BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER 



(Tryngites subruficollis). This appears to be 



one of the rarer of the sandpipers, although 



it has been reported at times as abundant in 



the Mississippi Valley during migrations. 



It is seldom seen on either the Atlantic or 



Pacific coasts during its flights between the 



breeding grounds along the Arctic coast to 



Argentina, where it is found in winter. They 



are found feeding upon insects on the prairies 



rather than about ponds or marshes, their 



habits being quite similar to those of Up- 

 land Plover. 



SPOTTED SANDPIPERS (Actitis mac- 



ularia) enjoy the distinction of being prac- 

 tically free from destruction by gunners. In 



the first place they are too small to be worth 



while, being but little more than 7 in. in 



length; they seldom travel more than four 



in a flock and do not keep closely together; 



and as they commonly breed throughout 



the United. States and Canada even in the 



vicinity of habitations and are so very con- 

 fiding, they become so well known and ad- 

 mired that only an ingrate would shoot them. 



They nest among grass or clumps of weeds 



anywhere, not necessarily near water. They 



live almost wholly upon aquatic or field 



insects and are useful birds economically. 



To a greater extent than any other of our 



shore birds they have the habit of almost 



incessantly teetering or bowing whenev.er 



they are standing, a habit that causes the country boy to almost universally 



know them as "Tip-ups" or "Teeter-tails." As usual with all birds of this 



order, the young ar.e hatched covered with down, and leave the nest and 



follow their mother about almost as soon as 

 they emerge from the eggs. 



WANDERING TATTLER {Hekractilis 

 incanus). This is a slate-gray and white 

 species occurring on the Pacific coast, but 

 never in any abundance. They breed on 

 the Alaskan coast and winter on the shores 

 . — = — p — «!— =^ of Lower California 



buff-breasted sandpiper 



spotted sandpiper (winter; 



summer) 



39 



