344 TOTANUS OCHllOPUS. 



Female. — The female is similar to the male, but some- 

 what larger. 



Length to end of tail 11^; extent of wings I83-; wing 

 from flexure 5-L^-; bill along the ridge 1^, along the edge of 

 lower mandible l-fj ; bare part of tibia -^j; tarsus 1| ; middle 

 too 1 -yj, its claw 1 3 7 . 



The above descriptions are from fresh specimens, both 

 shot in the south of Scotland — the male in January, 1837; 

 the female in November, 1835. I have not met with the 

 bird in summer, and therefore borrow its description from 

 M. Tenrminck : — 



Adult in Summer. — " The summer plumage differs from 

 that of winter only in having the upper parts darker and 

 more glossed with green, in there being a greater number of 

 small dots on these parts, and in the spots on the fore part 

 of the neck being guttiform, there being one along the shaft 

 of each feather." 



Habits. — It does not appear that this elegantly formed 

 bird ever breeds in Britain. In England it is merely a 

 winter visitant, arriving about the middle of September, and 

 departing toward the end of April. According to Montagu, 

 it frequents pools and small shallow streams, is solitary, but 

 sometimes pairs before leaving us ; and when disturbed, 

 makes a very shrill whistling note as it flies. M. Temminck 

 states that it is dispersed over the greater part of Europe 

 during its autumnal and vernal migrations ; appears on the 

 margins of streams, more particularly limpid brooks, pretty 

 often in marshes, and feeds on small worms, flies, and other 

 soft-winged insects. He also informs us that it nestles in 

 the sand or among the grass near the water, and lays from 

 three to five eggs of a whitish-green marked with brown 

 spots. Both Montagu and Mr. Selby have met with it in 

 August. The latter says : — It runs with great activity, 

 flirting its tail in the same manner as the Common Sand- 

 piper, Totanus hypoleucos. When flushed it utters a shrill 

 whistle, and generally flies low, skimming over the surface 

 of the water, and following with precision all the bends and 



