BIRDS FOUND ALONG THE BEACHES 63 



a picturesque graceful bird, well proportioned in spite 

 of the stilt-like legs which give it its name. In flight 

 it is not unlike the cranes, but when alighting it drops 

 its feet and raises its wings, poising a moment, as do 

 the gulls. It feeds upon small fresh-water crustaceans, 

 mollusks, and larvae of insects, not scorning earthworms, 

 and picks its way daintily through the marsh grass in. 

 search of favorite tidbits, with a charming air of quiet 

 grace. Surprised, it springs into flight, trailing its long 

 legs behind it. During the breeding season it is quite 

 noisy, uttering its hoarse croaks continually, until the 

 whereabouts of its nesting place may be known by any 

 who will investigate. A large part of this noise occurs 

 when the food is brought to the mate on the nest, 

 where it receives a joyous, if unmusical, welcome. The 

 nestlings look like balls of down perched upon tooth- 

 picks, but neither their legs nor their bills are developed 

 at all in proportion to those of the adults. They are 

 spry, like the young of most ground birds, and in a 

 marvellously short time become self-supporting. 



232. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. — Macrorhamphus 

 griseus scolopaceus. 



Family : The Snipes and Sandpipers. 



Length: 11.00-12.50. 



Adults in Summer : Upper parts black, mottled with buff and light red- 

 brown ; rump mottled black and white, and tail barred black and 

 white ; a light line over eye, and a dark one from eye to bill ; under 

 parts mottled on throat, breast, and belly with red-brown and black- 

 ish ; sides and lower tail-coverts barred with same colors. 



Adults in Winter : Plumage uniform dusky gray ; line over eye and the 

 lower belly white. 



