NON-INDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 251 



observed. The bird probably mates in spring, and carries 

 on part of its courtship in the air accompanied by trilling 

 notes, like so many other allied species are known to do. 

 The favourite breeding grounds of this Sandpiper are 

 open marshy districts, especially such as are studded 

 with lakes, and the banks of rivers. The nest, which is 

 made upon the ground, is often under the shelter of a 

 bush or tussock of sedge. It is merely a small hollow, 

 sometimes, but not always, lined with a few dead leaves 

 and twies. MacFarlane noticed on several occasions the 

 male bird perch on a tree near the nest, and remarks its 

 noisy habits. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Yellow-legged Sandpiper are four in 

 number, pear-shaped, and smooth in texture. I have 

 examined but few specimens of the eggs of this bird, but 

 Mr. Seebohm, who has seen the remarkably fine series 

 in the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, reports 

 that the ground colour varies "from creamy-white to 

 grayish-brown. The surface spots are dark rich reddish- 

 brown, and vary in size from a large pea downwards, 

 many of them becoming confluent and forming large 

 irregular blotches, or occasionally taking the form of 

 streaks. Most of the markings arc generally on the 

 larger end of the (^g^, but on some specimens they are 

 more evenly distributed over the entire surface. The 

 underlying markings are pale gray, or grayish-brown, 

 and are large and conspicuous." Average measurement, 

 1-65 inch in length, by ri inch in breadth. The duration 

 of the period of incubation is unknown, as is also which 

 parent performs the task : doubtless it is the female. 



Diagnostic characters: The eggs of this Sand- 

 piper cover much the same range of colour variation as 

 those of the Greenshank, but are distinguished from those 

 of allied species by their size and somewhat narrow shape. 



