(SOLITARY SANDPIPER.)
+Rhyacophilus solitarius+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 146; _Durnford,
Ibis_, 1878, p. 68 (Buenos Ayres); _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 315
(Entrerios, Azul); _Baird, Brew., et Ridgw. Water-B. N. A._ i.
p. 278. +Totanus solitarius+, _Seebohm, Plovers_, p. 367.
_Description._--Middle toe nearly as long as tarsus. Above dark
olivaceous grey, with blacker markings and slightly speckled with
white; upper tail-coverts blackish, barred with white; tail white
with blackish bars: beneath white; sides of neck and breast streaked
and barred with dusky grey; under wing-coverts blackish, barred
with white: whole length 8·5 inches, wings 5·0, tail 2·1. _Female_
similar.
_Hab._ Arctic America, descending south to Buenos Ayres during migration.
The well-known and well-named Solitary Sandpiper arrives later than the
other birds of its family in La Plata, and differs greatly from them in
its habits, avoiding the wet plains and muddy margins of lagoons and
marshes where they mostly congregate, and making its home at the side of
a small pool well sheltered by its banks, or by trees and herbage, and
with a clear margin on which it can run freely. As long as there is any
water in its chosen pool, though it may be only a small puddle at the
bottom of a ditch, the bird will remain by it in solitary contentment.
When approached it runs rapidly along the margin, pausing at intervals
to bob its head, in which habit it resembles the Tatlers or Yellowshanks,
and emitting sharp little clicks of alarm. Finally, taking flight, it
utters its peculiar and delightful cry, a long note thrice repeated, of
so clear and penetrating a character that it seems almost too fine and
bright a sound even for so wild and aerial a creature as a bird.
The flight is exceedingly rapid and wild, the bird rising high and
darting this way and that, uttering its piercing trisyllabic cry the
whole time and finally, dashing downwards, it suddenly drops again on to
the very spot from which it rose.
I was once pleased and much amused to discover in a small sequestered
pool in a wood, well sheltered from sight by trees and aquatic plants,
a Solitary Sandpiper living in company with a Blue Bittern. The Bittern
patiently watched for small fishes, and when not fishing dozed on a low
branch overhanging the water; while its companion ran briskly along the
margin snatching up minute insects from the water. When disturbed they
rose together, the Bittern with its harsh grating scream, the Sandpiper
daintily piping its fine bright notes--a wonderful contrast! Every time
I visited the pool afterwards I found these two hermits, one so sedate
in manner, the other so lively, living peacefully together.