BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



41 



GENUS ACTITIS. ILLIGER. 

 263. Actitis macularia (LiNN.). 



Spotted Sandpiper. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Small ; bill rather longer than the head, straight, slender ; long grooves in both 

 mandibles ; wing rather long, pointed ; tail medium, rounded ; legs rather long ; 

 lower third of the tibia naked ; toes long, margined, and flattened underneath ; 

 outer connected with the middle toe by a large membrane ; inner very slightly 

 connected to the middle toe; upper parts brownish olive-green, with a somewhat 

 metallic or bronzed lustre, and with numerous longitudinal lines, and sagittate, 

 lanceolate, and irregular spots of brownish-black, having the same lustre; line over 

 the eye, and entire under parts white, with numerous circular and oval spots ot 

 brownish-black, smaller on the throat, largest on th3 abdomen; quills brown, with 

 a green lustre ; primaries slightly tipped with white, and having a white spot on 

 their inner edges ; secondaries white at their bases, and tipped with white ; middle 

 feathers of the tail same green as other upper parts ; outer tipped with w^hite, and 

 with irregular bars of brownish-black ; bill flesh-color, tipped with brown ; feet 

 reddish-yellow ; iris brown. 



Young less bronzed above, and under parts white, without spots. 



Total length, 7k to 8 inches ; wing, 4| ; tail, 2 ; bill, 1 ; tarsus, rather less than 1 

 inch. 



Hab. North and South America, south to Brazil. Breeds throughout temperate 

 North America. Occasional in Europe. 



The Tilt-up, as this Sandpiper is universally known in this section, 

 arrives in Pennsylvania about the middle of April, sometimes even 

 earlier. It is common and indigenous. The nest is placed on the 

 ground in a grass field, sometimes in a grain-field, or on the sandy 

 bank near streams and ponds, along which these birds are commonly 

 found industriously seeking their hidden prey. Wilson very properly 

 says : ifc This species is as remarkable for perpetually wagging the tail 

 as some others are for nodding the head; for, whether running on the 

 ground, or on fences, along the rails, or in the water, this motion seems 

 continual; even the young, soon after they are freed from the shell. 

 run about constantly wagging the tail." When you approach the 

 eggs or young the old birds manifest great concern. They flutter 

 along the ground as if injured, and should you follow and attempt to 

 catch them they will lead you to a considerable distance from their 

 treasures before flying off. Wilson mentions the following instance, 

 which shows the great solicitude which the female has for her young: 



