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THE \VEET"WEETS. 
The Weet-Weets closely resemble the Tattlers in their 
general form and habits ; the only noticeable points of 
difference being that they have shorter bills and feet. They 
are lively and active birds, with longish slender bodies, 
necks of moderate length, and small oblong compressed 
heads. The two above-named are the only members of the 
genus Actiiis known in Britain : the first of them, which 
Yarrell calls the Common Sandpiper, or Summer Snipe, is 
common, and generally distributed ; the last is extremely 
rare, being an American species, of which a few stragglers 
sometimes find their way to Europe ; we need not, there- 
fore, pause to describe this bird, which, except that it is 
somewhat smaller, is precisely similar to the more common 
species, which generally measures about eight inches and 
a-half in length. The plumage of this latter bird is brown, 
white, and grey, with a greenish tinge over some parts. 
It is a summer visitant only, appearing in April, and 
leaving again about the end of September. 
The flight of this species (says Macgillivray) is rapid, and in its 
course it moves in various directions, somewhat in the manner of the 
Snipe. When flying over the surface of the water, which it often 
does so low as almost to touch it with its wings, it now and then 
spreads out, and bends downwards these organs, keeping them appa- 
rently rigid and motionless at intervals, and thus, proceeding by 
alternate starts, flapping and sailing in a manner peculiar to itself. 
"When resting it keeps the body nearly horizontal, and the legs 
quite straight, like the King Plover, and many other birds of 
this order. It runs with as much celerity as the Sandpipers, to which 
it is most intimately allied, but from which it differs in exhibiting 
the peculiar irritability and mobility of body observed in all the 
species of this genus. 
These birds enliven the solitary shores of the moorland lakes and 
streams, where they may be seen running with great activity among 
the beaches, or skimming over the water. In general, however, one 
is apprised of their presence sooner by the sense of hearing than by 
that of sight, for they arc vigilant and suspicious, and on being 
alarmed commence their shrill piping, which is continued in the 
breeding season until the disturber of their quiet takes his departure. 
They employ the same artifice as the Ring Plover and Dunlin to 
decoy a person from their nest or young. It is by no means diffi- 
cult to procure specimens of this species; for although thus suspicious, 
it conceives itself safe enough at times within shooting distance, or 
skims past on wing unaw^are of its danger. 
