105 



Genus — Tryngites. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. 



262. Buff-breasted Sandpiper fh. — la maubechb a poitrine jatwatbe. Tryn- 

 gites subruficollis. L, 8-50. Back and crown dark, feathers of lower back finely edged 

 with cream; underparts white; throat, neck, breast, and flanks strongly suffused with 

 buff, which colour tinges much of the upper parts. 



Distinctions. Small size, and general buffy colour, underside of the inner webs of 

 the primaries finely speckled with dark on white. The under-wing surface is beautifully 

 marbled in a manner that is assumed by no other eastern species. 



Field Marks. Small size and general buffy colour. It may appear on uplands like 

 the Upland Plover, but is much smaller. 



Distribution. Breeds on the Arctic shores of the extreme northwest, migrating 

 down the Mississippi valley; hence it is very rare in the Maritime Provinces, scarce in 

 the Great Lakes region, and more common westward. 



Economic Status. What has been said of the Upland Plover is probably 

 true of this species. 



Genus — Actitis. Spotted Sandpiper. 



263. Spotted Sandpiper, pewit, teeteb. tip-tip. fb. — la matjbeche tache- 

 tee. l'alotjette beanle-queue. Actitis macularia. L, 7-50. Plate VIII B. 



Distinctions. Adults have decidedly round breast spots and a slight greenish lustre 

 on the back. Young autumn birds resemble the Solitary but are distinguished by white 

 instead of barred axillars. 



Field Marks. Size and distinct round spots on breast. When flying it may be 

 distinguished from the Solitary Sandpiper, which it most resembles, by the white line 

 along the edges of the secondaries and the much smaller amount of black and white 

 barring on the tail. The flight, when the observer becomes familiar with it, is also quite 

 characteristic. 



Nesting. Slight hollow in ground at no great distance from water, in the shelter 

 of a bit of shrub or grass. 



Distribution. Breeds over the whole of eastern Canada to the northernmost parts 

 of New Quebec and Ontario. Common throughout its range. 



This is the commonest summer Sandpiper in Canada ; occasional pairs 

 are to be found along the smallest streams. It frequents all kinds of ground ; 

 sand beaches, gravelly reaches, mud flats, or rocky shores. Almost any 

 Sandpiper seen in summer near our waters may be put down as this species 

 unless there are good grounds for other identification. Its habit of bobbing 

 its body up and down occasionally even when apparently at rest, or more 

 rapidly when excited, has given it the common name "Tip-up". Its white- 

 barred wings, peculiar flight, with a few quick beats followed by a short 

 sail oh decurved wings, and its loud triumphant "Pewit-pewit-pewit" as it 

 alights on the stream margin well ahead of the observer are familiar 

 to all. One can chase it from point to point for some distance from its 

 home ground, when, joined by its mate, it will circle well around the dis- 

 turber and return to the place from which it started. 



Economic Status. Though normally frequenting water edges it is often 

 seen in the adjacent fields, running between the furrows of newly turned 

 earth or rows of growing plants. Its food is mainly, if not entirely, insec- 

 tivorous, hence it is beneficial to the farmer. The species has not suffered 

 severely from shooting and seems to hold its own in the most cultivated 

 sections. 



