190 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



141. Common Sandpiper, Totanns hypoleucus (Linn.), 



This and Temminck's Stint were the commonest Sand- 

 pipers in the Delta, but there is one marked difference in 

 their habits ; the latter goes in flocks, the former is almost 

 invariably single. The Common Sandpiper is also nearly 

 as abundant in the upper part of Egypt, and I saw a few at 

 the Faioum. 



The agility with which they dive is well known, as is 

 their characteristic flight. With drooping wings they skim 

 so low over the water that the points almost touch it, 

 uttering " ivheet, tvJieef as they fly. The bird describes a 

 semi-circle and settles again at no great distance; or if a 

 a flock of Green Sandpipers or "Pluvians" are passing, he 

 makes a dash at them and goes up stream in the capacity 

 of " plover's page " to their rear-guard. 



In general I believe the very small water insects are their 

 food, but I once saw a very ambitious one with what I feel 

 sure was a frog. He was Avalking about as if he did not 

 know what to do with it ; and truly it was a large morsel 

 for such a mouth. Those who have used carbolic acid for 

 preserving birds must have remarked what very small 

 mouths the Sandpiper tribe have. 



Some time ago there was a discussion in the " Zoologist " 

 about the diving powers of the Common Sandpiper. I have 

 seen it in England dive on three or four occasions when 

 wounded, and I once caught one at Dungeness with my 

 hand, in the act of diving, but I never saw it dive for 

 pleasure. A gentleman who knows the bird well, told me 

 that on one occasion he saw one dive to escape a Merlin, 

 which Merlin he immediately afterwards struck into the 

 water with his fishing rod. 



