23 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
brown, the feathers edged with grayish-white; secondary cov¬ 
erts tipped with white ; primary coverts brownish-black, as are 
the feathers on the rump; upper tail coverts the same; wing 
quills dusky, their shafts white ; tail feathers ash-gray, the inner 
webs of the middle pair much darker; over the eye a white 
line; lower parts white; legs black. Length six inches and a 
half, wing four. 
“ This numerous species inhabits almost every part of the 
North American continent. In large flocks, they congregate on 
the beaches and sand-bars, and meadows, along the seacoast, as 
well as on the shores of the interior lakes and streams. When 
feeding, this species scatter about in small parties; when sur¬ 
prised, it runs with a peculiarly rapid movement—collecting 
together in such close bodies, that as many as twenty, and some¬ 
times a larger number, are killed at a single discharge. When 
closely pursued, they move off in one mass, uttering a chirping 
note, which by imitating they shortly obey. They subsist 
chiefly on minute animal productions. On dissecting it I have 
found in its stomach small particles of sea-weed and sand. In 
the fall it gets very fat, and is considered a delicacy. It breeds 
at the far North; laying four or five white eggs, spotted and 
blotched with black.” 
“ It arrives among us in spring, and remains with us, should 
the season be open, until quite late in autumn, when it departs 
for its winter quarters at the South.” 
No. 11. Wilson’s Sandpiper —Lobipes Wilsonii; Aud. 
“Though more abundant on the coast, it is not entirely con¬ 
fined to the sea-shore, but is likewise met with along the margins 
of the interior lakes and rivers. On the shores of Long Island 
it is very plentiful, and during the month of September is usual¬ 
ly in excellent condition for the table. By gunners generally, 
it is neglected on account of its inferior size ; though ‘by many 
it is esteemed far superior, both in flavor and juiciness, to many 
of our larger shore birds. This species has a low lisping note j 
