SANDPIPER 8ii 



running almost if not quite to its extremity, and therefore closely 

 connected with the mode of feeding) and in the style of plumage — 

 the Tringinse, with blunt and flexible bills, mostly assuming a 

 summer-dress in which some tint 

 of chestnut or reddish -brown is 

 very prevalent, while the Totaninse, 

 with more acute and stifier bills, 



,. , 1 T 1 1 ToTAUDS. (After Swainson.) ' 



display no such lively colours. 



Furthermore, the Tringinse, except when actually breeding, frequent 

 the sea-shore much more than do the Totardnse} To the latter belong 

 the Greenshank and Eedshank, as well as the Common Sandpiper 

 of English books, the " Summer-Snipe " above-mentioned, a bird 

 hardly exceeding a Skylark in size, and of very general distribution 

 throughout the British Islands, but chiefly frequenting clear streams, 

 especially those with a gravelly or rocky bottom, and most generally 

 breeding on the beds of sand or shingle on their banks. It usually 

 makes its appearance in May, and thenceforth during the summer 

 months may be seen in pairs skimming gracefully over the water 

 from one bend of the stream to another, uttering occasionally a 

 shrill but plaintive whistle, or running nimbly along the margin, the 

 mouse-coloured plumage of its back and wings making indeed but 

 little show, though the pure white of its lower parts often renders 

 it conspicuous. The nest, in which four eggs are laid with their 

 pointed ends meeting in its centre (as is usual among Limicoline 

 birds), is seldom far from the water's edge, and the eggs, as well 

 as the newly-hatched and down-covered young, so closely resemble 

 the surrounding pebbles that it takes a sharp eye to discriminate 

 them. Later in the season family-parties may be seen about the 

 larger waters, whence, as autumn advances, they depart for their 

 winter-quarters. The Common Sandpiper is found over the greater 

 part of the Old World. In summer it is the most abundant bird of 

 its kind in the extreme north of Europe, and it extends across Asia 

 to Japan. In winter it makes its way to India, Australia and the 

 Cape of Good Hope. In America its place is taken by a closely- 

 kindred species, which is said to have also occurred in England — T. 

 macularius, the "Peetweet," or Spotted Sandpiper, so called from its 

 usual cry, or from the almost circular marks which spot its lower 

 plumage. In habits it is very similar to its congener of the Old 

 World, and in winter it migrates to the Antilles and to Central and 

 South America. Of other Totaninse, one of the most remarkable is 

 that to which the inappropriate name of Green Sandpiper has been 



^ There are unfortunately no English words adequate to express these two 

 sections By some British writers the Tringinse have been indicated as " Stints," 

 a term cognate with Stunt and not wholly applicable to all of them, while recent 

 American writers restrict to them the name of "Sandpiper," and call the 

 Totaninx, to which that name is especially appropriate, " Willets." 



