along the margin of the water, snapping at insects and 

 caterpillars here and there, or, rising lightly in the air, seize a 

 small dragonfly on the wing. He may go lightly over the lily- 

 pads, rail fashion, half flitting with his wings, half running to keep 

 himself from sinking, or wade up to his breast with measured 

 steps, heron fashion, and remain fixed there, waiting for the small 

 coleoptera to skip along the surface within range of his bill. This 

 species appears to eat comparatively few snails, worms, and 

 crustaceans, and a preponderance of insect fare. Its low, musi- 



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