Least Sandpiper 
249 
tection, he will squat behind a tuft of beach 
grass if you pass too near rather than risk 
flight. 
When the tide is out, you may see the tiny 
forms of these common ring-necks mingled with 
the ever-friendly little sandpipers on the ex- 
posed sand bars and wide beaches where all 
keep up a constant hunt for bits of shell fish, 
fish eggs and sand worms. 
General Greely found them nesting in 
Grinnell Land in July, the males doing most of 
the incubating as is customary in the plover 
family, whose females certainly have advanced 
ideas. Downy little chicks run about as soon 
after leaving the egg as they are dry. In 
August the advance guard of southbound 
flocks begin to arrive in the United States 
en route for Brazil — ^quite a journey in the world 
to test the fledgling’s wings. 
LEAST SANDPIPER 
Across the narrow beach we flit, 
One little sandpiper and I ; 
And fast I gather, bit by bit, 
The scattered driftwood bleached and dry. 
The wild waves reach their hands for it. 
The wild wind raves, the tide runs high, 
As up and down the beach we flit, — 
One little sandpiper and I. 
