COMMON SANDPIPER. 231 
ence, as a rule, to smaller streams. They have a marked 
partiality, however, as I have myself observed, for sandy 
or gravelly soils, being thus attracted even to a short 
boat “staithe,” or a pathway leading to some marsh-mill 
from the main stream. 
When walking in the early summer by the banks 
of the river, or pulling leisurely along its winding 
“reaches” the presence of this elegant little bird is 
detected rather by the ear than the eye, as its clear 
piping notes resent intrusion on its haunts. If not too 
elosely pressed it runs nimbly on before us, flirting its tail 
up and down, and calling at intervals, or stopping now 
and again to pick up some morsel of food; whilst every 
action of its body evinces a nervous excitability, remind- 
ing one not a little of the wagtail tribe. If approached 
too near the pace is suddenly quickened, and spreading 
its wines and tail for flight the dark bronzed tints of 
the upper plumage contrast strongly with the pure white 
of the under surface, as it twists and turns in the alr, 
uttering again a loud wheet, wheet, as it speeds on its 
way to safer quarters. 
Why the Common Sandpiper should not breed in 
the Hastern Counties,* is as difficult to account for 
* In Mr. A. G. More’s paper “ On the Distribution of Birds in 
Great Britain during the nesting season” (“ Ibis,” 1865, p. 436) this 
species is stated to be “scarce in the south during the breeding 
season, and apparently wanting in several of the southern and 
eastern counties. * * * Is reported to breed only occasionally in 
Cornwall, but regularly in North and South Devon and Somerset. 
In Dorset it becomes more rare.” Mr. Knox describes it as “breed- 
ing regularly in Sussex,” though scarce. It is “ doubtful” if it 
breeds in Kent, and “appears to be wanting in several of the 
eastern and southern districts.” Mr. J. H. Gurney, when staying 
at Pembroke in 1867, was also informed on good authority that the 
common sandpiper nests regularly in that county, selecting the 
banks of ponds for the purpose. At low tide they are constantly 
to be seen in the town of Pembroke feeding on the shores of the 
estuary (a branch of Milford Haven) which runs through the town. 
