SPO TTED SANDPIPER. 3 5 y 



The flight of this bird is usually low, skimming along the 

 surface of the water, its long wings making a considerable angle 

 downwards from the body, while it utters a rapid cry of weet, 

 iveet, weet, as it flutters along, seldom steering in a direct line 

 up or down the river, but making a long circuitous sweep, 

 stretching a great way out, and gradually bending in again 

 to the shore. 



These birds are found occasionally along the sea-marshes, 

 as well as in the interior ; and also breed in the cornfields 

 there, frequenting the shore in search of food ; but rarely 

 associating with the other Tringce. About the middle of 

 October, they leave us on their way to the south, and do not, 

 to my knowledge, winter in any of the Atlantic States. 



Mr Pennant is of opinion that this same species is found 

 in Britain ; but neither his description, nor that of Mr Bewick, 

 will apply correctly to this. The following particulars, with 

 the figure, will enable Europeans to determine this matter to 

 their satisfaction : — 



Length of the spotted sandpiper, seven inches and a half, ex- 

 tent, thirteen inches ; bill, an inch long, straight ; the tip and 

 upper mandible dusky ; lower, orange ; stripe over the eye and 

 lower eyelid, pure white; whole upper parts, a glossy olive, with 

 greenish reflections, each feather marked with waving spots of 

 dark brown ; wing-quills, deep dusky ; bastard wing, bordered 

 and tipt with white ; a spot of white on the middle of the 

 inner vane of each quill-feather except the first ; secondaries, 

 tipt with white ; tail, rounded, the six middle feathers greenish 

 olive, the other three on each side white, barred with black ; 

 whole lower parts, white, beautifully marked with roundish 

 spots of black, small and thick on the throat and breast, 

 larger and thinner as they descend to the tail ; legs, a yellow 

 clay colour ; claws, black. 



The female is as thickly spotted below as the male ; but 

 the young birds of both sexes are pure white below, without 

 any spots ; they also want the orange on the bill. Those 

 circumstances I have verified on numerous individuals. 



