258 LONG-BILLED RUNNING BIRDS. 



flanks and rump, the more so in the latter because 

 the tail and hinder parts are ceaselessly wagged up 

 and down. In fact, there is a' most reinarkable 

 similarity in the gestures of the Common Sandpiper 

 and the Wagtails, birds in other respects so different. 

 Running hither and thither in the same lively 

 way, both may often be seen procuring their food 

 together by the water-side, now wading in the shallows, 

 now snapping at some passing insect, short tail and 

 long tail wagging with uniform motion. The Sand- 

 piper emits a clear, piping ' Wheet! ' which, being at 

 times repeated^ runs up into a prolonged trill, and to 

 this any others within earshot respond, following the 

 first bird in flight, or signalling him to refuge. The 

 flight, which is generally low, reveals long, pointed 

 wings, beating quickly, or half-depressed during a 

 skimming progress. Seen at such times from above, 

 the bird shows all brown except ^ a white wing-bar 

 and the white outer tail-feathers ; seen from the side, 

 the lateral tail-coverts show plainly white ; when the 

 bird cants, showing its under parts, it is wholly white. 

 As the bird alights, the wings, held aloft, flicker white 

 ere they are closed. When the Sandpiper is disturbed 

 in its breeding-haunts its cry is an anxious ' Pee-eep /' 

 No other small wader has the pronounced tail-wag- 

 ging habit of the Common Sandpiper. 



GREEN SANDPIPER.— Form, like Common Sand- 

 piper (plate 109). 9^- inches. General colour above 

 brown ; darker on lower back, rump, and wing ; tail 

 and the parts at the root of the* tail white, with 

 dark, irregular bars towards end of tail ; under parts 



