COMMON SANDPIPER. 297 



larvae. It is rarely seen on the coasts, for it seems 

 to prefer the inland streams in their wildest parts. 

 Its flight is rapid, and it is said to swim and dive 

 well, but probably only when hard pressed. The 

 Summer Snipe is a pretty little bird. Its plumage 

 on the upper parts is sandy and greenish brown, the 

 feathers having dark centres ; the under parts are white, 

 mingled with brown on the breast and streaked with 

 dark brown. 



These birds probably pair for life, for the same 

 place is frequently resorted to year after year for 

 rearing their brood. The nest is built in May, usually 

 near the water's edge, but being very effectually con- 

 cealed, it is difficult to find. It consists of a very 

 slight hollow in the sand, for it is generally placed on 

 the banks of the stream, lined thinly with stalks of 

 grass and heather and a few leaves. An overhanging 

 tuft or a small bush hides it from view. 



The eggs are very large for the size of the bird, and 

 are four in number ; they are placed in the way which 

 birds of this family adopt with their pointed ends 

 inwards, so as to get them into the smallest space 

 possible ; " and it will be seen how necessary this 

 arrangement is," says Hewitson, " when we take into 

 consideration the magnitude of the egg and the small 

 size of the bird, which is not a great deal larger than 

 the Skylark". The eggs are yellowish or creamy 

 white, with blotches and spots of deep brown and 

 light brown. They closely resemble eggs of the Green 

 Sandpiper, but as the eggs of this latter bird are not 

 found in this country, we need not be troubled with 

 any fear of confusion. 



The bird is said to be kept in confinement without 

 difficulty. 



