SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 
345 
but is no where numerous, seldom more than one or two being 
seen together. It takes short low flights ; runs nimbly about 
among the mossy margins of the mountain springs, brooks, 
and pools, occasionally stopping, looking at you, and perpe- 
tually nodding the head. It is so unsuspicious, or so litttle 
acquainted with man, as to permit one to approach within a 
few yards of it, without appearing to take any notice, or to be 
the least alarmed. At the approach of cold weather, it descends 
to the muddy shores of our large rivers, where it is occasionally 
met with, singly, on its way to the south. I have made many 
long and close searches for the nest of this bird without success. 
They regularly breed on Pocano mountain, between Easton 
and Wilkesbarre, in Pennsylvania, arriving there early in May, 
and departing in September. It is usually silent, unless when 
suddenly flushed, when it utters a sharp whistle. 
This species has considerable resemblance, both in manners 
and markings, to the Green Sandpiper of Europe ( Tringa 
ochropus ;) but differs from that bird in being nearly one-third 
less, and in wanting the white rump and tail-coverts of that 
species ; it is also destitute of its silky olive green plumage. 
How far north its migrations extend I am unable to say. 
The Solitary Sandpiper is eight inches and a half long, and 
fifteen inches in extent ; the bill is one inch and a quarter in 
length, and dusky; nostrils, pervious; bill, fluted above and 
identical with the T. glareolus of Europe, and named it as such ; his synonyms 
are, therefore, all wrong. The Prince of Musignano thus points out the 
differences : “ T. chloropigius differs from T. glareola, not only as regards the 
characters of the tail-feathers, but also in being more minutely speckled, the 
white spots being smaller ; by its longer tarsus ; by the lineation of all the tail- 
feathers, but especially the lateral ones, the bands being broader, purer, and 
much more regular, whilst the latter tail-feathers of the European species are 
almost pure white on the inner webs ; by having the shaft of the exterior primary 
black, whilst that of the glareolus is white.” 
The two specimens which Mr Ord shot, in which all the tail-feathers were 
barred, and which corresponded with T. glareola, may have been in fact that 
species. The Prince of Musignano is of opinion that it is also a native of North 
America. — Ed. 
