DOUGLAS'S SANDPIPER.

737

rovers are ready to give the alarm. At first a slender peep is heard, which is then followed by two or three others, and presently peet 'pip 'pip 'p'p murmurs in a lisping whistle through the quailing ranks, as they rise swarming on the wing, and inevitably entice with them their larger but less watchful associates. Towards evening, in fine weather, the marshes almost re-echo with the shrill, but rather murmuring or lisping, subdued, and querulous call of peet, and then a repetition of pé-dèe, pè-dèe, dee dee, which seems to be the collecting cry of the old birds calling together their brood, for when, assembled, the note changes into a confused murmur of péet, péet, attended by a short and suppressed whistle.

DOUGLAS'S STILT SANDPIPER.

According to Dr. Richardson, this species is not uncommon in the fur countries of

Upper Canada, to

the 60th parallel,

and perhaps still

further north. Ita granges

exhibits the usual

habits of the genus

Tringa,

frequents

the interior marshes

in the breeding

season, and in the dom

autumn resorts in

flocks to the flat shores of Hudson's Bay, previous to taking its departure for the south.

DOUGLAS'S STILT SANDPIPER.

OF THE PLOVERS IN GENERAL.

THE Plovers have a straight, somewhat cylindrical and obtuse bill, seldom longer than the head. The feet are formed for running, with three toes, all placed forward.

The Plovers generally associate in small flocks, and the whole emigrate in companies of greater or less extent; the young collect together, pursuing their route apart from the old, and after their departure. They live principally upon small worms, and aquatic insects. The common species, and the Guignard, frequent the marshes and muddy borders of the larger and smaller rivers, and rarely frequent sea-shores; the other species live more habitually upon the coasts, and near the outlets of streams. The moult in most of the species is double, and the sexes are scarcely distinguishable by any exterior markings, except in the C. cantianus, in which the moult is only annual, and the sexes distinguishable by their livery. Some exotic species of the genus bear spines upon the shoulders of the wings, being, in fact, an approach towards the development of claws on the anterior extremities several other species have fleshy excrescences upon the head or mandibles.

DOTTEREL.

THE DOTTEREL.

The length of the Dotterel is about ten inches. The bill is not quite an inch long, and is black. The forehead is mottled with brown and gray: the top of the head is black; and over each eye there is an arched line of white, which passes to the hind part of the neck. The cheeks and throat are white: the back and wings are of a light brown, inclining to olive, each feather margined with pale rust-color. The fore part of the neck is surrounded by a broad band of light olive-color, bordered below with white. The breast is of a pale dull orange; the middle of the belly black; and the rest of the belly and thighs are of a reddish white. The tail is olive brown, black near the end, tipped with white; and the outer feathers are margined with white. The legs are of a dark olive.

These birds are migratory; ppearing in flocks of eight or ten, about the end of April, and continuing all May and June, when they become very fat, and are much esteemed for the table.

The Dotterel is in its manners a singular bird, and may be taken by an extremely simple artifice. The country people are said sometimes to go in quest of it, in the night, with a lighted torch or candle; and the bird, on these occasions, will mimic the actions of the fowler with great archness. When he stretches out an arm, it stretches out its wing; if he move a foot, it moves one also; and every other motion it endeavors to imitate.

739

THE STILT-BLACK-NECKED STILT.

THE STILT, OR LONG LEGGED PLOVER.

The Stilt, though rare and accidental in its visits in the colder climates, is not uncommon in eastern Europe, along the borders of lakes in Hungary, and in the interior of Asia, where, as well as in Mexico and Brazil, and sometimes in Ger. many and France, it is known to pass the period of reproduction. In Egypt, where it arrives in October, it probably passes the winter. According to Temminck, it was known to nest in the marshes near Abbeville in 1818, but their general resort for breeding is in the vast saline marshes of Hungary and Russia. Being a native of regions contiguous to the southern limits of the United States, there is little doubt but that it visits the whole shores of the Mexican Gulf. Its habits are altogether maritime, and it is said to feed on the spawn of fish, tadpoles, gnats, flies and other aquatic insects. The legs of this bird are remarkably slender, and longer, perhaps in proportion, than in any other known bird, it consequently staggers and reels in its gait, while balancing itself on its stilt-like legs.

