110 BIRDS OF ALABAMA 



1914), and on the Tensaw River, near Stockton. Two pairs 

 were noted, May 13, 1912, in the Tennessee River near Gun- 

 teraville; and eight birds were seen by E. W. Graves on Sand 

 Mountain, near Pisgah, May 12, 1914. The only fall record 

 is that of a single bird seen at Bon Secour, October 20, 1908. 



Migrants from the south arrive on the Gulf coast during 

 the latter part of March and in north Alabama by the first 

 week in April. McCormack has observed them at Leighton 

 between April 3 and May 25, also in July and August, but 

 has never found a nest. Avery records the species as arriving 

 at Greensboro, March 21 (1884) and breeding, but not com- 

 mon. 



General habits. — This sandpiper is scarcely ever found in 

 flocks, though several pairs may sometimes be seen together. 

 It ia essentially a bird of the upland, frequenting the shores 

 of streams and ponds and is sometimes so gentle that it comes 

 into gardens to search for insects or even to build its nest. 

 In the fall migration it often visits the sea coast, and I have 

 seen well-grown young, when closely pursued, dive and swim 

 beneath the water. It is easily recognized by its peculiar 

 flight, consisting of alternate flapping and sailing, its habit 

 of teetering its body as it stands, or by its cheerful, whistled 

 notes, which resemble the syllables peet-weet. The nests are 

 placed on the ground in dry pastures or cultivated fields, 

 usually, but not always, near water. 



Food habits. — The spotted sandpiper feeds mainly upon in- 

 sects, including grasshoppers, beetles, mayflies, cutworms, 

 and various aquatic insects ; it is known also to eat crawfish. 



LONG-BILLED CURLEW; SICKLE-BILL: Nummius 

 americanus americarms Bechstein. 



State records. — The largest of our shorebirds, the long- 

 billed curlew, though formerly abundant, is now rare in the 

 eastern United States. It still occurs in small numbers as a 

 migrant on the coast. A. D. Gollott informs me that the bird 

 is occasionally seen about the mouth of Bayou Labatre. On 

 Dauphin Island, March 22, 1912, I saw a solitary bird stand- 

 ing in a shallow pond. It permitted me to approach quite 

 near, but I did not secure the specimen. There are records 



