Green Sandpiper 



migration, but many pass the winter with us, and it has been 

 suspected of breeding on more than one occasion, but positive 

 proof of this has not been forthcoming. 



In the north and west of Scotland it is scarce, but other- 

 wise it is widely distributed throughout the country. On 

 the Continent it nests in marshy woods from the Arctic 

 Circle southwards to Central Eussia, Poland, and East 

 Germany, its migrations extending to Africa in the winter. 



In its nesting habits it differs from all others Sandpipers, 

 for it lays its eggs in the deserted nest of some other bird, 

 generally that of a Thrush, Blackbird, or Jay. The eggs are 

 greenish grey, with small brownish spots. Its food consists 

 of worms and insects. 



In plumage it very closely resembles the preceding species, 

 but the back is darker and the spots much more minute. 

 It may, however, always be distinguished by the dusky shaft 

 of the oictennost primary and the brownish black axillaries. 

 In young birds the spots on the back are less plentiful and 

 of a more huffish tint. Length 9*5 in. ; wing 5 "5 in. 



THE SOLITARY SANDPIPER 



Totanus solitarius (Wilson) 



This is an American species, which, like so many of its 

 New World congeners, has occasionally and at long intervals 

 straggled to these islands. 



Its nearest ally is the preceding species, from which it 

 may be recognised by having all the tail feathers, except 



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