elxxxviii Scolopacid®. BIBDS. ScoLOPACiDa;. 
it liiis tlie inconvenient liabit of wliistling with an 
exceedingly shrill voice wlienever any unusual noise 
or movement is observed by it. 'I'his is particularly 
annoying to sportsmen, when lying for Duclcs. It 
frequents watery bogs and marshes on the coast, and 
farther inland. It has the habit of flying to great 
height, at times reaching the fresh-water streams and 
ponds, uttering its sharp note at such times, which can 
be distinctly heard even when the bird cannot be seen. 
'J’he female differs very little from the male, in plu- 
mage. 'I'lie male is fourteen and a half inches in 
length, and twenty-five inches in extent of wing. 
'I'he bill is two inches and a quarter long, of a dark 
corn color, slightly bent upwards. 
LESSEB TELL-TALE [Totanus Jlavipes) — also call- 
ed Lesskr Yellow-shanks — inhabits the western 
hemisphere generally, breeding in the Northern 
States and northwards. Many are seen wintering in 
the Southern States. It is found associated with the 
preceding, and equally abundant. Great numbers of 
these birds are procured on the Eastern Atlantic 
Coast, and brought to the markets of Boston, Phila- 
delphia and New York, particularly in the autumn. 
Wilson says : “'I’hey have a sharp whistle of three 
or four notes, when about to take wing, and when 
flying. They have the habit of flying around their 
wounded companions, and sportsmen take advantage 
of this to procure numbers of them from the same 
flock.” 'J’he length is ten inches, and extent of wing, 
twenty. The bill is straight, an inch and a half long, 
black in color. 'J’he female cannot readily be distin- 
guished from its mate. 
SOLITARY TATTLER {Totanus soUtarius). — This 
bird is also called the Wood 'I’attler. It inhabits 
the western hemisphere generally, is accidental in 
Europe, and breeds in the Northern United States 
and northward. It is migratory, and very abundant, 
wintering beyond the limits of our country. Wilson 
regarded it as rare in his day, being then new to 
science. He says: “It is seldom that more than 
one or two are seen together. It takes short, low 
flights ; runs nimbly ainoiig the mossy margins of 
the mountain springs and brooks and pools, occa- 
sionally stopping, looking at you, and perpetually 
nodding the head. It is quite unsuspicious, allowing 
one to approach within a short distance. 'I’hey 
breed regularly in I.^ennsylvania. It is usually silent, 
uidess suddenly flushed, when it utters a sharp whis- 
tle. It I'esemldes, in markings as well as manners, 
the Green Sandpiper of Europe, but differs in being 
one-third less.” 'I’he Solitary Sandpiper is eight 
inches and a half long, and fifteen inches in extent 
of wing; the bill is one inch and a quarter in 
length, of a dusky color. 'I’he se.xes are alike in 
color. 'I’he eggs are of the ordinary pyriform shape. 
'I’he ground color is clay, without shade. 'I’he mark- 
ings are heavy and numerous on the larger half, 
smaller and fewer elsewhere, being quite dark-brown, 
lacking entirely the rich umber shading of those of 
other members of the family. Dr. Cones regards 
this bird as not strictly solitary, though perhaps it 
may be considered as “pretty exclusive in their own 
set,” going in flocks of small numbers, and keeping 
out of others’ company. 'J’he Doctor enlarges pleas- 
antly concerning the “ tip-up ” process which these 
birds indulge in. He says: “It is amusing to see 
an old male, in the breeding season, busy with this 
operation. Upon some rock, jutting out of water, 
he stands, swelling with amorous pride and self- 
sufficiency, puffing out his plumage until he looks 
twice as big as natural, facing about on Ids narrow 
pedestal, and bowing with his hinder parts to all 
points of the compass.” 
SPOTTED SANDPIPER [Tringoides macularivs ). — 
'I’his bird inhabits North America generally, breed- 
ing neaily in every portion. It winters in the 
Southern States and beyond, being found even in 
Brazil, and occasionally in Europe. It lias a 
remarkable habit of perpetually wagging the tail, 
whether running or standing, and is accordingly 
called, in various sections, Sandlark, 'J’eeter-tail, 
Peet-weet, 'I’ip-up, etc. It has a weak, plaintive 
note. 'I’he female exhibits great alarm when ap- 
proached at the time of breeding, and shows great 
ingenuity in counterfeiting lameness, to draw off the 
attention from her charge. Wilson records an inter- 
esting example of the parental care of this bird, 
which he had from his friend, Mr. Bartram, the 
Southern naturalist, who witnessed an attempt of a 
ground squirrel to seize upon the young. 'I’he bird 
successfully warded off the enemy by a show of 
bristled front, the young keeping always at the rear. 
'I’he flight of this bird is low. It skims along the 
surface of the water, its long wings making a con- 
siderable angle with the body, uttering as it goes, 
Weet / weet! weet ! 'J'he length is seven inches and 
a lialf ; extent of wing, thirteen inches ; bill, an inch 
long, and straight. 
THE RDFF [Fhilomnchus pugnax). — 'I’his is strictly 
ail Old World bird, but has occasionally been cap- 
tured in New England, and on Long Island. 'I’he 
singular arrangement of the feathers around the head, 
which gives rise to the trivial name of this bird, is 
said to be only temporary, lasting through the breed- 
ing season. In May the caruncles of the head be- 
come enlarged and red, and the ruff begins to ap- 
pear. By the end of June the latter disappears. 
'I’he Ruff has a singular habit of gathering in num- 
bers to do battle for the choice of mates. 'I’he 
females also congregate in breeding. 'I’his bird is 
regarded as most delicate game, and in Enghind is 
much in request. It is about twelve inches in length. 
UPLAND PLOVER {Actiturus hartramms). — Galled 
also the B.artramian Sandpiper, or 'I’attler. It is a 
general inhabitant of Norih America, though not seen 
west of the Rocky Mountains. On the Atlantic Coast 
it is common, breeding in the middle portions and 
northward. It winters in Mexico and the West In- 
dies, Central and South America. Casually it is seen 
in Europe; and it is even included in the listof RivJs 
of Australia, by Gould. It is exceedingly abundant on 
the [dains between the Rocky Mountains and the Mis- 
sissippi River, where it is called the Prairie Pigeon. 
It occurs in immense flocks, thousands together. 
Dr. Cones says of their note : “ It is a long-drawn, 
soft, mellow whistle, of a peculiarly clear, resonant 
