THE GREEX SANDPIPEE. 427 



Sandpipers. In habits it differs considerably from most 

 of its congeners, in that it is not given to congregate with 

 others of its kind, and that it resorts to inland waters 

 rather than to the sea. It is seen for the most part in spring 

 and autumn, at which seasons it visits us when on its way 

 to and from the northern countries in which it breeds. 

 Specimens have been killed late in the summer, from 

 which it has been inferred that the Green Sandpiper some- 

 times breeds in this country; but the fact does not appear 

 to have been confirmed by the discovery of its nest. While 

 migrating it flies very high, but when scared from its 

 feeding ground it skims along the surface of the water for 

 some distance, and then rises high into the air, uttering its 

 shrill whistle. In its choice of food, and habits while 

 feeding, it resembles the Common Sandpiper. On the 

 authority of Temminck, it builds its nest among grass near 

 the water, and lays from three to five eggs. 



THE WOOD SAm)PIPER 



TOTANUS GLAE^OLA. 



Winter— A narrow dusky streak between the bill and eye ; upper parts deep 

 brown, spotted with white ; breast and adjacent parts dirty white, mottled 

 with ash-brown ; under plumage and tail-coverts pure white ; tail-feathers 

 barred with brown and white ; two outer feathers on each side with the inner 

 web pure white ; biU and legs greenish. Suniimr — Head streaked with brown 

 and dull white ;' the white of the breast clearer ; each of the feathers of the 

 back with two white spots on each side of the centre. Length seven and a 

 half inches. 



This species closely resembles the last both in appearance 

 and habits. It received its name of Wood Sandpiper from 

 having been observed occasionally to resort to boggy 

 swamps of birch and alder, and has been seen even to 

 perch on a tree. Its most common places of resort are, 

 however, swamps and wet heaths. Like the last, it is a 

 bird of wide geographical range, nowhere very abundant, 

 and imperfectlj'' known. 



