53 



SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 

 TjRIJVGA SOLITARIA. 

 [Plate LVIII.— Fig. 3.] 



Peaxe's Museum^ JV*o. 7763. 



This new species inhabits the watery solitudes of our highest 

 mountains during the summer, from Kentucky to New York; but 

 is no where numerous, seldom more than one or two being seen 

 together. It takes short low flights ; runs nimbly about among the 

 mossy margins of the mountain springs, brooks and pools, occa- 

 sionally stopping, looking at you, and perpetually nodding the 

 head. It is so unsuspicious, or so little acquainted with man, as 

 to permit one to approach within a few yards of it, without appear- 

 ing to take any notice, or to be the least alarmed. At the ap- 

 proach of cold weather it descends to the muddy shores of our 

 large rivers, where it is occasionally met with, singly, on its way 

 to the south. I have made many long and close searches for the 

 nest of this bird, without success. They regularly breed on Pocano 

 mountain, between Easton and Wilkesbarre, in Pennsylvania, ar- 

 riving there early in May, and departing in September. It is 

 usually silent, unless when suddenly flushed, when it utters a sharp 

 whistle. 



This species has considerable resemblance, both in manners 

 and markings, to the Green Sandpiper of Europe (Tringa Ochro- 

 pus); but differs from that bird in being nearly one third less, and 

 in wanting the white rump and tail coverts of that species ; it is 

 also destitute of its silky olive green plumage. How far north its 

 migrations extend I am unable to say. 



VOL. VII. o 



