2 26 ALLEN'S NATURALISTS LIBRARY. 



cerning its distribution during the nesting-season. It passes 

 through the greater part of Eastern and Central Europe during 

 migration, visiting the Mediterranean countries and occurring 

 even as far south as Madagascar. It hkewise appears to cross 

 Central Asia to North-western India, and also visits Japan, 

 China, and the Burmese provinces during the cold season. 



Habits. — The late Mr. Richard Dann contributed a very in- 

 teresting article to Yarrell's "British Birds" on the nesting of 

 this species, which he had found in Lulea and Tornea-Lap- 

 mark, as well as on the Dovrefjeld in Norway, where it arrived 

 at the latter end of May. It frequented grassy morasses and 

 swamps in small colonies, having the same habitat as the 

 Wood-Sandpiper. On their first appearance, they were wild 

 and shy, and similar in their habits to other Sandpipers, feed- 

 ing on the grassy borders of small pools and lakes in the 

 morasses. On being disturbed they soared to a great height 

 in the air, rising and falling suddenly like the Snipe, uttering 

 the notes hcc-ivlw, rapidly repeated. As the weather becomes 

 w^arm, the habits of the species totally change, as it skulks and 

 creeps through the dead grass, and allows itself to be followed 

 within a few yards : when flushed, it drops again a short 

 distance off. 



Nest. — The following account is given by Mr. Wolley, who 

 discovered the nest in Lapland : — " The Broad-billed Sand- 

 piper differs from other wading birds in the situation of its nest, 

 choosing open soft places in the marsh, where there is little 

 else than bog moss with a little growth of a kind of sedge, and 

 on a low tuft, just rising above the water, its nest may be found 

 often without much difficulty. . . . But it must not be 

 supposed that this kind of bird-nesting is very easy work. The 

 marshes where the Broad-billed Sandpipers are to be found are 

 few and far between ; they are soft and full of water, and often 

 every step is a struggle, whilst the swarms of hungry gnats 

 require almost individual attention. The sun is scorching at 

 midday, but at midnight has not enough power to keep off an 

 unpleasant chill. The country to be gone over is of vast extent, 

 and the egg-season very short ; sleep is seldom obtainable; a 

 feverish feeling comes on, and present enjoyment soon ceases. 

 It is just where the thickest clouds of gnats rise from the water, 



