446 



LIMICOL.E. 



SCOLOPACIDiE. 



SeOLOPACID.^. 





ToTANUS HYPOLEUcus (Linna3us*). 

 THE COMMON SANDPIPER, 



OR SUMMER SNIPE. 



Totanus hypoleucos. 



ToTANTJs, Bechsteinf. — Beak longer than the bead, straight, or very slightly 

 re-curved, soft at the base, hard, solid, and cutting at the point, compressed 

 throughout the whole length, ending in a sharp point ; both raandibles grooved 

 at the base ; the extreme end of the upper mandible slightly bent towards the 

 iiader one. Nostrils lateral, linear, pierced longitudinally in a groove. Legs 

 moderate or long, slender, naked above the tarsal joint ; three toes in front, 

 one behind ; the middle toe united to the outer toe by a membrane. Wings 

 moderate; the first quill-feather the longest ; inner secondaries elongated. Tail 

 rather short: somewhat roundel. 



The Common Sandpiper is a summer visitor to the British 

 Islands, usually appearing in April, and leaving again by 

 the end of September, although some remain till November. 



* Trlmja Ifi/poleucos, Linnivus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p 250 (176G). 

 f Ornithologisches Taschenbuch, ii. p. 284 (1803). 



