GLOSSY ms. 69 
     
    
   
   
    
     as it endeavors to lead away the intruder from 
     
     its younfl, and its four great mottled eggs placed 
     
     in a most carelessly built nest make this bird 
     
     a curiosity to every amateur in ornithology; and 
     
     its soft, piping voice, all summer long in the 
     
     romantic walks by the sea border, make it dear 
     
     to every lover of nature. 
     
    

    
     But a much greater favorite with the sports- 
     
     man is the Bartramian Sandpiper, or the “Upland 
     
     Plover,” as it is usually called. This is a dark- 
     
     colored bird, :1 foot in length, that keeps in close, 
     
     swift—flying flocks, shifting often from one pasture— 
     
     ground to another. It is with us in September 
     
     and October, and in great numbers falls before 
     
     the Sportsman’s murderous piece. 
     
    

    
     The Sickle-bill Curlew is an uncommon bird 
     
     with us, but a few specimens are preserved in 
     
     private collections. Its long, curved bill makes 
     
    
   
   
    
     it a curiosity. 
     
     MW 
     
    
   
   
    
     GLOSSY IBIS. 
     
     (Plvgndz's falcz'nellus) 
     
    
   
   
    
     This beautiful bird is an occasional visitant, 
     
    
   
   
    
     being known among sportsmen as “black curlew.” 
     
    
   
   
    
     IO