572 
THE PECTORAL SANDPIPER . 
ground, but at others they utter a peculiar chucking kind of note, which seems to indicate 
their position to the expectant female. 
The Knot loves to feed on the large expanses of sea-grass {Zostera marina ) which are left 
bare by the receding tide, and is often found with a mixed assembly of godwits, dunlins and 
redshanks. 
The Knot is also caked Robin Snipe ( Tringa canutus), and Red-breasted Sandpiper, and 
Ash-colored Sandpiper. It is found in the northern portion of both hemispheres — Australia, 
New Zealand, and South America. During winter it is abundant along the Atlantic coast, but 
is rare in the interior, and westward. Its breeding places are far north, in the utmost habit- 
able limits of the Arctic Circle. The eggs are five in number, and are merely laid on a tuft of 
grass. 
The regularly disposed concentric semicircles of white and dark brown that mark the 
upper parts of the plumage of this species, distinguish it from all others. When attired in its 
full summer pi am age the male Knot is a really handsome bird. The sides of the head are 
blight chestnut with a few dark spots, and the top of the head is a deeper chestnut with dark 
brown streaks. The upper part of the back is richly mottled, the centre of each feather being 
black, and the edges warm chestnut and white. The greater wing-coverts are ashen-gray, the 
primaries black with white shafts, the secondaries edged with white, and the upper tail- 
coverts rusty-white, edged with white and barred with black. The tail is dark ash edged with 
white, and the under surface is warm ruddy chestnut fading into white on the under tail- 
coverts. After the breeding season all the rich warm tints are lost, and the bird assumes a 
sober dress of ashen-gray above, black wings, and the under surface white streaked with gray. 
The length of the Knot is about ten inches. 
In activity, it is superior to the preceding; and traces the flowing and recession of the 
waves along the sandy beach with great nimbleness ; wading among the loose particles for its 
favorite food, which is a small, thin, oval bivalve shell-fish, not larger than the seed of 
an apple, these usually lie at a short depth below the surface. They constitute the food of 
this bird, and render it very fat. It is a pleasing spectacle to watch groups of these birds 
follow adroitly the line of breaking surf, busily engaged in picking up their choice morsels as 
they are separated from the sand and are rolled inward on the tide. The length of this bird is 
ten inches ; the extent of wing, twenty inches. 
Pueple Sandpipee (Arquatella maratima). This species inhabits the whole of North 
America, particularly on the sea-coast. It is migratory, and winters within the United States, 
.breeding in high northern localities only. It is also found in Europe and Asia. Though its 
name would indicate its maritime habits, yet it is often seen on the margin of the Great Lakes. 
It is said to be very common on the shores of Lake Michigan. In New England it is rather 
abundant ; frequenting the rocky shores where the sea- weed grows, rather than the sandy 
beaches. 
Anothee species, of late determination, is called the Aleutian Sandpipee (Arquatella 
couesi ), found on the northwestern coast. 
Another from the same region is named Peybilov Sandpipee (. Arquatella ptilamensis). 
The SiiAEP-TAiLEi) Sandpipee (. Actodromas acuminata) is a late addition to the American 
bird fauna. 
The Pectoeal Sandpipee (. Actodromas maculata) is a familiar species, and common to 
the whole continent. It is also found in Europe. It is called variously Grass Snipe, Jack 
Snipe, and Meadow Snipe. Its game-like habits render it a favorite with the sportsmen. In 
summer it is abundant in Labrador, where it frequents low, muddy flats. When it arises 
from the grass to alight again at a little distance, it flies in silence, and utters a single tweet; 
the wings being deeply incurved ; but when suddenly startled, and much alarmed, it springs 
quickly, with loud repeated cries, and makes off in a zig-zag, much like the common Snipe. 
