11 



COM]iION SANDPIPER. 



SUMMER SXIPE. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. SAND LARK. 

 SAND LAVROCK. 



PLATE CLXVII. FIG. I. 



Trincia hypoleucos, . . • Pennant. Montagu. 



Totamis 'hjimleucos, .... Fleming. Selbt. 



NiDiFiCATioN commences about the middle of April. 



The nest is slight— a collection of a fe\y leaves, a 

 little moss, or dry grass, in a hollow in a bank, in a 

 tuft of grass, or tussock of rushes; upon a bed of 

 gravel, or even on a bare rock; the eggs being kept 

 together by only a very slight inequality in the sur- 

 face. It is generally thus sheltered or protected, on 

 one side at least. It is usually built near the water's 

 edge, but sometimes in an adjoining field, always above 

 the highest water-mark. It is well hidden in a tuft 

 of grass or rushes, or among the lower branches of 

 willows and osiers, so as to be difficult to find. The 

 same pair, if undisturbed, will return for several suc- 

 cessive seasons to their accustomed building-place. 



The eggs, four in number, are of a reddish white 

 or cream yellow tint, spotted and speckled with dark 

 brown, and other marks of a lighter hue. Some are of 

 a clear very light blue ground colour, with minute brown 

 spots all over; others with large blots of deep brown. 

 They are, as the eggs of other waders, admirably 



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