SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 
91 
considerable angle downwards from the body, while it 
utters a rapid cry of weet , weet , weet as it flutters along, 
seldom steering in a direct line up or down the river, 
but making a long circuitous sweep, stretching a great 
way out, and gradually bending in again to the shore. 
These birds are found occasionally along the sea 
marshes, as well as in the interior ; and also breed in 
the corn fields there, frequenting the shore in search 
of food ; but rarely associating with the other tringce . 
About the middle of October, they leave us, on their 
way to the south, and do not, to my knowledge, winter 
in any of the Atlantic States. 
Mr Pennant is of opinion, that this same species is 
found in Britain ; but neither his description, nor that 
of Mr Bewick, will apply correctly to this. The 
following particulars will enable Europeans to deter- 
mine this matter to their satisfaction : 
Length of the spotted sandpiper, seven inches and a 
half, extent, thirteen inches ; bill, an inch long, straight, 
the tip and upper mandible, dusky, lower, orange ; 
stripe over the eye, and lower eyelid, pure white ; 
whole upper parts, a glossy olive, with greenish reflec- 
tions, each feather marked with waving spots of dark 
brown; wing-quills, deep dusky; bastard wing, bordered 
and tipt with white ; a spot of white on the middle of 
the inner vane of each quill feather except the first ; 
secondaries tipt with white ; tail, rounded, the six 
middle feathers, greenish olive, the other three on each 
side, white, barred with black ; whole lower parts, 
white, beautifully marked with roundish spots of black, 
small and thick on the throat and breast, larger and 
thinner as they descend to the tail ; legs, a yellow clay 
colour ; claws, black. 
The female is as thickly spotted below as the male ; 
but the young birds of both sexes are pure white 
below, without any spots ; they also want the orange 
on the bill. These circumstances I have verified on 
numerous individuals. 
