Snipe, Sandpipers, etc. 



Range — Eastern North America, nesting within the Arctic Circle, 

 wintering from Florida and the Gulf States to Brazil and Peru. 

 Season — Spring and autumn migrant, May ; July to October. 



From the Arctic Circle to Peru is surely a journey to warrant 

 frequent and long breaks; but only rarely do we hear of a smajl, 

 open flock of these tireless travellers resting awhile on the sand 

 flats of our coast or the muddy channels of the rivers inland to 

 fortify themselves with a square meal before continuing their 

 rapid flight. Like most birds that spend part of their lives at 

 least in Arctic desolation, these sandpipers, not knowing man, 

 have little fear of him, being of the same gentle, confiding dispo- 

 sition, apparently, as the dowitchers, with which they may some- 

 times be found, lured by the sportsman's decoys. Four birds, 

 watched on a Long Island beach, were wading about in a pool 

 left by the receding tide; and as they tipped forward, thrusting 

 their sensitive bills into the soft sand to feel after food, and often 

 immersing their heads to secure a worm or snail buried there, 

 it seemed as if the top-heavy little waders must upset from 

 their long, slender props. Yet when they walked — for they do 

 not run as actively as true sandpipers, this species being a con- 

 necting link between sandpipers and snipe — they moved grace- 

 fully and easily. One characteristic they have that reminds one 

 of the avocet and black-necked stilt: on alighting they first 

 teeter, then stand motionless as if to steady themselves and make 

 sure of their balance. Colonel Goss tells of their squatting to 

 avoid detection, flying only as a last resort, then darting swiftly 

 away, calling a sharp tweet, tweet. 



Knot 



C Tringa canutus) 



Called also: ROBIN SNIPE OR SANDPIPER; RED-BREASTED 

 SANDPIPER (summer); GRAY SNIPE (winter) ; BEACH 

 ROBIN; ASH-COLORED SANDPIPER; GRAY BACK. 



Length — 10.50 inches: largest of the sandpipers. 



Male and Female: In summer — Upper parts varied black, gray and 

 reddish ; crown gray streaked with black ; line over the eye, 

 chin, throat, and underneath cinnamon red, fading to white 



209 



