CHARADRIID^E. 



609 



THE GREEN SANDPIPER. 



ToTANUS OCHROPUS (Lintiaeus). 



The Green Sandpiper is not uncommon on the spring as well as 

 on the autumnal migration in many parts of England and Wales, 

 while it is sometimes met with in the depth of severe winters, and 

 continues in good condition when Snipes are lean. From some 

 of our streams it is, indeed, seldom absent, except during June and 

 July ; and even in those months single birds, pairs, or small parties 

 have been noticed in Sussex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Yorkshire, Brecon- 

 shire and other counties ; indeed there is a possibility, though as 

 yet no proof, that it may occasionally breed with us. On the east 

 side of Scotland it is of fairly frequent occurrence, but in the north 

 it is very rare, while its presence in the island-groups has not yet 

 been recorded, and it is seldom met with on the west coast, except 

 in the Solway district. To Ireland its visits are not uncommon in 

 autumn and are fairly frequent in winter. 



This Sandpiper is found nesting in marshy woods, from the 

 vicinity of the Arctic circle southward to Central Russia, Poland and 

 Germany, and as far west as Holstein. Over the rest of the Con- 

 tinent it is well known as a migrant, and I have an adult female 

 from Malaga, in the south of Spain, shot as late as June 24th. 

 From autumn to spring it is abundant in suitable localities from 

 Morocco to Egypt ; and, though not traced beyond Angola on the 

 west side of Africa, it ascends the Nile valley to Abyssinia, con- 

 tinuing its course through the Lake district to Cape Colony. In 

 summer it is found in Asia from the Arctic circle to the great 



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