THE COMMON SANDPIPER. i i 



away from the company of Dunlins, the Little Stints seemed 

 easier of approach. When flying they had a somewhat uncertain, 

 wavering flight. The note was quite different from the Dunlin's, 

 being weak and high-pitched, though rather pretty. It was 

 somewhat like the syllables " peet, peet, peeter, peet," The 

 note is said to resemble that of the Sanderling, but subsequently 

 I had favourable opportunities at Troon of hearing the Sander- 

 ling's note, which, to my ear, was quite different. It was an 

 explosive " wick, wick," stronger, but not capable of being 

 heard so far off as that of the Little Stint. Each " wick ,; was 

 separate, no suspicion of an " r " running through the syllables 

 \nd uniting them. To me the note of the Little Stint was much 

 prettier than that of the Sanderling. 



The part of the reservoir the Little Stints frequented most 

 was a narrow margin of mud laid bare by the receding water, 

 so soft that even with their light weight they sank in it, and 

 only walked about with considerable difficulty. 



The Common Sandpiper (Totanus hypoleucus). 



By John Robertson. 



[Read 29th May, 1906.] 



The Common Sandpiper, in general appearance, is of a brownish- 

 grey on the upper parts and the breast, while the under parts 

 are white. When in flight an indistinct whitish bar is seen 

 across the wings as well as white tips on the outer tail feathers. 



It is a summer migrant, arriving from the first week of April 

 onwards. A lively and engaging bird it soon makes its presence 

 known by its cheery notes which have been rendered " Tibby 

 thief y, tibby thief y " or " Kylie-leekie, kylie-leekie." It moves 

 about a great deal after dark, and is often first heard for the 

 season, calling as it passes overhead at night, but this wandering 

 at night is not confined to the time of arrival, but may be noted 

 at any time during the season the bird is with us. 



