Sandpiper \Sand"pi`per\, n.
   1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small limicoline
      game birds belonging to {Tringa}, {Actodromas},
      {Ereunetes}, and various allied genera of the family
      {Tringidae}.
      
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   Note: The most important North American species are the
         pectoral sandpiper ({Tringa maculata}), called also
         {brownback}, {grass snipe}, and {jacksnipe}; the
         red-backed, or black-breasted, sandpiper, or dunlin
         ({Tringa alpina}); the purple sandpiper ({Tringa  maritima}: the red-breasted sandpiper, or knot ({Tringa  canutus}); the semipalmated sandpiper ({Ereunetes  pusillus}); the spotted sandpiper, or teeter-tail
         ({Actitis macularia}); the buff-breasted sandpiper
         ({Tryngites subruficollis}), and the Bartramian
         sandpiper, or upland plover. See under {Upland}. Among
         the European species are the dunlin, the knot, the
         ruff, the sanderling, and the common sandpiper
         ({Actitis hypoleucus} syn. {Tringoides hypoleucus}),
         called also {fiddler}, {peeper}, {pleeps}, {weet-weet},
         and {summer snipe}. Some of the small plovers and
         tattlers are also called sandpipers.
         
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   2. (Zool.) A small lamprey eel; the pride.
      
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   {Curlew sandpiper}. See under {Curlew}.

   {Stilt sandpiper}. See under {Stilt}.
      
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Fiddler \Fid"dler\, n. [AS. fi[eth]elere.]
   1. One who plays on a fiddle or violin.
      
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   2. (Zool.) A burrowing crab of the genus {Gelasimus}, of many
      species. The male has one claw very much enlarged, and
      often holds it in a position similar to that in which a
      musician holds a fiddle, hence the name; -- called also
      {fiddler crab}, {calling crab}, {soldier crab}, and
      {fighting crab}.
      
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   3. (Zool.) The common European sandpiper ({Tringoides  hypoleucus}); -- so called because it continually
      oscillates its body.
      
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   {Fiddler crab}. (Zool.) See {Fiddler}, n., 2.
      
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