SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 11 



GRALLATORES. SCOLOPACIDJE. 



PLATE CLXXXIIL 



SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 



TOTANUS MACULARIA. 



The Spotted Sandpiper is a rare occasional visitant in 

 Britain, and still more' so on the continent of Europe: its 

 true country is America, where it is found from the northern 

 provinces of Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, extending over 

 the West Indian Islands. The specimens that have been 

 recognised in this country have all been adult birds ; it is pos- 

 sible that the resemblance the young birds bear to our Eu- 

 ropean sandpiper has prevented their being recognised as 

 visitors here. 



For the best information on this subject we have to look 

 to American ornithologists, upon whose correct accounts we 

 can rely with safety, since their information is obtained from 

 the study of nature and not from books ; but the habits of the 

 Spotted Sandpiper are so much like those of the Sandpiper 

 last described, that it would only be a repetition of the same 

 account. 



The locality preferred by the Spotted Sandpiper is the 

 banks of fresh-water rivers or lakes, and particularly in wooded 

 districts ; it is very rarely seen by the sea-side. 



The food is obtained by the water-side, and consists in 

 insects and their larvse. 



This bird migrates northward to breed in the spring of the 



