SUPPLEMENT TO BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY 89 



126 [263] Actitis macularia (Linn.). 

 Spotted Sandpiper; "Teeter-peep." 

 Common summer resident. April 20 to November 14. 

 Eggs: May 30 to July 4. 



It is an interesting fact that the downy young of this species only three or 

 four days out of the tgg, before a sign of a tail appears, teeters the posterior 

 extremity of its body up and down as do its parents. 



In Labrador I caught a nearly full grown young still unable to fly and put it 

 in a small river. It at once dove and swam under water for the distance of three 

 or four feet using for propulsion its wings and probably its feet although I could 

 not be sure of the latter point. It then rose to the surface and swam to the 

 opposite side like a little duck and walked out on the sand where the mother was 

 anxiously calling. 



I have seen adults, who evidently had yoting near, alternately fly at Esqui- 

 maux dogs and lead them away by flying low and slowly before them. 



In the spring and early summer they frequently give voice to what may be 

 called a song: trru-wheet rapidly repeated several times very sweetly and sug- 

 gestive of the end of the song of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. This may be given 

 from the ground or on the wing and I have heard it in the evening when it was 

 too dark to see the bird. 



127 [264] Numenius americanus Bechst. 



Long-billed Curlew; "Sickle-bill"; "Hen Curlew." 



Accidental transient visitor. 



The latest authentic record given in the original Memoir was for 1884. Dam- 

 sell^ left two records in his notebooks of birds shot on the Salisbury marshes, 

 namely for July 21, 1887, and July 25, 1891. 



128 [265] Numenius hudsonicus Lath. 



HuDSONiAN Curlew; "Jack Curlew." 



Rare spring, uncommon autumn transient visitor. May 24 to May 30 ; July 

 S to September 17. 



The early date of July 5 records three birds flying south over the Essex 

 marshes in 1912. 



1 Allen, G. M. Auk, vol. 30, p. 24, 1913. 



