concealed and by no means easy to discover. The eggs
are four in number, very large for the size of the bird,
and of a creamy white, much spotted with dark brown.
When the young are hatched the parent birds display
the utmost anxiety, aud go through all the well-known
devices to draw off a human or canine intruder that may
frequently be noticed in the case of other wading birds.
This Sandpiper when suddenly startled from the side of
a stream shoots off with a darting flight close to the
surface of the water, uttering a shrill piping whistle
rapidly repeated; but it is naturally of a confiding
character, and I have frequently passed one or two in a
boat within less than half a gunshot without disturbing
them as they ran on the gravel banks with constant
nodding of heads and flirting of tails; they very frequently
perch, especially upon rail-fences and stone walls. When
unable to fly from youth or a wound, the Sandpiper
frequently takes to the water, and not only swims well,
but dives with ease. I have met with this species in
every suitable locality in Europe that I have visited, but
nowhere in such abundance as upon a creek of the
Guadalquivir in May 1883.