CHARADRIID/E. 



607 



THE WOOD-SANDPIPER. 



ToTANUS GLAREOLA (J. F. Gmelin). 



This bird is by no means so regular in its visits as the next species, 

 with which it was formerly confounded, and the main body of 

 migrants hardly reaches our shores. It is true that in autumn single 

 individuals, or even small parties, usually of young, are met with on 

 the east side of England, and in less numbers in the south, as well as 

 in muddy situations far inland ; while in Cornwall examples on the 

 vernal passage have been noticed as early as April 15th. A few 

 adults alight in East Anglia in spring, and a pair probably bred 

 in Norfolk prior to 1846 (Zool. p. 1324); while on June 3rd 

 1853 Hancock obtained a male bird, nest and eggs, on the now 

 drained Prestwick Car, in Northumberland. In Scotland the 

 Wood-Sandpiper has been obtained in Mid- and East Lothian, and 

 Aberdeenshire, and the late Mr. Bond received eggs which he con- 

 sidered to be well-authenticated from the vicinity of Elgin ; while in 

 the west, several occurrences in the area of the Clyde and Loch 

 Lomond are substantiated. Along that side of England the bird is 

 very rare, even in such congenial situations as the flat shores of the 

 Solway and of Lancashire, and it has seldom been recorded from 

 Wales. In Ireland, the first on record was shot in co. Wicklow, on 

 August 23rd 1885 ; two birds (out of three) were killed on the same 

 bog very early in August 1S96 ; and lastly, Mr. W. Drury obtained 

 one (which I have examined; near Lough CuUin, co. Mayo, on 

 September 5th 1898. 



