ScoLOPAOiB^. BIEDS. ScoLOPAoiUffl. clxxxvii 
again at a little distance, they fly in silence, of with 
a single tweet, holding the wings deeply incurved ; 
but when suddenly startled and much alarmed, they 
spring quickly, with loud, repeated cries, and make 
off in a zig-zag, much like tlie Common Snipe. 
Sometimes, gaining a considerable eleviition, tliey 
circle for several minutes in silence over head, flying 
with great velocity — perhaps to pitcli down again 
nearly perpendicularly to tlie same spot tliey start 
from. 'I’he southward migration begins in August, 
and is usually completed by the following month. A 
form found on Long Island has been called Cooper’s 
Sandpiper, but is so closely like the present, doubts 
are entertained concerning its validity. 
BONAPARTE’S SANDPIPER {Tringa Unapartei) 
is known to all parts of the northern continent 
east of the Rocky Mountains. Jt breeds in the far 
north ; migrating through the eastern province of 
the States, and wintering in the South. It is called 
also the White-rumped Sandpiper. Dr. Cones 
found this bird migrating northward in flocks in 
May, on the Republican Fork of the Kansas River. 
It is abundant along the whole of the Atlantic 
Coast to Florida. It has the same soft, low tweet 
that many others of this group have. It is distin- 
guished at a distance by its white upper tail coverts. 
PURPLE SANDPIPER [Tringa maritima).— V.\\\s 
species is distributed over the northern continent, 
but is rather partial to the coast. It breeds very 
far to the north, visiting the New England coast in 
autumn, winter and spring, inclining rather to fre- 
quent the rocky beaches where the sea-weeds afford 
food in the great variety of marine life. 
AMERICAN DUNLIN [Tringa aZ^iwa).— This bird 
is called also the Bdack-bellied and the Red- 
backed Sandpiper. Its habitat is North America, 
particularly coastwise. It migrates and winters in 
the States, breeding in high latitudes only. Mr. 
Allen found this bird in Leavenworth. Wilson says 
the common name along the coast is Gray-back, and 
that it is a particular favorite with the gunners. 
They associate in small flocks, alighting in a close 
body together on the sand-flats, where they find 
small mollusca to feed upon. They are less timid 
than others, and on the approach of the sportsman 
they stand unconcernedly for a time. In November 
they leave for the South. It is ten inches in length, 
and twenty in extent of wing. Bill is blacli, and is 
about an inch and a half long ; eye is small and 
black. T’he sexes are alike in general appearance. 
RED-BREASTED SANDPIPER [Tringa canuUis ). — 
'J'his bird — called also the Knot, Robin Snipe, Gray- 
back and Ash-colored Sandpiper — is found in Aus- 
tralia, South America and New Zealand, as well as 
on our shores. Though common on our coast, it is 
rare in the interior. Its breeding-places are far out 
of our limits. 
SANDERLING ; RUDDY PLOVER [Calidris arena- 
ria). — I’his bird is about eight inches in length, the 
extent of wing being fourteen inches. It visits Mas- 
sachusetts during the later weeks of the summer, after 
the breeding season in the extreme north. A little 
later the flocks are seen on the coast of New Jersey, 
and here they remain throughout the winter, feeding 
on the minute shell-fish and Crustacea of the beaches. 
They utter a plaintive whistle while thus engaged, 
chasing back and forth, as the waves rise and fall, 
to get the last fresh morsels. They are abundant on 
the coast generally. 
GREAT MARBLED GODWIT [Limosa fedoa). — 'I’he 
Godwit inhabits the entire temperate portion of 
North America and Central South America and 
the West Indies. It breeds in the Missouri and 
Upper Mississippi regions, and winters in the 
Southern States and southward. It is called by 
the gunners the Straight-billed Curlew, and by 
others the Red Curlew. Wilson says it is a shy 
and cautious bird, and so strongly attached to one 
another, that when one is wounded, the rest are 
at once drawn to the spot by sympathy, and con- 
tinue circling around over the dead or wounded com- 
panion. They are readily enticed within gunshot by 
the sportsman’s call. 'I’hey associate with the 
Curlews, but are less numerous than the latter. 'I'he 
Godwits are especially fond of the salt marshes. 
The male is nineteen inches in length, and thirty- 
four inches in extent of wing ; the bill is nearly six 
inches in length, turned up slightly towards its tip. 
HUDSONIAN, OR BLACK-TAILED GODWIT [Limosa 
Jiudsonica). — The range of this bird is through the 
northern and eastern portions of the continent, and 
extends southward to West Indies and South Amer- 
ica. It is not seen west of the Rocky Mountains, 
yet is rare on the Atlantic Coast. It breeds far 
northward. Ihe- White-tailed Godwit, a European 
species, has lately been seen in Alaska. 
WILLET, OR STONE SNIPE [Totunus semipalma- 
tus). — ^This is a beautiful bird, but a noisy one, mak- 
ing the shrill reiterations, says Wilson, of Pill-ioill- 
willet! pill-will-willet! almost incessantly along the 
marshes, being heard at the distance of half a mile, 
they are distributed very widely on our continent, 
but are more common on the sea-coast, breeding in 
the United States. ’I'he nest is near the water, or 
on marshy ground, rudely constructed of the simplest 
material, elevated slightly, and having but a trifling 
hollow to receive the eggs. Wilson says : “The anxi- 
ety and affection manifested by these birds is truly in- 
teresting. When disturbed from their young, they sail 
around and vociferate with great violence their com- 
mon cry of Pill-will-willet ! and uttering at times a 
loud, clicking noise. As they occasionally alight and 
slowly shut their long, white wings, speckled with 
black, they have a mournful note, expressive of great 
tenderness.’’ 'The Willet swims well, and has the 
habit of wading more than other birds of this nature. 
Its length is fitteen inches, and alar extent thirty 
inches. 'I'he female is generally larger than the male. 
TATTLER, OR TELL-TALE [Totanus melanoleucns). 
— 'I’his is also called the Greater Yellow-shanks, 
Stone Snipe, and Greater 'Tattler, and inhabits 
the western hemisphere generally. It is usually seen 
in the United States in winter, being then very abun- 
dant. It breeds in high latitudes. 'The eggs are a 
dingy-white, irregularly marked with black. 'I'he 
Greater 'Tell-tale is so named by the gunners because 
