The Common Sandpiper 



with the possible exception of a few stragglers that spend 

 the winter in some of the south-western counties. 



In summer the upper parts are bronzy brown, irregularly- 

 barred and flecked with blackish ; sides of the neck and 

 breast grey, with dusky' streaks ; rest of under parts white. 

 In autumn the upper parts are uniformly brown, or nearly 

 so, and the under parts lighter and with fewer streaks. 

 The young have buff margins to the feathers of the back 

 and lack the dark streaks on the throat. Length 8 in. ; 

 bill 1 in.; wing 4*25 in. 



THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER 



Totanus macularius (Linnaeus) 



This American species has been recorded on several 

 occasions in these islands. It is closely allied to the 

 Common Sandpiper and resembles it in plumage, but in the 

 spring dress it is more spotted on the under parts, and in 

 autumn it is greyer above, and lacks the bronzy tint of 

 our native bird. All the secondaries are barred with ash 

 brown, whereas in the Common Sandpipers the eighth and 

 ninth are nearly white. Length 7 in. ; wing 4*2 in. 



THE WOOD SANDPIPER 



Totanus glareola (J. F. Qmelin) 



This species is a regular but somewhat scarce visitor to our 

 shores on migration. In Ireland and the west it is extremely 



337 43 