LONG-LEGGED PLOTER.

THE BLACK-NECKED STILT.

The Black-necked Stilt is common to many parts of South as well as North America; it is known at any rate to inhabit the coast of Cayenne, Jamaica, and Mexico. In the United States, it is seldom seen but as a straggler as far to the north as the latitude of 41°. About the 25th of April, according to Wilson, they arrive on the coast of New Jersey in small flocks of twenty or thirty together. These again subdivide into smaller parties, but they still remain gregarious through the breeding season. Their favorite residence is in the higher aud more inland parts of the greater salt marshes, which are interspersed and broken up with shallow pools, not usually overflowed by the tides during summer. In these places they are often seen wading up to the breast in water, in quest of the larvæ, spawn, flies, and insects, which constitute their food.

In the vicinity of these bare places, among thick tufts of grass, small associations of six or eight pair, take up their residence for the breeding season. They are, however, but sparingly dispersed over the marshes, selecting their favorite spots; while in large intermediate tracts, few or none are to be seen. Early in May, they begin to make their nests, which are at first slightly formed of a mere layer of old grass, just sufficient to keep the eggs from the moisture of the marsh;

in the course of incubation, however, either to guard against the rise

of the tides, or for some other purpose, the nest is increased

Gendonk Find win height with the

dry twigs of salt

marsh shrubs, roots of grass, sea-weed, bush and any other coarse materials

which

yards of each other,

the respective proprietors living in mutual friendship.

THE SANDERLING PLOVER.

The Sanderlings, in accumulating flocks, arrive on the shores of

BANDERLING PLOVER.

Massachusetts from

w their remote north

ern breeding places towards the close of August. They are seen also about the same time on the coast of New Jersey, and still farther to the south, where they remain throughout the greater part of the winter, gleaning their subsistence exclusively along the immediate borders of the ocean, and are particularly attached to sandy

flats, and low, sterile, solitary coasts, divested of vegetation, and

THE GOLDEN PLOVER.

741

perpetually bleached by the access of tides and storms; in such situ ations they are often seen in numerous flocks, running along the strand, busily employed in front of the moving waves, gleaning with agility, the shrimps, minute shell-fish, marine insects, and small moluscous animals, which ever recurring accident throws in their way. The numerous flocks, keep a low circling course along the strand, at times uttering a slender and rather plaintive whistle, nearly like that of the smaller Sandpipers. On alighting, the little active troop, waiting the opportunity, scatter themselves about in the rear of the retiring surge, the succeeding wave then again urges the busy gleaners before it, when they appear like a little pigmy army passing through their military evolutions; and at this time the wily sportsman, seizing his opportunity, spreads destruction among their timid ranks: and so little are they aware of the nature of the attack, that, after making a few aerial meanders, the survivors, pursue their busy avocations with as little apparent concern as at the first. The breeding place of the Sanderling, in common with many other wading, and aquatic birds, is in the remote and desolate regiens of the north, since they appear to be obliged to quit those countries in America a little after the middle of August. According to Mr. Hutchins, they breed on the coast of Hudson's Bay as low as the 55th parallel and he remarks that they construct, in the marshes, a rude nest of grass, laying four dusky eggs, spotted with black, on which they begin to sit about the middle of June.

THE COMMON, OR GOLDEN PLOVER.

The Common Plover, is according to the season of the year, met with in almost every

part of the world.
They arrive on the
coast of the middle
and northern states
in spring and early
in autumn. Near
to Nantasket and
Chelsea beach, they
are seen, on their
return from their
inclement natal re-
gions in the north,
by the close of
August, and
and the

young remain in

the vicinity till the

middle of October,

or later, according to the state of the weather. They live principally upon land insects, or the larvæ and worms they meet with in the saline marshes, and appear very fond of grasshoppers. About the time of their departure they are, early in a morning, seen sometimes assem